We're on the fast track to 5G: T-Mobile C.E.O

John Legere expects the year ahead to continue T-Mobile's advance toward 5G as it builds on the wireless spectrum it acquired in 2017.

We will be the only ones on the fast-track toward a real, mobile nationwide 5G network in 2020 -- and have already started deploying 5G ready equipment," Legere said in a blog post. This is a reiteration of what T-Mobile, the No. 3 carrier in the US by number of subscribers, has been preaching hard in recent weeks: That it's  when it comes to the next great leap in cellular tech.

Expectations are high for 5G a technology that will greatly rev mobile speeds beyond our fastest fixed-line broadband connection. Imagine downloading the entire "Simpsons" series in high definition in about half an hour. Beyond speed, 5G has the potential to change our world by offering an  from farming equipment to self-driving cars.

Samsung Galaxy S9 Release Date: News, and specs…

 Samsung is expected to announce the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ sometime in February next year but that hasn't stopped case manufacturers from listing phone cases for the Galaxy S9. Ghostek, a mobile accessories manufacturer, has listed renders for the Galaxy S9 and is taking orders for its rugged waterproof case - part of its Nautical series.

As we mentioned, Ghostek has listed a case for the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S9. Renders of the smartphone show a design that other reports have been suggesting in the past few weeks. The images show a similar 18.5:9 display as seen on the Galaxy S8 and the Galaxy A8 (2018) duo. The bezels do appear slightly thinner than last year, and the images show that the Galaxy S9 is also expected to retain the Bixby button from the Galaxy S8.

The renders of the back of the case reveal that the Galaxy S9 will not sport a dual camera setup, which might be exclusive to the Galaxy S9+.

The Fall Of Bitcoin?

Bitcoin plunged on Friday, extending a fall that saw the crypto-currency lose almost a third of its value from a record of nearly $20,000 (£15,000).
The crypto-currency's price dipped below $11,000 on Friday, according to the Coindesk exchange website, before recovering to above $13,000.
Amid the swings, three Bitcoin-related exchanges suspended certain trades.
Bitcoin has had a blistering trip over the past 12 months. Its price at the start of the year was about $1,000.
It has skyrocketed since - more than doubling in value since November - drawing interest from major firms as well as private investors.
But since Sunday Bitcoin has been on a losing streak, falling back to where it was at the start of December.
Analysts said investors should be prepared for such rapid changes, which have characterised the asset from its start.
"This is exactly how this asset trades and has done since the beginning," said Nick Colas, co-founder of New York-based DataTrek Research. "It has a lot of volatility and it will for the foreseeable future."

Verizon Buys Yahoo for $4.83B

Verizon is buying Yahoo for $4.83 billion, marking the end of an era for a company that once defined the internet.

It is the second time in as many years that Verizon has snapped up the remnants of a fallen internet star as it broadens its digital reach. The nation's largest wireless carrier paid $4.4 billion for AOL last year.

Yahoo will be rolled into Verizon's AOL operations and CEO Marissa Mayer may be reunited with AOL CEO Tim Armstrong, who worked with her as executives at Google for years and tried unsuccessfully to convince her to combine the two companies when they both remained independent.

"We have enormous respect for what Yahoo has accomplished: this transaction is about unleashing Yahoo's full potential," Armstrong said in a statement.

Most analysts expect the deal to end the four-year reign of Yahoo's Mayer, a former Google executive who flopped in her attempts to turn around the Sunnyvale, California, company.

Mayer, though, told employees in a Monday email that she intends to stay, though she didn't say for how long. "I love Yahoo, and I believe in all of you. It's important to me to see Yahoo into its next chapter," she wrote.

Yahoo Inc., Sunnyvale, California, is parting with its email service and still-popular websites devoted to news, finance and sports in addition to its advertising tools under pressure from shareholders fed up with a steep downturn in the company's revenue during the past eight years.

The slump has been deepening even though advertisers have been pouring more money into what is now a $160 billion market for digital advertising, according to research firm eMarketer.

Most of the money has been flowing to internet search leader Google and internet social networking leader Facebook, two companies that eclipsed Yahoo during its slide from an online sensation, once valued at $130 billion, to a dysfunctional also ran.

After the sale is completed early next year, Yahoo will become a holding company for its two stakes in China's e-commerce leader, Alibaba Group, and Yahoo Japan. Those investments, made more than a decade ago, are worth more than $40 billion before taxes, making them by far the most valuable pieces of Yahoo. The holding company will drop the Yahoo name and adopt a new identify after Verizon takes control of the operating business.

Yahoo also still has a patent portfolio that it intends to sell, and about $7.7 billion in cash. Verizon is buying Yahoo's real estate, along with the online operations.

