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Saturday, September 29, 2012 Checked 6:15 PM; Last Updated 3:05 PM CDT; 20:05 GMT
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Saturday Highlights: US appeals court sends Galaxy Tab 10.1 sales ban decision back to lower court endangering Apple's victory?more in our Apple/Macintosh section; interesting analysis over at Fortune ponders the man in charge of Siri and the new Maps: Scott Forstall; Louie Herr of Digital Trends says we haven't learned the lesson from Antennagate with regards to Maps, saying we've overreacted to the ordeal; Andy Ihnatko says Tim Cook's letter to consumers was the "perfect response", but that Apple's mistake was pushing Maps right into the deep end when they should have approached it like they did Siri; meanwhile, Jim Dalrymple believes this is a simple "black eye, nothing more"; curious question arises out of the Maps issue: "should Apple let users select alternate default apps?"; Consumer Reports not too hard on Maps; some ex Apple and NASA engineers make a pricey coffee maker; Jack Purcher analyzes Intel's computing direction toward "transparent computing"; over at TidBITS, Glenn Fleishman probes mysterious cellular data usage occurring on iOS 6 devices; Apple removes "the most beautiful, powerful mapping service ever" from Maps description on Apple.com; InformationWeek's Eric Zeman reviews his iPhone 5 experience, while Mark Crump provides a view of the iPhone 5 from a photographer's perspective, and over at iDownload Blog, Sebastien Page presents a course on B&W iPhone photography.
Friday Highlights: Tim Cook apologizes to customers for Map errors, says Apple doing everything they can to make it better, in the mean time he recommends Bing, Waze, others as alternatives?numerous reports in our Apple/Macintosh, and Op/Ed sections, Jonny Evans believes the message hints that Apple is working to make their mapping service best in the world, not just better; Chris Ciaccia at The Street calls the apology a grand slam saying "no company on Earth...knows how to spin a negative story into good positive vibes better than Apple"; Tim Bajarin says the real reason Apple jettisoned Google Maps had to do with giving valuable customer data to Google, which would help Android; iPhone 5 available for sale in 22 countries starting today; Macworld reviews Parallels Desktop 8, VMware Fusion 5; US Air Force uses iPads saving more than $5 million/year; court in China says Apple must pay $82,000 to encyclopedia company due to App Store piracy; report says iPhone 5 prices are least in United States, most in Italy; ABC News report on TSA official theft of iPad; Sharp says they are not the cause iPhone 5 shortages, pumping out "adequate volumes of display[s]"; TechInsights analysis of A6 chip; Macotakara blog posts mock-up of apparent iPad mini; San Jose Mercury News's Larry Magid reviews iPhone 5, says is "a worthy upgrade, but nothing to get excited about"; however, Dwight Silverman at the Houston Chronicle is "even more sold on it" now that he's tested his iPhone 5 with LTE finding a big difference from pre-LTE iPhones; Mactuts+ shows you how to upgrade RAM in your MacBook Pro; Mac OS X Hints has a tip that could solve WiFi woes on your iPhone, as well as a tip to arrange icons on your Apple TV menu; New York Times's J.D. Biersdorfer answers reader question on asking Siri questions the right way.
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Sat Sep 29
"Apple vs. Samsung: Galaxy Tab 10.1 ban could be lifted" Bloomberg News
12:20 PM
"Apple vs. Samsung: Galaxy Tab 10.1 ban could be lifted"?Bloomberg News?12:20 PM
"Samsung wins reconsideration on Galaxy Tab sales ban in US"?Crave @ CNET?9:02 AM
"Sales ban on Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 will be reconsidered"?Ars Technica?2:50 PM
"Apple's Mapping Strategy: Today China. Tomorrow the World"?Forbes?2:34 PM
"Apple's Maps Is A Black Eye, Nothing More"?TechCrunch?10:08 AM
"Apple seems to have gotten a little bit lost"?CNN?2:34 PM
"Apple issues full apology over iOS 6 maps cartastrophe"?Wired UK?12:27 PM
"Judging From Apple's Apology, Maps Matter and Nokia Has Maps That Work"?Forbes?8:10 AM
"iOS 6 Map Flap: Should Apple Let Users Select Alternate Default Apps?"?Forbes?8:15 AM
