TV reboots with web-like service

ATSC 3.0 rides Internet Protocol, HEVC.

Some time in 2017 you may be able to tune your new TV, smartphone or tablet into a 4K video stream with rich colors and immersive audio. The choice of content may be more varied and personalized than what you are used to from a local broadcaster, too, because it will be based on the same Internet standards used by Netflix and YouTube.

That’s the dream of ATSC 3.0, the next generation of the U.S. terrestrial TV broadcast standard launched 20 years ago. It’s the first TV broadcast standard to embrace IP transport. Past standards used MPEG transport mechanisms, very different from those that carry today’s Web content.

“Having broadcast and Internet similarity makes it easy for content providers to swap ads or content – with MPEG-2, it was a very complex operation,” said Mark Richer, president of the Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC), adding the shift could open up new business models for broadcasters.

ATSC 3.0 also embraces HTML5, at least in part, at its applications layer. “We have gone essentially the Web-based route,” said Richard Chernock who chairs the working groups developing the suite of ATSC 3.0 standards.

Last fall, broadcasters demonstrated one of more than a dozen proposed systems for the physical layer of ATSC in an event attended by EE Times’ Junko Yoshida.

The work comes at a time when viewers are increasingly cutting their cable-TV cords, relying on free and lower cost Internet video services instead. But backers say ATSC will still be relevant. “The ultimate way to cut the cord is to use an antenna,” said Chernock.

Many viewers who have turned off their cable-TV service already supplement their Internet fare with over-the-air digital TV broadcasts based on the existing standards. In addition, ATSC 3.0 will support a spectrum of configurable services broadcasters can employ, said Richer.

What the French Know About Drones That Americans Don't (BusinessWeek)

Corentin Roland watches a winged drone land in his field of rapeseed, his hands dug into trouser pockets in the damp winter chill outside the village of Montepilloy on the plains of northern France.

The unmanned aircraft, a black and yellow V-wing the span of a small seagull, has just finished a nine-minute flight over the 15-hectare (37-acre) plot. Within two days, a Paris-based company called Airinov will send the 23-year-old farmer an e-mail with a fertilizer plan for the field based on the gathered data.

The Drones Revolutionizing Farming

Roland is one of thousands of French farmers, miners, energy companies and others using drones to monitor everything from weeds on railroad tracks to leaking river levees. France, one of the first countries to regulate commercial drone use in 2012, now has some 1,250 registered drone businesses — enough to outnumber the country’s wine appellations. “France is clearly one of the most advanced,” said Philippe Botteri, a London-based partner at Accel Partners, a venture capital firm that was one of the first investors in Facebook. “The market potential is in the billions.”

Other countries are arguably missing out, perhaps none more than the United States. Absent any formal regulation, the Federal Aviation Administration has granted 44 exemptions for commercial drone work so far, out of more than 664 requests. The agency proposed rules for small commercial drones last month, including a requirement for pilots to maintain visual contact with their aircraft, but that proposal will require months of consultation. “France has about a year of advance on the U.S.,” said Emmanuel de Maistre, CEO of Redbird, a Paris-based company that uses drones to survey railway tracks and mining quaries. “The regulation created the market.”

France has a knack for making rules, and drone regulations are no exception. Operators must pass a theory exam and show an aptitude flying a drone. For longer flights beyond line of sight, users must obtain a proper pilot’s license, as well as 100 hours of flying experience and 20 hours of drone training.

Piloting smaller drones for fun doesn’t require exams or a permit. Still, some rules apply there as well, including a ban on flying over crowds or “sensitive sites” such as nuclear plants, with penalties of up to a year in prison and a 75,000-euro fine. French authorities have reported drones overflying nuclear submarine bases and the Elysee presidential palace as well as multiple nighttime flights over Paris.

The global commercial drone industry stands to grow from about $60.5 million last year to $1.1 billion by 2023, according to Phil Finnegan, an analyst at Teal Group, an aerospace research firm, and French companies are well-positioned for this growth. Delair-Tech, based in Toulouse, the home of Airbus, makes a commercial drone certified for long distances, with autonomous flight and a range of 200 kilometers. In addition to monitoring the railway tracks for French national high-speed operator SNCF, RedBird has also developed drone uses for quarries, which de Maistre, said can reduce mining companies’ fuel costs by 10 percent by optimizing truck traffic.

