IFA 2016: Samsung unveils Gear S3 more autonomous with GPS – 01net.com

Samsung expands its range of connected watches. The Korean manufacturer has taken the Berlin iFA to unveil its new Gear S3, or rather its news. Two versions will be offered in effect: Classic chic and elegant design and the Frontier to look more or fighter pilot. Only their weight is different, 57 grams for the first, 62 for second, everything else is the same.

01net.com – Only the design is different, both models Gear S3 contain the same technology.

Compared to the S2 Gear, circular OLED screen is slightly enlarged to 1.3 inches (1.2 inches before). Novelty, it can stay on continuously through the Always On Display functionality already present on the brand of smartphones. It is also possible to disable it if you want to save the battery. The line has a capacity of 380 mAh.

01net.com – both models have of course a heart rate monitor.

GPS, barometer, altimeter

Samsung also makes her more independent Gear S3 smartphone, with the integration of a GPS chip, but also to barometer, altimeter and speedometer. 4GB of memory are integrated in addition to the 768 MB of RAM, for example storing music. Everything is powered by a dual-core processor at 1 GHz.

01net.com – In addition to GPS, barometer and altimeter are also available.

The manufacturer also continues to use Wearable Tizen OS version 2.3.1. You can always control the way convenient interface through the ring located around the screen. The latter allows for example now you can answer a call: a quarter turn one side wins, the same thing on the other side rejects.

01net.com – compared to the Apple Watch 42 mm the Gear S3 is rather impressive.

Spotify, but only over Wi-Fi

Among the new applications (there are over 10,000), Spotify makes its big arrival. Unfortunately, it is still impossible to store music locally on the watch, it will have to be necessarily connected to Wi-FI. A triple tap on the home button on the side of the watch will send a SOS message until 4 contacts which will locate the watch in real time.

01net.com – Spotify arrives on Tizen, but requires connection WiFi to work.

Samsung finally put a lot on design and customization of its shows, essentially reminding Apple’s strategy for its Watch. Many bracelets will be offered, besides those commercially available for conventional watches, their width being a standard size of 22 mm (20 mm on the previous Gear S2). The watch is of course waterproof to IP68. For now, Samsung has not yet confirmed his availability date or price.

01net.com – Some of the bracelets offered by Samsung.

The oldest traces of life discovered in Greenland – The World

Sacred getting old for the origin of life on Earth. Australian geologists have discovered Greenland traces of microbial activity dating back 3.7 billion years, two hundred million more than the previous record found in rocks from Australia or South Africa. And 800 million years only after the formation of the Earth.

“It’s crazy! We did not think that such indices were able to survive so long “ says Allen Nutman, professor of Wollongong University, first author of the study published in Nature Thursday 1 ^st September reporting the discovery.

you had to have the expert eye of the researcher and his colleagues from the University of New South Wales, who roam the land from Greenland the 1980 to identify very specific forms in a flush rock, visible only in the summer after the snow melts. It is located in the greenstone belt Isua, on an island in the southwest of Greenland, geological structures whose age was determined by isotopic dating.

organic sticky carpet

The treasure is only a few dozen centimeters, “engraved” on an area of ​​2 meters wide. It has the form of a succession of pointed cones and bumps crushed brown, resting on a kind of bluish yarrow; the whole being covered with layers of new rainbow rock. Experts speak of stromatolites and attribute these forms of microorganisms. These, by changing their surroundings, allow precipitation of thin films of carbonates (limestone of the family), which over time are superimposed and form these structures, which are also found in coral reefs. Stromatolites are not strictly speaking fossils that record them directly in the form of organisms.

These ancient microbes are nearly as complex as corals . You should see them rather as forming a sort of organic sticky mats, deposited in shallow bodies of water. Their metabolism enabled them to assimilate CO ₂ in the atmosphere, most abundant gas at the time, to turn it into carbonate. These primitive cells had probably not even need to solar energy, that is to say, photosynthesis, to achieve these chemical reactions. “These stromatolites are created by colonies of microorganisms. In those early times, so there was a kind of collaboration. Life already had a long history! “, says Allen Nutman, thus potentially pushing farther in time the arrival of a first living cell on Earth.

Provided, however, to confirm this study. Because the scientific community has taken years to agree on the criteria to examine whether stromatolites are organic or not. Such forms may indeed occur naturally under the effect of folds of sedimentary soil, for example. One of these criteria is to look microscopic bumps and identifying purposes “leaves” inside. They are present in these rocks from Greenland, as in those “younger” South Africa or Australia.

“This is a powerful biological indicator, even if these sheets are less visible than those previously found in Australia “, admits Kevin Lepot, professor at the University of Lille, which has inspected other stromatolites. In the article by Nature with the discovery, Abigail Allwood, NASA, described the implications of the discovery of “amazing” . With his sharp eye, it also notes that the sediments seem to have deposited between the bumps, another index for a biological origin. “But that will not stop the controversy” , which provides that, in the mid-2000s, has contributed greatly to clarify the origin of stromatolites older than 3.4 billion years.

the interest of Mars missions revived

Pascal Philippot, of the Institute of earth physics of Paris, also notes that these stromatolites Greenland are present only over a very short distance, whereas in Australia for example, they run over several hundred kilometers. Ironically, Allen Nutman had already announced in 1996 have found evidence of life 3.7 billion years in rocks from another region of Greenland and unrelated stromatolites. Ten years later, he returned to his hypothesis. Before then, by other evidence, renfoncer of the nail. “We believe we have good evidence. Everyone can watch and study the “, says the researcher.

To gain certainty, we should find other stromatolites, what hope the team if it gets the funding for new expeditions. However, there is little hope of finding clues proving more directly biological, like Kevin Lepot team and Pascal Philippot had been able to do in 2008 on Australian stromatolites older than 2.7 billion years. They had discovered small globules of organic material associated with calcium carbonate nanocrystals, impossible to manufacture by physicochemical processes.

Unfortunately, the history of Greenland rocks opposed to a priori such a find. They are metamorphic effect, that is to say, they were buried under kilometers of other rocks and under mountain ranges, pushing their temperature to over 500 degrees Celsius, before being deformed by various landslides. They ended up back on the surface, but these processes have irrevocably changed their chemical composition.

