Are Facial Recognition Stocks Staring You in the Face?

You may have seen the term 'facial recognition' in the new recently, for several different reasons. Facial recognition is the technological process automatically identifying a person from a digital image or a video, by comparing comparing facial features to an extensive facial database. 3D facial recognition is the latest trend, which is more accurate and can be used with profiles of faces. Facial recognition systems are employed by law enforcement, national security governmental agencies, casinos, banking, mobile devices, and even social media.

A Slap in the Facial Recognition Industry

Facebook (FB), which utilizes facial recognition, was criticized by the German government which outlaws such usage, since facial recognition is now mentioned in Facebook's latest privacy policy. A year ago, Facebook removed the software for European users, but wants to reactivate it again. And just a couple months ago, Congress pressured Google (GOOG) to leave out facial recognition software in the 'Google Glass' smart glasses.

Through the Looking Glass of Facial Recognition Stocks

According to WallStreetNewsNetwork.com, ther are about a dozen stocks involved in facial recognition technology, with some having it as a small part of their business and a few pure plays. Some of the other major players include 3M (MMM), which has the Cogent BioTrust biometric logon software and the CAFIS facial recognition authentication system, Apple (AAPL), which has the iPhoto software Faces and the Polar Rose facial recognition company, and Safran (SAFRY), which owns L-1 Identity Solutions.

As for companies that are more pure plays, there is Nxt-ID, Inc. (NXTD), a Shelton, Connecticut company which provides biometric solutions for the law enforcement facial recognition markets. The company has MobileBio FaceMatch, a modular facial recognition system for smartphones, tablets, laptop, and desktop computers, and 3D FaceMatch Biometric Identity Systems, which combines 3D facial recognition, 2D facial recognition, and optional fingerprint biometrics. This very low cap stock generated a loss of three cents a share for the latest quarter.

To access a free list of all the companies with some involvement in the facial recognition industry, go to WallStreetNewsNetwork.com. Although there are many privacy issues, this is a growth industry of the future.

Disclosure: Author owns AAPL.

By Stockerblog.com

What Google Searchers Think About Gold

Here is what searchers are looking for most often on Google (GOOG) relating to gold:

What Google Searchers think about the Stock Market

Here are the common searches in Google (GOOG) relating to "the stock market is"

Quotations from Tim Cook at Apple Annual Meeting

Tim Cook gave an interesting presentation at the Apple Inc. (AAPL) Annual Meeting today.

"Apple's revenue growth is greater than Google (GOOG), Microsoft (MSFT), Dell (DELL), Hewlett Packard (HPQ), Lenovo (LNVGY), and RIMM (RIMM) combined."

"Apple generated $13 billion in profit for the latest quarter, one billion a week."

"On Black Friday, more iPads were sold than all Android devices combined."

"The 700 million smartphone market is expected to double by 2016."

"Apple is doing $10 billion in China, more than any other US tech company."

"Over 50% of the buyers of iPads were the buyers' first Apple product purchase."

In response to question about losing market share to Samsung/Androids, "We don't have our heads stuck up ... stuck in the sand."

"Apple is building a new campus on 175 acres nearby. The property currently has 26 buildings amounting to 2.7 million square feet. The plans are to bulldoze all buildings and building one brand new building of 2.8 million square feet. Goal is completion in 2006. Currently, 80% of the property is asphalt and concrete. That will all change with lots of park land."

"Apple uses 100% renewable energy sources, most produced on site."

"Apple has trained over a million people in China about human rights."

"I still think that David Einhorn's proposal was a silly side show."

In response to a question about the iPad Mini cannibalizing the iPad, "If we don't cannibalize it, someone else will. We take a long view of it; win a customer for life."

"Apple owns the largest solar farm of any commercial company in the world."

"Apple has removed toxics from its products and is surprised that more tech companies haven't followed suit."

"95% of Fortune 500 companies use iPhones and iPads."

Have you seen the Google Self-Driving Car?

Have you seen the Google (GOOG) Self-Driving Car?