"Tim Cook: 'So sorry for Apple's crap maps app - try Bing or Nokia'"?The Register?8:59 AM
"Apple's excessive work hours progress: tracking 800k, 97% 60-hour work week compliance"?The Next Web?10:31 AM
"'Weak' Apple iPhone 5 Sales Are A Glitch"?Seeking Alpha?8:11 AM
"Apple sued again, this time over Numbers spreadsheet tech"?Crave @ CNET?9:02 AM
"Apple's Cook sorry for Maps errors, suggests rival services"?Reuters?9/28
"Apple apologises for Maps switch 'frustration'"?BBC?9/28
"Apple Maps Apology: There is no company on Earth that knows how to spin a negative story into good positive vibes better than Apple, and the company did it again on Friday."?TheStreet?9/28
"Apple's Tim Cook apologises for iOS 6 Maps in open letter, suggests users try Google, Nokia and other mapping apps"?The Next Web?9/28
"Apple CEO 'Extremely Sorry' for IPhone Maps Frustration" [Video Report]?Bloomberg?9/28
"Tim Cook Apologizes for Apple's Maps"?New York Times [Free/Paid Registration Required]?9/28
"Apple CEO Apologizes for Maps App"?WSJ.com [Paid Membership Required]?9/28
"Apple CEO: 'We are extremely sorry' for Maps frustration"?CNNMoney?9/28
"Tim Cook apologizes for Apple's new Maps app"?Fortune?9/28
"Music publisher blocked iPhone 5 music service, report says: Sony/ATV and Apple couldn't agree on licensing fees and that's why we didn't see a Pandora-like music service from Apple, according to a story in the New York Post."?CNET News?9/28
"Apple iPad dominates tablet web traffic: An analysis of traffic from tablet computers to more than 1,200 websites found that 98.1 per cent of the traffic came from the Apple iPad."?Telegraph?9/28
"Gene Munster: iPhone 5 stockouts in 16 of 20 stores/Only 4 stores in smaller cities had iPhones 5s available for sale, and only for Sprint"?Fortune?9/28
"Appeals court sends Galaxy Tab injunction back to trial judge"?Reuters?9/28
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AppleCare/Troubleshooting
"OS X Server: Packet filter rules do not load"?Apple Support?9/28
Reviews/How-To/Tips
"Review: Parallels Desktop 8 vs. VMware Fusion 5"?Macworld?9/28
"Review: Adobe Premiere Elements 11 offers an easy, fast, and simple take on video editing"?TechHive?9/28
"Review: Things 2.0 makes managing to-do lists manageable"?Macworld?9/28
"MacMost Now 767: Using Text Columns in Pages"?MacMost?9/28
"Add New iOS Style Widgets To Mountain Lion Dashboard [OS X Tips]?Cult of Mac?9/28
"An Easy Way To Generate The Toughest, Coolest, Longest Passwords Right On Your Mac"?BohemianBoomer?9/28
"How Many Ways Can You Listen To Music On Your Mac? Here's Another One!"?TeraTalks?9/28
"Is Your Life Worth A Journal? 2 Ways To Journal Your Day On A Mac (one is free, one is not)"?Mac 360?9/28
"How To Control iTunes, Spotify, And Rdio From Your Mac's Menubar (and what's missing in the mix)"?NoodleMac?9/28
"It's Baaack! The Compression And Archive Tool That Mac Users Love To Hate"?Mac 360?9/28
"How To Get Free Music, TV Shows, Movies, And Apps Delivered To Your Mac"?Mac 360?9/28
"Free: The Top 10 Add On Features For Safari That Apple Forgot To Include On The Mac's Favorite Browser"?McSolo?9/28
Op/Ed
"AirPlay Mirroring A Killer Feature In Mountain Lion"?MacNews?9/28
Press Releases
"Blinq Turns Your PC Or Mac Into A Server For Sharing Photos"?AddictiveTips?9:04 AM
"MOTU ships Digital Performer version 8"?Electronista?9/28
"OmniGrowl Updated for Growl 2, CaliBrate Also Updated"?prMac?9/28
"FCP Editors Go Retro with New Slide Pop Special Effects Package"?prMac?9/28
"Report: Apple Maps usage down to four percent"?Electronista?2:35 PM
"Original 2007 Google-powered iPhone maps app reportedly built by 2 engineers in 3 weeks"?iMore?8:01 AM
"Weekly Wrap: iPhone 5 review, iOS 6 annoyances, and a Tim Cook Maps apology"?Macworld?2:34 PM
"Consumer Reports: Apple's Maps App Still Provides a Good Solution for Standard Software"?ModMyi?10:30 AM
"U.S. regional carriers undercut major carries with iPhone 5 discounts"?BGR?10:29 AM
"Former Apple, NASA Engineers Make $11,111 Coffee Maker"?ABCNews?8:12 AM
"Artist Creates Sculpture Made Using Steve Jobs' Recycled Trash"?technabob?9:05 AM
"Urban Outfitters drops cash registers for Apple's iPad in 400 stores"?AppleInsider?9/28
"Apple Launches New App Store Feature Section for Alternative Maps"?MacRumors?9/28
"Global iPhone 5 Rollout Continues, Tight Supplies Be Damned"?AllThingsD?9/28