Still, this leap in time 200 million years is a horizon that many researchers had in mind . It proves that life could appear very early on Earth, in difficult conditions, with an oxygen-free atmosphere, an intense bombardment of meteorites, destructive sunlight … This revived interest of Mars missions that explore terrain that age corresponds precisely to that of rocks studied Greenland. Robots could find traces more visible and numerous than some centimeter bumps uncovered on Earth

Read also:. Organic molecules in old microfossils 2 billion years

Free SFR back in front in the fixed, thanks to the specials – ZDNet France

Again, it becomes a habit, officials of Iliad, the parent of Free, showed great satisfaction at the presentation of first half results on Wednesday in Paris. The financial performance is looking good with revenues of € 2.3 billion (+ 6.3% over a year) and profits up 17% to € 190 million.

The group is particularly pleased to be once again become the market number 2 on the fixed with 6.3 million customers against 6 million a year ago, representing a market share of 37%. The operator had lost that position following the merger between SFR and Numericable. “We caught the delay in less than 18 months, which once again proves the relevance of our model”, is congratulated Maxime Lombardini, CEO of the group.

“We take advantage of our fully unbundled network wide, not just limited to high-density areas “, asserts the head,” but also because we are the only ones not charge monthly the box “. These arguments are in effect, such as the price supplied by multiple online promotions offered by the operator on-sale privée.com. A strategy that inevitably weighs on the average revenue per subscriber.

Thomas Reynaud (CFO) and Maxime Lombardini (general manager)

“We assume fully this strategy, the number of promotions is the same as last year. There is a slight pressure on ARPU, which is 33.9 euros months, but this is not an issue for us, “adds Thomas Reynaud, CFO.

2016, the year of inflection in the fiber

To consolidate this position, Free will accelerate in fiber optics: the group now has 250,000 subscribers (+ 25% in one year) to 3.1 million and made a target of 4 million at the end of this year (20 million at end 2022) through use in less dense areas of EPON technology less expensive and easier to deploy than GPON used previously in very dense areas. “The investments are starting to bear fruit, year 2016 is a true inflection,” said Maxime Lombardini.

But the CEO is concerned about the weight of growing Orange in this sector. “The incumbent is on a too easy terrain, the regulator must act, we can not let him climb to 80% market share, we need improvements.” Iliad he blames Orange to invest? “As a percentage of sales, they invest less than us. But the main problem is the exchange of information at Orange, information that we do not have.”

Meanwhile these “arrangements” claimed, Free will not engage as its competitors in exclusive content convergence strategy to enhance its offerings. “When you see the results elsewhere, this is not very convincing”, asserts the head. “We remain true to our strategy of distributing everybody.”

As for the new Freebox (v7), expected to be launched this year, it’s radio silence, Maxime Lombardini refusing to deliver any comment on the issue: “we usually never comment a product or service that is not yet available. ”

No news of the new Freebox

On the side of the mobile, the engine still running at full speed with a gain of 400,000 customers and revenues up 14%. For 18 quarters, Free Mobile remains the leading recruiter net subscribers and now climbed to 17% market share with 12 million customers. The group emphasizes the strong growth in the premium package at $ 19.99 per month (record of recruitment in H1) and migration from the package 2 euros also rising. Without giving figures on the breakdown or the ARPU …

The 4G covers 69% of the population remains the engine of this growth (5 million subscribers, a 4GB average months of data consumed) and Free will accelerate thanks to the rapid improvement of its coverage (75% referred to the end of the year) and the use of its new frequencies (700 MHz). Only gray area: the consequences of the phasing out of homelessness 2G / 3G with Orange that may impact the less dense areas subscribers. Remember that this phasing out will be accompanied by a gradual drop theoretical speeds offered through this agreement.

The group promises to fill the gaps as quickly as possible, its 3G coverage is 85% today the population, much less in terms of territory. “Our deployments are faster than the competition,” said the group nevertheless compares different times …

Free Mobile also intends to feed this virtuous circle with the likely arrival in Italy. Recall that the group is in exclusive talks to resume many assets from the merger of Hutchison and VimpelCom in the country. Once the merger approved by the European Commission, the operator can start almost immediately, with an equally aggressive model.

“We have the capacity to be operational very quickly with many assets to to become number four in the country, “said Maxime Lombardini. And to put forward a roaming agreement in the country “just 10 times cheaper than in France” …

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The real challenge of the battle in Europe: the Apple brand – ZDNet France

Traditionally, the role devolved to Microsoft.

It was the gloomy company that was winning money and became a symbol of American technological excess. She struggled for years with the European Union before finally give in.

This is not instead of Apple. Apple is good taste, creativity, seduction

Apple, the former rebel became a citizen
model

Therefore Cupertino could watch this sanction of $ 14.5 billion imposed by the EU and wince slightly. But the real problem is not money -. It can always be negotiated

What is at stake here is the Apple brand

Once Apple was the rebel guilty of only a few tricks, but the kind that sexy guys are supposed to do.

Then Tim Cook arrived, making blow a new air and Apple enter a new era that embraced social responsibility.

Apple was kinder, gentler, more mature and globally one of the finest citizens of the world

the former rebel had grown up a bit and started kissing popular causes. – whether LGBT rights or environmental policy

L former rebel still speaking of exciting products, but he also began to introduce privacy as a moral issue.

Apple’s Cook is the one who tries openly to improve society, not just to delight consumers with a greater iPad.

and suddenly, his company may be considered the most greedy global companies. And this at a time when the gap between those who have and those who have never had turns into a bottomless pit.

The Cook’s response to the EU decision was energetic. She was, however, also brings an angry threat.

“In addition to target blatantly Apple”, the CEO warned that “the most profound and negative effect of this decision will cover investment and job creation in Europe. “

in a way, it does not stick entirely with the tone of a new Apple and civilized.

A legal quagmire for years

Basically, Cook bet may be on Europe’s disarray to preserve Apple’s image as an entity (slightly) healthier.

The UK decided he had had enough of Europe, Greeks would never to have joined. And the entire European project looks like something that a consulting firm would have imagined, just before taking his own expense and watch everything fall apart.

But the only thing you know with Europe is that things do not tend to be resolved quickly. Apple could end up a prisoner of this legal quagmire for years.

