southcarolina
Latest
Uber offers insurance to US drivers, but only in certain states (updated)
Uber is once again blurring the lines between independent contractor and employee. This time the ride-hailing service is offering insurance to its drivers as part of a pilot program in Arizona, Delaware, Illinois, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and West Virginia according to regional publication PennLive. The injury-protection insurance is only active when a driver is logged into the app at the cost of $0.0375 per-mile. In at least a few of those markets, that will raise the per-mile price for passengers by $0.05. So, it seems the rates going up are to ensure that nothing comes out of the driver's pocket. Uber says that the increase was determined by how much the insurance would cost after taxes and fees.
Amazon, eBay and others to stop selling Confederate flags (update)
Many prominent online retailers have vowed to remove all items bearing the Confederate flag from their websites following a mass shooting last week at a historic black church in Charleston, South Carolina. So far, eBay, Wal Mart, Sears and Kmart have announced plans to stop selling Confederate flag merchandise online and in their brick-and-mortar stores. CNBC reports that Amazon and Etsy will also remove Confederate flag items from their online marketplaces, though the companies have yet to officially announce any plans. In addition to these online retailers, prominent US flag maker Valley Forge Flag today promised to stop producing and selling Confederate flags, Reuters reports.
Google spends $2 billion on property in London and SC, says it's good to have land
If you're ever curious about how much land you can get for your buck on either side of the pond, just check out Google's real estate accounts. It's spending $600 million on adding a third complex to its sprawling Berkeley County site that'll help the company process search queries and "other information." While $600 million can get you around 500-acres of Palmetto State, it takes two-and-a-half times as much to get a paltry 2.4-acres in London's Kings Cross. The $1.6 billion investment is going towards a new headquarters building that'll pull together its employees from across the big city and, let's hope, set aside some space for a British version of its X Lab -- after all, you can't be a mad scientist without a cool accent.
Opening the Book(Book) on Twelve South: between the covers of a Mac-exclusive accessory maker
The year is 2009. In history books, it'll widely be recognized as the year that most of America -- heck, the world -- would prefer to forget. Job after job was lost, bank after bank fell, and humanity as we knew it plunged into "the worst recession since the Great Depression." It's also the year that Palm attempted a comeback with webOS, and as it turns out, the year that yet another accessory company was born. While such an occurrence may be forgettable on a macro scale, economic researchers and lovers of technology alike have reason to take notice -- and, indeed, ask questions. So, that's exactly what I did. Beyond growing a technology startup in a me-too field during the worst economy that I've personally been a part of, it's also not often that I find compelling consumer electronics companies far outside of New York City and San Francisco. Twelve South just so happens to be located in a nondescript nook in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina -- just a beautiful trip over the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge from historic Charleston. Three years after its founding, the company now fittingly counts a dozen employees on its roster, and despite entering a market flooded with iAccessory after iAccessory, it has somehow managed to grab its own slice of an increasingly large niche. As with all good success stories, this particular outfit has plenty of twists, turns and run-ins with Lady Luck to tell about; for those interested in seeing how the "stay small" mantra is keeping Twelve South firmly focused on the future ahead, take a peek beyond the break.
No Comment: Woman buys wooden iPad
This is a completely hypothetical situation: Someone in a McDonald's parking lot says he picked up an iPad for a cheap $300, and wonders if you'd want to buy it off of him for just $180. You decide why not (because reputable salesmen always just hang around in the parking lots of fast food places, right?), and take your new tablet home, only to find that it is in fact a wooden block, not the shiny piece of technology you'd hoped for. And what's more, it's not just a wooden block, but it's a dirty, makeshift fake iPad, complete with an Apple logo on the back, icons on the front, and some sort of weird fake Best Buy sales ticket. Sure, the thieves could have just sold you a brick in a box, but nope, they went all out on this one. Wait, this isn't a hypothetical situation? It actually happened to an, erm, unfortunate lady in South Carolina? Oh. Wait, she really did buy an iPad for $180 from a couple of guys outside McDonald's? Oh. Well then. No comment. [via TechCrunch]
ESPN 3D's fourth college football broadcast is Auburn/South Carolina
ESPN 3D will keep things rolling in week four of the college football season by featuring Auburn, again, as it hosts Steve Spurrier and South Carolina on September 25. That of course makes Auburn the first repeat on the schedule, after this weeks matchup with Clemson. Now that that's announced, we have two questions: Will all of ESPN 3D's games be on the eastern half of the country, and with an abundance of SEC speed on the field from both teams, can 3D cameras possibly hope to keep up with the action before busting into flames?
