BC Law School gets Thomas More statue

Boston College Law School yesterday hosted a dedication ceremony for a newly installed sculpture of St. Thomas More that was donated by a family that is known for its generosity throughout the city of Boston.

The statue is the latest gift from the Privitera family who has given statues to the Dante Alighieri Cultural Society in Cambridge and the Sacred Heart Church in the North End. There is also a scholarship and award in their name at the law school.

The sculpture of St. Thomas More, who was a lawyer, author and councilor to Henry VIII of England, was made by Bolivian-born Pablo Eduardo, who now lives in Gloucester.

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Jury gives Apple $120M, Samsung $158G in patent fight

A California jury yesterday awarded Apple $120 million and Samsung $158,000 after finding both companies infringed each other's smartphone patents.

The damages awarded to the two tech giants paled in comparison to what each had sought. Samsung Electronics Co. sued for 
$6 million after arguing that Apple had infringed on two patents related to camera use and video transmission, while Apple sought $2.2 billion after accusing Samsung of infringing on five patents covering universal searching, quick linking, automatic word correction and background syncing and slide-to-lock functions.

"This is a victory for Samsung, in my view, as it sought to downplay the patents' real value," said N. Venkat Venkatraman, a Boston University professor of management. "Clearly, the jury has sided with the arguments forwarded by Samsung's lawyers that Apple's patents are not worth as much."

The verdict marked the latest intellectual property battle between the world's top two smartphone makers.

Two years ago, another jury ordered Samsung to pay Apple $930 million after finding it had used Apple technology to create older-generation devices. Samsung is appealing that verdict.

"You'd like to think what they'll learn is this continuous patent litigation is not going to deliver the clear verdict either sought," said Van Baker, an analyst at Gartner. "The Samsung award probably won't even cover the company's legal fees. You would hope this would lead both of them to settle their differences and come to a cross-licensing agreement."

Herald wire services contributed to this report.

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Cambridge co. seeks FDA OK for cancer drug

A Cambridge company plans to seek federal regulatory approval this year for a new drug to treat pancreatic cancer after positive late-stage trial results were announced this week.

Merrimack Pharmaceuticals said its MM-398 drug, used in combination with two chemotherapy drugs, improved the average survival rate of patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer. The rate extended to 6.1 months — 1.9 months longer than when the other two drugs were used alone — for those who previously received gemcitabine-based therapy.

"Given that there have only been a handful of successful Phase 3 trials in pancreatic cancer in the past 25 years, it is gratifying to have the first positive Phase 3 trial in the post-gemcitabine setting," CEO Robert Mulroy said in a statement.

There are only three FDA-approved treatments for pancreatic cancer, which is the fourth leading cause of cancer death in the United States with a 6 percent five-year survival rate, according to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network.

Shares of Merrimack fell 8 percent yesterday to $6.43, after soaring to a 52-week high of $7.65 on Thursday, when the company also reported a $27.8 million quarterly loss and said it has enough cash to get it into 2015.

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Mass. ahead of U.S. rebound

Massachusetts employers increasingly have been more confident about hiring, reflecting the nearly 300,000 jobs added nationally last month — the most in two years.

"We're moving out of the post-recession into the post-recovery," said Andre Mayer, senior adviser at Associated Industries of Massachusetts. "We already have been seeing the improved hiring picture reflected in the latest national numbers."

U.S. employers added a robust 288,000 jobs in April, the strongest evidence to date that the economy is picking up after a brutal winter slowed growth.

The Labor Department also said yesterday that the national unemployment rate sank to 6.3 percent, its lowest level since September 2008, from 6.7 percent in March.

Massachusetts numbers for April have not yet been released. But in March, unemployment was already at 6.3 percent after falling for the third consecutive month, and employment hit a record high, with about 3.4 million people holding jobs.

Jon B. Hurst, president of the Retailers Association of Massachusetts, said increasing consumer confidence and spending are fueling hiring.

"The challenge is that the job growth is still more concentrated in Greater Boston — other parts of the state are still seeing higher unemployment rates — and the unemployment rate masks the still large number of discouraged workers," said Daniel Hodge, director of economic and public policy research at the UMass Donahue Institute. "But in general, the economic news and trends appear to be quite positive for both the U.S. and Massachusetts."

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House OKs direct wine shipments

Residents are one step closer to getting wine shipped from out of state to their doorstep after House lawmakers approved a proposal that was included as an amendment to the state budget.

"We overcame a large hurdle, having one branch of the Legislature pass (the bill)," said Theodore Speliotis (D-Danvers), who filed a similar bill. "It has a good chance, but I think it's still a work in progress."

Free The Grapes, a nationwide organization of wineries that has been pushing for direct shipments to the Bay State, applauded the move.

"This is a big step in the right direction," said Jeremy Benson, a spokesman for the group.

Massachusetts consumes the 7th largest amount of wine in the country, but is one of nine states that ban direct shipment.

One of the most high profile supporters of the change is former Patriots quarterback Drew Bledsoe, who now runs a winery in Washington state and lobbied for the change at the State House last year.

The measure would require wineries to purchase a shipping license and bar delivery to anyone under the age of 21. It still needs approval from the state Senate.

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MGH overcharges Medicare

Massachusetts General Hospital overcharged Medicare by $1.18 million, according to a federal review of a sample of claims the hospital filed.