Airinov has moved beyond the business of flying drones to data crunching. The company now works with more than a dozen of France’s drone operators, offering data analysis and growing advice to farmers.

“We’re the first with a turnkey product,” said Romain Faroux, co-founder of Airinov.

Airinov plans to introduce drone detection of weeds this year that will tell farmers where to spray, lowering costs and the environmental impact of pesticide use.

Drone operator Benjamin Bouly launches an eBee drone to collect crop data for Airinov.

Photographer: Rudy Ruitenberg/Bloomberg

Back on Roland’s farm, Benjamin Bouly, an independent drone operator hired by Airinov, loads his eBee drone into the back of his car before wiping the greasy mud off his shoes and heading to the next job. The previous day, he had completed 20 flights covering 350 hectares of rapeseed.

Airinov expects to commission about 20,000 flights from drone operators such as Bouly this year from 5,000 in 2014, according to Faroux. The company’s fertilizer consults can translate to a gain for rapeseed farmers of 20 to 100 euros per hectare. The service, including the price of two drone flyovers and analysis of the collected data, costs about 15 euros per hectare, he said.

For Roland, the drone saves time and brings more precision compared to the usual method of analyzing rapeseed samples. Roland also plans to begin using Airinov for the 100 hectares of wheat he grows with two other farmers.

“Precision agriculture is the future for us and we’re starting this year,” Roland said, citing the ever-tougher squeeze on margins. “Crop prices are low and the cost of fertilizer and pesticides are high.”

Airinov plans to expand its offer to neighboring countries with established drone regulation and similar markets in farming, with the U.K. a prime candidate, Faroux said.

Spring is coming...Tips for Jobs (Jobs.com)

That means that businesses across the country are going on hiring sprees in search of seasonal staff. Wanna get in on the action? Search and apply to jobs in the categories mentioned below today:

1. Home Improvement Stores - Whether you want to turn to Big Box giants such as Lowe's or Home Depot, or search for work at your local hardware store, now is the time to apply to their jobs.

2. Amusement and Theme Parks - Many parks are beginning to reopen for the season, as well as staffing up for peak travel season between March and April so it's best to look for jobs in this fun and fast paced environment now.

3. Lawn Care and Pest Control Services - Warmer weather means greener grass, flowers that bloom and all the creepy crawlers that come with them. That's why now is the time to find opportunities with companies like TruGreen, Terminix or Permatreat.

4. Hospitality, Leisure and Recreation - While hotels and vacation resorts are great places for work all year long, many popular hot spots are gearing up for summer vacation season throughout these cooler months. Look no further than your local area attractions to see who's hiring including your local Parks and Recreation Department. Here you will find positions ranging from Athletic Coach and Events Manager, to Grounds Supervisor and Security Officer.

Don't have a green thumb or a love of power tools? Don't need to! Check out our list of additional industries that are hiring like crazy below. 

Top Industries Hiring

Technology | Sales | Construction

Finance | Hospitality | Healthcare

Banking | Transportation | Manufacturing

10 surprising skills that will give IT job seekers the edge (TechRepublic)

The job picture for IT workers has changed considerably, thanks to new technologies and shifts in business processes and priorities. This list of in-demand skills may surprise you. 

Companies around the world are engaged in a fierce fight for talent. Especially in IT, the growth of new disciplines like big data, a need to understand the business and to be malleable in the face of change, and the impending retirement of legions of highly skilled baby boomers are presenting companies with unique IT hiring challenges. This is forcing companies to reevaluate what they look for in IT job candidates. Here are 10 emerging skills and qualities companies are looking for.

1: Librarian expertise

Yes, you heard right. As big data takes off, the ability to aggregate data and look at it in unique ways to get to the bottom of the information is becoming extremely important. This is where a background in library science can be a plus. The right kind of librarian can become an excellent big data analyst and researcher.

2: Musical talent

Since early studies in the 1980s showed positive correlations between musical aptitude and software programming, companies have looked for new IT hires with diverse backgrounds that included training in music. Music (like programming) can be a highly mathematical and logical exercise.

3: Strong written and oral skills

More IT'ers are being asked to get into the business and explain the value of what they are doing in plain English. This includes daily discussions with end users and managers and even formal presentations to management.

4: Creative problem solving

Most companies have solved many of their traditional problems. Now they're focused on developing innovative solutions that address new and persistent issues they haven't been able to get their arms around. Technology and IT are key enablers for problem resolution -- so companies want new hires who can think beyond the box and come up with fresh approaches.

