Flippa.com Announces Inaugural Flippie Awards

Flippie Award recognizes the best websites sales of 2012.

San Francisco, CA and Melbourne, AUS (PRWEB) January 02, 2013
Flippa.com, the #1 marketplace for buying and selling websites, has launched its first annual Flippie Awards, kicking off 2013 by honoring some of the best sites sold in 2012.
Nominated websites were chosen from over 29,000 websites and domains that were sold on Flippa.com in 2012. The Flippie Committee chose sites based on the level of interest they attracted from website buyers, as well as quality factors such as monetization, content and uniqueness.
With 5 separate categories, sites and domains in various industries will be honored with a Flippie. All of the sites nominated were sold on Flippa where more than $22 million in websites were sold 2012.
The categories for the Flippie Awards are:

Best Ecommerce Site

Best Site Content Idea

Best Blog

Best Site Monetization

Best Web/Mobile App

Best Domain Listing
Each category has 5 nominated sites competing for the award. The site that garners the most votes in all categories combined will also win the Flippie for Best Overall Site.
“Our sellers are the key to our thriving marketplace, and we wanted to acknowledge that by showing off some of the best websites and domain names we've sold in 2012,” stated Dave Slutzkin, CEO of Flippa. “It was a tough job! Our dedicated team diligently sorted through the tens of thousands of sites and domains sold on Flippa in the past year, representing over $20 million in sales. They've come up with some really fantastic sites for our first annual Flippie Awards.”
Voting begins on January 2nd and ends at midnight EST on January 30th. The winners will be announced February 4th, 2013. To see all the nominated sites, prizes, and fineprint; please visit blog.flippa.com/flippies.
About us:
Launched in 2009, Flippa is the #1 marketplace for buying and selling websites. Each month, over $2 million in websites and domains are traded on Flippa. Over 29,000 sites, valued at more than $22 million, were sold on Flippa in 2012 alone. The most notable of these included Mark Zuckerberg’s Facemash.com as well as iPhone application Taptivate.com, news site Inquisitr.com, and Pinterest analytics site PinReach.com.

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AES International welcomes James McLeod as General Counsel

AES International is delighted to announce the arrival of James McLeod, who joins the Board as General Counsel. As AES continues to grow and expand, James will play a pivotal role in ensuring the company maintains its commitment to export UK best practice to the international marketplace.

London, UK (PRWEB UK) 2 January 2013
As General Counsel, James McLeod is responsible for the Corporate Governance and Risk Management at AES International. This involves the oversight of all regulatory, administrative and legal matters within the many jurisdictions in which AES operates to make sure that the highest standards are upheld, regardless of jurisdiction.
AES International CEO Sam Instone commented, 'As independent specialists licensed to provide investment and insurance advice in 34 jurisdictions, AES International has a truly global perspective and we are always looking for people of the highest calibre to join us in our mission to positively change international financial services. James has that quality, and as an Investors in People Gold firm we are thrilled to welcome him into a supportive and progressive environment in which he can build on the great work we are already doing.'
A Classics graduate from Oriel College, Oxford, James was commissioned in 1985 into the Scots Guards, serving in multiple overseas theatres. Following his military service, James worked in the Ministry of Defence, and then qualified as a solicitor in 2003. Working initially as an Associate in the Employment and Pensions Department at S J Berwin LLP, he later moved to specialist positions at both Herbert Smith LLP and Squire Sanders (UK) LLP.
Having such a wide breadth of experience and expertise, James is passionate about ensuring AES delivers the very highest possible standards to both its advisers and clients in accordance with the AES cultural values of integrity, respect, teamwork, knowledge and professionalism. He is committed to enabling a transparent, trusted and well-governed organisation to positively change the international marketplace.
Outside the office, James practices seiko karate, is a keen traveller and has extensive charitable interests including fundraising through organising and participating in long-distance cycle rides. James is a member of the Association of Pension Lawyers and the Law Society and is a solicitor registered in England and Wales.
About AES International
AES is the fastest-growing UK financial services business for both 2011 and 2012, as recognised by the Sunday Times Virgin Fast Track 100.
AES International is the trading style of a multi-award winning financial services group that is licensed for investment and insurance business in over 34 jurisdictions worldwide and is owned by AES International Global PLC.
The company’s approach is strongly differentiated from its peers. As multi-award winning independent specialists with a global perspective, AES seeks to export UK best practice into the international marketplace, focusing on quality; both in terms of the advisers they recruit and the service they provide. Their values-driven approach is reflected in their unique Partnership Charter, which brings peace of mind and security to partners and clients alike.
AES International seeks to bring positive change to international financial services and specialises in multi-jurisdictional, cross border, inpatriate, expatriate, and non-domiciled insurance and investment services. This means they deliver professional services to international private client advisers, wealth managers, and other financial services firms who serve internationally mobile professionals, offshore clients/trusts and the expatriate sector.
The firm delivers three market leading value propositions to those intermediaries and businesses with whom they partner. These enable their partners and agents to help their respective clients understand, build and protect their assets.
Specialities:
International Wealth Management, Protecting your Family and International Insurance, Investment Services, Emigration and Immigration Services, International Pension and Retirement Planning, International Financial Planning.