Of the 590 inpatient and outpatient claims the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General examined, 453, or 77 percent, did not fully comply with Medicare billing requirements, resulting in net overpayments of $1.18 million from 2009 to 2012, according to an April OIG report.

"Medicare waste ... is a huge concern for seniors and taxpayers in general," said Becky Reeves, a spokeswoman for the nonprofit American Coalition for Healthcare Claims Integrity. "We're trying to raise awareness about the extent of waste in the system."

In a statement last night, Sally Mason Boemer, MGH's senior vice president for finance, said: "MGH has submitted detailed plans of correction in those areas in which errors were found."

However, a hospital spokesman could not say whether MGH has repaid or made plans to repay Medicare for the over-charges.

OIG reports over the past three years have found similar patterns at other Boston-area hospitals. Brigham and Women's Hospital led with $1.51 million in overcharges, followed by St. Elizabeth's Medical Center with $1.2 million, Tufts Medical Center with $1.08 million, North Shore Hospital with $816,003, Boston Medical Center with $612,000 and South Shore Hospital with $341,033.

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TD Garden shows off $70M redo plan

TD Garden representatives yesterday unveiled new details of a planned two-year, $70 million renovation at the Hub sports venue, showing off plans for an overhaul of the Legends Club, as well as upgrades to the concourses and an expansion of the pro shop.

"From a fan experience, from a technology, from a food service standpoint, we have all these opportunities," Amy Latimer, president of TD Garden, said of the membership-only club. "We're really going to just gut the whole place."

Legends, which houses the Courtside Club, will be expanded by 35 percent, and feature new food choices, a more modern design and improved technology, including a 55-foot media wall and "Mediamesh," a metal fabric interwoven with LEDs.

The current buffet will be replaced with made-to-order food, including a brick oven and a raw bar.

The design will be a "sleeker, updated look," Latimer said. "We want to give (the fans) the offerings that they're looking for."

One thing that won't change — the original Boston Garden marquee sign will remain in the club. And the floor will feature former players' retired numbers.

Latimer said other upgrades, including Wi-Fi, will enhance the TD Garden experience for all fans. She declined to go into details, but said some of the things being considered include adding merchandise and food ordering from mobile devices once Wi-Fi installation is complete.

Funded by Delaware North Cos., owner of TD Garden, the renovation will update the nearly 20-year-old TD Garden's look to a more modern design. Construction will begin immediately after the Bruins' season ends.

Latimer said incentives have been put in place with the contractor to ensure projects finish on schedule.

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Nike CEO: Converse steps up

There's no regret from Nike when it comes to its $305 million purchase of North Andover-based Converse in 2003.

"It's an important part of Nike," CEO Mark Parker said yesterday. "It's been one of the best acquisitions we've made."

Revenue for Converse Inc., the 106-year-old maker of the iconic Chuck Taylor All Star sneakers, climbed 16 percent to $420 million in the last quarter, Nike reported in March, after 9 percent growth to $1.44 billion in the past fiscal year.

Converse is moving its headquarters to Boston's Lovejoy Wharf early next year, and Parker said the subsidiary's 400-strong employee base can be expected to grow in step with its revenue.

Nike Inc. had $23.5 billion in total revenue last year and enjoys an industry-dominating 48 percent market share for its namesake brand. Parker — who joined Nike in 1979 as a shoe designer in Exeter, N.H., and has been CEO of the Oregon company since 2006 — spoke at Boston College Chief Executives' Club of Boston. Here's some of what he had to say:

• On one of China's biggest strikes ever this month at Nike footwear manufacturer Yue Yuen Industrial Holdings over Yue Yuen's contributions to employee benefits: Nike had been communicating with Yue Yuen and urging it to resolve the issues as soon as possible. "We want to invest in the partners that are really doing the right thing with the workforce. We didn't move product out in this case, but we stayed close to it. We have a factory base where we can move product around as we need to make sure that we don't have issues with production."

• On NBA Commissioner Adam Silver's league ban of Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling for racist remarks: "Adam Silver did a remarkable job. He did it decisively and quickly. There's no room for discrimination."

• On the possibility of U.S.-made Nike shoes: Nike is investing heavily in manufacturing innovation and, as technology advances, there's an opportunity for a U.S. manufacturing base.

• On Nike athletes: They're not simply "billboards" for the Nike "Swoosh." Nike works closely with them to gain insight that drives innovation. It "listens to the voice of the athlete." When working with athletes of golfer Tiger Woods' caliber, "You don't innovate just for the sake of change. You innovate to change the outcome."

• One of his most important roles as CEO: Being an editor. "By editing, we can actually amplify the power of what we do."

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Economy is expected to improve as year progresses

WASHINGTON — The economy likely stumbled at the start of this year, but there's probably little reason to worry: Economists foresee a solid rebound with the end of a harsh winter.

The Commerce Department on Wednesday will issue the first of three estimates of how fast the economy grew in the January-March quarter. The expectation is that growth slowed to an annual rate of around 1.1 percent, a lackluster pace that would be sharply down from a 2.6 percent annual growth rate in the previous quarter.

Economists think the first-quarter slump, caused in large part by the severe winter, will give way to stronger growth that should endure through the rest of the year.

Most analysts say a bounce-back in consumer spending, business investment and job growth will lift growth in the second quarter.

In fact, many say 2014 will be the year the recovery from the Great Recession finally achieves the robust growth that's needed to accelerate hiring and reduce still-high unemployment.