"iPhone 5 dials up discount for regional carrier debut: Some smaller carriers will trim $50 off the normal retail price for Apple's next-generation smartphone when they begin selling it tomorrow."?CNET News?9/28
"Videos: Queuing up for Apple's iPhone 5 in 22 languages"?Fortune?9/28
"The iPhone 5 goes on sale in 22 more countries today"?iDownload Blog?9/28
"Apple's iPhone 5 Availability Expands: What It Means To Regional Carriers"?TechCrunch?9/28
"Most iPhone 5 Customers Will Buy in Next 6 Months" [Video Report]?Bloomberg?9/28
"Survey: Younger Shoppers Increasingly Using Mobiles To Buy And Compare"?TechCrunch?9/28
"As Apple says sorry, Google Maps gets a little better"?CNET News?9/28
"Apple Clears First Hurdle, Possible iPhone 5 Launch In China Before The Year-End"?Forbes?9/28
"iPhone 5 lights up China's gray market"?CNET Asia?9/28
"US Air Force Electronic Flight Bag Team fought Windows bureaucracy and deployed iPads?[Video]?9 to 5 Mac?9/28
"Thanks to the iPad, The Air Force is Saving More Than $5 Million Per Year"?PadGadget?9/28
"Google's Answer to Siri Thinks Ahead: The company's data stockpile and investment in AI means a smartphone helper that answers queries before you even ask them."?Technology Review?9/28
"Company Alleges that Apple's 'Numbers' Infringe on Borland Patent"?Patently Apple?9/28
"Apple sued over spreadsheet technology"?CNET News?9/28
"Chinese court rules Apple must pay over $82K to encyclopedia publisher over App Store piracy"?AppleInsider?9/28
"Apple music logo trademark rejected"?TG Daily?9/28
"Italians Pay The Most, Americans The Least For iPhone 5"?App Advice?9/28
"Apple iPhone 5 proves a hit with V3 readers"?V3?9/28
"Need a bit of Bible? There's an app for that"?CNN?9/28
"ABC News Tracks Missing iPad To Florida Home of TSA Officer"?ABCNews?9/28
"Find My iPad Catches Thieving TSA Officer Red-Handed [Video]?Cult of Mac?9/28
Non-Apple News
"Google rolls out more improvements to its mapping tools following Apple's Maps apology"?Digital Trends?8:04 AM
"Neil Young reveals Pono music player, promises 'the best sound anyone can get'"?The Verge?9/28
"Amazon unlikely to launch color e-book readers in 4Q12"?DigiTimes?9/28
"Move over iPhone: In China, it's cool to call on 'Xiaomi'"?CNN?9/28
Publications/Podcasts
"Podcast: iPhone 5, one week later ? early users weigh in"?GeekWire?9:04 AM
"The Critical Path #56: Strategic Disadvantages: A discussion with James Allworth"?asymco?7:59 AM
"Gene Steinberg meets commentator Daniel Eran Dilger, of AppleInsider, and Avram Piltch, of Laptop magazine, this week on the Tech Night Owl LIVE!"?The Tech Night Owl LIVE?9/28
"Bj?rn Adamski of Telestream Demonstrates the New Flip4Mac"?MacVoicesTV?9/28
"TUAW Origin Stories: PDF Cabinet"?TUAW?9/28
"Ted Landau's iPhone 5 and iOS 6 Experiences and Opinions"?MacNotables?9/28
"Commutist podcast: Apple's iO-mess, dirty data centers and Tesla"?GigaOM?9/28
"What's Behind Mysterious Cellular Data Usage in iOS 6?"?TidBITS?12:31 PM
"Apple no longer calls iOS6 Maps 'the most beautiful, powerful mapping service ever'"?9 to 5 Mac?9:04 AM
"Apple removes superlatives from Maps description"?iDownload Blog?10:08 AM
"Apple iPad Mini debut reportedly imminent"?CNBC?8:13 AM
"iPhone 5 Display Vs. Spectroradiometer"?MacStories?12:50 PM
"iPad mini Video, Photos Leak"?Tapscape?8:05 AM
"Sharp says making adequate volumes of display used in iPhone5"?Reuters?9/28
"Sharp: Our iPhone 5 display production is 'adequate'"?CNET News?9/28
"It's Now Pretty Clear This Screen Is The Reason iPhone 5 Sales Were So Disappointing"?Business Insider?9/28
"Turret Commander For iPhone and iPad Is Temporarily Available For Free (Normally $2.99)"?Apple Sliced?8:54 AM
"Alien Booth For iPhone and iPad Is Free Today (Was $0.99)"?Apple Sliced?8:54 AM
"Leave Devil Alone For iPhone Is Free Right Now (Previously $0.99)"?Apple Sliced?8:54 AM
"Deal Alert: Apple 11.6" Dual-Core i5 MacBook Air MC968LL/A $759.99"?Run Around Tech?7:55 AM
"Woot! has 2011 Dual-Core i5 MacBook Air ? New in box (Update: $749)"?9 to 5 Mac?7:55 AM
"Mac Compatible Printers... Prices Range From $70 To $400 -Best Selling -Prices, Deals, Reviews And Information"?MacReviewZone?2:36 PM
"Best Selling Mac Scanners -From $88 To $496 -Prices, Reviews And Information"?MacReviewZone?2:42 PM