The manufacturer must secretly hope that other tech companies find themselves caught in the same nets. . What confusing and forget that the accused is

Otherwise, the EU will work hard to portray Apple as the ugliest – and most profitable – example of ‘insatiable gluttony.

Perhaps consumers do not really even care not these transnational cases. Maybe the EU is for them just another bureaucratic institution trying to claim a profit.

But while Cupertino is accused of a sudden lack of imagination, with luminaries such as Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff suggesting that Apple is far behind Samsung, Apple would prefer not to be seen as the big bad engulfing profits.

After all, the manufacturer an image to preserve. It has new and luxurious shops to open. Oh, and it must generate new consumer enthusiasm for its products come next week.

That was odd that Europe choose this week to declare war.

Apple recipe to evade taxes, according to Brussels – Boursorama

the European Commission has ordered Tuesday, August 30, 2016 Apple to pay a record sum of at least € 13 billion to Ireland. (Illustration) (AFP / DANIEL OLIVAS-LEAL)

The European Commission has ordered Tuesday, August 30, 2016 Apple to pay a record sum of at least € 13 billion to Ireland . (Illustration) (AFP / DANIEL OLIVAS-LEAL)

The sentence fell Tuesday, August 30. After three years of investigation, the European Commission estimated that the tax advantages granted by the Irish Government constituted “unlawful aid”, which allowed Apple “to avoid tax on virtually all the profits generated “by its sales in the EU. Brussels has ordered the group to pay Apple the record sum of at least € 13 billion to Ireland.

How Apple has benefited for years from a tax rate effective corporation between 0.005 and 1% on its European profits? The executive has detailed its approach to aggressive tax planning, with, apparently, the Irish complicity.

EUROPEAN RECORD EARNINGS IN IRELAND

Two entities Apple based in Ireland are concerned: “Apple Sales International,” in charge of selling the group’s products in Europe, Africa, the Middle East and India, generating profit of billion euros, and “Apple Operations Europe”, which manufactures certain ranges of computers, with much less activity. Both have the right to distribute Apple products in Europe as part of an agreement with the American parent, they finance up to € 2 billion per year (deductible) to support a portion of research . and development of the group

Next, the technique is simple: Register in Ireland all the profits generated by sales in Europe. An iPhone purchased by a French in an Apple Store in Paris? Profits go to Dublin.

DES “SEATS” GHOSTS

It is then directed between the Irish State. Whether an “Apple Sales International” or “Apple Operations Europe”, the method is the same: since 1991, it endorses a totally ARTIFICIAL internal distribution of profits. A tiny part of sales, yet from all over Europe, is well recognized in the Irish part of each body and subject to a tax of 12.5% ​​companies. The rest, if not the vast majority of profits, share in a hypothetical “siege” outside the country, on which the Irish State refuses to have a say.

What ‘ regained the European Commission on these two “seats” ghosts? Nothing, or almost: no specific employees, no offices and no operational capacity enabling it to exercise any concrete activity. Only sign of existence, occasional meetings of the two administrations Councils, made up of Apple executives full-time employees in Ireland. It causes dividends, administrative arrangements and cash management.

These hypothetical seats therefore exist only on paper, but they allow Apple to avoid tax. The group paid only 0.05% tax on its total annual profits in 2011. The percentage, already staggering, even down to 0.005% in 2014. The curve does not go down: the agreement with Dublin no longer applicable since 2015, when Apple changed its structure in Ireland

one last note highlighted by the Commission. Ireland is not the only country concerned by this refund. If a country is deemed injured seeing for years the sales of products made from its territory to Ireland to escape the tax, it could also claim his slice of cake, mechanically reducing the amount due in Dublin.

Apple vs EU: Apple will have to repay $ 13 billion to Ireland – Juicer

The European Commission has decided and ordered Apple to pay $ 13 billion to Ireland. A record sum that the American giant does not wish to pay.

a record fine of $ 13 billion

In the viewfinder of the European Union for many years as well as other major groups such as Google or Microsoft, Apple just be imposed a record fine on Tuesday.

The European Commission complains that the American group to have received “benefits illegal tax “ between 2003 and 2014, which allowed Apple ” to pay significantly less tax than other companies for many years “. In its statement, the Commission adds that Apple has been applied “an effective tax rate of 1% of companies on its European profits in 2003, rates decreased to 0.005% in 2014″ and believes that Ireland must now recover unpaid taxes by Apple on its territory to 13 billion euros plus interest.

note that two agreements between Apple and administration Irish Revenue (tax rulings) have been identified, the first in 1991 and second in 2007 but “the Commission can not order the recovery of unlawful state aid that over a period of ten years prior to his first request information on the subject, either in 2013 this case “.

If the tax rulings are legal, the investigation has dismantled how Apple has benefited from an advantage over its competitors by paying much less tax than other companies, which is illegal under EU rules on state aid. In fact, Apple could avoid tax on virtually all profits generated by the sales of its products in Europe, the US company that decided to record all sales in Ireland rather than in countries where products were sold.

in Dublin, Apple has two companies (Apple Sales International and Apple Operations Europe) that 100% control and which are divided the various brand activities. The first, Apple Sales International, is responsible to purchase Apple products from around the world equipment manufacturers and sell them in Europe (and the Middle East, Africa and India) as explained press the European Commission. Moreover, it is this company that customers contractually bought products of the same brand if physically the transaction took place in another European country (an Apple Store in France for example). Result, Apple was recording all sales, and profits that resulted from directly in Ireland.

Apple paid only 0.005% of taxes in Ireland in 2014

The benefits made were then assigned internally to a “seat” Apple Sales International located outside Ireland. In reality, this “seat” was not located in any country, had no employees, had no premises and its activities were limited to occasional meetings of the Board. Yet it was he who recovered the vast majority of profits which then escaped taxation. Indeed, only a small percentage of Apple Sales International profits were taxed in Ireland.

Finally, the company was making annual payments to Apple in the United States to finance the actions of research and development conducted on behalf of Irish companies in the United States. In fact, these expenditures “have helped fund more than half of all research efforts of the Apple group in the United States to develop its intellectual property worldwide,” were “deducted from the profits recorded by Apple Sales International and Apple Operations Europe in Ireland each year,” .