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Brian Su to Discuss Potential Impact of Chinese Visa Retrogression at Dallas EB-5 Seminar

Brian Su, CEO of Artisan Business Group, Inc., is to discuss potential impact of Chinese visa retrogression at Dallas EB-5 Finance Seminar January 16, 2013.

Dallas, TX (PRWEB) January 02, 2013
Brian Su, CEO of Artisan Business Group, Inc., is to discuss potential impact of Chinese visa retrogression at Dallas EB-5 Seminar January 16, 2013. The proposed visa "cap" to Chinese investors will have a major impact on EB-5 marketplace.
Marked by past success, the EB-5 program has been extended and Artisan Business Group is pleased to be offering the 2013 EB-5 Finance Seminar Tour. This Tour, unlike past events, will provide an excellent experience that will allow for the expansion of knowledge and exposure to the expertise necessary to develop and successfully execute business and investment projects with the EB-5 immigrant investor program.
The US real estate developers and businesses realizes the difficulty that can be associated with successfully executing a business project without sufficient capital and funding. Funding becomes a major issue in the US financial market last three years. The EB-5 finance workshop will advise US project developers on utilizing EB-5 alternative finance. Individuals interested in the EB-5 immigrant investor program are encouraged to attend, including, but not limited to: investors, project developers, attorneys, economist, consulting firms, real estate developers, regional center executives, and governmental officials.
Greenberg Traurig's Business Immigration and Compliance Group is a full-service business immigration practice representing businesses, organizations, and individuals from around the world on a wide range of EB-5 related matters. The firm’s practice has achieved international recognition for legal advocacy, results-oriented service, and responsiveness to its clients. The Greenberg Traurig Business Immigration and Compliance Group works hand-in-hand with its partners in the Securities, Corporate, and Tax practices to develop customized solutions for EB-5 clients. The Greenberg Traurig EB-5 Team has worked with numerous developers and business owners to assist them in raising EB-5 capital for investment projects. Services provided include applications to designate new regional centers; applications for pre-approval of projects within regional centers; having projects adopted by existing regional centers; and purchasing USCIS-designated regional centers. Greenberg Traurig, LLP, is an international, full-service law firm with approximately 1750 attorneys serving clients from 35 offices in the United States, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia.
Artisan Business Group, Inc., is a leading US China cross border investment and business advisory firm headquartered in Springfield, IL, with clients throughout the country. For more information about the upcoming tour, log on: http://www.EB5NewsBlog.org

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Microsoft lashes out at Google’s decision to spurn Windows Phone

Dave Heiner, vice president and deputy general counsel for Microsoft (MSFT), took aim at Google (GOOG) and the company’s unwillingness to develop for Windows Phone 8 in a blog post on Wednesday. Heiner claims that, “Google continues to prevent Microsoft from offering consumers a fully featured YouTube app [among other] for the Windows Phone.” Microsoft has been apparently been trying to get a full-feature YouTube app for its Windows Phone operating system for more than two years, however it has been unsuccessful.
[More from BGR: ‘iPhone 5S’ to reportedly launch by June with multiple color options and two different display sizes]
Despite the fact that the Windows Phone Marketplace has doubled in the past year, Google has not yet produced any quality apps for the platform. The company previously said that it will not be launching a native Gmail or Google Drive app for Windows 8 or Windows Phone until people start using the operating systems.

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NewsWatch Features ProCamera HD on it's National Television Show as Part of AppWatch

NewsWatch, a nationwide television show, recently aired a news segment about “ProCamera HD”, a new camera app. The segment aired as part of “AppWatch”, a weekly review of the top apps in the marketplace.