Yahoo has hired a succession of CEOs to engineer a comeback, but finally gave up after the high hopes that accompanied Mayer's hiring fizzled out.

The sale potentially could result in thousands of layoffs. Mayer has already jettisoned 1,900 Yahoo workers since last September.

If Mayer leaves following the sale, she will be in line to receive a severance package valued at $55 million.

As people began to flock to the internet with the advent of graphical web browsers in the 1990s, Yahoo was king. After co-founders Jerry Yang and David Filo began building a web directory as Stanford University computer graduate students in 1994, Yahoo quickly established itself as the online hub for tens of millions of people. It also proved internet companies could be profitable as other dot-com startups burned through millions of dollars.

But Yahoo strayed from internet search in an attempt to build a multimedia business, opening the door for Google become a powerhouse. It didn't recognize the importance of social networking and was slow to make the leap into mobile devices like smartphones and tablets. Instead, Yahoo tried to buy Google and Facebook in those companies' formative years, but it was rebuffed and then dwarfed by them.

Mayer believes Yahoo can still come back now it it's about to join a bigger company in Verizon. "Yahoo is a company that changed the world and will continue to do so," she said during a Monday conference call with analysts.

China Rolls out World's Largest Amphibious Aircraft

An official news agency says China has unveiled the world's largest amphibious aircraft that Beijing plans to use for marine missions and fighting forest fires.

The Xinhua News Agency said the AG600 rolled off a production line in Zhuhai in southern China on Saturday. It measures 37 meters (121 feet) in length with a wingspan of 39 meters (128 feet).

The report cites Chinese state aircraft maker, the Aviation Industry Corporation of China, as saying the plane is nearly as big as a Boeing 737.

Last week, a Cessna 208B seaplane making its inaugural flight in China crashed into a highway bridge outside Shanghai, killing five people on board.

Ronaldo Shows Off His Newly Bought Bugatti.

The Real Madrid forward has seemingly splashed out and treated himself after Portugal's surprise success at Euro 2016, adding another supercar to his collection

The "animal", as Ronaldo refers to it, appears to be a 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse version of the Veyron and can reach a top speed of 410 km/h, while it can achieve 0–100 km/h in just 2.6 seconds.

Bugatti label the car as the "most powerful and fastest series roadster in the world", and, if you're thinking of buying one for yourself, it typically sells for a cool €1.2 million...!

Conte: John Terry Will Remain As Team Captain!

John Terry will remain Chelsea captain, new manager Antonio Conte has confirmed.

The 35-year-old defender, who captained the Blues to four Premier League titles in over 700 appearances, signed a one-year contract extension in May after it appeared that he was close to leaving Stamford Bridge.

Terry described the offer as a "different role" but Conte has assured the former England skipper of his stature at the club - that he is captain whether he plays or not.

Taylor Swift Actually Wrote Calvin Harris Hit Song "This is what you came for"

Taylor Swift really is the creative brains behind Calvin Harris' monster hit "This is What You Came For," and their relationship fell apart because he disrespected her when the song was released ... this according to sources connected with Taylor.

It's a fascinating story. We've learned an early fan rumor about the song is true, but to a deeper extent than anyone suspected. During their relationship, Taylor wrote the song, sat down at a piano and did a demo into her iPhone. She sent it to Calvin, who loved it. They both went into a studio and did a full demo with Taylor on vocals and Calvin doing the beat.

They both knew the song would be a hit, but Taylor wrote it for Calvin and both agreed it was a bad idea to let the world know they collaborated as a couple ... it would overshadow the song.

So Taylor, who kept the publishing rights, used the pseudonym Nils Sjoberg on the credits.

Fast forward to April 29th. Calvin released the song with Rihanna and it became an instant hit. It's been at #1 or #2 on the Dance/Electronic chart for 9 weeks, and is #5 on the Billboard 100.

The problem in the relationship came the day the song was released. Calvin appeared on Ryan Seacrest's radio show and Ryan asked, "Will you do a collaboration with your girlfriend?" Calvin responded, "You know we haven't even spoken about it. I can't see it happening though."

We're told Taylor was hurt and felt Calvin took it too far.

It was a quick downward spiral from that point. One source called it "the breaking point in the relationship." The Met Gala was several days later, when Taylor danced with Tom Hiddleston.

BTW ... Taylor has the right to prohibit Calvin from performing the song, but she hasn't and doesn't plan to exercise that right. Ironically, Calvin once wrote a song with then-GF Rita Ora and when they broke up he yanked her right to perform it.

As for why the squad is talking now ... we're told they're sick of Calvin trashing Taylor and feel he should be thanking her for quietly giving him a smash hit.