"Space Station: Frontier HD For iPad Is Temporarily Available For Free (Normally $2.99), The iPhone Version Is Also Free"?Apple Sliced?9/28
"The Magician's Handbook: Cursed Valley HD (Full) For iPad Is Free Right Now (Previously $4.99)"?Apple Sliced?9/28
"Radballs For iPhone and iPad Is Free Today (Was $0.99)"?Apple Sliced?9/28
"iPad (2012) Prices & Sales"?MacPrices?9/28
"MacBook Air Prices & Sales"?MacPrices?9/28
"MacBook Pro Prices & Sales"?MacPrices?9/28
"Apple refurbs: 5 Macs $999 or less"?MacNN?9/28
"Mac Software Deals: Photoshop Elements 11, $84; Photoshop Elements 10, $49"?FairerPlatform?9/28
Deal Brothers Daily Deal: Mac mini 2.5GHz dual-core Intel Core i5:? $1189.00 Delivered
Reviews
"iPhone 5: My First Week/After spending a week with the Apple iPhone 5, I have a clear picture of what has improved, evolved, and gone sideways."?InformationWeek?9:08 AM
"A photographer's view of the iPhone 5"?GigaOM?12:20 PM
"CruxSkunk iPad Keyboard Exposes the Mirage of Kickstarter [Review]?Mashable?12:19 PM
"Review: Case-Mate Barely There Case for iPhone 5"?Run Around Tech?12:19 PM
"PowerSkin Battery Case for iPhone 4S and iPhone 4 review"?iMore?10:08 AM
"Review: Speck PixelSkin HD case for iPhone 5"?M.I.C. Gadget?9:52 AM
"Review: Wahoo Blue HR Heart Rate Strap for iPhone 4S/5"?iSource?7:55 AM
"iPhone 5 vs. the VPI Traveler turntable: The iPhone 5 may be the star of the moment, but the VPI Traveler could stay in your life for decades."?CNET News?10:07 AM
"Magia Zip For IPad Has One Sticky Problem"?MacNews?9/28
"GLAS.T iPhone 5 screen protector from Spigen SGP (Video Review)"?Insanely Great Mac?9/28
iPad/iPhone/iPod touch Apps
"6 cool little features you didn't know iOS 6 had"?VentureBeat?12:23 PM
"Top Tier Alternatives To Apple Maps For iOS 6"?Apple'n'Apps?7:56 AM
"Don't Like Facebook? Then You'll Like Voicepic Even More"?App Advice?12:50 PM
"Flurry for Twitter for iPhone review"?iMore?8:01 AM
"9 home theater apps to improve your big screen with a small screen"?Digital Trends?8:04 AM
"Arrow Mania Review"?148Apps?2:35 PM
"Little Conquest Review"?148Apps?12:49 PM
"Project: Mayhem Review"?148Apps?12:23 PM
"iOS 6 Maps vs. iOS 5 Maps vs. maps.google.com: Location data shootout!"?iMore?9/28
"Create Your Own Passbook Cards, Coupons, & Tickets"?Apple Gazette?9/28
"Brewster: Merge iPhone Contacts With Facebook, Twitter, Gmail & Others"?AddictiveTips?9/28
"Bad Piggies for iPhone and iPad review"?iMore?9/28
"Bad Piggies ? Review: Feels like Angry Birds, but plays in a fresh new way"?What's on iPhone?9/28
"Appidemic: GridBlock for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch"?AppleTell?9/28
"'Lunar Silver Star Story Touch' Review - The Classic RPG in Your Pocket"?Touch Arcade?9/28
"'Infectonator' Review - Ending the World, One Zombie at a Time"?Touch Arcade?9/28
"Score! Classic Goals for iPad and iPhone review"?Macworld UK?9/28
"Carbonite Mobile Review"?148Apps?9/28
"Note Anytime Review: A free note taking and sketching app for the iPad that's packed with many features to give users creative flexibility."?148Apps?9/28
"Find the Way Review: Find the Way is a short maze game that pits players against a clock as they race to find a way out."?148Apps?9/28
"'Super Monsters Ate My Condo' Review and TA Plays - Not Just a Sequel, a SUPER Sequel"?Touch Arcade?9/28
How-To/Tutorial
"Use Siri The Right Way On Your iPhone And iOS 6 [Feature]?Cult of Mac?12:49 PM
"A course on black and white iPhone photography"?iDownload Blog?7:56 AM
"How to Use the Panorama Camera to Take Amazing Panoramic Pictures with iPhone"?OS X Daily?9/28
"How to Upgrade the RAM in Your MacBook Pro"?Mactuts+?9/28
Tips
"How to Assign a Passcode with More than Four Digits to Secure Your iOS Device"?The Mac Observer?10:08 AM
"How to choose an Apple Maps alternative"?USA Today?9:53 AM
"Ask Maggie is back! Which iPhone 5 is right for you?"?CNET News?9:00 AM
"Here's a neat tip to help make sure you get your iPhone back should you ever lose it"?The Next Web?8:00 AM
"One possible solution to iPhone Wi-Fi problems"?Mac OS X Hints?9/28
"Apple explains how to create home screen shortcuts to Google and Nokia maps on the web"?iDownload Blog?9/28
"Q&A: Asking Siri ? the Right Way"?New York Times [Free/Paid Registration Required]?9/28
"How To Buy A Smartphone: Which Is Better, Android or iPhone?"?ReadWriteWeb?9/28
Tim Cook's Maps Apology