The European Commission estimates that these payments amounted to about $ 2 billion in 2011 and increased significantly in 2014.

the second company, Apple Operations Europe, was responsible for the manufacture of certain ranges of computers for the Apple group. As with Apple Sales International, the majority of that company’s profits were affected internally to its “seat” and were not taxed anywhere.

A method of internal distribution of profits deemed “artificial “ and unwarranted ” factually or economically “ in Brussels which believes that the sales profits of Apple sales International and Apple Operations Europe should have been recorded by the Irish branch and be taxed in Ireland.

Ireland and Apple will appeal

not surprisingly, the Commission decision does not satisfy neither Apple nor Dublin. On its website, Apple issued a “Message to the Apple Community in Europe” in which the company boasts its balance sheet in Ireland, explaining that today use “nearly 6000 people throughout Ireland ‘ and pushed “countless multinational companies” to invest in Ireland and particularly in the city of Cork.

Apple then denies having received “Special tax treatment” and specifies that it respects national law and pay taxes he owes in Ireland and in each country where it operates.

Finally US firm blames the European Commission that “is rewriting the history of Apple in Europe” and regrets of “duty retroactively pay additional taxes to a government that says we owe him nothing more than what we have already paid “.

Like Ireland, Apple states that it intends to appeal this decision.

(source)

Net neutrality: The BEREC guidelines will form the basis – ITespresso.fr

Internet neutrality to the European sauce takes shape. The Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications (BEREC or BEREC by its English acronym) released guidelines for the implementation of the new rules on the subject by the national authorities of ad hoc regulations ( ARCEP in this case for France).

Should the recall? The net neutrality is fundamental. It focuses on how Internet service providers (ISPs) manage data flows (or “traffic”) transiting their networks when subscribers access the content offered by content providers or applications like YouTube or Spotify.

a mid-technical mid-philosophical debate to an Internet “fast, fair and open”, while preserving the integrity and security of the network, which has followed the United States (and continues).

the involvement of the BEREC on the subject is linked to the European regulation on the single telecoms market, establishing measures concerning access to an “Internet open. ” These guidelines serve as a common basis for national authorities Electronic Communications Regulatory consistently apply the regulation.

The guidelines were developed after rounds of technical expertise and a public consultation s ‘place between June and July. “The number of contributions (481 547) before the deadline is unprecedented for a consultation BEREC,” says one in the release. Stakeholders are varied. Civil society, public institutions, independent experts, ISPs, content and application providers and other industry players

In France, ARCEP has mobilized on the subject given the involvement of its president Sébastien Soriano who soon will be the Chair of the BEREC.

in his own statement, the national Authority supports where it can hurt. “As required by the regulations, practices such specialized services (1) or zero rating (2) are not prohibited as long as they lead to bypass the principle of net neutrality, and will be analysis in each case. “

ARCEP will monitor the file through the publication of an annual report of implementation of the Regulation from 2017. The bill for a digital Republic (in promulgation of course), led by Secretary of State Axelle Lemaire, “will complement the skills of ARCEP in investigation and sanctions to enforce net neutrality.”

( 1) specialized services: “services that are not access services to the internet which are optimized for content, applications or specific services, or a combination thereof, where optimization is needed to the content, applications or services meet the corresponding requirements to a specific level of quality “(source: BEREC)

(2)” Zero rating “refers to the practice used by some ISPs comprising not deduct the data package from a client associated traffic to a certain application or category of applications (source: BEREC).

BEREC Chair Wilhelm Eschweiler, Incoming Chair 2017 Sebastien Soriano, Co-Chair of the EWG NN Frode Sorensen #BERECNN pic.twitter.com/inARns58El

– BEREC (@BERECeuropaeu) August 30, 2016

Apple: Why Brussels condemn Ireland to receive … 13 billion – 20minutes.fr

Apple will invest 1.7 billion euros in data centers in Ireland and Denmark – Justin Sullivan Getty Images

TAX the European Commission asks Ireland to recover 13 billion euros in unpaid taxes from Apple …

and Ireland is slap on the wrist. The European Commission estimated on Tuesday that the Irish State has granted “undue tax advantages” to Apple. And the sum to recover these unpaid taxes, or a whopping 13 billion euros. In other words, Ireland has organized a fraud and she will be reimbursed for 13 billion euros defrauded … How is this possible? 20 Minutes is the point.

Why Ireland Is not rather pay?

But she s ‘East. The European Commission has not ordered Apple to pay 13 billion euros to Ireland. It ordered Ireland to recover 13 billion euros from Apple. Well, in the end, it’s still Apple is supposed to pay.

Why Ireland does she gets no real sanction?

Because the EU treaties do not provide for this possibility. For the European Commission, so the key is that the Irish State the same amount they should have received via Apple tax. Condemning Apple to pay 13 billion, Brussels also wants to restore some equality between the firm at the apple and other Irish companies, as the first paid for years much less tax (0.005% to 1% on its profits between years) than the latter (12.5% ​​on their profits).

So, Ireland will pocket EUR 13 billion. It must rejoice …

Well, no. This is quite the opposite: the Irish government went to spend 667,000 euros (public money) for “legal services”, that is to say on lawyers to try to escape a condemnation from the European Commission. In other words, he fought for failing to recover 13 billion euros …

Now that he is convicted, he should not delay to appeal the decision. Michael Noonan, the Irish Finance Minister, said he expected “only” government approval to launch this action. The case would then go to the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU).

Why is not the EU that the cash sum?

Because the EU treaties do not provide. Yet in this case, they are all the EU Member States who have been cheated. Why ? Because Apple has not said its sales by country, but made up all its profits in Ireland, like all products were sold in Ireland … In the words of the European Commission, “the tax treatment by Ireland has allowed Apple to avoid tax on virtually all the profits generated by sales of Apple products throughout the EU single market. “

” This n ‘ is not fair but it’s not illegal, “laments Manon Aubry, spokesman of Oxfam France. In any case, the European Commission has no power to act on this. Moreover, Brussels has not condemned the Irish State because he did pay little tax to businesses installed on the ground, but because he did pay less tax to Apple and other companies. “States are sovereign taxation. Ireland is therefore free to grant the benefits it wants to companies, even if it comes at the expense of other member states, “said Olivier Petitjean, in charge of the Observatory of multinational companies.

