Thursday, July 31, 2014

Can the U.S. Double Its Crude Exports in a Year? (BusinessWeek)

July 28, 2014
The Flint Hills refinery in Corpus Christi, Texas
The Flint Hills refinery in Corpus Christi, Texas
An important shift has quietly occurred in the U.S. oil industry in the past month. In late June the Department of Commerce determined that two Texas companies, Pioneer Natural Resources (PXD) and Enterprise Products Partners(EPD), could start exporting an ultralight type of crude called condensate. That constitutes the biggest loosening of the U.S. ban on oil exports since it was passed in 1975.
After news of the ruling broke, Commerce Department officials seemed genuinely surprised by the reaction and announced that allowing condensate exports did not ordain a change in the law. Yet, that’s pretty much how the market treated it.
Energy companies are now lining up to get the same permission from the government as Pioneer and Enterprise. There’s talk of building condensate-only pipelines in Texas, home to some of the biggest such reserves in North America. The topic was discussed at length during the Energy Information Administration’s annual conference a couple of weeks ago, and analysts have even begun calculating valuations for oil companies based on a future where the export ban gets lifted.
The political reality is much different. Although lifting the ban has been discussed more in Congress this year than at any other time during the past four decades, the votes aren’t there and the debate is still an epic fight between oil producers who want to lift the ban and refiners who would rather that oil stay at home.
So for the time being, we’re left to consider the importance of exporting condensate. The problem with condensate is that the U.S. is producing way more than it needs. The most common use for it is as an additive to lighten up heavier crudes and make them easier to refine; it’s also used as an ingredient in chemical plants. But that’s about it. According to energy research firm Wood Mackenzie, the U.S. produces about 750,000 barrels per day of condensate. Since so much of the U.S. oil boom already involves light oil, there’s not a lot of heavy oil to add it to.
On top of that, U.S. refiners don’t really want it. Condensate is so vaporous, it can overwhelm the workings of a refinery and slow down the process of turning oil into a fuel. In a July 7 filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Valero(VLO) reported that condensates are “uneconomic feedstocks for our refineries; removing them from crude may improve refinery throughout and yields.”
The problem will get worse as the U.S. continues to increase its oil production at the fastest pace on record. The EIA anticipates that U.S. oil production will hit 9.3 million barrels per day by 2015. The bulk of that new oil is going to be light and sweet; a lot of it is going to be condensate, considered to be anything with an API (American Petroleum Institute) gravity value of more than 45 or 50.
Anything above the blue line is considered very light crude oil
BLoombergAnything above the blue line is considered very light crude oil
This will only exacerbate the mismatch between oil supplies and U.S. refineries, which aren’t set up to process that much light crude. Most are designed to handle heavier, imported blends. Refineries are already running close to full tilt at the moment, processing more crude than ever. Total refinery utilization is 91 percent, compared with 83 percent in 2009. Refiners are making investments to handle more light oil, but it won’t be enough to absorb it all.
So how much condensate can the U.S. export? Citibank (C) analysts think it could be about 300,000 barrels a day by the end of 2014. Sarah Emerson, president of consulting and research group ESAI Energy, says she agrees. Trade publications are reporting that the first shipment of condensate was loaded for export earlier this month and is destined for Asia. If that keeps up, the amount of U.S. oil exports could double by the end of the year. Canada is exempt from the export ban and already gets about 268,000 barrels of oil a day from the U.S.
U.S. crude oil exports have already risen substantially in the past year

BloombergU.S. crude oil exports have already risen substantially in the past year
To export condensate, oil companies have to run it through what’s called a stabilizer out in the field. This removes a lot of the vapor and  makes it less volatile. Once that’s done, it’s ready for export and oil companies can bypass traditional refiners and send it directly for export. According to a June 25 Bloomberg Industries report, it takes about a year to build a stabilizer—and roughly $200 million. It’s unclear how eager some oil companies are to make that investment.
Fadel Gheit, an oil analyst at Oppenheimer (OPY), says he thinks talk of an condensate export boom is overblown. In the weeks after the Commerce Department ruling, he called more than a dozen oil companies operating in Texas. “Not one of them said they had plans to go big in condensate exports,” says Gheit. “It’s not an issue for them.”
Philips is an associate editor for Bloomberg Businessweek in Washington. Follow him on Twitter@matthewaphilips.

