AT&T Galaxy Note goes up for pre-order

The Samsung Galaxy Note, powered by AT&T's 4G LTE network, is available for pre-order.

Manufactured by Samsung, the device has a whopping 5.3-inch display, a 1.5 GHz dual-core processor, 16 GB of built-in memory, and a 1280x800 resolution.

In other words, its specs are on par with some of the entry-level tablets on the market. When it comes to display sizes, smartphones generally measure in at 4 to 4.5 inches, while tablets start at around 7 inches.

So the Galaxy Note falls in between the two categories but definitely still sides more with the phone group. Nevertheless, it is a highly interesting phone. The device packs a large 2500 mAh battery which should provide a sturdy battery life to power that bigger-than-usual display.

AT&T likes to test out new phones. It was the provider of choice for the LG Optimus 3D, one of the first glasses-free 3D phones, as well as the Motorola Atrix which could dock into an external display and act as a laptop.

Likewise, Samsung's Galaxy brand has a lot of name recognition and loves to be on the bleeding edge. So there are a lot of eyes on the Galaxy Note. It will be priced at the now-standard $300 for very high-end smartphones. That's after a two-year contract subsidy.

The device goes on sale February 19.

Zuckerberg warns banks to keep quiet, sources say Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2012/02/06/zuckerberg-warns-banks-to-keep-quiet-sources-say/#ixzz1lbryLglj

Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg has sent a warning around Wall Street recently, telling Morgan Stanley, JPMorgan Chase, Goldman Sachs and the other banks involved in his company's $100 billion initial public offering (IPO) to stop leaking juicy tidbits to the media, the New York Post has learned.

Zuckerberg, 27, whose stake in the social network giant amounts to around $28 billion, was not too happy that some aspects of the much-anticipated initial stock float -- including the fact that its filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission would take place on Feb. 1 -- were disclosed.

Facebook officials let the bankers know about it through phone calls and emails, sources said.

Facebook officials also appeared to be irked about what seemed to be subtle sniping in the press between Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs centered on which firm would grab the coveted lead underwriting role on the IPO -- the highest profile float since Google went public with a $1.7 billion offering back 2004.

Zuckerberg's warning appears to be working.

The powers that be at each bank, sources said, have reacted by warning employees not to discuss the filing.

"[Facebook] wants to be taken seriously and viewed as a blue-ship company," said one bank official familiar with the listing, but not authorized to speak publicly.

Facebook and its team of underwriters are in a so-called quiet period since filing the paperwork, known as an S-1, with regulators.

Although the Facebook emails and calls contained no threats, running afoul of Zuckerberg could result in a bank getting dropped from the IPO. Just two years ago, UBS was dumped from the group of banks handling General Motors' much-anticipated IPO.

For the banks, the Facebook IPO means more than just the $40 million it could earn from the deal. Indeed, landing the prestigious Facebook offering is likely to have a halo effect that could help a bank land future tech IPOs. Getting booted from the deal can have the same halo effect -- in reverse.

At lead underwriter Morgan Stanley, the reaction to Facebook's warning has been quick and unambiguous. Its private wealth advisers were admonished to stay mum on the upcoming IPO -- a difficult task considering clients are clamoring to get in on the action.

Queen's Diamond Jubilee: The first since Queen Victoria

Initially Victoria had hoped for a quiet commemoration following her popular Golden Jubilee 10 years earlier, but realised the people were intent on marking the occasion in style.

Secretary of State for the Colonies Joseph Chamberlain suggested that the anniversary should be used to celebrate the British Empire and the Queen approved.

It became a glittering celebration, with troops from across the Empire processing through the streets in her honour.

The accession anniversary of June 20 1897 fell on a Sunday and was marked with special services around the country, with the Queen attending St George's Chapel, Windsor.

Victoria, also Empress of India, entered the thanksgiving service on the arm of an Indian servant.

The following day, she returned to London to receive foreign envoys. There was also a Torchlight Military Tattoo in the grounds of Buckingham Palace.