But other countries, notably France can they do nothing

when: all European countries where Apple is installed, such as Germany, the United Kingdom or France, could apply to receive a portion of the 13 billion euros. The European Commission says very clearly in a statement. And that’s a first. But realistically, how could France get some of that money? 20 Minutes asked the question in Brussels. Answer: “Speaking directly to the company.” What makes Manon Aubry smile: “Even if the French tax administration so wishes, it would be hard to establish how many Apple products were actually sold on French soil and, therefore, how much France is entitled to recover on 13 billion euros. ” Olivier Petitjean, however, wants to believe in the possibility of this action. He welcomed in any case the decision of the European Commission, “really unprecedented.”

And so France she is considering an appeal?

We put the question to Bercy but we have not (yet?) been returned. Manon Aubry as Olivier Petitjean, “it is not impossible that France act as it did for Google.” That is to say that Bercy request financial Parquet an investigation of Apple for “aggravated tax fraud.” But if the French tax authorities embarked on this path, it does not necessarily communicate information,
 forces.

tax secrecy

Apple Condemnation is not good news?

If it is. As underlined Olivier Petitjean, “the battle against tax evasion is not won, but is well underway.” And two are to enjoy. First, the penalty amount: 13 billion euros, a record. Then the determination of the European Commission which, despite pressure from Ireland
 and the United States, did not yield

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In Ireland, Apple and the tax prodigal – Liberation

This is a first. Brussels had never hit as hard against the tax practices of multinational, ie the first in the world in terms of market capitalization (513 billion) and cash (207 billion euros). Condemning Apple to pay more than € 13 billion to Ireland, the European Commission imposed Tuesday the biggest tax adjustment in its history. A colossal sum that has nothing of a fine the company the richest in the world will just have to pay back to the Irish Republic “tax benefits” preferential and abusive – plus interest – the latter has made him from 1991. … An illegal practice under the EU rules, since distort free competition in the heart of the single European market. “The selective tax treatment Apple in Ireland is illegal under EU rules on state aid, writes the Commission in support of its decision, because it gives the company a significant advantage over other companies that are subject to the same national tax rules. “ We could not be more clear, unlike the assembly of Apple, whose formidable complexity was perfectly clarified after three years of investigation

See no employees or premises

Margrethe Vestager, the dreaded Commissioner of Competition portfolio -. it Google also has in his sights with three indictments – finalized the decision summarized in a 130-page document. The former Danish Minister of Finance, who have inspired the figure of Birgitte Nyborg in the series Borgen, the sums in some damning figures for Apple. It indicates that “the tax treatment Apple” in Ireland helped him through two rescripts (agreements) tax, “to be applying an effective tax rate on corporate 1% of its profits in 2003, rates decreased to 0.005% in 2014 “. either, according to his calculations, about 50 euros tax paid in Ireland for every million profit located in Ireland where the firm directly employs 5500 people.

the EU executive goes further by stressing that in reality, Apple has avoided “tax on virtually all the profits generated through the sale of Apple products throughout the EU’s single market ‘ by recording all sales in Ireland rather than in countries where its products were purchased. However, the two subsidiaries in Ireland Apple (Apple Operations Europe and Apple Sales International), which hold the intellectual property rights to use the group outside of North America, have hardly paid d taxes between 1991 and 2007 in the country (2% on average over these sixteen years.) Almost all their profits were assigned to a “seat” located outside of Ireland. A “seat” without domiciliation, which had no employees, had no premises and whose benefits were actually taxed “nowhere”, dissects the Commission. In other words, while Ireland already shows the tax rate on the lowest societies of Europe, at 12.5%, its administration has reserved an ultra-privileged tax regime – and long secret – the manufacturer of iPhone, endorsing the fact that unrealized profits in Ireland pass through the country before evaporating in nature. In exchange, Apple has continued and intensified its development in Ireland over the years, particularly in Cork city, where thousands of jobs have been created.

Margrethe Vestager, which has become the most combative of Commissioners of the EU executive had already sanctioned last year Starbucks (the Netherlands) and Fiat (Luxembourg), amounting to 30 million euros each for identical practices or tax ruling tax ruling. And the giant Amazon online commerce is also in the sights of Brussels, for a rescript in Luxembourg. But the money is in the case of Apple’s 40 times larger and sprays the recovery inflicted on EDF for using illegal French state in the amount of 1.4 billion euros.

since the tax optimization schemes introduced by Apple on the Continent have also resulted in a loss of tax revenue for other Member States of the Union, the EU executive explained that the amount Apple will have to return to the Irish tax authorities could be downgraded. Everything will depend on the amounts that other countries litigation with Apple claiming the US tech giant.

Apple, but also Ireland, immediately said they would make unprecedented appeal the decision . “Apple respects the law and pay all taxes due wherever he is now,” said the Californian group, for which “The case raised by the Commission does not apply to amounts paid by Apple in taxes, but the way the government collects money. ” Its CEO, Tim Cook, said that the company “had become the largest taxpayer in Ireland, the largest taxpayer in the United States and the largest taxpayer in the world.” And Apple to warn Brussels on the very negative signal to extra-large multinationals. “The decision, concludes the group is set to unveil the iPhone in early September 7 in San Francisco, will have a profound and damaging effect on investment and the creation in Europe.”

Benefits housed Bermuda

Meanwhile, Ireland, which ought to benefit from a record flow of money to public finances and recently reformed the most controversial aspects of its tax system, disputes the fact that preferential treatment has been granted. “I strongly disagree with the Commission’s decision,” said the Irish Finance Minister, Michael Noonan, who intends to defend “integrity” of the tax system . “It is important, he says, to send the message that Ireland remains an attractive destination as a stable for significant investment.”

the US Treasury and the White House, denouncing for months Brussels fury against the American groups have also sided with Apple, saying the move could threaten foreign investment in Europe. They challenge the retroactivity of this decision and accused Brussels of usurping his powers by setting up as “supranational fiscal authority”. A activism that challenges in their international cooperation established under ‘OECD auspices to end the aggressive tax planning for multinationals. An attitude to say the least contradictory, contradicting the war waged by the US tax authorities to repatriate billions of dollars in profits Apple housed abroad, particularly in Bermuda and that Washington would be able to tax it. As if the imposition of Apple was primarily the coffers of the US state. The art of using double standards

Christophe Alix

Europe: victory for supporters of net neutrality – 01net.com

“Victory! “. The movement “SaveTheInternet” which advocated a strict definition of net neutrality and brought together numerous associations, triumph since the European gendarme telecom (BEREC also called Berec English) made this August 30th roadmap which is favorable to him on the subject.

the European regulation of 25 November 2015 certainly raised for the first time the principle of net neutrality but left many questions unanswered. There were operators degrading the speed of some services for commercial reasons? Would VPN users penalized? BEREC has launched a major public consultation to put everything flat. And today, she makes clear pro neutrality guidelines. If the most controversial practices such as specialized services, zero-rating or traffic management are approved, they will be limited to the future. That will not please the ISP.