We reached out to Taylor's rep. So far no word back.

Culled from TMZ

Sepp Blatter claims European draws were fixed by using hot and cold balls as Fifa corruption probe continues

Former Fifa president Sepp Blatter arrives to the Court of Arbitration for Sport Getty Images

Deposed Fifa president Sepp Blatter has claimed some draws for European football competitions were fixed using “hot and cold balls” but insisted it never happened on his watch in Zürich.

The disgraced Swiss is currently in the process of appealing his six-year ban from football through the court of arbitration for sport after being implicated in a wide-ranging probe into corruption during his 18-year tenure at Fifa.

Blatter, Valcke, Kattner got $80M over 5 years: FIFA

LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) -- FIFA's top officials Sepp Blatter, Jerome Valcke and Markus Kattner awarded themselves pay rises and World Cup bonuses totaling $80 million over their last five years in office.

Some of the contracted payments appear to break Swiss law, and evidence will be given to American and Swiss federal prosecutors who are investigating corruption implicating the world soccer body, lawyers for FIFA said Friday.

''The evidence appears to reveal a coordinated effort by three former top officials of FIFA to enrich themselves through annual salary increases, World Cup bonuses and other incentives totaling more than 79 million Swiss francs - in just the last five years,'' said Bill Burck of Quinn Emanuel, the U.S. law firm retained by FIFA during its corruption crisis.

FIFA revealed details of the contracts of its former president Blatter, fired former secretary general Valcke and fired finance director Kattner one day after police raided FIFA to seize evidence for the Swiss investigation.

Blatter got a 12 million Swiss francs ($12 million) bonus after the successful 2014 World Cup in Brazil and would have been due another 12 million Swiss francs for completing his 2015-19 presidential term.

The secretly agreed bonuses were significantly more than Blatter's base salary - 3 million Swiss francs ($3 million) in 2015 - which was published by FIFA in March.

Valcke got a $2 million base salary in 2015 before being fired, but got a $10 million World Cup bonus for 2014 and was due $11 million from the 2018 tournament in Russia.

The police raid Thursday included searches in the office of Kattner who was fired last week.

''Documents and electronic data were seized and will now be examined to determine their relevance to the ongoing proceedings,'' the Swiss federal prosecution office said Friday.

Swiss attorney general Michael Lauber opened criminal proceedings against Blatter last September, and against Valcke in March.

Both are suspected of criminal mismanagement of FIFA money. Blatter and Valcke deny wrongdoing but were banned for six and 12 years, respectively, by FIFA's ethics committee.

No criminal proceedings have yet been opened against Kattner.

''Additionally, FIFA will refer the matter of these contracts and payments to the Ethics Committee for its review,'' FIFA said in a statement.

Any ethics investigation could affect two senior officials at the heart of FIFA's financial operation. Finance committee chairman Issa Hayatou, the interim FIFA president while Blatter was suspended, and former audit panel chairman Domenico Scala both approved at least one of the contracts revealed Friday.

Three weeks after new FIFA President Gianni Infantino claimed that ''the crisis is over,'' the turmoil rocking soccer's world governing body continues.

Infantino has been criticized for a breakdown in his relationship with Scala, who resigned on May 14. The FIFA president privately described as ''insulting'' a salary offer from Scala, reported as $2 million without bonuses.

Since Kattner's firing on May 23, German language newspapers have been fed a series of leaked minutes from meetings and FIFA emails which sought to turn scrutiny on Infantino.

Elected four months ago to replace Blatter, Infantino pledged reform and a changed culture at FIFA was expected to face resistance from insiders. The 45-year-old Swiss official also arrived with a reputation as a critic of FIFA during seven years as secretary general of European soccer body UEFA.

Infantino has not publicly criticized FIFA's former regime but the contracts revealed Friday by its top legal advisers seem to have exposed a culture of secrecy and entitlement.

Valcke and Kattner signed eight-year contract extensions on April 30, 2011 - five weeks before Blatter was due to contest a bitterly fought presidential election against Mohamed bin Hammam of Qatar

At the height of FIFA's crisis last year, Kattner was given further cash guarantees from FIFA, which gets

MASCHERANO WANTS OUT OF BARCELONA!

The Argentine is ready to depart Camp Nou after six years as he would like to play in midfield and the Italian champions are ready to offer him that opportunity
Juventus are in contact with Javier Mascherano over a summer transfer and the Argentine is ready to consider leaving Barcelona, Goal understands.

Mascherano would favour a more advanced role than the one he has been playing for Barca, and Juventus would offer the 31-year-old a midfield spot.