The official celebration of the Diamond Jubilee took place on Tuesday June 22 1897.

In the morning, the Queen transmitted a telegram across the world with the personal message: "From my heart I thank my beloved people. May God bless them."

Before the age of television, the only way to watch the festivities was to head to London and thousands of people flocked to the streets to catch a glimpse of Victoria's grand procession.

Sailors in boaters pulled gun carriages on ropes while guards in bearskin hats and tunics lined the roads.

Among many others, the Indian Lancers in their turbans, the Jamaican Artillery and New Zealand Mounted Troops had travelled to take part in the parade, joined by the traditional Sovereign's Escort of the 2nd Life Guards.

Victoria, dressed in black silk with a black bonnet decorated with white ostrich feathers and diamonds, processed through London in a carriage to St Paul's Cathedral for a service, across London Bridge, through south London and back past Parliament to Buckingham Palace.

She was moved by the experience, writing in her journal that night: "No-one ever, I believe, has met with such an ovation as was given to me, passing through those six miles of streets... The crowds were quite indescribable and their enthusiasm truly marvellous and deeply touching.

"The cheering was quite deafening and every face seemed to be filled with (real) joy."

There was one mishap during the procession when the elderly Gold Stick, Lord Howe - tasked with protecting the sovereign - fainted, although he did remount to be greeted by cheers from the crowd, according to Debrett's look back at the commemoration.

The thanksgiving service was held not inside, but outside St Paul's as the 78-year-old Queen, whose health was beginning to fail, could not manage the steps due to her rheumatism.

Representatives from the then British Empire were in attendance and two choirs lined the steps of the cathedral for the short service.

The Archbishop of Canterbury embarked on a spontaneous three cheers for the Queen.

Vanity Fair, published on June 24 1897, declared that the Jubilee Day had strengthened the bonds of the British Empire thanks to the welcome visiting premiers and troops were given.

It added: "For in Her Majesty, as she sat in her magnificent carriage, amid all the splendour of her court, the glistening of gold, the shining of sabres and the pomp of cavalry, in her quiet simple dress, all of us recognised a grand example of humility, of patience, of long suffering - in a word, womanliness."

London went all out with the decorations. One banner in the capital declared: "Queen of earthly Queens".

Manchester put aside large sums of money to hold a breakfast party for 100,000 children, while in Newcastle enough was raised for a new hospital.

In the evening on the official Jubilee Day, there was a grand dinner party at Buckingham Palace where the Queen's table was decorated with a 9ft high display of 60,000 orchids from every part of the then Empire, crafted into the shape of a crown.

There were also royal engagements all week long including a State Ball at the Palace and a mass Naval review at Spithead in Hampshire attended by the then Prince of Wales and involving 165 ships.

Jubilee hymns were commissioned and society garden parties hosted by various Countesses, while a reception and ball was held by the Corporation of the City of London at the Guildhall.

As part of the festivities, Alexandra, Princess of Wales, initiated a project to hold the biggest banquet in the world and feed some 400,000 of London's poor.

She staged a series of vast Diamond Jubilee Feasts where everyone was welcome no matter what their background or what state their clothes were in.

More than 700 tons of food was needed and 10,000 waiters with the meals backed by millionaire Sir Thomas Lipton.

Diners ate roast ribs of beef and veal and ham pies, followed by dates, oranges and a drink of English ale or ginger beer and then pipes and tobacco.

Victoria's reign is the longest in British history, with the current Queen's the second longest.

Queen Victoria died just three and a half years after her Diamond Jubilee in January 1901 at the age of 81.

Mario Manningham grabs attention

INDIANAPOLIS — During last night’s back-and-forth Super Bowl XLVI, New York Giants wide receivers Hakeem Nicks, Mario Manningham and Victor Cruz talked on the sideline about who was going to step up — like a game-changing moment was bound to involve one of them.
After all, the Giants recorded six comeback victories along the road to the Super Bowl.

And on the biggest drive of the season, it was Manningham who came through. The wideout made an outstanding grab of a 38-yard bomb from quarterback Eli Manning along the left sideline to help set up the winning score in the 21-17 decision over thePatriots [team stats].