5: Foreign language skills

Many of today's companies have a global footprint, with offices around the world. Job candidates in all fields (including IT) who are able to interact in multiple languages are highly sought.

6: Mainframe skills

Despite the mantra that the "mainframe is dead," which started in the 1990s, more than 60% of the world's enterprise transactions are being processed on mainframes. For speed and reliability, mainframes remain "best in class." Large enterprises and universities around the world realize this and concern is growing over the so-called "mainframe brain drain." With many baby boomers thinking about retiring, a growing number of colleges and universities worldwide now teach mainframe technology in their IT curricula. Many report that the job placement of graduates from their mainframe programs is close to 100%.

7: Skills in voice-based applications

The rift between the "phone department" and IT network and applications departments still exists in IT. This isn't what most IT strategists want to see continue, especially with voice apps beginning to assume major roles in operations like warehousing and distribution so workers can work hands-free. However, to capitalize on voice, companies need IT workers who can understand and write voice-based applications.

8: A can-do attitude

Can-do attitudes never go out of style, but they are often forgotten when "top IT hiring needs" lists are compiled. However, this quality is always tested in the interview process because IT is an ever-changing area and it is constantly being asked to solve difficult problems. Job candidates who exude that "there's always a way" attitude will get an affirmative nod from employers.

9: Negotiation skills

IT professionals must work with a variety of users internally in the company as well as with outside vendors. Gone are the days when IT told everyone what it was going to do and then retreated into its glass house. Today's top IT professionals know how to give and take with co-workers and partners. They can form strong working relationships and find ways to make projects a success for everyone. Individuals who can broker this kind of cooperation are exactly who employers are seeking.

10: Coolness under pressure

IT is one of the most pressure-packed areas of the company. This constant pressure can create the potential for burnouts and meltdowns. Consequently, employers tend to look for IT job candidates who can remain calm and poised under pressure.

Here Are the Problems With The $10,000 Gold Apple Watch (BusinessWeek)

So, Apple has released a $10,000 watch. It's one of the most expensive products Apple has ever produced and the brand's first attempt at creating a real luxury good. Apple didn't divulge too many details about the watch and where it will be sold, and the questions remain who’s going to buy it and why?

The big rub with the Apple Watch Edition is that the watch is technically identical to its lower priced siblings. Unlike with a traditional mechanical watch, where an increase in price is also typically accompanied by more complex mechanisms and more hand-craft, the Apple Watch Edition is simply shrouded in gold. If you set that case aside, it has the same sapphire glass display, sensors, and electronics as the $549 Apple Watch. That's a mark-up of eighteen times the lower price.

The retail experience might have to shift to accommodate the Apple Watch Edition.

Some people will think the gold is beautiful; the yellow doesn't photograph well, but looks better in person. (I personally prefer the look of the fake gold on the new Macbook.) There's also rose gold, and both make the watch much heavier and less practical for daily wear. Compared with the aluminum Apple Watch Sport, it feels like a brick. Sure, you're not running a marathon with the thing, a la Christy Turlington, but you don't want your wrist to tire before the battery. 

Apple is careful to point out that the 18k gold used is a proprietary alloy that's between two and four times harder than typical gold. According to a patent filed last June, this special gold is created by impregnating a gold matrix with ceramic particles for added toughness. In the same patent, Apple also alludes to future cases made of silver and platinum, so this might not be the only Apple Watch Edition we see.

The Apple Watch Edition is a true luxury product, not a piece of high-end electronics.

Photographer: Stephen Pulvirent/Bloomberg Business

A hardened gold alloy isn't an innovation unique to Apple. Since 2012, Swiss watchmaker Hublot has been using a proprietary alloy called Magic Gold that is also a mixture of ceramic and gold certified as 18k. However, Magic Gold scores close to 1000 on the Vickers scale, making it more than twice as hard as Apple's gold, using a ceramic matrix to support gold particles (the opposite of Apple's method). Apple has also taken other materials from traditional watchmaking like aniline-dyed leather and sapphire crystal, which have been used for decades.

The Apple Watch Edition will see limited production, though there's no word yet on what exactly counts as limited. Distribution will be restricted to select retail locations, though Tim Cook was careful in today's presentation not to limit this to Apple Store locations. There has been speculation that the Apple Watch Edition could be sold alongside tradition luxury watches in jewelry and watch boutiques, though this is yet another detail that will not be revealed until closer to the launch next month.