"Tim Cook's apology shows that Apple cares, but still needs to fix problem"?TUAW?12:18 PM
"The Macalope Weekly: From bad to worse"?Macworld?10:08 AM
"NYT: iOS Maps another internet services blunder for Apple"?AppleInsider?8:00 AM
"MacOS KenDensed: iPhone 5's First Week & that Maps Thing"?The Mac Observer?7:59 AM
"Hate to Say 'I Told You So', Where by 'Hate' I Mean 'Draw Great Satisfaction From'"?Daring Fireball?9/28
"Apple's genius Maps jiu-jitsu: the enemy of my enemy is my friend"?VentureBeat?9/28
"Examining Maps in the Wake of Tim Cook's Apology"?TidBITS?9/28
"Tim Cook's 'Mapology': No explanation of premature Maps launch"?CNET News?9/28
"Did Apple's Apology Scare Off iPhone 5 Buyers?"?CNBC?9/28
"Well Played On Maps, Apple. Your Move,?Google."?TechCrunch?9/28
"Apple Losing Its Sense of Direction"?WSJ Blogs?9/28
"Leaders Apologize"?Forbes?9/28
"Tim Cook open letter: We fell short with new Maps app; we are extremely sorry"?MacDailyNews?9/28
"Apple CEO Cook Posts Letter Apologizing For Buggy Maps"?Forbes?9/28
"CEO Tim Cook apologizes for 'falling short' on Apple Maps"?GigaOM?9/28
"Apple apologizes for iOS 6 maps"?BetaNews?9/28
"Tim Cook on Apple Maps: 'We Are Extremely Sorry'"?AllThingsD?9/28
"Apple Apologizes For iOS 6 Maps"?BYTE?9/28
"Tim Cook says Apple is 'extremely sorry' for Maps glitches, suggests alternatives"?GeekWire?9/28
"Apple CEO Tim Cook apologizes for iOS 6 Maps, promises improvements"?Ars Technica?9/28
"Tim Cook's astounding Apple Maps apology: Use Bing Maps instead"?Electricpig?9/28
"Tim Cook Apologizes for Apple Maps, Recommends Alternatives for Now"?Techland?9/28
"Apple Admits Significant Mistakes In iOS 6 Maps Application"?AppleBitch?9/28
"Tim Cook Apologizes For Apple Maps, Points To Competitive Alternatives"?TechCrunch?9/28
This image released by Sony Pictures shows Dracula, voiced by Adam Sandler, in a scene from "Hotel Transylvania." (AP Photo/Sony Pictures Animation)
This image released by Sony Pictures shows Dracula, voiced by Adam Sandler, in a scene from "Hotel Transylvania." (AP Photo/Sony Pictures Animation)
LOS ANGELES (AP) ? Adam Sandler's monster mash-up "Hotel Transylvania" has brought the weekend box office back to life after a late-summer slump.
The animated comedy from Sony Pictures debuted at No. 1 with $43 million, one of the strongest starts ever for a movie opening in September, according to studio estimates Sunday.
"Hotel Transylvania" set a new high for September debuts in terms of actual dollars, beating the previous record of $35.7 million for 2002's "Sweet Home Alabama." But factoring in today's higher admission prices, "Sweet Home Alabama" sold more tickets.
This weekend's box office was further strengthened by a solid No. 2 debut for another Sony release, Bruce Willis and Joseph Gordon-Levitt's time-travel thriller "Looper," which took in $21.2 million.
Hollywood's overall grosses rose for the first time in a month compared to the same weekend last year. Revenues totaled $120 million, up 21 percent from the same weekend a year ago, when "Dolphin Tale" led with $13.9 million, according to box-office tracker Hollywood.com.
"Sony really kind of saved the day here, turning things around after a full month of less-than-stellar box office," said Hollywood.com analyst Paul Dergarabedian. "The post-summer period didn't exactly set the world on fire."
It's rare for one studio to open two wide releases over the same weekend, but Sony had two movies that complemented each other well without overlapping their audiences.
Locking up the family crowds, the PG-rated "Hotel Transylvania" features Sandler providing the voice of Count Dracula as proprietor of a resort catering to Frankenstein, the Wolfman and other monsters.
The R-rated "Looper" pulled in male action fans. Set in 2044, the film stars Gordon-Levitt as a hit man assigned to kill victims sent back in time ? including his future self (Bruce Willis).
The previous weekend's No. 1 movie, Open Road Films' police story "End of Watch," fell to No. 3 with $8 million, raising its domestic total to $26.2 million.
In narrower release, Universal Pictures' music tale "Pitch Perfect" opened strongly at No. 6 with $5.2 million. The movie stars Anna Kendrick as a college freshman who joins an a cappella singing team and livens up the group's conservative style.