Analysts think annual economic growth has rebounded to around 3 percent in the current April-June quarter and will remain roughly that strong through the second half of the year.

If that proves accurate, the economy will have produced the fastest annual expansion in the gross domestic product, the broadest gauge of the economy's health, in nine years. The last time growth was so strong was in 2005, when GDP grew 3.4 percent, two years before the nation fell into the worst recession since the 1930s.

A group of economists surveyed this month by The Associated Press said they expected unemployment to fall to 6.2 percent by the end of this year from 6.7 percent in March.

One reason for the optimism is that a drag on growth last year from higher taxes and deep federal spending cuts has been diminishing. A congressional budget truce has also lifted any imminent threat of another government shutdown. As a result, businesses may find it easier to commit to investments to modernize and expand production facilities and boost hiring.

State and local governments, which have benefited from a rebound in tax revenue, are hiring again as well.

A survey by the private Conference Board released Tuesday found that while U.S. consumer confidence dipped this month, many people foresee a strengthening economy in the months ahead.

Joel Naroff, chief economist at Naroff Economic Advisors, said he expects job growth to average above 200,000 a month for the rest of the year — starting with the April jobs report, which will be released Friday.

"Those are the types of job gains which will generate incomes and consumer confidence going forward," Naroff said.

Naroff said solid job growth should lead consumers, who drive about 70 percent of the U.S. economy, to boost spending. He expects pent-up demand from purchases that were put off during the harsh winter to power a burst of growth in the April-June quarter. He thinks annual growth for the quarter will reach a vigorous 4.3 percent.

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Apple versus Samsung case goes to California jury

SAN JOSE, Calif. — After listening to a month's worth of testimony from expert witnesses hired by Apple and Samsung as well as executives from each company, a Silicon Valley jury of four men and four women were tasked with sorting out the latest legal dispute over technology between the world's two largest smartphone makers.

Apple is demanding Samsung pay it $2.2 billion after accusing the South Korean company of infringing five software patents related to smartphones. Samsung denies the claims and counters that Apple owes it a little more than $6 million for infringing two of its patents.

The jury began deliberating late Tuesday and left at 4:30 p.m. PDT without reaching a verdict. The jurors are scheduled to resume deliberations Tuesday morning in San Jose.

A lawyer for Apple on Tuesday accused Samsung of copying key features of its iPhone and iPad products and demanded $2.2 billion in damages.

An attorney for Samsung denied the allegations and argued that its Google-developed software differs from Apple's operating system.

In his closing argument, lawyer William Price referred to an email from Apple founder Steve Jobs indicating that he had ordered employees to wage a "holy war" against Google and its Android system, believing it was a rip-off of Apple's operating system.

Price said that was the sole reason Apple filed the lawsuit against Samsung.

"We don't think we owe Apple a nickel," added John Quinn, one of four Samsung lawyers involved in the company's closing argument.

Quinn also said Apple wants to monopolize the industry.

"They want to attack Google and Android by attacking the most successful Android maker," he said.

Apple lawyer Harold McElhinny told jurors that Samsung's "illegal strategy has been wildly successful" and insisted that Google had nothing to do with the case.

"Despite all the times Samsung mentioned it, you will not find a single question about Google in your jury form," McElhinny said. "Google is not a defendant in this case."

Google spokesman Matt Kallman declined comment on the proceedings.

The four men and four women on the jury began deliberating later in the day.

The case marks the latest legal fight between Samsung and Apple as each tries to dominate the $330 billion annual market for smartphones.

Samsung has captured about 31 percent of the smartphone market while Apple retains a 15 percent share.

A different jury in San Jose presiding over a previous trial regarding older technology ordered Samsung to pay Apple $930 million. Samsung has appealed that ruling.

Google may not be a defendant in the current trial, but evidence introduced by Apple attorneys showed the Internet search giant has agreed to reimburse Samsung if the South Korean company is ordered to pay damages on two of the five patents at issue.

In addition, Samsung lawyers called three Google engineers to the witness stand to testify.

The trial involves five Apple patents that the company accuses Samsung of using to create nine newer smartphones and a tablet. The features in question include slide-to-lock, universal searching, quick linking, background syncing and automatic word correction.

Samsung, meanwhile, has alleged that Apple infringed two of its patents related to camera use and video transmission. Samsung is seeking $6.2 million in damages.

Jobs, who died in 2011, is a Silicon Valley legend revered for launching Apple in his family's garage in 1976. The Cupertino headquarters of the tech giant is a 15-mile (25-kilometer) drive from the San Jose federal courthouse where the patent case is playing.

Prospective jurors were closely questioned before the trial about connections and views about Apple, which employs about 80,000 workers worldwide.

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New Tufts dental clinic opens for special needs

WORCESTER  — The Tufts University School of Dental Medicine is opening a new clinic in Worcester, Mass. for patients with special needs.

The dental facility which opens on Wednesday focuses on providing oral health care to those who have behavioral and intellectual disabilities.

Tufts research from 2012 shows that people with special needs are more likely to have poor oral health including gum disease, untreated tooth decay and missing teeth because of a lack of specialized care. They say those with behavioral or anxiety issues require specific resources and techniques not available in most dental offices.

The school runs eight clinics across the state — including in Canton, Taunton, and Springfield — which serve about 7,000 people a year.

The first clinic opened its doors in 1976.