Washington, DC (PRWEB) January 03, 2013
NewsWatch, a nationwide television show, recently aired a news segment about “ProCamera HD”, a new camera app. The segment aired as part of AppWatch, a weekly review of the top apps in the marketplace.
ProCamera is a full-featured 5-in-1 app that has still camera and video, photo editing tools, social networking support, and camera related utilities. ProCamera sets the standard as the most professional camera app with its high-end features and has gotten numerous awards. ProCamera HD for iPad was released recently as the first full-featured iPad camera replacement app and has been a big success worldwide.
Included in the new app, users have access to: ProCamera Lightbox to save, export and delete photos within the app; QuickFlick for going immediately to albums and settings; 100% stability and blazing fast performance; adjustable capture format, including 16:9, 4:3, 3:2, 1:1,; and Anti-Shake Image Stabilizer for photo and video.
ProCamera HD also comes with professional editing capabilities. Using the Pro Lab Studio users can make real-time tonal curve correction; as well as adjust brightness, contrast, gamma, saturation, color temperature, and shadows.
For more information or to download the “ProCamera HD” app, head to their iTunes Page.
About Cocologics

Cocologics is a professional startup and has become the technological leader for mobile photography software on iOS. Committed to sustainability, Cocologics develops cutting-edge software solutions, which meet the highest demands in quality, aesthetics and simplicity.
NewsWatch is a weekly 30-minute consumer oriented television show that airs on the ION Network Thursday mornings at 5:30am across the nation. NewsWatch regularly features top travel destinations, health tips, technology products, medical breakthroughs and entertainment news on the show. A recent addition to NewsWatch, AppWatch is a weekly segment that provides viewers app reviews and game reviews of the latest and hottest apps and games out on the market for iOS and Android devices. The show airs in 180 markets nationwide as well as all of the top 20 broadcast markets in the country, and is the preferred choice for Satellite Media Tour and Video News Release Distribution.

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Iran says defeats cyber attack on industrial sites

DUBAI (Reuters) - An Internet virus attacked computers at industrial sites in southern Iran, in an apparent extension of a covert cyber war that initially targeted the country's nuclear facilities, an Iranian official said.
Iran, the world's No. 5 oil exporter, has tightened online security since its uranium enrichment centrifuges were hit in 2010 by the Stuxnet computer worm, which Tehran believes was planted by arch-adversaries Israel or the United States.
The unit tasked with fighting cyber attacks, the Passive Defence Organisation, said a virus had infected several sites in Hormozgan province in recent months but was neutralised.
"Enemies are constantly attacking Iran's industrial units through Internet networks in order to create disruptions," Ali Akbar Akhavan, head of the Hormozgan branch of the organisation, was quoted as saying by the Iranian Students' News Agency on Tuesday.
"This virus has even penetrated some manufacturing industries in Hormozgan province, but with timely measures and the cooperation of skilled hackers in the province, the progress of this virus was halted," Akhavan said.
"As an example, the Bandar Abbas Tavanir Co., a producer of electricity in the province and even adjacent provinces, has been the target of Internet attacks in recent months," he said.
Bandar Abbas is the capital of Hormozgan province on Iran's southern coast and home to an oil refinery and container port.
Israeli officials have threatened military action against Iranian nuclear facilities if Western sanctions on Tehran's banking and oil sectors do not persuade the Islamic Republic to shelve its disputed atomic program.
Western powers suspect Iran is trying to develop the means to produce nuclear weapons. Tehran says it is enriching uranium only for civilian energy.
Iranian authorities said in April that a computer virus was detected inside the control systems of Kharg Island - which handles the vast majority of Iran's crude oil exports - but the terminal had remained operational.
Cyber attackers also slowed Iran's Internet and attacked its offshore oil and gas platforms this year, Iranian officials have said.

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Iran media report new cyberattack by Stuxnet worm

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — An Iranian semi-official news agency says there has been another cyberattack by the sophisticated computer worm Stuxnet, this time on the industries in the country's south.
Tuesday's report by ISNA quotes provincial civil defense chief Ali Akbar Akhavan as saying the virus targeted a power plant and some other industries in Hormozgan province in recent months.
Akhavan says Iranian computer experts were able to "successfully stop" the worm.
Iran has repeatedly claimed defusing cyber worms and malware, including Stuxnet and Flame viruses that targeted the vital oil sector, which provides 80 percent of the country's foreign revenue.
Tehran has said both worms are part of a secret U.S.-Israeli program that seeks to destabilize Iran's nuclear program.
The West suspects Iran is pursuing a nuclear weapons program, a charge Tehran denies.