Wednesday, July 30, 2014

Looks are everything in wearable tech (TechRepublic)

By  July 29, 2014

Fashion and design increase the appeal of wearable tech devices, according to panelists at the Wearable Tech Expo in New York. 
Looks matter more than function in the wearable tech business, according to participants in a panel forum last week at the Wearable Tech Expo in New York.

Size matters

One of the first panel questions related to size. Does an oversized wearable appeal as much to the consumer as a more moderately sized one?
"It's about the application that matters. Sometimes it's if the wearable is meant for a construction worker, size might not be an issue, but if it's for a hardcore athletic sportsman and sportswoman, then definitely size matters," said Mikko Malmivaara, sales and marketing manager for Clothing Plus Ltd., which makes sensors for wearable tech clothing.
It's not just the size of the device, but how it fits against the body, said Amy Puliafito, spokesperson for Misfit Wearables, which produces the popular Misfit Shine fitness device. "In everything we did with Shine we were trying to eliminate a lot of friction points people have with their activity trackers," she said.

Form versus function

The next panel question focused on whether form matters more than functionality.
wellograph.jpg
The Wellograph watch.
 Image: Wellograph
Nick Warnock, president of Wellograph, which has developed a new health and fitness wearable, said, "When we started developing Wellograph a few years ago we had all these bells and whistles. Then we took a step back when we saw some wearables appearing on eBay. Instead of putting functionality first, we said, 'Let's start with form and design and then go into functionality.'"
Randy Granovetter, CEO of Comhear, which produces digital audio wearables, said, "No one wants to have something that you're wearing all day long that doesn't look good or feel good. And then you have sensors. Products have sensors in them and then you have audio. It all depends on what you're doing and when you're doing it. What is the technology and the M2M?"
Malmivaara said, "But cool is the word. It is important to design wearables to look good. Even before people know and understand the function of the wearable, they should want it and desire it. Design is the key to that."
Sylvia Heisel, designer/creative director of HEISEL, which designs clothing with tech materials, said, "I think there is this big segment of the population where it needs to work. If it doesn't work, forget it. But beyond that, they're not excited about what the technology is. They don't care. But it has to work and it has to look good."

Designing for aesthetic appeal

The next question focused on whether there are specific design strategies for wearable products.
Granovetter said there are design strategies. "If you're running it has to feel good. If you're listening to music it has to sound good. It has to look good, feel good, and be fashionable for what you're doing in your day."
Warnock said, "You want people to buy it on aesthetic alone, but by the way, it's an activity tracker, heart rate monitor, pedometer. That's what separates you from the different styles and features coming out and it's your own personal style and fashion."
misfit-shine-pendant.jpg
The Misfit Shine is an aesthetically appealing wearable device.
 Image: Misfit Wearables
Puliafito said, "The fashion and tech communities definitely need to come together and talk a lot more, but I do think we have one shortcoming in common which is we're often disconnected from the lives of most people in this country. In addition to make something that is fashion forward and very beautiful we also have to make things that are accessible and customizable so that people can wear it in the way that is most comfortable."
Heisel said, "It's an ongoing thing and as the two come together there is a lot of innovation coming from the textile industry. Electronics companies are getting more aware of design and fashion issues. Electronics are becoming luxury goods. It is the new watch. Something like Shine is a status symbol like a handbag was or a designer T-shirt."
Fashion means different things to different people, Heisel said. "You have to think of fashion as different groups of people with different style. There is maybe one electronics product that works with a huge scope of people but it's going to have to look different to appeal to different people."

Lower prices will encourage adoption and development

Soon, wearables will become more mass market as the prices drop, according to the panelists.
Puliafito said, "The cost of the sensors [within the devices] are rapidly decreasing. We think the future of activity trackers is that they're going to become a commodity and the price will rapidly drop. I think we're really seeing the industry changing in terms of what sensors cost."