Playing in 335 theaters, "Pitch Perfect" averaged an impressive $15,560 a cinema. That compared to an average of $12,840 in 3,349 theaters for "Hotel Transylvania" and $7,086 in 2,992 cinemas for "Looper."
The weekend's other new wide release, Maggie Gyllenhaal and Viola Davis' school drama "Won't Back Down," flopped at No. 10 with $2.7 million, averaging just $1,074 in 2,515 theaters. The movie centers on two mothers who organize a campaign to save a failing elementary school.
For Sandler, "Hotel "Transylvania" was a return to hit status after his summer dud "That's My Boy" and so-so results on last year's comedy "Jack and Jill."
Sandler's audience of young males generally has waned as he ages. But Sony, which has released most of his movies, remains eager to stay in the Sandler business.
"I have said that many times, and it still holds in a big way," said Rory Bruer, head of distribution for Sony.
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Hollywood.com. Where available, latest international numbers are also included. Final domestic figures will be released Monday.
1. "Hotel Transylvania," $43 million ($8.1 million international).
2. "Looper," $21.2 million ($8.5 million international).
3. "End of Watch," $8 million.
4. "Trouble with the Curve," $7.5 million.
5. "House at the End of the Street," $7.2 million ($1.5 million international).
6. "Pitch Perfect," $5.2 million.
7. "Finding Nemo," $4.1 million ($1.1 million international).
8. "Resident Evil: Retribution," $3 million ($20.7 million international).
9. "The Master," $2.75 million.
10. "Won't Back Down," $2.7 million.
___
Estimated weekend ticket sales at international theaters (excluding the U.S. and Canada) for films distributed overseas by Hollywood studios, according to Rentrak:
1. "Resident Evil: Retribution," $20.7 million.
2. "Ted," $9.1 million.
3 (tie). "Masquerade," $9 million.
3 (tie). "Les Seigneurs," $9 million.
5. "Ice Age: Continental Drift," $8.7 million.
6. "Looper," $8.5 million.
7. "Hotel Transylvania," $8.1 million.
8. "The Bourne Legacy," $7.7 million.
9. "Taken 2," $6.4 million.
10. "Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted," $6.1 million.
___
Online:
http://www.hollywood.com
http://www.rentrak.com
___
Universal and Focus are owned by NBC Universal, a unit of Comcast Corp.; Sony, Columbia, Sony Screen Gems and Sony Pictures Classics are units of Sony Corp.; Paramount is owned by Viacom Inc.; Disney, Pixar and Marvel are owned by The Walt Disney Co.; Miramax is owned by Filmyard Holdings LLC; 20th Century Fox and Fox Searchlight are owned by News Corp.; Warner Bros. and New Line are units of Time Warner Inc.; MGM is owned by a group of former creditors including Highland Capital, Anchorage Advisors and Carl Icahn; Lionsgate is owned by Lions Gate Entertainment Corp.; IFC is owned by AMC Networks Inc.; Rogue is owned by Relativity Media LLC.
A person wearing a giant puppet depicting Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez crosses a street in downtown Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, Sept. 27, 2012. Venezuela's presidential election is scheduled for Oct. 7. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)
A person wearing a giant puppet depicting Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez crosses a street in downtown Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, Sept. 27, 2012. Venezuela's presidential election is scheduled for Oct. 7. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)
A supporter of Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez holds a flag that reads in Spanish: "We're going all out," while taking part in a campaign caravan through the streets of Caracas, Venezuela, Friday, Sept. 28, 2012. Venezuela's presidential election is scheduled for Oct. 7. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
Supporters of Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez chant pro government slogans at supporters of the opposition's presidential candidate Henrique Capriles, left, as the Chavistas caravan through the streets of Caracas, Venezuela, Friday, Sept. 28, 2012. Venezuela's presidential election is scheduled for Oct. 7. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
Supporters of Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez cheer on fellow supporters driving past in a campaign caravan in Caracas, Venezuela, Friday, Sept. 28, 2012. Venezuela's presidential election is scheduled for Oct. 7. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
Supporters of Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez stand in a trailer bed as they take part in a campaign caravan through Caracas, Venezuela, Friday, Sept. 28, 2012. Venezuela's presidential election is scheduled for Oct. 7. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) ? By tradition, supporters of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez rouse voters before dawn on election day blaring bugle tunes from loudspeakers mounted on trucks cruising through pro-Chavez neighborhoods.
If that doesn't do the job, loyalists from Chavez's United Socialist Party of Venezuela keep extensive lists of supporters, many of whom depend on government jobs or benefits, and contact them to make sure they cast a ballot.
Get-out-the-vote ground games are key to elections all over the world. But in Venezuela, the strategy ahead of the Oct. 7 vote allegedly has involved not only gentle nudges but also intimidation. Both Chavez and challenger Henrique Capriles are mobilizing hundreds of thousands of supporters and will be keeping a close eye on the polls to make sure the other side doesn't try any tricks.
The opposition, which for the first time chose a single presidential candidate in a primary vote, is mounting its biggest-ever team of more than 200,000 volunteers. They include 117,000 poll monitors, and tens of thousands others who will get Capriles supporters to voting stations, driving them if necessary, said Leopoldo Lopez, Capriles' campaign manager.