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Phablet wars heat up with ZTE’s quad-core Nubia Z5

2013 is shaping up to be the year of the “phablet” with virtually ever major handset maker preparing to challenge Samsung’s (005930) impressive Galaxy Note lineup. While there’s no clear definition on how large a phablet is, most tend to have screens that hover in the 5-inch range, though Huawei’s upcoming 6.1-inch smartphone will only push that boundary. ZTE’s newly announced Nubia Z5 packs a 5-inch display with full-HD 1,920 x 1,080 resolution, an aluminum case, a 1.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM, 32GB of internal storage, a 13-megapixel rear, a 2-megapixel front camera, Dolby sound and Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. It even edges out HTC’s (2498) slim DROID DNA in terms of size with slightly thinner dimensions and a larger battery: 2,300 mAh versus the DNA’s 2,020 mAh. The only deal-breaker is the Nubia Z5 likely won’t be available in the U.S., but importers drooling over its specs can pick one up in China for about $554.

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Hacker Fears Are Seriously Messing with the Oscars' Online Voting

So what happens if the Academy is too scared to cast Oscar ballots this year? It's not an entirely outlandish scenario, with the nominations less than two weeks away and reports screaming out of Hollywood that the awards' attempt at going digital may already be backfiring. Both the Hollywood Reporter and Deadline have semi-detailed accounts today of the surprising flaws within the Academy's new online voting system, and both conclude that it's so worried about hackers rigging  the Oscars that it's become difficult for the (increasingly aging) members to pick their actual favorites.
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The Academy enlisted Everyone Counts — an electronic voting company whose clients include the U.S. Department of Defense and the U.K.'s Ministry of Justice — back in January to help develop a secure system for voting online. Maybe too secure. Pete Hammond of Deadline writes that the system is "so loaded with specific safeguards and military-type encryption methods to keep hackers and imposters out that it is causing extreme frustration for some of those who have tried to vote." One member joked (we think) to The Hollywood Reporter's Scott Feinberg that "it's easier to break into the CIA." Everyone Counts, as a CNN article about online voting in political contests noted, "uses 'military-grade encryption' for its ballots, and can also provide a paper trail for clients who want it, [CEO Lori] Steele says."
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Feinberg and Hammond both detail the new Oscar voting process, which includes forcing members to create an elaborate second password (beyond the one for main access to the Academy's site) and enter a security code that arrives via phone call or text message. Which sounds kind of like, say, resetting your online banking password, but remember, as Feinberg notes, the Los Angeles Times found that 54 percent of Oscar voters are over 60. Though certainly not all people over the age of 60 are computer illiterate, Feinberg himself pointed out in January that "the full story is that more than a few members don't even have computers and/or know how to use the Internet, which would preclude them not only from streaming screeners, but also from filling out an e-ballot." There have been efforts to include voters who don't want to turn to the Internet, but now, amidst all the bubbling frustration, there's worry that some members will just give up altogether.
RELATED: And This Year's Best-Picture Nominations (Might) Go to...
Voting for nominees closes January 3, and, as Hammond writes, the Academy is so secretive about this stuff that we may never get a good sense of turnout anyway. But we can't help but wonder: If the Oscar voting pool's majority contingent of old white men gets diminished, does that mean some films could sneak to glory? Does it mean old white men-centric contenders for Best Picture like, say, Lincoln could suffer? Or could The Master, a favorite with the younger oddball set, or — gasp! — awards-season underdog Beasts of the Southern Wild break free? We'll just have to wait and count the e-ballots, we guess.

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McAfee’s 2013 predictions: Mobile malware threats will grow, Anonymous will fade

Security firm McAfee Labs released its annual Threat Predictions report this week, highlighting the potential malware, viruses and other security concerns we may see in 2013. The firm says that with the rise of more advanced mobile devices, smartphones and tablets will become an even larger focus for cybercriminals. This past year we saw a number of high-profile attacks from the hacktivist group Anonymous that had the National Security Agency on edge, however McAfee Labs believes the group will begin to decline due to “incoordination and competition” from more politically-motivated hackers. It has also been predicted that the threat of large-scale attacks such as Stuxnet, which is believed to have taken down Iran’s computer infrastructure earlier this year, will increase as well.

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