Heisel said, "The price and the ability to prototype is going down so quickly. You can 3D print things. You can sample a lot of stuff and make a lot of prototypes quickly."
Teena Hammond is a Senior Editor at TechRepublic. She has 20 years of journalism experience as an editor and writer covering a range of business and lifestyle topics

Tuesday, July 29, 2014

Internet of things big security worry, says HP

Summary: HP found 25 vulnerabilities per device including everything from TVs to thermostats to home alarms and scales.
By  for Between the Lines |

About 70 percent of Internet of things devices---including sensors and connected infrastructure---have vulnerabilities that could be exploited, according to Hewlett-Packard.
HP's data is based on it Fortify division and a scan of 10 of the most popular Internet of things devices. HP found 25 vulnerabilities per device. These devices included TVs, Webcams, thermostats, remote power outlets, sprinklers, door  locks, home alarms, scales and garage openers.
The findings, assessed based on the OWASP Internet of Things Top 10 list and vulnerability categories, account for the devices as well as cloud and mobile applications connected to them.
Among the key bullets:
  • 80 percent of devices including cloud and mobile apps failed to require strong passwords.
  • Eight of 10 devices collected enough data to raise privacy concerns.
  • 70 percent of devices didn't encrypt communications and 60 percent of them lacked encryption for software updates.
  • Six of 10 devices had insecure Web interfaces.
hpiotsecurity

Larry Dignan is Editor in Chief of ZDNet and SmartPlanet as well as Editorial Director of ZDNet's sister site TechRepublic.

Monday, July 28, 2014

EN MI OPINIÓN: Te detesto !!! (Ricardo Tribin)

Ese te detesto o le detesto, es algo que en no pocas oportunidades se escucha, producto en muchos casos por heridas recibidas en una discusión, las que quedan marcadas en la mente de cada cual no solamente por eso, sino además, y esta es la parte menos grata, por envidias, rivalidades, e incluso por suposiciones inexistentes, las que hacen que el odio llegue a las mentes de los individuos por medio de estas formas y de manera equivocada.

Odiar no es bueno puesto que ello genera un cúmulo de emociones que se repiten y repiten como un carrusel. Alguien contaba que vio en una ocasión a dos personas que estaban reunidas en un restaurante cuando de un momento a otro una de ellas se levantó llena de ira para agredir al mesero que era español. Su amigo se volcó a contenerlo y cuando lo logro le preguntó: oye y a ti que pasa? Pues no te diste cuenta? Estos españoles fueron los que en la colonización de América se  robaron el oro y nos quitaron las mujeres. Hombre, pero sí eso sucedió hace más de quinientos años, como vas a reaccionar así? Lo que pasa, le contesto el agresor, es que yo apenas me entere de ello ayer.

Resentimiento es tomarnos el veneno de la hiel que se desprende, por alguien a quién se odia, pensando equivocadamente que la otra persona es quien se va a intoxicar, lo cual no puede ser más equivocado ya que, quien lo lleva consigo, le toca, no sólo cargar la dura maleta de sus propias dificultades, sino también, echarse encima una carga emocional totalmente innecesaria.

Miami, Julio 26 de 2014


Friday, July 25, 2014

When it comes to Android vs. iOS in the enterprise, Android is the Borg (ZDNet)

Summary: IBM and Apple may be resisting Android's dominance for now, but resistance is futile. A potent mix of flexibility, diversity and low-cost lets Android be whatever it needs to be -- for any business.

By  for DIY-IT |

Thursday, July 24, 2014

Can tech help prevent violence against women? (TechRepublic)

 These tools say 'yes'

By  July 23, 2014

Technology can't stop violence against women, but it can change how we raise awareness about it and help prevent it. 

