South Florida economy hoping for a fall pickup

South Florida’s economy needs to shake off its summer slump. After strong growth to start the year, hiring remains stalled throughout the region. The presidential election and Washington’s budget dramas have many businesses holding off on spending decisions until the political picture stabilizes. Consumers haven’t regained previous optimism. Even tourism, which as soon as led […]

South Florida salvage firms respond to emergencies at sea

For an example of how to base a business on disaster, look no further than Resolve Marine Group’s Joshua James Response Center in Fort Lauderdale. The 33,000-square-foot warehouse, named for a historic life saver, bursts with fire pumps, hydraulic power units, roller bags, dive helmets, pullers, boats, anchors and countless other pieces of equipment that […]

Android rules U.S. and Europe smartphone sales

For the first time ever, Android has dominated smartphone sales in several major markets, including the U.S., Germany, Great Britain, France, Italy, Spain, and Australia, according to data released today by market analysis firm Kantar Worldpanel ComTech. In all of these countries, Google’s mobile OS has taken at least half of smartphone sales, with the […]

FBI net shut off has ‘limited’ impact on victims

More than 300,000 people, including many in the US and UK, may have lost net access as the FBI shuts down servers used by cyber thieves. The FBI seized the servers in November 2011 during raids to break up a hi-tech gang who used the DNS Changer virus to infect more than four million victims. […]

Cruise industry leaders talk safety in Miami

At a forum typically reserved for optimism, top cruise line executives on Tuesday spent a somber part of the morning discussing their dedication to safety and the fallout from January’s deadly shipwreck in Italy. The “State of the Industry” panel at this year’s Cruise Shipping Miami conference revealed an industry that is eager to emphasize […]

Fort Lauderdale cruise-ship simulation training center opens

A new simulation training center for cruise ship captains and officers opened Monday at the Resolve Maritime Academy in Fort Lauderdale. The 7,000-square-feet center at 1510 SE 17 St. cost $6.5 million to build and will offer safety and navigational programs specifically tailored to the needs of the world’s second largest cruise operator. “The intention […]

World travelers beware: 4G LTE phones won’t work abroad

LTE may be the global standard for next-generation wireless networks, but that doesn’t mean you can take your 4G Verizon Wireless phone abroad and expect to roam on other 4G networks. In this edition of Ask Maggie, I explain the sad reality of why you can’t take a U.S. 4G LTE phone and expect to […]