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Insurer WellPoint's 1Q profit falls 21 pct

INDIANAPOLIS — WellPoint Inc.'s first-quarter net income fell 21 percent but topped Wall Street expectations, and the nation's second-largest health insurer once again raised its 2014 forecast.

The Indianapolis company said Wednesday that the health care overhaul and its coverage expansions were a key reason for the drop compared to last year. The federal overhaul expanded coverage to millions of people starting this year but also enacted taxes and fees, as well as changes to how insurers write their coverage.

Those changes led to insurance coverage with richer benefits and higher costs at the start of the year, spokeswoman Kristin Binns said. Those higher costs came from items like the law's requirement for complete coverage of preventive services and from plans with lower deductibles, which don't encourage patients to hold off on using their insurance.

Deductibles are the amount a patient has to pay out of pocket before most insurance coverage starts. With high deductible plans, insurers typically see a rise in claims or expenses at the end of the year as customers pay off their deductibles and then rush to use their coverage before that deductible resets in the new year.

The insurer's general and administrative expenses climbed 28 percent to $2.49 billion in the quarter in part because of these factors, Binns said.

Overall, WellPoint earned $701 million, or $2.40 per share, in the three months that ended March 31. That's down from $885.2 million, or $2.89 per share, in last year's quarter. Earnings excluding one-time items totaled $2.30 per share.

Operating revenue climbed slightly to $17.64 billion. That excludes investment gains or losses.

Analysts, who typically exclude one-time items from their estimates, expected earnings of $2.10 per share on $17.95 billion in revenue, according to FactSet.

WellPoint Inc. now expects 2014 adjusted earnings to be greater than $8.40 per share. Analysts had forecast $8.41 per share.

The insurer runs Blue Cross Blue Shield plans in 14 states, including California and New York.

Its shares finished at $95.39 on Tuesday. They have risen just over 3 percent so far this year.

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Gas up 8 cents per gallon in Mass.

BOSTON — The cost of fueling a car in Massachusetts continues to soar, with gas up another 8 cents per gallon in the past week.

AAA Southern New England reports Monday that self-serve, regular jumped to an average of $3.68 per gallon.

That's 17 cents higher than just a month ago, but still 2 cents below the national per-gallon average.

Gas was 26 cents lower per gallon at this time last year.

AAA found self-serve, regular selling for as low as $3.56 per gallon to as high as $3.89.

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Users bemoan e-cigarette bans in NYC, Chicago

NEW YORK — Laws in New York and Chicago making electronic cigarettes subject to the same regulations as tobacco are taking effect, and their sellers and users are steadfast in their opposition.

The New York ban — along with the measure in Chicago, one that previously went into effect in Los Angeles and federal regulations proposed last week — are keeping debate smoldering among public health officials, the e-cigarette industry and users.

Proponents of the bans which began Tuesday say they are aimed at preventing the re-acceptance of smoking as a societal norm, particularly among teenagers who could see the tobacco-free electronic cigarettes, with their candy-like flavorings and celebrity endorsers, as a gateway to cancer-causing tobacco products.

Dr. Thomas Farley, the New York City health commissioner under former Mayor Michael Bloomberg, says allowing electronic cigarettes in bars and restaurants would undermine existing bans on tobacco-based products.

"Imagine for a moment you're at a bar and there are 20 people who are puffing on something that looks like a cigarette and then somebody smells something that smells like tobacco smoke," Farley says. "How's the bartender going to know who to tap on the shoulder and say, 'Put that out'?"

Makers of the devices say marketing them as e-cigarettes has confused lawmakers into thinking they are the same as tobacco-based cigarettes. They say the bans ostracize people who want an alternative to tobacco products and will be especially hard on ex-smokers who are being lumped into the same smoking areas as tobacco users.

Their defenders also say they're a good way to quit tobacco, even though science is murky on the claim.

Peter Denholtz, the chief executive and co-founder of the Henley Vaporium in Manhattan, says electronic cigarettes "could be the greatest invention of our lifetime in terms of saving lives" by moving smokers away from traditional cigarettes.

"This law just discourages that," he says.

Chris Jehly, a 31-year-old Brooklyn resident, also defended the devices as a vehicle for quitting.

"The tougher they're going to make it on vapers, the tougher it is people are going to find an actual vehicle for quitting or as a supplement to cigarettes," Jehly said from his perch at the counter at Henley. "There's no need for it. This is working so much better than patches or gum or prescription drugs."

Robin Koval, chief executive of the anti-smoking Legacy Foundation, said that while ingredients in electronic cigarettes are not as harmful as those in tobacco products, they are still a concern because they contain highly addictive nicotine. The National Institutes of Health said users could expose themselves to toxic levels of nicotine while refilling the devices or even use them to smoke other substances.

Since little evidence exists on the effect of the devices on smoking — whether as an aid in quitting, a gateway for non-smokers or a bridge to keep smokers hooked longer — she says she favors a legislative approach that balances public health with the development of safer alternatives.

"The right way forward will be a way that promotes innovation that helps us do everything we possibly can to get combustible tobacco to be history," Koval says. "We want a generation of Americans where, for them, cigarettes are a thing of the past — an artifact like a roll of film or a rotary telephone."

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Deutsche Bank net profit falls 34 percent

FRANKFURT, Germany — Deutsche Bank AG said Tuesday that net profit fell 34 percent in the first quarter as slower trading of bonds and foreign exchange weighed on revenues.

