DEARBORN - Ford Motor Company Thursday confirmed the distribution and pricing strategy of Ford Sync, an advanced in-car communication and entertainment system developed in collaboration with Microsoft. On models where Sync is optional, it will be priced at $395. Sync will be standard on Lincoln vehicles and widely available on Ford and Mercury vehicles. In
BOSTON - U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff defended a federal move toward a secure driver's license identification system Wednesday before state legislators who are actively opposing the proposal on both financial and philosophical grounds. Two hours after Chertoff's speech at the National Conference of State Legislatures, delegates called for repeal of the law unless
LANSING - Business leaders on Wednesday implored members of the House Tax Committee to pass what they called a technical fix to the Michigan Business Tax that, if left unchecked, could cost state corporations millions. Meanwhile, Ann Marsden, CEO of the Michigan League for Human Services, said that the proposed change businesses ask for is
TRAVERSE CITY - Opening the Monday session on manufacturing in the era of Discontinuous Change, CAR CEO Dr. Jay Baron quoted from Thomas Freidman's book, "The World Is Flat." Freidman claims globalization "is good for everyone." Not everyone in the audience appeared to agree, however. Joseph R. Hinrichs, Ford's V-P for North America Manufacturing, and
TRAVERSE CITY - Tuesday?s Designing for Customization briefing was chaired by John Waraniak, vice president of the Specialty Equipment Manufacturers Association. This marked the first major participation in CAR's annual international conference by automotive aftermarket forces. It's a multi-billion dollar market that's getting bigger as the Generation Z population climbs toward 100 million. SEMA's big
BOSTON - A report from the National Conference of State Legislatures said Monday that lawmakers should seize the opportunity to lead reform of a U.S. higher education system that no longer is the best in the world. A 12-member NCSL "Blue Ribbon Commission" said that in dealing with higher education policy-making, legislators react rather than
BOSTON - The federal Real ID driver's license law is drawing considerable opposition from states as a multi-billion dollar unfunded mandate, yet it is not without its supporters. A self-described "grass roots" organization called the Coalition for a Secure Driver's License said as the National Conference of State Legislatures opened its annual meeting that implementation
CUPERTINO, Ca. - Apple could have a lot more in mind for the multitouch user interface found on the iPhone. A recent Apple patent filing spotted by Macsimum News, among others, covers technology described as a "multitouch gesture dictionary." The patent application reads: It's basically a way of assigning certain tasks, such as opening an
LANSING ? Liberal bloggers across the nation zeroed in on Michigan on Friday when it came out that the Senate servers have closed access to a liberal-based blog that has been sharply critical of Michigan Republicans. Officials said the access to "Blogging for Michigan" was closed down so it could be determined if the blog
LANSING ? Michigan Department of Treasury officials hope to be able to close $415 million in securitization of tobacco funds by August 20. The money will be pumped into the School Aid and general fund to help keep cash flowing. The issue has been priced and the offering document, called in the bond and financial