Also for the first time, the opposition is assigning volunteers to every one of the country's 14,000 polling centers to watch over the voting, transmit initial results to their headquarters and do post-vote audits of paper receipts printed out by the voting machines, Lopez said. The opposition didn't send witnesses to all voting centers in the last election in 2006, when Chavez won by a wide margin. The president's campaign's better organization was seen as a key advantage.
"We've identified the need to have a presence at the voting tables because in the past we've had a weakness in terms of that presence," Lopez said at a news conference.
Chavez's side comes to the vote with an immediate advantage: a zealous grassroots juggernaut that rallies support for the president even in off-years. For the election, the president's supporters have been divided into "patrols," although Chavez has said some organizers complain they haven't been receiving complete instructions on logistics.
"Transport, logistics, we have to fine-tune all of that," Chavez told a crowd in the western farming state of Portuguesa on Monday. "The great patriotic machinery. That's what I want to underline."
Chavez's campaign machine has been visible in the red tents set up on sidewalks where supporters have been handing out pamphlets. The campaign calls the tents "Red Spots," after the chosen color of Chavez's socialist-inspired movement.
Folk music blared from the speakers at one of the tents on a recent evening in the Caracas district of Chacao, a bastion of opposition support.
"I want to show the world that we're holding a fair and transparent election, and that we're experiencing a true democratic process," said Luis Gustavo Marin, a court security chief. He said that on election day he'll be working as a member of one of the "patrols," visiting polling centers and providing logistical support to pro-Chavez observers.
He said others will be working as "guardians of the revolution" to oversee the voting process and make sure procedures are followed.
National Assembly President Diosdado Cabello, a close ally of the president, said the socialist party will have witnesses at every voting center, and has already been going through its list of supporters.
"We have more than 7 million people who've been contacted already," Cabello said, "with first name, last name, ID number, where they vote and the time they're going to vote, because we're giving each of them a time to vote."
Each die-hard "Chavista" is encouraged to bring 10 others to cast ballots. Out of the country's 29 million people, a total of 18.9 million are registered voters, and Chavez has set a goal of winning 10 million votes.
Chavez has been leading in most polls ahead of the election, with one survey by the pollster Datanalisis showing him with a 10 percent lead this month. That poll, however, also showed that 11 percent of voters didn't reveal a preference.
Another survey by the polling firm Consultores 21 put the two candidates roughly even, with 46.5 percent saying they would vote for Capriles and nearly 46 percent choosing the president. The poll had an error margin of less than 3 percentage points.
The biggest challenge for the opposition is in traditionally pro-Chavez areas such as Caracas' 23 de Enero slum, where heavily armed pro-government groups swear allegiance to the president. Lopez said some of the more than 400 Capriles supporters who've signed up as volunteers in the neighborhood have received death threats.
"It's been hard in the zone where they have the greatest control and threatening presence," one volunteer said of the armed gangs, adding that Capriles supporters have nonetheless stepped forward to join election monitor teams despite the potential danger. She spoke on condition of anonymity, saying she feared for her safety.
The slum is among 278 polling places nationwide where the opposition says there are risks of conflicts and has urged election officials and the military to be on alert to prevent trouble.
Chavez and his supporters deny using coercion or intimidation to sway voters.
Some government opponents have also raised concerns that public employees and other voters who rely on government social programs are being pressured to vote for Chavez.
In fact, one group of Capriles supporters has appeared at his campaign marches wearing paper bags over their heads, saying they need to remain anonymous because they fear losing their government jobs or benefits.
The opposition candidate has called them "Chaca Chaca," an amalgram of Chavez and Capriles' names, and told public employees they have nothing to fear. He's also assured them their votes will be kept secure by the country's electronic balloting system and checks have shown that safeguards are in place to keep ballots secret.
However, some Capriles supporters still express fears that thumbprint readers used at polling centers could intimidate opposition-leaning voters.
Given intense interest in the race, analysts predict a high turnout.
In the last presidential vote in 2006, about 75 percent of registered voters cast ballots. The latest Datanalisis poll found that more than 79 percent said they are "very sure" they will vote on Oct. 7.
At a recent campaign march in the town of Los Teques, hundreds of opposition supporters blew whistles and horns as they paraded through the streets past a red tent where a group of Chavez supporters handed out campaign fliers.
Rafael Carrillo, a Chavez supporter who belongs to the Communist Party of Venezuela, paid little attention to the passing crowd as he danced and loudly sang along with the campaign jingle playing on some nearby speakers.
"We're going to give 10 million votes to our commander," Carrillo said. He said he thinks voting will proceed peacefully but that Chavez's supporters must be organized, including "to detect any type of sabotage" by government opponents.
"We're the majority," he said, "and we're going to show it on the 7th with votes."
TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's top trading house Mitsubishi Corp <8058.T> is expanding its small real estate financing business to benefit from rising property purchases by foreign investors in the country and an expected jump in refinancing of loans, a senior executive said.