Germany's biggest bank made 1.10 billion euros ($1.52 billion) compared with 1.66 billion euros a year ago. The figure was nevertheless better than the 981 million euros expected by analysts surveyed by financial data provider FactSet, and shares in the bank rose in early trading. Net revenues fell 11 percent to 8.39 billion euros.

Earnings at the investment banking division fell as the bank saw less demand from clients for trading debt such as bonds. Debt markets have suffered from turbulence in emerging markets and from concerns about the eventual withdrawal of monetary stimulus by the U.S. Federal Reserve and other central banks.

Revenue from foreign exchange trading was significantly lower "due to lower client activity and challenging trading environment."

The bank also had 532 million euros in losses from its non-core unit, where it keeps assets that it intends to sell or wind down. That unit suffered from losses at its special commodities group, which took a 151 million-euro hit on U.S. power trading due to a price spike caused by severe winter weather.

Co-CEOs Anshu Jain and Juergen Fitschen called it "a resilient performance" and said the bank was making progress in strengthening its finances. The bank is shedding risky investments in order to strengthen its capital levels to meet new regulatory requirements aimed at making the global and European banking systems more robust.

Still, the bank's core Tier 1 capital ratio, a key measure of financial strength, slipped to 9.5 percent during the quarter from 9.7 percent from the previous quarter, due in part to more rigorous regulations. The bank cautioned that its capital level could fluctuate but that it remained committed to its 10 percent goal by the end of March 2015.

"The regulatory bar is getting higher," Jain said in a conference call with analysts.

Deutsche Bank shares were 2.2 percent higher at 32.12 euros in morning trading in Europe.

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Nokia eyes turnaround with new CEO, dividend

HELSINKI — Nokia Corp. reported Tuesday another drop in sales in the troubled devices unit it sold to Microsoft, but its shares rallied as it named a new CEO, promised a special dividend, and prepared to focus on its remaining businesses.

Reporting its last quarter to include cellphones, Nokia said Tuesday that net loss in the period was 239 million euros compared with a loss of 272 million a year earlier. Revenue also fell, to 2.6 billion euros ($3.6 billion) from 3.1 billion euros. Mobile device sales plunged 30 percent to 1.9 billion euros, but Nokia gave no figures for how many Lumia smartphones or tablets it sold.

Nokia said it has appointed Rajeev Suri, the Indian-born former head of Nokia Solutions and Networks, to take over the Finnish company as the new CEO on May 1. The 46-year-old Suri, who joined Nokia in 1995, has been largely credited with a turnaround in the company's networks sector.

Nokia's share price shot up 8 percent to 5.54 euros in Helsinki.

That was also due to plans to invest 5 billion euros to "optimize its capital structure," including to restart paying dividends and distributing "deemed excess capital to shareholders."

The company, which has struggled with the decline of its mobile phones business since it was the world's largest with a 40-percent market share in 2008, will now focus on remaining operations — networks, mapping services and technology development and license — under Suri's leadership.

After the April 25 closing of the 5.44 billion-euro ($7.5 billion) sale of its devices and services division and a license to a portfolio of patents to Microsoft Corp., Nokia said the deal was increased by about 170 million euros because of estimated adjustments made for net working capital and cash earnings.

Suri said the new company will continue expansion of its networks business, which serves 90 of the world's 100 largest operators, and will focus on its mapping services for car navigation systems, where it has an 80 percent market share with its HERE maps.

The technology division will further invest in improving its innovation portfolio and explore new technologies with a team that includes hundreds of scientists and engineers.

"Nokia's strategy is to develop its three businesses in order to realize its vision of being a technology leader in a connected world and, in turn, create long-term shareholder value," said Suri, who described Nokia as one of the world's largest software companies.

Nokia, which began as a maker of paper and gum boots in 1865, transformed into a home electronics company before becoming an innovator in the wireless industry from where it moved into mobile telephony. But it was unable to sustain its role as the trendsetter because of tough competition both from the smartphone sector with the likes of Apple Inc.'s iPhone, Samsung Electronics and cheaper phone makers in Asia.

Several Nokia models flopped and the company failed to sense popular trends such as touchscreen models and folding clamshell phones. Its operating systems also lagged behind, particularly compared with Google's popular Android.

In an attempt to reverse the slide, it teamed up with Microsoft in 2011, replacing its old operating system with one based on Windows, but consumers didn't warm to the Windows Lumia handsets.

As part of the Microsoft deal, 25,000 Nokia employees, including 4,700 in Finland, moved over to the U.S. giant, leaving Nokia with 55,300 workers worldwide.

Its headquarters in Espoo, near the Finnish capital Helsinki, was taken over by Microsoft last weekend and the company moved its personnel to a new head office nearby.

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Microsoft fan goes Pro

I was wrong.

In February, I wrote of the MacBook Air and Pro that "neither laptop has wowed me enough to stay away from the Microsoft Store just yet."

Fast-forward two months to yesterday, when I took the plunge and bought a MacBook Pro.

I think I'd be remiss if I didn't deliver a Mac mea culpa, or at the very least, an update letting you know that in fact I did go to the Microsoft Store. Several times. After looking far and wide for the perfect laptop for work and life, yesterday I ponied up and purchased a 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display (refurbished). Thanks to a 12-month financing plan, I'll be paying it out over the next year with zero percent interest.

"Welcome to Mac. It's amazing here," texted my best friend, a professor of graphic design in Miami who epitomizes everything that's wrong with Mac-lovers with her frequent refrain, "If Apple made a toaster, I would buy it."