The operators unhappy

ETNO, the association of Europe, has already said that BEREC unfortunately had ignored most of his concerns, suggesting that the new rules would stifle innovation. “The connected cars, e-health, industrial sensors and many other applications require connectivity based on specific quality requirements (…), especially in a scenario 5G” can be read the press release of the association.

the blackmail 5G is again brandished. An argument follows the 5G manifesto published in early July by operators clearly calling for the restriction of net neutrality in order to deploy this new technology. BEREC but did not yield to the pressure.

Redefined specialized services

What frightened activists net neutrality, c is the vagueness of certain practices of operators. Although the regulations imposed they are taken transparently, proportionately and non-discriminatory.

First, the controversy raged around specialized services, also called “enhanced services”. An operator is in fact authorized to grant a guaranteed rate to services such as Internet TV (IPTV) to ensure the quality of their operation. The danger was that it might degrade the overall quality of internet access and some companies benefit without this being justified

To avoid this, BEREC provides a more precise definition of special services.: they can not be access to internet services, must be optimized for content, applications or specific services, and optimization must look objectively necessary in order to meet high demands in terms of quality. Finally, the ability of the operator network should be sufficient for it does not penalize the end users of internet services.

The zero-rating highly regulated

Other about voltage, zero-rating, to not count the data plan subscribers using certain applications or services such as cloud storage. Thereby encouraging these applications or services over others. This is also a problem of choice to the user since the operator becomes prescriber. A bit like Facebook with its Free Basics.

BEREC said that if a subscriber has spent all her data quota, all applications and services will be blocked or slowed down in the same way, including which are not counted. It will also not possible to offer zero-rating for a category of applications such as video or music streaming. And above all, the user can not be prevented from using other services than those offered. The authority finally acknowledged that the zero-rating encourages consumers to use certain services over others and therefore calls on regulators in each state to examine the situation at the local level in order not to strengthen the already dominant players positions and thereby nip in the bud the development of new independent start-ups.

limited traffic management

the last bone of contention concerned the traffic management allowing ISPs prioritize some communications on their networks. What is in preventing traffic congestions. But block or slow some greedy bandwidth services it would become possible for operators? obviously we think YouTube, Netflix or streaming video in general.

Again, BEREC clarifies things by limiting the duration of the traffic management “that should not be kept longer than necessary “and prohibiting this practice target particular content.

each member State now to seize these guidelines. This will be done in France as part of the digital law. It remains to find out how the text will be translated. The President of ARCEP Sébastien Soriano has already warned at the press conference of BEREC “Each practice will be analyzed case by case basis and depending on the context of the national market.” Yet he will have ARCEP has the means to investigate with operators.

7 iPhone: Apple gives appointment September 7 – Juicer

We now know the date of the next Apple keynote, it will take place on 7 September in San Francisco and the iPhone is not the only announcement.

” do we see the 7 “

Points of light and a message that gives us an appointment on September 7, Apple finally delivered the invitation card for his keynote comeback and as often with the American giant, the announcement keeps its mystery and is sure to shake the canvas.

Event of the season with the IFA keynote Apple is the opportunity to present new products of the brand including the iPhone 7, a new model awaited to start the machine and confirm that the empire Apple is not losing momentum.

One thing is sure, the iPhone 7 is the subject of many rumors for several months and relate more insistent that the new model of Apple would lose his jack to be even thinner. A decision that is already controversial and could be followed by the removal of the iPhone home button.

the design should not, however, know of revolution but the iPhone 7 Plus could carry a dual sensor as proposed by Huawei P9 for example. The rest of the specifications should also evolve with the presence of A10 processor and the iPhone 7 expected to propose a minimum of 32 GB of storage and up to 256 GB, a new color is also expected. Not surprisingly, the size should not change with a model at 4.7 inches and has 5.5 inches more.

Announced at WWDC in June, iOS 10 for its part should be available in final version.

the iPhone will not only

If the iPhone is undoubtedly the star of the event, it will not be the only brand new apple . The Apple Watch 2 should also be presented and this new version would board a battery of 334 mAh, an increase of 35% compared to the model currently available but will not result necessarily in better autonomy. Indeed, the watch Apple should also be entitled to a faster processor, a GPS chip and a barometer that require more power.

The presence of a GPS chip confirms once again the will Apple to seduce sportsmen and connected shows the benefit of new watchOS 3

Finally, it will probably have to wait a few weeks to see the new MacBook and iMac. The MacBook Pro has hardly changed since 2012 and should benefit from an event in October to fill novelties. According to Bloomberg, a 5k monitor designed in collaboration with LG should also be announced, succeeding the Thunderbolt Display Apple has abandoned it a few months ago.

But it was not until 2017 for cross a new iPad

. (Sources: 9to5mac & amp; Bloomberg)

Europe could impose a record fine on Apple – 20minutes.fr

TAX The American multinational, accused of having benefited from favorable tax agreements by the Irish Government, will appeal …

Illustration of the Apple logo – Tony Avelar / AP / SIPA

20 Minutes with AFP

• 30/08/2016 at 08:05
  • updated 30.08.2016 12:40

Thirteen billion … The note is salty for Apple, sentenced
 the European Commission to repay Tuesday “tax benefits” granted by Ireland. The American giant was suspected of having benefited from taxation for treatment by the Irish Government.

“The European Commission has concluded that Ireland had granted Apple undue tax benefits amounting to 13 billion euros (…) Ireland must now recover
 unpaid taxes by Apple on its territory between 2003 and 2014, ie € 13 billion, plus interest, “wrote the EU executive said in a statement.