It is understood coach Luis Enrique blocked a transfer to Rafael Benitez's Napoli two seasons ago and promised Mascherano he would play in midfield. However, the former Liverpool man has played most of his 280 plus games for Barca in defence due to a lack of alternatives in that position.

Luis Enrique's side would not be happy about losing one of their most important players but would nonetheless welcome the opportunity to save money on their budget for the upcoming season - as well as facilitate the transfer of new players.

ARSENAL COMPLETE XHAKA SIGNING

The 24-year-old midfielder joins in a deal worth over £33 million from Borussia Monchengladbach and is the start of an expected busy summer for the Gunners
Arsenal have completed the signing of Granit Xhaka from Borussia Monchengladbach for a deal worth up to £33.1 million.

The 23-year-old arrived at the club's training ground on Friday to undergo a medical and put the final touches on a four-year deal. Xhaka is expected to wear the no.34 shirt after Francis Coquelin agreed to vacate it.

Xhaka's arrival before the start of the transfer window is a statement of intent by Arsene Wenger, who saw his Arsenal side clinch second place over local rivals Tottenham on the final day of the season, and the start of what is expected to be a busy summer for the Gunners.

BREAKING NEWS! JOHN TERRY SIGNS NEW ONE-YEAR CHELSEA DEAL

The 35-year-old will enter into his 22nd season with the Blues after the club decided to offer him fresh terms following consultation with incoming boss Antonio Conte
Chelsea have confirmed captain John Terry has signed a new one-year deal with the club.

The 35-year-old has agreed to fresh terms following discussions between the defender, club owner Roman Abramovich and incoming boss Antonio Conte, the Blues have revealed.

Terry's new contract will take him into his 22nd season with Chelsea and he has expressed his delight at finally putting the speculation surrounding his future to bed.

He told the club's official website: "I am delighted to sign a new contract with the club. Everyone knows I'm Chelsea through and through.

"I am looking forward to next season under the new manager and hopefully we can make it a successful one.

"Also, a special mention to the fans for their continued support. You’re the best in the world."

Chicago officer who killed unarmed woman resigns from force

A Chicago police officer whose fatal shoing of an unarmed woman was one o a series of killings of young black people that shattered the public's trust has opted to quit rather than fight to keep his job.
The city's police board announced Tuesday that Dante Servin, who was off duty when he shot 22-year-old Rekia Boyd in 2012, resigned two days before a hearing at which the board was to decide if he should be fired.

The case has been of intense interest in Chicago and beyond, both because of the facts of the situation and the controversy that engulfed the department in the years that followed.
Boyd, like the teenager Laquan McDonald who was shot in 2014, was African-American. In March of 2012, she was with a group of friends walking on the street when Servin told them to be quiet. Servin fired because he said he saw a person moving toward him with a gun, but police later found only a cellphone at the scene.
Prosecutors charged Servin with involuntary manslaughter, but in April of last year, a judge issued a surprising acquittal, explaining that Servin had been improperly charged, and suggested that if the act was intentional, then the crime, "if any there be, is first-degree murder."
The city settled a wrongful-death lawsuit in 2013 with Boyd's family for $4.5 million.
In November, then-police Superintendent Garry McCarthy announced he would recommend Servin be fired. That came amid intense anger over the delayed release of the video of Officer Jason Van Dyke shooting McDonald 16 times, and the day before Van Dyke was charged with first-degree murder.
That timing, particularly since McCarthy had earlier said he did not believe Servin should have been charged, contributed to suspicions that McCarthy was simply trying to assuage an increasingly angry city.
Brandon Smith, a freelance journalist who sued the city to get the McDonald video released, said the Servin case could have helped the city's credibility when it desperately needed it in the wake of the release of the McDonald dashcam video.
"If they had moved to fire him in a matter of weeks ... they could have pointed to that as an example of how they aggressively investigated and discipline officers," he said. "As it was, they had no examples."

CONFIRMED: Portugal's Squad For EURO 2016 Announced

Portugal have announced their provisional squad ahead of the European Championships this summer as the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Joao Moutinho, Nani, William Carvalho and Pepe predictably make the 23-man squad.

Fernando Santos' side may not be as strong as Spain or Germany but their potential is undeniable. The likes of Ronaldo and Nani along with new Bayern signing Renato Sanchez will undoubtedly cause problems.

The national side are 20/1 outsiders to win the Euros this summer but this side could be the surprise package throughout the tournament. But we've said that almost every season...

Here is Portugal's 23-man provisional squad for EURO 2016:

Their progression in the tournament will ultimately lie with the goals of Cristiano Ronaldo but a solid defence consisting of Pepe, Danilo and Bruno Alves will surely be key.

What do you think of this side?

Let us know in the comments.