Diamond Realty Management Inc, a real estate asset management firm wholly owned by Mitsubishi, aims to raise 10 billion yen ($128 million) from Japanese investors in a second fund as early as March to provide mezzanine financing for deals, Diamond Realty's CEO-designate Takashi Tsuji said in an interview.
Mezzanine loans, subordinated to senior debt provided by banks, are used to stretch the amount of borrowing. They were popular during the pre-2008 crisis property boom in Japan when many assets were bought with highly leveraged financing.
After the property market burst in the financial crisis, many providers of mezzanine loans faded away.
But such financing could be in demand now when the property market in Tokyo has started picking up and foreigners are eyeing buying properties.
Angelo Gordon & Co, the $24 billion New York-based asset manager, bought in June the 13-storey Aoyoma Bell Commons property in Tokyo's posh Aoyama district, while MGPA, an Australian property investment firm, bought eight office buildings in the same month for around 12 billion yen.
"It is true that the Japanese banks are willing to lend money, so senior loans are accessible," said Tsuji, who is currently Diamond Realty's chief operating officer and will become its chief executive in November. The company manages about 550 billion yen in assets.
"However there is still a limit for senior lending when the balance of the loans and property value is considered. Mezzanine loans are instrumental in filling the gap between senior loans and equity."
Diamond Realty will approach Japanese pension funds, regional banks and corporations for the fund-raising, Tsuji said. Its first fund, set up in October last year, also raised a similar amount.
REFINANCING OPPORTUNITIES
Mezzanine loans generate higher returns than senior loans, which is good for investors seeking alternative investments when the stock markets are stagnant and bond yields remain low, Tsuji said.
A large amount of loans maturing would create refinancing needs, Tsuji added.
Moody's Investors Service expected about 500 billion yen of loans, which are repackaged as commercial mortgage backed securities, would mature this year, a reflection of the hangover from the last property boom in 2007 when a record 2 trillion yen of CMBS were issued.
Diamond Realty will also start managing its first private real estate trust next month, which is expected to expand to as large as 250 billion yen in five years, said Tsuji.
The REIT will initially start with three assets in retail, logistics and residential properties, worth 32 billion yen, he said.
Mitsubishi's financial business, which includes real estate financing, posted a net profit of 2.9 billion yen for the three months ended June 30, up nearly six-fold from the same period of the previous year. The whole company's net profit for the latest quarter was 98.1 billion yen. ($1 = 77.6950 Japanese yen)
TVS Motor Company launched its premium executive deluxe 125cc motorcycle, TVS Phoenix 125 in Chennai today. Dubbed by the company to be one of the most exciting products to roll off its lines, TVS Phoenix 125 is targeted at consumers who aspire to upgrade from just commuting to those who crave for a spirited ride experience without compromising on mileage.
TVS Phoenix 125 is loaded with premium features; and backed by an all new, highly refined 125cc EcoThrust engine, that provides excellent pickup with best in class fuel efficiency. The bike promises to be a seamless combination of premium style and comfort with unique, first of its kind features in its segment.
Speaking at the launch, Venu Srinivasan, Chairman, TVS Motor Company said, ?We have developed an all new engine for this motorcycle. It complements several unique features to ensure ?premium ride quality?. With this launch, we hope to increase our market share in the segment. This launch also completes our motorcycle product portfolio.?
TVS Phoenix 125 is equipped with novel features that are usually seen in cars. For the first time in this segment, features such as a fully digital speedometer, backlit in premium amber; a digital fuel gauge, a low battery reminder, a trip meter, service reminder, soft texture grips and soft touch switchgear have been provided. For the first time in India, TVS Phoenix offers car like hazard lamps to enhance added safety for the rider.
Riding comfort of TVS Phoenix 125 has been maximized by way of five-step adjustable ?series spring? suspension, high response damper and ergonomically positioned handle bar for superior riding control.
Engineered to magnify the joy of riding, TVS Phoenix 125 is equipped with EcoThrust technology: dynamic tuning which regulates the flow of petrol to deliver optimum combination of power and fuel economy. This facilitates superior pickup while delivering lower fuel consumption. An electric start fires up the 4 speed powertrain of TVS Phoenix 125 to churn out 11 PS of power@ 8000 rpm.
TVS Phoenix 125 has highest power to weight ratio in this segment. This aids in best combination of pickup and high fuel economy of over 67 kmpl under standard riding conditions.
?We expect TVS Phoenix to get a fillip with the festival season coming up and are targeting sales of around fifteen thousand per month.? Srinivasan added.
Vibrant graphics accentuate the elegant styling of TVS Phoenix 125, which comes in five dual tone colours namely Moroccan Red, Alaskan Green, Helsinki Black Silver, Belgian Black Red and Oxford Grey. Features like aircraft inspired decals, rotopetal disc brake, LED pilot lamps, an all-black engine, alloy wheels and a stitched dual texture, high density comfort cushion seat with premium upholstery increase the style quotient of the motorcycle.
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