Apple immediately responded by announcing its intention to appeal the decision of the European Commission. The multinational has also held the decision of Brussels “harmful” for investment and employment in Europe.

In a recent interview to the US newspaper Washington Post
 the CEO, Tim Cook, asked about the possibility of a fine imposed by the European Commission, said “hope for a fair decision”

& gt;. & gt; Read also: iPhone A billion sold in less than ten years

Last Wednesday, the US Treasury had raised the tone in the dispute that opposes the European Commission on the treatment tax aid to US multinationals also relates Apple, also Starbucks, Fiat-Chrysler and
 Amazon. In a “White Paper” of 26 pages sent to Brussels, the US Treasury criticized the Commission’s investigation into the tax treatment of state aid and their retroactivity

& gt;. & Gt; Read also: Multinationals and the art of avoiding taxation

On 21 October 2015 the European Commission had already struck a blow against the tax advantages granted to multinational several European countries, such as Luxembourg and the Netherlands demanding
 Italian Fiat and Starbucks US they pay back the aid received “illegally”

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VIDEOS. New Zealand: the founder of Megaupload will broadcast its audience on the Internet – Le Parisien

P etite legal victory for the czar illegal Internet. Kim Dotcom, founder of Megaupload download site, obtained Tuesday that his extradition hearing to the United States to be broadcast on the web, from New Zealand

“Last minute information.: the judge accepted the broadcast streaming! Success! “Crowed Kim Dotcom, real name Kim Schmitz, from his Twitter account.

The German giant is 41 years sought by US authorities who accuse him of having, through hacking, made huge profits. All via its iconic download platform, films or music in particular, closed in 2012.

In its heyday, Megaupload was the 13th most visited Internet site, posted 50 million daily users and say represent 4% of traffic.

Kim Dotcom empire collapsed in January 2012 when the police arrived in his luxurious Auckland property (New Zealand) at the request of US authorities.

End 2015, the New Zealand justice ruled he could be extradited to the United States, like three other founders of Megaupload. Since Monday is the appeal made by Kim Dotcom which is reviewed by the High Court in Auckland.

Invite people in the debate

Before going into the merits of the case, lawyers for Kim Dotcom advocated that the debates are broadcast streaming on the internet to ensure a fair trial. And to take the witness to users.

“The entrepreneur and innovator,” as he defines himself, invited his followers to “dissect” any “deceit, dishonesty” and “false malicious statements” of justice.

The US government tried to prevent such a public hearing. The prosecution lawyers argued that a webcast of these hearings might guide the judgment of a possible US jury in the event of extradition and a trial in the United States.

delayed Broadcast

According to the neo-zéolandais media, the president of the High Court, Justice Murray Gilbert, decided that streaming could have instead, under strict conditions.

The distribution will be a slight delay, a delay of 20 minutes. The court may suspend streaming, where confidential information would come to be disclosed at the hearing. And the videos will be removed Internet at the end of the trial.

“The live streaming will begin tomorrow ( Wednesday, ed ). The cameraman must install everything in a professional manner, respecting the judge’s on streaming, “said Dotcom.

At the opening of the hearing Monday, Ron Mansfield, counsel for Dotcom had motivated the request of his client, explaining that streaming (stream without download) would guarantee a fair trial and was justified by “public and international interest unprecedented” of the case.

he also observed that the retransmission of streaming hearings had been successfully tested in the past in the New Zealand courts.

illegal content posted

Wanted for fraud, racketeering and money laundering, who describes himself as a “freedom fighter internet” denies any violation.

Kim Dotcom and his colleagues “have voluntarily provided their site content infringing the copyright legislation, (…) they deliberately used these contents and have drawn large sums of money, “assénait in December 2015 counsel for the US authorities.

his website, pleaded the person, doing his best to prevent violations of copyrights. But he could controlled all activities of its 50 million daily users.

In an interview with the BBC ( below, in English ) Kim Dotcom says that “the accusation is not ( he ) violated the copyright.” “They held me responsible for the actions of others,” he says. The forty blames the US authorities that would lead a vendetta against him at the instigation of the influential Hollywood studio

Kim Dotcom and three former Megaupload. – Finn Batato, Mathias Ortmann and Bram van der Kolk – accused of firing their business $ 175 million (around EUR 160 million) profit. But also to have caused hundreds of billions of dollars in losses to rights holders of musical works, films and other pirated products.

The review of the call is expected to last six to eight weeks. If defeated, Kim Dotcom filing other appeals against his extradition. If the trial was to take place in the US, he faces 20 years in prison.

The key dates in the Megaupload case

March 2005 . Kim Dotcom, real name Kim Schmitz, creates Megaupload download site in Hong Kong. The founders of the platform have claimed up to 50 million daily users and 4% of Internet traffic.

February 2010 . Kim Dotcom moved to New Zealand, saying he wants to abandon her party animal lifestyle to devote himself to his family – he is now a father of five

January 2012 <. / strong>. Kim Dotcom’s empire collapses when the police arrived in his luxurious Auckland property, at the request of US authorities. Among the seized property, vast amounts of money in cash, a life-size statue of a Predator (creature science fiction) and 18 luxury cars adorned with license plates where you could read among others ” stoned “,” Hacker “and” Guilty “.

February 2012 . After a month in prison, Kim Dotcom is placed on bail. He said he would stay in New Zealand to fight tooth and nail against the accusations of the FBI. The intelligence service suggests that Megaupload pocketed illegally over 175 million dollars (around 160 million €) and private perpetrators of hundreds of millions of dollars by offering to download pirated content.

VIDEO. Megaupload: Kim Dotcom “relieved” to be released

June to October 2012 . The High Court of New Zealand considers that the search of the home of tycoon internet was illegal. The intelligence services have acknowledged previously monitored Dotcom illegally. This judgment will be reversed later but the prime minister of the archipelago, John Key, apologized for surveillance operations.

January 2013 . Kim Dotcom launches new file sharing site called Mega, exactly one year after the police raid at his home. He will then take its distances with the site (which now claims more than 22 million users) for, he said, to concentrate on his legal battle.

September 2014 . The Internet party launched by the flamboyant king of technology wipes a crushing defeat in the parliamentary elections, during which it has joint candidates with the Mana Party, its ally. He recognizes that his name is the effect of a “poison” while John Key, his sworn enemy, won a third term.