AT&T strings U-verse TV to Columbia, South Carolina
Awake, Gamecock Nation! We know you're already packing up the tailgating gear to head for the Outback Bowl, but you've an important decision to make beforehand. Along with Birmingham and Nashville, the great city of Columbia, South Carolina will also get its first taste of U-verse TV this week. Starting today, select parts of the city will be able to order up the outfit's fiber-based programming service, though no details about which areas were given. You know what that means -- time to make a phone call whilst crossing your fingers.
AT&T could bring U-verse services to Rock Hill / Columbia, SC within a year
Given the proximity of Charlotte, NC to both Rock Hill and Columbia, SC -- not to mention that $250 to $350 million fiber investment across the Carolinas -- we suppose it's no real shock to hear that AT&T is planning on bringing its services down south to Gamecock country. According to a local paper, the operator "has received certificates from South Carolina officials to bring the service to Columbia and Rock Hill within a year." AT&T itself has refused to dish out a definite launch date for the upstate, but it has said that it is "already upgrading its network toward that end." Truth be told, we'll feel a lot more confident in all of this if the Triangle region gets lit next week as rumored. Fingers crossed![Via freetimes]
Comcast adding new HD channels in Charleston, SC
Charleston, South Carolina is the latest locale on the mind of Comcast, as subscribers in the area are about to receive a few new channels on the EPG. Reportedly, FOX News HD, Disney Channel HD, Science HD, SPEED HD, FX HD, Versus HD and AMC HD have already popped up for some folks, though the go-live date isn't scheduled until November 1st. We know, it's only a handful, but it's better than suffering through next week with the same 'ole lineup, isn't it?[Thanks, Gus and Carlton]
TWC gets official with HD expansion in the Carolinas
Hot on the heels of TWC's Greensboro expansion announcement comes some official word from the carrier itself on how it'll be handling new HD rollouts in the Carolinas at large. For starters, many Raleigh-area customers received an e-mail proclaiming that 20 new high-def stations would be coming soon, though it mistakenly claims ESPN2 HD as a newcomer. At any rate, the director of digital communication at Time Warner Cable chimed in to clear things up, noting that the company is "rolling out up to 20 HD channels over the next several months, depending on the division." From the looks of things, Raleigh and Charlotte will be getting just about everything TWC has, while Greensboro, NC and Columbia, SC will receive smaller allotments. Curiously enough, the Wilmington area wasn't mentioned at all, but here's hoping they'll be on the same wave as Raleigh. For the full report from Jeff Simmermon, jump on past the break. [Disclosure: Engadget is part of the Time Warner family]
DISH Network unloads HD locals in a handful of new markets
Of late, it's been DirecTV doing all the dishing of HD locals, but at long last, we've got its biggest, most bitter rival stepping to the plate and doing some damage, too. As it's fall HD locals rollout continues, DISH Network has gone live with 'em in a bevy of new places. We're talking Florence / Myrtle Beach, SC, Fort Myers / Naples, FL, Greenville / New Bern / Washington, NC, Madison, WI and Wilkes Barre / Scranton, PA. As it stands, the satcaster now offers locals in high-def in 70 markets reaching 71% of the US, but really, all that matters is if you're in that 71%, right?