Functionally, the Apple Watch Edition is identical to the less expensive models.

Photographer: Stephen Pulvirent/Bloomberg Business

The has been no mention yet at all of the biggest elephant in the room: what do you do with a solid gold watch when it becomes obsolete? One would hope for some kind of trade-in or recycling program that prevents all that gold from sitting unused in a drawer, but it will likely be a while before we know of anything real. (Many $10,000 mechanical watches actually rise in value after you purchase as the years go by.)

Ultimately this signals a small shift in Apple's identity. Apple's mobile devices have always been the attainable luxury products for the everyman, but these are true luxury goods much closer to a Gucci clutch than an iPad.

Am I an Owner or an Employee of My Business?

As a business owner, you may be paid a salary, or you might take a draw as an owner. How you receive money from the business depends on the type of business.

What is my status in the business?

Your status is either as an owner or as an employee, depending on the type of business:

• Sole proprietorship - you are the owner, not an employee.
• Limited liability company - you are most likely an owner (member), not an employee, unless you elect to be taxed as a corporation (see below).
• Partnership - you are an owner, not an employee.
• Corporation - you are an employee if you actively work in a position in the corporation. You are also a shareholder and you are also on the board of directors, so you have multiple roles.
• S corporation - you are an employee if you actively work in a position in the s corporation, and you are also a shareholder. Read more about self-employment and payroll taxes for S corporation owners.

How Do I Take Money From My Business?

If you are in business, you expect it will provide you an income (at some point, anyway). So how do you get money from your business? It depends on the type of business:

If you own a corporation

If  you are the owner of a corporation, you own shares in that corporation.  If you do work for the corporation (and not just sit back and collect dividends), you get paid for that work as an employee.  The IRS says you must be paid a reasonable salary for that work; you can't just work for $1 a year to avoid the payroll taxes (Social Security/Medicare, unemployment).  All your employee wages must have FICA taxes (Social Security/Medicare) deducted, and the corporation must pay the other part of the FICA taxes, along with unemployment tax and workers compensation. You also receive dividends on your shares, for which you must pay taxes on your personal tax return (as investment income).

If you own an LLC

Owners of LLCs are called Members.  They do not receive a paycheck as an employee.  Members receive money from the LLC in two ways:

1. Return on Investment. They can take out money they have invested.  This return on investment is not subject to employment taxes.
2. Guaranteed Payments. LLC Members may also take out money from the business in the form of guaranteed payments.

If you are an owner of a sole proprietor business, you can take a draw from the business for personal expenses. This draw is not a deductible business expense; it's just money you take from profits (assuming there are profits!) to pay personal bills. When you take a draw, you should write a check to yourself from the business checking account and deposit it in your personal checking account.

It's important for business owners to keep business and personal expenses separate. Here's how that works for a draw:  You decide you need money to pay personal expenses. You write a check from your business account, made out to you personally (as in "Ginny Doe"). Then you deposit the check into your personal bank account. The accounting entry is to debit your owner's equity account and credit cash.

Owners must also pay self-employment tax (sometimes called SECA), for Social Security and Medicare.

If you are an employee, you take a salary from the business. Your salary must be reasonable, and it is considered a deductible business expense. If you are working in your corporation, you are considered an employee. You can't work for nothing and you can't get paid too much. The corporation must give you a paycheck, just like other employees. The paycheck must including withholding for income taxes and FICA taxes (Social Security and Medicare). The corporation must also pay unemployment taxes and worker's compensation taxes on your earnings as an employee.

Corporate officers who are shareholders may also receive dividends as designated from the profits of the business.

Before they were stars: Smartwatches in pop culture (ZDNet)

Summary: From the stone ages of the Flintstones to the futuristic sky cities of the Jetsons, the smartwatch has been a surprising yet underlying constant in pop culture

Since it was officially unveiled last fall, Apple has been answering critics arguing the iPhone maker is pushing out a brand new product category with its smart Apple Watch when there is little to no demand for such a device.

But based on even just a few examples in television and film, it looks like we've all been wanting to talk into our wrists for decades.

From the stone ages of The Flintstones to the futuristic sky cities of The Jetsons, the smartwatch has been a surprising yet underlying constant in pop culture.