My husband is the other extreme — a Microsoft-loving software architect who winces if he should happen to touch my iPhone 5S.

And somewhere between those two is me: happy to try out the next new iDevice, but knowing full well that Apple's advantage stems as much from excellent self-promotion as it does from true innovation.

What pushed me over the edge was the ecosystem. Multimedia apps for photo- and video-editing have driven me to own an iPhone and iPad. So I've already partially invested in the world of iTunes and apps. After considering several touchscreen laptops, and even the Surface Pro 2 (biggest problem: it doesn't work on your lap), I couldn't find a Windows offering that wowed me enough to justify the inconvenience of straddling both worlds.

If I were what Microsoft terms a "power user" — someone who deals in the dense world of spreadsheets and databases — my considerations would have been different. In that case, there's little doubt I'd be rocking out with the Windows ecosystem and all its Microsoft Excel and Access glory. But if I don't need 30 years of legacy features, why buy 30 years of legacy features? Same goes for if I were a PC gamer — I'd be all Windows, all the time.

But I think I'm like most people in that my three main considerations were battery life, portability and price. Whether it was Toshiba or Lenova or Dell, Apple won in every head-to-head matchup on those three fronts.

The cost-benefit analysis also included the fact that we're an Xbox One household. But Microsoft made that one easy for me: I have the SmartGlass app and my iPhone becomes a remote. My choice of laptop doesn't make a difference in that equation.

And there's the fact that I love being able to peruse the headlines early in the morning, save articles to my "reading list" and go through them at my leisure on any device later in the day. A ton of these little conveniences come with choosing one ecosystem and sticking with it. It's no longer a question of "which laptop is for me," but which world do I live in?

And much like when a person decides which town to live in and house to buy, you're not saying that other places are bad.

Circumstances led you there, and I just joined a little town of Mac.

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Conference touts industry changes

State officials and manufacturing execs hope to send the message that the industry's days of smoke-filled factories are being replaced by greater opportunities, higher salaries and cleaner technology.

"It not only pays well, but we're very competitive at it," Secretary of Housing and Economic Development Greg Bialecki told the Herald. "We make things in Massachusetts that a lot of other people don't make, and we make a lot of things we sell to China, like medical devices … because we're better than everyone else at making them."

Hundreds of manufacturing leaders and others are expected to descend on Worcester tomorrow to network and talk about the industry's future during the second annual Advanced Manufacturing Summit at the DCU Center.

Bialecki said starting salaries are often around $40,000, don't require college degrees — and the associated student debt — and average around $60,000 to $70,000, which is more than the state's median salary.

"The primary purpose is just to convey the message there are a lot of people that believe in the future of manufacturing in Massachusetts," said Bialecki. "It's a great career."

"We'll be talking about … how to promote manufacturing as a career for young people and remind people that manufacturing is not dirty, grimy factories as we imagine they were," said Marty Jones, the president and CEO of MassDevelopment. "They're high-tech, interesting places where people can earn a good living."

The keynote speaker will be Harry Moser, the founder of the Reshoring Initiative, and Gov. Deval Patrick will speak during a luncheon.

Speakers earlier in the day include Jones, INCOM President and CEO Michael Detarando and Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Tim Murray, the former lieutenant governor.

Three separate panels and workshops also will be held, with experts from companies such as DePuy Synthes Companies of Johnson & Johnson, EMC, General Electric, Pratt & Whitney, Raytheon, Smith & Wesson, TE Connectivity and United Technologies.

Bialecki himself will moderate a morning session entitled "Our Workforce Future: What Do You Demand?"

The event is expected to draw about 150 manufacturers, and 500 people are already registered, said Jones.

"The purpose of this event is really to get together manufacturers and people who can provide resources to manufacturers to talk about really growing their business in Massachusetts," said Jones. "The sessions are how to supply to the life sciences industry, aeronautics, electronics, defense."

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Tony Blair pressed on role he and George W. Bush played in growth of terrorism

Was the leadership of former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and President George W. Bush in the post-9/11 landscape in any way responsible for the growth of Islamic terrorism? That was the question posed by NBC's David Gregory to Blair on today's episode of Meet the Press, seen in the above video provided by The Daily Caller. 

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Closing arguments set in Apple-Samsung trial

SAN JOSE, Calif. — The high-stakes battle between the world's largest smartphone makers is scheduled to wrap up this week after a monthlong trial that has pulled the curtain back on just how very cutthroat the competition is between Apple and Samsung.

Closing arguments in the patent-infringement case are scheduled to begin Monday, with the two tech giants accusing each other, once again, of ripping off designs and features. At stake: $2 billion if Samsung loses, a few hundred million if Apple loses.

Teams of attorneys on both sides have spent the month trying to poke holes in obscure and bureaucratic patent legal claims, while keeping the eight jurors engaged. Drawing the most attention in the courtroom and the media are insider emails and meeting presentations documenting the frustration each company faced as they competed for market share.

Less than a year after Apple unveiled its iPhone in 2007 combining a web browser, music player and phone in one swipeable device, Samsung officials noted they were quickly losing customers.

"While Traditional OEMs are busy fighting each other in the Feature phone space Apple is busy making the category obsolete," said one confidential briefing presentation. "What makes the iphone unique is software (applications) and services, beautiful hardware is just a bonus"

But Samsung fought back, using Google's Android system, offering less expensive smartphones with larger screens.

