Abstract Reasoning app is launched on Android !!!

The famous Abstract Reasoning mobile app for iPhone and iPad is now finally available also in Google Play store for Android mobile devices !!!

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.abstractreasoning.android.app

Check-out the Christmas discounts and test your reasoning during the holidays :)

Enjoy!!!

New Roaming falling charges !!!

Using a smartphone while travelling in the European Union became cheaper this week with the introduction of new cost caps on internet usage and calls.

From July 1, the cost of going online while abroad has more than halved, with the maximum price for downloading one megabyte (MB) of data – equivalent to a two-minute video clip – falling from €0.45 to €0.20.

mHealth - what is it and do I want it?

There are nearly 100,000 mHealth #apps already available across multiple platforms such as iTunes, Google play, Windows Marketplace, BlackBerry World. The top 20 free sports, fitness and health apps already account for 231 million downloads worldwide. 
By 2017, 3.4 billion people worldwide will own a smartphone and half of them will be using mHealth apps. In 2017, if its potential is fully unlocked, mHealth could save €99 billion in healthcare costs in the EU.
 
The Commission is launching a public consultation on the Green Paper on mobile health, inviting comments on the barriers and issues related to the use of mHealth. Your input will help identify the right way forward to unlock the potential of mobile health in the EU. The Commission also publishes a Staff Working Document on the existing EU legal framework applicable to lifestyle and wellbeing apps, aiming at providing simple guidance to app developers on EU legislation in the field.

The Public consultation on the Commission's Green Paper on mobile health is open until July 2014!

The €63 billion app economy boom in Europe - an amazing scale-up !!!

The study Study "Sizing the EU App Economy" shows that The EU's app sector has gone from zero to digital superhero in less than five years. By 2018 it could employ 4.8 million people and contribute €63 billion to the EU economy.

Today the app economy employs 1 million developers, and 800,000 people in marketing & support posts. This could rise to 2.7 million developers + 2.1 million support staff by 2018. EU buyers and advertisers spent €6.1 billion on apps in 2013, 30% of total global app spending, growing to €18.7 billion in 2018. Consumer spending combined with advertising and contract work could lead to €63 billion annual revenue for the app sector within five years.

The study is part of Startup Europe, a Digital Agenda initiative supported by Neelie Kroes to promote ICT and web entrepreneurship in Europe and to help the companies flourish in Europe.

It includes six activities: The Accelerator Assembly, the European Crowdfunding Network, The Web Investors Forum, the Leaders Club, the Startup Europe Partnership and improving Web Skills via MOOCS (being launched in 2014).

Some other insights:

Let' start using our phone during take-off and landing !!!

The new European safety guidance establishes that passengers may use PEDs switched on in Flight Mode during all phases of the flight, unless flight crew or cabin crew instructs them otherwise.

Portable Electronic Devices (PED) include digital cameras, smartphones, tablets, e-readers, etc.

Before this change, the safety guidance stated that passengers could use their PEDs in Flight Mode (non-transmitting) in-flight, but not during taxiing, takeoff and landing.

The EU's Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has given the airlines updated guidance on how to expand the use of PED’s safely in all phases of flight. The process to implement this will vary among airlines. They will need to adapt their operating procedures, but many will be expected to do so in coming weeks.

It’s not yet allowed to send emails or texts but EU Transport Commissioner Siim Kallas has asked EASA to accelerate a safety review of the use of transmitting devices on board, with updated guidance to be published in 2014.

Any airline may opt for a more restrictive policy on the use of PEDs. Any restrictions on the use of PEDs by passengers that may apply are at the discretion of the airline.

European Mobility Week

European Mobility Week 2013, under the theme Clean air - it's your move! is focusing on air quality, with a particular emphasis on the role of citizens. Air quality has a major impact on our health and our environment.

No city from Romania registered the program yet...but last year Romania had 48 cities enrolled!!!

fun fact: this year CHINA has joined the week with 152 cities!!! how European is that?

European Smart Borders: enhancing mobility and security

This should interest all non EU foreigners visiting Europe (the Schengen area) and the non-Schengen member countries. The new package proposed by the Commission wants to speed-up, facilitate and reinforce border check procedures for foreigners travelling to the EU.

 

Smart Borders means efficient border management by using state-of-the-art technology.

 

The package consists of

• a Registered Traveller Programme (RTP) and
• an Entry/Exit System (EES) that will simplify life for frequent third country travellers at the Schengen external borders and enhance EU border security.

Business travellers, workers on short term contracts, researchers and students, third country nationals with close family ties to EU citizens or living in regions bordering the EU are all likely to cross the borders several times a year. Making it as easy as possible for them to come to the EU would ensure that Europe remains an attractive destination and help boosting economic activity and job creation.

More information on the website of Home Affairs Directorate.

Nu este foarte clar daca o tara ca Romania care nu face parte inca din spatiul Schengen (si nici nu prea sunt perspective reale) dar care foloseste pasaportul biometric, va obliga cetatenii romani sa se inregistreze in acest program si baza de date.
Rusinica mare daca vom fi nevoiti...

EURES: Romanian Job Fair attracts 1 500 graduates

In cooperation with local employment services, EURES Romania has been organising job fairs for graduates for the last ten years. This year, the Public Employment Service in Prahova joined the cooperation and organised their first job fair exclusively for graduates.

Le premier salon de l'emploi de ce type tenu à Prahova, en Roumanie, s'est avéré être un succès fulgurant - environ 1 500 demandeurs d'emploi et 40 employeurs ont assisté à l'événement à Ploiesti.

more on EURES News.

PS: EURES = The European Job Mobility Portal

The purpose of EURES is to provide information, advice and recruitment/placement (job-matching) services for the benefit of workers and employers as well as any citizen wishing to benefit from the principle of the free movement of persons.

Situational Judgement blog launched !!!

The blog is dedicated to Situational Judgement tests (SJTs) and is especially promoting iPhone and iPad applications that can be used to practice such challenging tests.

Check it out and stay tuned as the first application will be soon available ;)