Archive: Business & Technology

I am a long-time Firefox user.  Firefox has its roots in the now defunct Netscape Web browser, a popular alternative to Microsoft's Internet Explorer back in the day.  So I perked up when I learned that the Mozilla organization that produces the free Firefox browser has just released an iOS version that is optimized for your iPhone and iPad.  It's pretty good.  But Firefox for iOS is as much a promise as a reality, at least for now.  Certain features that you have come to expect in iOS browsers are only hinted at in Firefox.

Two examples are tabs and synchronization.  Most modern browsers, including the computer versions of Firefox, have a tab bar at the top.  You load several Web sites at one time, then click the tab containing the one you want to view.  Simple and elegant.  In the iOS version of Firefox each tab is the width of your screen.  You touch a button on the upper right to go to the 'tab screen' which shows thumbnails of each open tab.  This certainly looks elegant, but it defies rule #2 Dan's Three Rules of Software Development:

I switched from Windows to an iMac four or five years ago.  But I require a few -- a very few -- Windows programs that do not have Mac versions for work.  So I use a program called Parallels that runs Windows on a 'virtual machine', basically fooling part of my Mac into thinking it is a Windows computer.  It works well, but it slows things down a little, and I have felt for a few years that it would be nice to have a Windows computer just for those few programs.  Even with the low cost of computers these days, I couldn't justify the expense.  Until Kangaroo hopped onto the scene last week.

The Kangaroo Mobile Desktop computer is a fully functional Windows 10 computer that is the same size as an iPhone 6-Plus.  In fact, it is smaller, because it comes with a dock that allows you to plug in USB and HDMI devices.  The whole thing, including the dock, is the same size as the iPhone 6-Plus. It is 14mm thick, somewhat thicker than an iPhone 6-Plus, but not as much as twice as thick.  It fits in your pocket.  You could get one from newegg.com for $99 starting October 26th.  That expense for a fully functional computer is certainly justifiable.

Tompkins Financial Corporation (NYSEMKT:TMP) Tompkins Financial Corporation reported diluted earnings per share of $0.96 for the third quarter of 2015, representing the best third quarter in Company history and an increase of 4.35% over $0.92 reported for the third quarter of 2014.  Net income of $14.5 million for the third quarter of 2015, was up 5.6% from the $13.7 million reported for the same period in 2014.

For the year-to-date period ended September 30, 2015, diluted earnings per share were $2.96, reflecting an increase of 12.1% over the $2.64 reported for September 30, 2014.  Year to date net income was $44.6 million, an increase of 13.3% from the $39.4 million reported for the same period in 2014.  Year to date results were helped by a one-time curtailment gain of $3.6 million after tax ($0.24 per share), recognized in the second quarter of 2015, related to changes to the Company's pension plan.

For every dollar New York sends to Washington D.C., it receives about 91 cents back in federal spending – compared to a national average of nearly $1.22, according to a reportreleased today by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli.

New York ranked 46th in the nation in its balance of payments between the amount it generated in federal taxes and the amount of federal government spending it received. DiNapoli's report builds on pioneering work by the late Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan that looked at the federal budget's impact on New York.

Buffalo, NY – Medicare open enrollment season is here and while it's hard to miss the advertising, those who may be looking to make a change could be misled or even taken advantage of, says Better Business Bureau of Upstate New York. In New York, over 3 million Medicare beneficiaries have the chance to change their Medicare Advantage and Part D prescription drug plans until December 7, 2015.

"Sifting through plan options is challenging. Adding in all of the advertising and solicitations can confuse even the smartest person," said Warren Clark, president of BBB of Upstate New York. "Whether it's TV or radio advertising, brochures, email, mail or phone calls, we know it can be confusing. People may not know what they can trust. BBB is here and ready to help."   

Buffalo, NY – Every October, thousands of products display either a pink ribbon or packaging for National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Before getting caught up in the marketing, BBB serving Upstate New York reminds everyone that not all "pink" opportunities are created equal.

Over the past several years, many questions have come up about pink marketing and just how much of it actually goes to charities. Before you pick up that pink can of soup or a pen with a pink ribbon, as yourself, "how much money really goes to breast cancer charities or research?"

'Cooking with Cheese in the Finger Lakes' is a collection of recipes from artisans around the Finger Lakes that use Lively Run Cheese in their cuisine. Each recipe has a beverage pairing from a local winery, cidery, or brewery. This collection is an example of the wonderful and varied bounty that the Finger Lakes has to offer.

The cookbook includes recipes from Finger Lakes' favorites such as Moosewood, Suzanne's Fine Regional Cuisine, Just a Taste, Finger Lakes Cider House, Cayuga Ridge Estate Winery, and much more! A perfect gift for your friends and family this holiday season!

Cortland – Bailey Place Insurance has announced the acquisition of The Cotterill Agency, Inc. of Dryden effective December 31st, 2015.

Of the acquisition, Bailey Place Insurance President Stephen Franco said, "We are excited and honored that Brad and Doug Cotterill chose to partner with our agency.  It was important to them to sell their agency to an independent and locally owned agency with a strong commitment to the Dryden community." Franco noted that Bailey Place Insurance has been doing business in Dryden for 80 years.

The TCAD Foundation was awarded a USDA Rural Business Development Grant (RBDG) of $56,638 for work on its food sector development project.

The RBDG is a competitive grant designed to support targeted technical assistance, training and other activities leading to the development or expansion of small and emerging private businesses in rural areas that have fewer than 50 employees and less than $1 million in gross revenue.

On September 4, 2015, Phu-Christine Lam of TCAD received certification as an Economic Development Finance Professional (EDFP) from the National Development Council (NDC).

Certification is a designation given to individuals who successfully complete an intensive economic development finance training series that is conducted by NDC. The courses provide individuals with training in credit analysis, real estate financing, loan packaging, deal structuring and negotiating and the creation and implementation of development programs. Currently, there are four TCAD staff members with this certification.

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Wall Street's profits were strong in the first half of 2015 at $11.3 billion, the strongest first half since 2011, and may have positioned New York City's securities industry for a good year despite recent economic developments, according to a report issued by New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli today.

"After a very strong first half of the year, the securities industry faces volatile financial markets and an unsteady global economy," DiNapoli said. "After years of downsizing, the industry has been adding jobs in New York City, but it may curtail hiring to bolster profits. We're hopeful that Wall Street's robust first half will result in a good year. The securities industry continues to be a major contributor to the city's economy and a large contributor to the state and city budgets."

A locally owned, independent pizza shop is among the nation’s best-performing pizzerias, according to Pizza Today magazine, the leading publication of the $42 billion pizza industry. The magazine, which annually ranks the largest independent operations in the U.S. based on sales, this month named Ciao! Wood-fired Pizza & Pasta to its prestigious Hot 100 list.

Based in Ithaca, Ciao! has 1 store and reports annual sales in excess of $2.8 million. Ciao! is ranked No. 85 on the magazine’s Hot 100 list.