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(Apple gets personal with Apple Watch, first new product since iPad)
(College savings on the rise as plans average $20K - Business)
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Apple revealed its first new product since the iPad launched in 2010 鈥?the Apple Watch, which is designed to be everything from a personal health and fitness trainer to a TV remote control.
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WASHINGTON聽鈥?The good news is that Americans are saving more than ever for college. The bad news is that the average amount wouldn't come close to getting a person a degree.In a report released Tuesday, the College Savings Plans Network found that the average college savings or prepaid tuition account known as a "529" plan is now worth about $20,671 鈥?almost double what these accounts were worth during the dog-days of the recession.Called a 529 after a section in the <a href=http://capstone.edu.sg/clreplicashoes.php>Christian Louboutin Outlet</a>  federal tax code, these investment accounts aren't the only way to save for college. But they are a popular option because the money grows tax-free and withdrawals aren't taxed so long as the money is used for college expenses.The group, which tracks the state-sponsored savings plans, attributes the increase to several factors including a healthier stock market and improved economy, as well as greater consumer awareness of 529 plans and a growing concern among parents of the cost of higher education. According to the report, contributions to 529 plans jumped from $16.5 billion in 2009 to $22.5 billion.At the same time, the $20,671 figure would only cover the first year at a public college or university. The average cost for a four-year public school, including room and board, is about $18,391 a year for in-state students but rises sharply 鈥?$31,701 鈥?<a href=http://capstone.edu.sg/clreplicashoes.php>Christian Louboutin Shoes Sale</a>  for those from out of state. Private schools typically cost even more with $40,917 for a single year of tuition, fees, room and board, according to recent estimates by the College Board.Betty Lochner, chair of the College Savings Plans Network, said the latest finding is still good news because any amount saved is money that won't need to be repaid with interest."The steady increase of total assets, account size and contributions in 529 plans, are positive signs that Americans recognize saving for college as a long-term commitment and investment," Lochner said in a statement accompanying the group's report.Overall, the group found that college savings and prepaid tuition plans have climbed steadily since 2008, when the country fell into a recession following the crash of the housing market. That year, the average <a href=http://capstone.edu.sg/images/guccioutlet.onlinesalecc.php>Gucci Shoes</a>  college savings account dropped to $10,690. The nation had $104.9 billion in assets managed under the savings plans at the time.As of June this year, the average savings account almost doubled to $20,671 with total assets topping $244 billion. The group noted a particularly sharp increase in the first half of this year: Between January and June, total assets in 529 plans grew by about $17 billion.
The Cupertino company is using the Watch as its entry into the growing but nascent market for wearable computers.
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鈥淎pple Watch is the most personal device Apple <a href=http://www.alportico.net/gosoc.php> true religion outlet</a>  has ever created,鈥?CEO Tim Cook said during Tuesday鈥檚 press event in Cupertino.
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As has been the case with Apple in the past, the company is not the first mover in the smart watch category. In June, Google revealed three new Android Wear smart watches that will soon be available to consumers 鈥?the LG G Watch, the Samsung Gear Live, and its own upcoming Motorola Moto 360.
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But since it has sensors that track a person鈥檚 activity, Apple is simultaneously making an aggressive move into territory carved out by popular health and fitness monitoring devices like the Fitbit.
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Analyst Tim Bajarin of Creative Strategies of San Jose said Apple 鈥渘ailed the design elements鈥?of the Watch, which turns one old-school watch feature 鈥?a winding stem that sticks out from the side 鈥?into a navigation tool.
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Instead of a pinching, zooming and swiping with fingers on the small screen, Watch owners will navigate the stem, which Apple calls a Digital Crown. In a way, it recalls early iPods and their scroll wheels.
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However, Apple Watch won鈥檛 work by <a href=http://capstone.edu.sg/images/gucciusaonlineoutlet.php> cheap gucci</a>  itself 鈥?it will need to sync with the newer model iPhones 鈥?the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, which are being released later this month, or the iPhone 5, 5s and 5c.
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And the device isn鈥檛 cheap 鈥?it will cost $349 when it goes on sale sometime early next year.
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So Bajarin鈥檚 prediction was that the Watch 鈥渨ill be a blockbuster hit with people who can afford them.鈥?
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Apple is trying to make the Watch a fashion accessory, creating three different 鈥渃ollections鈥?鈥?a standard Apple Watch, a more durable Apple Watch Sport and a stylish Apple Watch Edition. Each collection has various watch band styles, employing different materials and colors.
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The watch does give app-makers another screen to reach customers and they were already chomping at the bit to create Watch apps.
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鈥淣ot surprisingly, the integration of health sensors is a key feature,鈥?said Mark McDonald, co-founder of Appster, an Austrlian app development company that recently opened U.S. headquarters in San Francisco.
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鈥淭he wrist is prime real-estate, but there is no point trying to duplicate the functionality of a smart phone on a ridiculously small display,鈥?he said in an email. 鈥淭he use of a watch for tracking health and fitness activities is a naturally good fit for this device, and makes it a better <a href=http://capstone.edu.sg/clreplicashoes.php> Christian Louboutin Outlet Online</a>  experience than a traditional smart phone.鈥?
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- Reported by Wendy Lee () in Cupertino, Benny Evangelista () and Julie Balise () in San Francisco
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Revision as of 07:07, 26 September 2014

@@@ WASHINGTON聽鈥?The good news is that Americans are saving more than ever for college. The bad news is that the average amount wouldn't come close to getting a person a degree.In a report released Tuesday, the College Savings Plans Network found that the average college savings or prepaid tuition account known as a "529" plan is now worth about $20,671 鈥?almost double what these accounts were worth during the dog-days of the recession.Called a 529 after a section in the <a href=http://capstone.edu.sg/clreplicashoes.php>Christian Louboutin Outlet</a> federal tax code, these investment accounts aren't the only way to save for college. But they are a popular option because the money grows tax-free and withdrawals aren't taxed so long as the money is used for college expenses.The group, which tracks the state-sponsored savings plans, attributes the increase to several factors including a healthier stock market and improved economy, as well as greater consumer awareness of 529 plans and a growing concern among parents of the cost of higher education. According to the report, contributions to 529 plans jumped from $16.5 billion in 2009 to $22.5 billion.At the same time, the $20,671 figure would only cover the first year at a public college or university. The average cost for a four-year public school, including room and board, is about $18,391 a year for in-state students but rises sharply 鈥?$31,701 鈥?<a href=http://capstone.edu.sg/clreplicashoes.php>Christian Louboutin Shoes Sale</a> for those from out of state. Private schools typically cost even more with $40,917 for a single year of tuition, fees, room and board, according to recent estimates by the College Board.Betty Lochner, chair of the College Savings Plans Network, said the latest finding is still good news because any amount saved is money that won't need to be repaid with interest."The steady increase of total assets, account size and contributions in 529 plans, are positive signs that Americans recognize saving for college as a long-term commitment and investment," Lochner said in a statement accompanying the group's report.Overall, the group found that college savings and prepaid tuition plans have climbed steadily since 2008, when the country fell into a recession following the crash of the housing market. That year, the average <a href=http://capstone.edu.sg/images/guccioutlet.onlinesalecc.php>Gucci Shoes</a> college savings account dropped to $10,690. The nation had $104.9 billion in assets managed under the savings plans at the time.As of June this year, the average savings account almost doubled to $20,671 with total assets topping $244 billion. The group noted a particularly sharp increase in the first half of this year: Between January and June, total assets in 529 plans grew by about $17 billion.

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