Charter brings Food Network HD and HGTV HD in Western Carolinas
Charter just gifted Asheville, NC with five new HD channels in July, but considering how bleak the HD lineup was there, these two couldn't have arrived soon enough. As of this week, Food Network HD and HGTV HD have been added on slots 756 and 757 (respectively) in the Asheville, NC and Greenville-Spartanburg, SC systems. Trust us, the carrier is still struggling over there, so we'll totally understand if you customers in the area start bickering for more in a week or so.[Thanks, PopWeaverHDTV]
DirecTV not done yet, brings HD locals to Norfolk-Newport News, VA / Charleston, SC
Just when you thought DirecTV was through after announcing HD locals for two more of its market today, in comes a couple of new reports confirming that both the Norfolk-Newport News, Virginia and Charleston, South Carolina DMAs were gifted as well. For the former, customers can look forward to seeing their local ABC, NBC, FOX and CBS affiliates in high-def, while the latter region gets all of those plus WMMP (MyNetworkTV). Any others you'd like to toss our way while you're at it? We've got a list of HD-starved DMAs just begging over here.Read - Norfolk-Newport News, VA rolloutRead - Charleston, SC rollout
Western North Carolina's WLOS takes local news to high-def
The Greenville-Spartanburg-Asheville-Anderson DMA just netted itself another local station with HD news: WLOS (ABC). Starting this week, the station -- which serves the western parts of both North and South Carolina -- will be broadcasting from its new set and studio, which features a "rotating desk with two different back drops, more than two dozen HD monitors, new HD studio cameras, HD graphics, and the advanced HD 'Sky Watch' Weather Center." The station is just about a year late on being numero uno in the market, as rival WSPA-TV (the local CBS affiliate) took its local news HD in September of last year. Nothing wrong with choices, though.[Thanks, PopWeaverHDTV]
Charleston, South Carolina's WCSC-TV bringing HD news on 9/29
Hey, Charleston -- ready for some HD news? We sure hope so, as local CBS affiliate WCSC-TV is making the fateful switch on September 29th. According to the South Carolina station, viewers will see a "huge change" in how things look, and aside from that, it's pretty proud of being the first local broadcaster in the state to air its news "completely in high-definition." Kudos, Charleston, so who's next?[Thanks, Mike]
Charter spreads its 5 new HD channels to Greenville, SC
Although it took Charter long enough to muster the will to add five new high-def stations to the lineup in Asheville, North Carolina, it seems that said market won't be the only one getting gifted. One particular subscriber down in Greenville, South Carolina just received a similar pamphlet from the carrier informing him that he too will be blessed with the same newcomers: The Weather Channel HD, Discovery HD, TLC HD, Animal Planet HD and TBS HD. We're hoping the HD love won't stop here, so be sure and let us know if the same message floats to your neck of the woods.[Thanks, Adam]
First South Carolina Apple Store to open Saturday
The last time that we looked into the Charleston, South Carolina Apple Store, they were only in the construction/hiring process. Well, the time has finally come: some South Carolinians will rejoice, while others (like me) will want more. Apple has announced that the first South Carolina store will open this Saturday, July 26, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. The King Street Apple Store is located at 301 King Street in the downtown district.What do you think about the first Apple retail store coming to South Carolina? Do you support their (belated) efforts? Will you be attending the grand opening? Do you have pictures of the store? Thanks to everyone who sent this in!
Hargray Communications adds more HD in South Carolina and Georgia
Hargray customers in Bluffton, Beaufort, Hardeeville, Ridgeland and Pooler, Ga may feel like the heavens have opened up and delivered unto them a great bounty, as the number of HD channels has increased from nine to 29 including most of the usual suspects like ESPN2 HD, Food Network HD and TLC HD. Sure, it's not 100+, but it's a start. Unfortunately left out are Hilton Head Island and Sun City Hilton Head customers, where The Island Packet reports HD is still in the testing phases. Topping things off, the new channels don't come with a rate increase - as long as you've got HD service and equipment they should be on by Wednesday. Check after the break for a list of all 29 HD channels.
DISH Network brings HD locals to three more cities
While a few Baltimore, MD and Columbia, SC residents were lamenting the fact that May-bound launches such as Richmond, VA occurred before they got their own taste of HD locals, hopefully we can now put aside all that angst. Announced today, Baltimore and Columbia are joining Green Bay, WI in the HD locals parade, and seeing that there is no mention of any networks being left out, we're going to hesitantly assume that the trio of markets all have access to their respective ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX stations. Fire up the HD DVR and let us know how it goes, would you?
Time Warner adds Discovery HD suite in Columbia, SC
It's been quite the day for Time Warner Cable, which has not only blessed North Texas with 11 new HD channels (though snubbed those in the outskirts mightily), it also found time to gift the Triad region in North Carolina with the Discovery HD suite. Lo and behold, Columbia, South Carolina has received those very same four channels, too. We're talking Animal Planet HD, Science Channel HD, Discovery Channel HD and TLC HD, but alas, all four are being delivered via SDV, so HD TiVo users are currently out of luck. [Disclosure: Engadget is part of the Time Warner family][Thanks, ebrough]