screen-shot-2014-07-23-at-6-47-57-am.png
Kitestring is a safety service that uses SMS.
I am a 23-year-old-woman, and when I walk alone, I get scared. Sometimes I'm absolutely terrified, and other times, I'm just slightly nervous. Call me paranoid, call me cautious, call me smart.
When I lived in Chicago, almost every evening I would walk with "911" already punched in my keypad, my thumb hovered over the "send" button. Depending on where I am or how safe I feel, I hold my keys out, poised in defense (like that would do much), carry portable pepper spray, or call my mom, who never minds being awoken at 2:00 a.m. to talk to me until she hears my door lock.
The other day, I stumbled across a service called Kitestring, and when I read about it, my jaw dropped. Because I -- as a journalist and a woman, as a human being living in the 21st century -- never considered that technology could ease my fears of something unthinkable happening to me while I walk down the street.
"I think we've reached a unique point in history: technology is advancing faster that our ability to dream up ways to harness it. In my opinion, the last one and half decades have seen more technological innovation than any single century of industrial progress that came before it," said Stephan Boyer, founder of Kitestring (and also currently a master's student at MIT). "But what have we done with it all? Blogging, tweeting, liking, sharing, creating and consuming content are all great ways to feel connected, but personal safety has been a bit of an afterthought."
And he's right. It is an afterthought, even for me -- the target demographic, a person that thinks about this issue every day of my life.
Kitestring is a SMS-based service. Sign up online, then ask it via text message to check up on you in, say, 25 minutes when you are supposed to arrive in your destination. After 25 minutes, Kitestring will send you a text, checking to see if you made it. You reply via text or check-in online. If you don't (and you haven't extended the time or checked in early), it will send a message you created to your emergency contact, letting them know to give you a call. If your phone dies, you lose it, or something happens to you, it will send the message anyway -- it doesn't need your phone to be serviceable.
Of course, this wouldn't be something I would use every time I leave my house, but knowing the technology is available is the important part, and it's good to know it could be use at particularly important or dangerous times. There's also the possibility of missing the message and creating a false emergency.
"Kitestring should have existed a long time ago. SMS has been mainstream for over a decade, and the mass adoption of smartphones began in 2007. I don't think of it as moving forward -- I see it as catching up," Boyer said.
Boyer had the idea for Kitestring back in January, when his girlfriend, who walked home in an unsafe neighborhood, asked him to call to make sure she arrived home safe. With a Google search, he found some of the other apps, but noticed how clunky their interfaces were. So he created a new one. Kitestring is simple -- it isn't alarmist like some others out there. So far, the service has launched in the UK and US. Low connectivity and SMS delivery rates pose the biggest obstacle for scaling the product elsewhere. Boyer said the team is also exploring the possibility of doing a "Kitestring Teams" version of the service targeted at entire organizations, families, or governments.
So what other safety apps like Kitestring are out there, helping to make a difference? Here are a few more examples (and of course, these are not only for women, they can be used by everyone):
  • Watch Over Me is a subscription-based service that notifies your contacts via text or social media if you haven't told it you're safe. With the free version, though, you can be watched for only five minutes.
  • Circle of 6, lets you pick six friends to alert if you need a ride, help, or if there's an emergency. It's designed for college students.
  • Panic Button sends a location and emergency alert to your contacts, as well as a message on your Facebook wall.
  • Stay Safe is a similar check-in service, but is possibly not password protected, according to some reviews. It costs $6.99.
  • Guardly is a subscription service designed for college campuses or employers. It sends a message and a GPS location to your contacts, campus police, or 911.
It's very difficult to measure how women are in constant fear -- or at least, that we always have some looming thought in the back of our minds -- when we walk alone or with a group of other women, no matter how close to home or to people we may be. There are studies about violence against women in slightly moreconcrete terms which are always about actions: one in six women have been stalked. One in five say they have been raped or have experienced attempted rape.
But there is one study by the General Social Survey was recently brought to light that showed women were twice as likely as men to say they were afraid of to walk in their neighborhoods alone at night.
That still doesn't explain how I choose a certain route home, or if that route actually makes me feel any safer, or why we're taught to only feel at ease when a man we know is walking with us. It also doesn't help me understand why I have to think about these types of things every single day, multiple times a day, and it doesn't make it any less frustrating.
Technology can't solve this problem, but it can change the course of how we think about it, and ultimately, how we address it as a society. Technology can make it impossible to ignore these issues. Take the trending topic #YesAllWomen, for instance.
The hashtag was first used after the Santa Barbara shootings in May, when it came out that the alleged shooter promised revenge against the women who turned him down over the years. The hashtag quickly went viral, with thousands of women engaging in an online conversation to criticize the way society teaches men to feel entitled to women, and to draw attention to scenarios that every woman, everywhere in the world, has experienced.
Lyndsey Gilpin is a Staff Writer for TechRepublic. She writes about the people behind some of tech's most creative innovations and in-depth features on innovation and sustainability.