"Consumers want what we don't have," said a 2013 Apple presentation a few years later, noting that the low-priced, easy-to-view competition was surging ahead.

Both have studied each other's marketing as well.

In 2009, Samsung designers examined step by step why iPhones were known to be easier to use than Samsung, finding their own offerings weren't friendly and lacked emotion and charm.

When Samsung aired a Super Bowl ad in 2013, Apple marketing head Phil Schiller had praise for the competition.

"It's pretty good and I can't help but think 'these guys are feeling it' (like an athlete who can't miss because they are in a zone) while we struggle to nail a compelling brief on iPhone," he wrote in an email. "That's sad because we have much better products."

Throughout the three years of litigation, Samsung's market share has grown. One of every three smartphones sold last year was a Samsung, now the market leader. Apple, with a typically higher price, was second, with about 15 percent of the global market.

Although it's impossible to predict what a jury will do, two years ago a federal jury found Samsung was infringing on Apple patents. Samsung was ordered to pay about $900 million, but it is has appealed the judgment and has been allowed to continue selling products using the technology.

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Follow Martha Mendoza on Twitter @mendozamartha

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State seeks cyber aces

A series of high-profile cyber attacks over the past year has prompted Gov. Deval Patrick to invite an elite group of techies to compete next weekend in a Cyber Aces State Championship aimed at putting the best among them into desperately needed cyber-security jobs.

"The Cyber Aces program will help us create a pipeline of talent so we can build on our successes and lead the nation in the evolving innovation industry," Patrick said.

Sixty-seven participants culled from a pool of more than 1,000 who faced off in an online competition last fall will take part on May 3 at UMass Boston in a high-stakes digital defense simulation called NetWars, the same hands-on simulation of real-world scenarios used by the U.S. military to train officers in network warfare.

"The 21st century is confronting us with online threats that are difficult and dangerous," said L. Scott Rice, the adjutant general of the Massachusetts National Guard. "The world is increasingly interconnected as our commerce, national defense and education system are dependent on cyber security."

Information technology is the second-fastest growing field in the nation, according to a Cisco analysis, which projected the demand for elite cyber technicians at 10,000, and the need for operators and administrators at 55,000 nationwide.

Yet there is a shortage of qualified candidates to fill those positions — a shortage that has become critical in the wake of cyber attacks on media outlets, Target, Neiman Marcus and, most recently, Children's Hospital.

"Similar to our shortage of fighter pilots at the start of World War II, now we have a critical shortage of skilled cyber defenders," said Alan Paller, founder of Cyber Aces, a not-for-profit that trains people with a high aptitude for achievement in information technology so that they can contribute to the security of the U.S. and its enterprises.

"Like the pilot-training programs of that era, Cyber Aces initiatives like this state championship are how we'll create the specialists we need," Paller said. "You can't buy software and hardware that are foolproof. The only effective defense is people with great technical skills. That's who we're looking for."

Next weekend's event will challenge the most talented and ambitious contenders from local high schools, community colleges and universities, as well as job seekers, veterans and members of the armed forces.

"They'll be competing against the computer to find the malicious code, to find flaws, holes, things that are wrong with it," he said.

Winners will be introduced at a career fair in June to government agencies, banks and tech, security and aerospace companies seeking cyber-security specialists.

"The field is growing, but it still requires people to demonstrate their skills," said Mike Micale, a 44-year-old technical trainer from Malden who was laid off last June and will be competing next weekend. "Companies need people who are going to be effective right away, and it's hard to show that you can do that without a competition like this."

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Aereo’s court case chills startup cash

Aereo's landmark Internet broadcast Supreme Court case is casting a pall over venture funding for the cloud computing industry, experts are warning.

"The mere existence of this will make it much harder to raise funding, because the risks have gone up," said Michael Davies, chairman and founder of Endeavor Partners, a Cambridge consulting firm for technology companies.

Last week, the Supreme Court heard the case in which Aereo defends its right to grab television broadcast signals and stream TV through the cloud to users for a small fee of about $8 a month — and without paying retransmission fees. Aereo, run by founder and CEO Chet Kanojia, contends its antennas are no different than old-fashioned rabbit ears and its service constitutes what is legally known as a "private performance." Broadcasters contend the business is offering a "public performance" and the company is violating copyright.

"If putting stuff in the cloud and playing it back is deemed to be a 'public performance,' that would have a horrible chilling effect on the ability of people to use the cloud to store content and media," said Davies.

The case is do-or-die for the industry, experts say, warning of a critical slow-down in investment and innovation in the cloud — a loose term for data storage and server space located off-site.

A study in 2011 found VC investment in cloud technologies "increased significantly" — as much as $1.3 billion — after the Second Circuit maintained the legality of Cablevision's cloud-based DVR, which stored copyrighted material off-site, said study author Josh Lerner, a Harvard Business School professor.

If the Supreme Court rules against Aereo, he said, the opposite could happen, and funding for start-ups could become harder to get.

"It would be the kind of situation where it would be likely that investors would cast a very hard look at cloud companies," Lerner said.

Headquartered in New York, Aereo's engineering and development staff — 80 of 115 total — works out of two floors in an office in Boston's Innovation District.

The company has raised $97 million in venture funding, much of which came after the company was sued by the networks, including a $34 million round of funding that closed in January, after a trip to the Supreme Court seemed likely.

