Google gives away devices and gift cards in Play Store sweepstakes

If you like free stuff, Google has some great news: it is giving away ten Nexus 10 tablets, seven Nexus 7 tablets, and (you guessed it) four Nexus 4 phones, as well as 100 gift cards worth $10 a pop in the Google Play Favorite Things Sweepstakes. Only U.S. residents 18 and older need apply, and a Twitter account is required to enter.

First, you'll need to follow @Google Play. Next, pick something you're fond of in the Play Store -- it can be any movie, music, book, app, game, magazine, or TV show. Tweet a link of the item with #favoritethings. The example given by Google is "My favorite movie on @GooglePlay is Toy Story https://play.google.com/store/movies/details/Toy_Story?id=c3986gGp3Qs #favoritethings." Finally, complete the official entry form.

Entrants have until 11:59PM PT on April 24, 2013 to complete the above. For a complete list of official rules, follow the link below. Google luck!

Source: Entry Page; Official Rules

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T-Mobile gives 'best and final offer' for MetroPCS takeover

T-Mobile USA's parent company Deutsche Telekom has submitted its "best and final offer" to shareholders, sweetening the deal for the MetroPCS reverse takeover. Amidst the growing sentiment among MetroPCS shareholders that they're getting the bad end of the deal, T-Mobile is reducing the amount of debt transferred to the new company as part of the deal. The current terms are good enough for most, and see MetroPCS shareholders receiving $4 per share and a 26-percent stake in the newly combined company. The new deal will also now see a reduced amount of debt transferred to the new company, now at $3.8 billion -- along with a slightly lower interest rate.

Although there is a vocal minority of shareholders disapproving of the current terms, they're still the minority. With T-Mobile previously stating that it felt its initial terms are fair, it's interesting to see it come back with a better offer to help guarantee the deal is accepted. MetroPCS shareholders are currently sending in their votes to approve or disapprove of the deal ahead of a shareholder meeting, which has been pushed back to April 24th because of the new terms. Pending that shareholder approval, all indications point to the deal going through at some time in 2013.

Source: WSJ

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New state energy portal gives users interactive access to customized maps and charts of state energy data

U.S. ENERGY INFORMATION ADMINISTRATION
WASHINGTON DC 20585

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 11, 2013

The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) has launched the most comprehensive, dynamic, and interactive view of the U.S. government's national and state energy data and information currently available to the public. Found at www.eia.gov/state, the state energy portal adds a unique visual dimension to each state's energy resources and infrastructure.

The agency designed the new portal with a range of users in mind, including policy makers, energy analysts, and the general public, who want to locate and compare state energy data and rankings and customize their own maps and charts, using an assortment of interactive tools.

"The EIA state energy portal raises the bar for visually segmenting state-level energy data. It provides a wealth of energy information to a wide variety of users, including state officials wanting detailed information on the mix of energy resources in their state, analysts assessing a state's energy sustainability, or government officials seeking the most comprehensive energy information to help develop energy policy," said EIA Administrator Adam Sieminski.

The portal takes EIA's vast portfolio of state energy data and analyses and organizes it geographically. Its comprehensive 30-layer mapping feature provides a dynamic visual representation of energy infrastructure and energy resources at the national, state, Congressional district, or county level. Map layers for Federal lands and Electric Reliability regions are also included.

Users can pan and zoom in to see energy facilities and resources related to:

Production: power plants, oil refineries, and coal minesDistribution: electric transmission lines, natural gas pipelines, and liquefied natural gas import terminalsFossil fuel resources: coal, oil, and natural gas basins, plays, and fieldsRenewable energy resources: wind, solar, biomass, and geothermal potential

In addition to customizable maps, the portal summarizes each state's ranking of its energy production, consumption, prices, and more. With a click of a mouse, users can dig deeper into any state's energy profile to learn more about its crude oil and natural gas production, renewable resources, natural gas and electricity prices, and carbon dioxide emissions and compare that data to other states and the national average. For detailed information on any of the 6,300 power plants in the United States, such as the amount of fuel used and monthly output of a specific facility, the portal links users directly to that plant's data in EIA's electricity data browser.

The new portal is EIA's response to requests from policy makers and energy experts for quick access to multi-level state energy data presented in an easy-to-understand way. EIA collaborated with state energy officials and other stakeholders on the portal's design and solicited feedback from the public during the beta phase of the project.

The state energy portal includes a help function with popup notes that explain the navigation, along with a video demonstration of its features.

The product described in this press release was prepared by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), the statistical and analytical agency within the U.S. Department of Energy. By law, EIA's data, analysis, and forecasts are independent of approval by any other officer or employee of the United States Government. The views in the product and press release therefore should not be construed as representing those of the Department of Energy or other federal agencies.EIA Program Contact: Mark Elbert, 202-586-1185, mark.elbert@eia.gov

EIA Press Contact: Jonathan Cogan, 202-586-8719, jonathan.cogan@eia.gov

EIA-2013-5

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