“We knew that one of use was going to have to make a big play,” Manningham said. “We didn’t know when, though. So, you know, bite your tongue, be patient, the ball’s going to come to you.”

In the fourth quarter, the Giants offense got the ball back on its 12-yard line with 3:46 remaining. As Manningham lined up, defensive back Sterling Moore acted like the Patriots were in man coverage. But at the last minute, safety Patrick Chung rotated over for the cover-2 the Pats were playing all game.

Manningham was able to get inside of Moore as Chung ran to his left. Manning threw the ball deep and, as it touched Manningham’s fingers, he planted his feet before falling out of bounds.

Patriots coach Bill Belichick challenged the call in hopes of having the reception overturned, but Manningham was never concerned.

“Wherever I was at, as soon as the ball hit my fingertips I just froze my feet and just fell. I knew I was either going to be hit or hit the ground,” Manningham said. “I knew something was going to happen, but I knew I couldn’t let that ball go.”

Manningham (five catches, 73 yards) caught three balls on the drive as the Giants rolled down the field and scored the winning touchdown. It was a positive finish for a receiver who’s production dropped off this season (523 yards, four touchdowns) from the year before (944 yards, nine TDs).

The performance also provided Manningham the chance to walk the walk after trash-talking the Pats secondary last week.

“I just go out and do my job,” Manningham said. “I know plays are going to come. You’ve got to have a short-term memory playing wide receiver. Take advantage of every ball that comes your way.”

Obama holds edge over Romney in general election matchup, poll finds

By Dan Balz and Jon Cohen,

Boosted by improved public confidence in his economic stewardship, President Obama for the first time holds a clear edge over Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney in a hypothetical general-election matchup, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll.

Romney, who notched his second consecutive victory Saturday by easily winning the Nevada caucuses, continues to solidify his position as the front-runner in the race for the GOP nomination. But as the contest has grown more negative, public impressions of the top Republican contenders have soured, as has the former Massachusetts governor’s standing as a general-election candidate.

Obama remains a polarizing figure, with Americans closely divided on whether he deserves reelection as well as on many aspects of his performance in office. Although better than they were a few months ago, his ratings on handling the economy and job creation remain negative, with intensity continuing to run against him.

The poll results underscore how important framing the contest could be to the outcome. If the fall campaign becomes largely a referendum on Obama’s tenure in office, as Republicans hope it will, he could struggle to win a second term — barring an economic recovery that vastly outperforms expectations. If, however, it becomes a choice between the incumbent and the challenger, as Obama advisers predict it will, the president’s prospects would be brighter.

The survey was conducted Wednesday through Saturday. During that time, the president and the Republican candidates were in the spotlight: Obama had just completed his State of the Union addressand held campaign-style rallies in battleground states, and the Republicans were in the middle of a series of primaries and caucuses.

Overall, 55 percent of those who are closely following the campaign say they disapprove of what the GOP candidates have been saying. By better than 2 to 1, Americans say the more they learn about Romney, the less they like him. Even among Republicans, as many offer negative as positive assessments of him on this question. Judgments about former House speaker Newt Gingrich, who denounced Romney on Saturday night in Nevada, are about 3 to 1 negative.

Meanwhile, the president’s recent remarks are better reviewed. Among the roughly 6 in 10 Americans who heard or read about the president’s State of the Union address, 57 percent say they approve of most of what he laid out.

Obama’s overall approval rating stands at 50 percent, the highest in a Post-ABC News poll since a brief run above 50 percent immediately after Osama bin Laden was killed in early May. Still, nearly as many — 46 percent — disapprove. Among registered voters, 49 percent say Obama’s performance warrants a second term; exactly as many say it doesn’t.

Among political independents, who are likely to determine the outcome of the election, 47 percent approve and 50 percent disapprove of the way he is handling his job. The president’s approval rating among independents had dipped as low as 34 percent in the fall, and just a month ago, he faced a 10-point deficit here.