Aereo itself is raising concerns about the effect of the court decision on the industry. The company and some of its legal backers, including a tech industry group representing Google, Facebook and others, claim that the cloud industry would be irreparably harmed if the court decides Aereo is infringing on copyright.

Not everyone agrees.

David Skok, a general partner at Matrix Partners, a Cambridge-based venture capital firm, said he believes the case will only affect a small part of the cloud industry.

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With ethanol fuel, no gas line antifreeze needed

This past winter I added gas line antifreeze and water remover when I refueled my car. Is this really necessary since gasoline is 10 percent ethanol?

No, adding a gas line antifreeze is not necessary when using ethanol-blended fuel. The ethanol — ethyl or grain alcohol — is an effective antifreeze/moisture remover so no additional additive is necessary. In fact, adding a gas line antifreeze on a regular basis can be too much of a good thing — excess alcohol in the tank can cause driveability issues.

Several years ago, the state of Oregon mandated the addition of ethanol in our fuel. Since that time we have had engine trouble with our 1994 Ford van with 150,000 miles on it running rough or hesitating when accelerating. Fuel additives helped in the past but not anymore. I found a gas station that sells ethanol-free fuel, and the van appears to run normally after my first tank of ethanol-free. Are older engines just not designed to handle ethanol, or does the fuel system need a periodic cleaning from now on? When traveling, finding ethanol-free fuel could be challenging.

Challenging? That's an understatement. Welcome to the world of alcohol-blended motor fuels. You are not the first, nor will you be the last, motorist to experience fuel system and drivability issues when switching from pure gasoline.

In Minnesota, we experienced these problems back in the '90s when ethanol was mandated in our fuel. In Florida, the same issues cropped up a couple of years ago when ethanol was added to its 
fuels. In these two states, non-alcohol fuels are available only from limited sources and are for use in recreational vehicles, small engines and collector vehicles, which helps those of us with older equipment and vehicles.

Alcohols are solvents. Thus the buildup over the years of moisture, varnish and other gunk in your vehicle's fuel tank is cleaned and carried through the fuel system. In addition, the lower energy content and higher volatility of alcohol may account for some of your drivability issues with your pre-OBDII engine management system. Modern vehicles are much more accommodating to these fuels.

I have a four-cylinder 2005 Hyundai Tucson I purchased new. It runs fine, but the mechanic suggested changing the timing belt at the recommended mileage interval or spend three or four thousand dollars in engine repair costs if it fails. What are the symptoms of impending timing belt failure?

There's the rub — there are no symptoms to impending timing belt failure. And since the 2-liter engine in your Hyundai is an interference engine — meaning the pistons can physically contact the valves if the timing belt fails — significant engine damage can occur.

Hyundai recommends timing belt replacement at 60,000-mile intervals under "normal" driving circumstances. Under "severe" service conditions, the replacement interval is 40,000 miles.

I bought a 2013 Nissan 370Z last November. The windshield and rear window have colors like glitter in the glass. The colors are brilliant like rainbow or diamond. It is very distracting on a sunny day. I've taken the car to the dealer twice and they said they cleaned the glass with glass cleaner but the colors remain. Any suggestions?

Nissan recommends the use of 0000-superfine steel wool to remove foreign material from windshield glass. They suggest fresh steel wool from an unopened bag to avoid contamination that could scratch the glass.

The fundamental issue is whether the "sparklies" are in, or on, the glass. While foreign matter on the glass is not a warranty item, defective glass may well be. Have the dealer try the Nissan-recommended cleaning procedure. If this doesn't "clear" the problem, ask them about warranty coverage for replacement.

Paul Brand, author of "How to Repair Your Car," is an automotive troubleshooter, driving instructor and former race-car driver. Readers may write to him at: Star Tribune, 425 Portland Ave. S., Minneapolis, Minn., 55488 or via email at paul brand@startribune.com.

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Workplace Diversity Job Fair Monday, April 28, 2014

Workplace Diversity Job Fair

Monday, April 28, 2014

10:00-4:00

Boston Marriott Copley Place

110 Huntington Ave., Boston

Job seekers, don't miss this exciting opportunity

The Boston Herald is hosting the 21st annual Workplace Diversity Job Fair on Monday, April 28. Companies from the Greater Boston area will be in attendance looking for candidates to fill positions in areas including sales, business, medical, technology and more!

Look for a special pull-out section on Thursday, April 24 for all the information you will need to make the job fair a success for you.

There is no cost or obligation for attending.

Proper attire is suggested.

The following companies are participating in the Monday, April 28 Workplace Diversity Job Fair:

• Arbour Health System
• Bay Cove Human Services
• Boston Marriott Copley Place
• BMC HealthNet Plan
• Commonwealth Worldwide
• Eliot Community Human Services
• G2 Secure Staff
• Harvard University
• Keolis Commuter Services
• Lincoln Technical Institute
• Massasoit Community College
• Mass Eye and Ear
• New England HERC
• New England Research Institute
• Northeastern University Bouve' College of Health Sciences School of Nursing
• Northeast Security
• Prudential
• Rockland Trust
• South Bay Mental Health
• U.S. Navy
• Verizon Wireless
• WGBH

The Workplace Diversity Job Fair is conducted in accordance with federal laws advocating employment for all individuals. The Workplace Diversity Job Fair is handicapped accessible. If special arrangements are required, please call 617-619-6168 no later than 2 days prior to the event.

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