September 2015 . After multiple postponements, the New Zealand justice begins to examine the request for extradition of Kim Dotcom and three co-defendants, former executives of Megaupload Finn Batato, Mathias Ortmann and Bram van der Kolk. The trial lasted nine weeks.

December 23, 2015 . Nevin Dawson the judge believes that Kim Dotcom and his three co-accused can be extradited to the United States, where they face prosecution for money laundering, racketeering and copyright misuse. They face up to 20 years in prison. Kim Dotcom announces a call immediately.

12 July 2016 . Kim Dotcom Megaupload announced it will relaunch its platform “29 January 2017″.

30 August 2016 . The accused obtained the release of its audience over the internet.

Our ancestor Lucy, died falling from a tree – Le Figaro

INFOGRAPHIE – At the scanner, the fossil Australopithecus shows traces of fractures, signs of a fall from a great height

Lucy, the most famous human ancestors, had apparently not cut all ties with his ancestors monkeys and even spent time climbing trees, d According to a US study published Monday in the British journal Nature . A practice that would have even caused her death, due to a fall from high branches.

The small Australopithecus (1.10 m for 29 kg) may well have been discovered there over forty years, in 1974 in Hadar in Ethiopia by a scientific team with the French and Maurice Taieb Yves Coppens, his bones still have many things to teach us. And especially when one uses the most modern technologies, such as researchers led by anthropologist John Kappelman of the University of Texas at Austin.

Click here to enlarge the graphic

scientists Americans have enjoyed a very rare trips fossil Lucy, preserved as a national treasure by the museum in Addis Ababa in Ethiopia. From 2007 to 2013, several major American museums have paid for gold the right to expose the real remains, complete with a little less than 40%, the most famous representative of the Australopithecus afarensis. During his time in Austin, researchers with the agreement of Addis Ababa, have passed all Lucy’s bones in a micro X-ray scanner, which allows 3D detailing inside with fossil much better than medical devices resolution. The operation took not less than 10 days and produced 35,000 cuts X-ray of the skeleton. Precision helping to make the autopsy of Australopithecus, 3.2 million years after his death in Ethiopian lowlands. “Lucy is precious. There is only Lucy, and we want to study as well as possible, “says Richard Ketcham, professor of geology at the University of Texas at Austin and co-author of the study. “With the scanner, you can see the heart of the fossil, the details and internal structures in the bones.”

And it is this precise approach that allowed researchers to detect unusual fracture in fossil. The end of the right humerus (upper arm bone attached to the shoulder) was broken, not frank and straight way as sometimes happens on fossilized bones, but with a series of small sharp fractures, accompanied fragments and splinters of bone still in place.

anthropologist John Kappelma, University of Austin (Texas), holding a 3D reproduction of Lucy’s bones . Copyright: MMiller /

“C is a compression fracture occurs when the hand touches the ground after a fall, which projects the shoulder elements against each other and produced this kind of unique signature on the humerus, “explains John Kappelman. The American anthropologist is not a specialist in this type of injury, but he took advantage of the expertise of Dr. Stephen Pearce, an orthopedic surgeon in Austin, which found the wound on a 3D reconstruction of Lucy’s bones. To complete the picture, the researchers also detected other fractures, less severe, to the other shoulder, right ankle, the knee and the left pelvis. A clinical picture consistent with a fall from a great height, which could cause fatal damage to internal organs. Lucy would be dropped from a height of at least 12 meters, almost 60 km / h. His feet had to touch the ground first, projecting forward. His wound to the humerus also shows that she must be conscious during his fall, and tried to protect themselves by putting his arms forward.

“This study provides a new answer to an old scientific debate that has been the discovery of Lucy: she was clearly bipedal, but she had still an arboreal behavior? His falling tree proves that this was probably the case “

” This is a very interesting study, which brings us a new and very convincing look, richer than strict anatomical study on the life of Lucy and her last moments, “said Jean-Jacques Hublin, director of the department of human evolution at the Max Planck Institute in Leipzig and Professor of the international Chair of paleoanthropology at the College de France. “Especially this study provides a new answer to an old scientific debate that has been the discovery of Lucy: she was clearly bipedal, but she had still an arboreal behavior? His falling tree proves that this was probably the case. “Even if it were to find most of their food near the ground, she had to find an advantage to climb, perhaps to shelter predators at night.

“I welcome this beautiful study says Yves Coppens, who was one of the discoverers of Lucy in 1974. the Americans did a great job, and I ‘ admit that they respond to a question, how Lucy is dead, to which we never thought the student forty years ago! “Against the initial advice of many of his American colleagues, Yves Coppens has long championed the idea that Lucy combined both arboreal bipedalism with a behavior. A compromise not ideal from an anatomical point of view. “It worked less well than those who succeeded him and had to climb less well than those that preceded it, and unfortunately it is perhaps because of this that she fell,” says Yves Coppens.

Samsung prepares three new Galaxy A for 2017 – 01net.com

After the star of the season, the Galaxy Note 7 will be available on September 2, Samsung will now focus on its mid-range smartphones. The release versions of its Galaxy 2017 A3, A5 and A7 has indeed been confirmed.

These smartphones enjoy a quality design with a metal shell and a part of the functions to more models high end of the south Korean brand. For now, they were seen as unattractive names of SM-A320F, A520F-SM and SM-A720F.

If there is not much information on the Galaxy A3 and A7, the Galaxy A5 has been seen on Geekbench, which allows you to discover some of its features. This device should be powered by a Exynos 7880 processor clocked at 1.87 GHz or equivalent at Qualcomm in some markets, and accompanied by 3GB of RAM. The Galaxy A5 release in 2016 was provided by 2 GB of RAM. The new edition of the Galaxy A5 will run on Android 6.0.1

Geekbench –

Nothing is indicated on the size of the smartphone screen, but we can assume it will be the same as the previous model (5.2 inches) . We know nothing either of the amount of storage space, but we appreciate the view from 16 to 32 GB. Still photography finally, one can only hope that the sensor is better than that of his eldest including low light.

the more we move closer to their presentation, the more you should know about these devices. Like last year, Samsung could formalize the beginning of 2017 with a market in the wake

Sources:.
Sam Mobile and Geekbench