Earnings Announcements for Tomorrow

Earnings announcements for tomorrow:

Advanced Micro Devices (AMD)

Cree Inc. (CREE)

CSX Corp. (CSX)

E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Co. (DD)

Ethan Allan Interiors (ETH)

Freeport McMoRan Copper & Gold (FCX)

Google Inc. (GOOG)

II-VI Inc. (IIVI)

Kansas City Southern (KSU)

Norfolk Southern Corp. (NSC)

PetMed Express Inc. (PETS)

RF Micro Devices (RFMD)

TD Ameritrade Holding Corp. (AMTD)

Texas Instruments (TXN)

Verizon Communications (VZ)

What Google Searchers Think about the Fiscal Cliff

Want to know what Googlers (GOOG) think about the Fiscal Cliff:

Track Storm Sandy on the Google Super Storm Sandy Map

Google has a map that allows you to track Sandy, the 'Super Storm'. It can be accessed here. It includes information about the current location, the forecast track, and the 3 day forecast cone, plus it can provide emergency shelters.

25 Year Anniversary of Stock Market Crash: Dow Drops 205 NASDAQ Drops 67

Today is the 25th Anniversary of the 1987 stock market crash. Is today a repeat of history. At least today's drop wasn't as bad. The Dow Jones Industrial Average tanked by 205 points or 1.5% and the NASDAQ went down by 67 points or about 2.2%. This is the biggest drop in about four months.

Did anyone read the article from Sunday, October 14, on How to Speculate on a Market Drop Without Options or Shorting? The article described the Daily S&P 500 Bear 3X Shares ETF (SPXS), which was up 5.1% today. The Direxion Daily Energy Bear 3X Shares (ERY) was up 4.5% today.

As for the popular stocks, Google was down 74 points in the last two days due to missing estimates on revenues and a substantial drop in earnings per share. Apple (AAPL) fell over 22 points today. Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (CMG) was off by about 43 points, or 15%.

Disclosure: Author owns AAPL.

By Stockerblog.com

How Do I Qualify?

If you type How Do I Qualify into the Google (GOOG) search engine, this is what you would get:

Apple Stock Breaks Through 700 per Share for the First Time

Because of the huge demand for the Apple (AAPL) iPhone 5, far greater than expected, the Apple stock has shot through the 700 per share level. The price of the stock seemed to be running neck and neck with Google (GOOG), but Google had already won the 700 race.

What Do Googlers Think of the Stock Market

Have you ever wondered what the average search engine searcher thinks of the stock market? Here it is:

One Letter Companies Part 2

Yesterday, I wrote about the One Letter Companies, the companies that either have a one letter stock ticker symbol or own a one letter domain name.

Here is an update to the one letter domain companies, which I came up with due to further research.

a.co is owned by Amazon (AMZN)

g.co is owned by Google (GOOG)

s.co is owned by Startup America Partnership

t.co is owned by Twitter

x.co is owned by Go Daddy and is used as a URL shortener

0.co (that's a zero dot co) is owned by Overstock.com (OSTK)

0.info (that's a zero dot info) is also owned by Overstock.com (OSTK)

c.tv is owned by Future Media Architects

d.tv is owned by Worldwide Media, Inc. and publishes TheDomains.com

h.tv is owned by Future Media Architects

i.tv is owned by i.TV, LLC

k.tv is owned by Future Media Architects

l.tv is owned by Future Media Architects

o.tv is owned by Future Media Architects

q.tv is owned by Future Media Architects

s.tv is owned by Future Media Architects

t.tv is owned by Future Media Architects

v.tv is owned by Future Media Architects

w.tv is owned by Future Media Architects

y.tv is owned by Future Media Architects

z.tv is owned by Future Media Architects

By Stockerblog.com

Follow-Up on a Startup: BoomBotix

Back in March, we featured an article, 'Spotlight on a Startup', which gave an inside view of BoomBotix Inc., a creator of mobile audio For Sounding Great On The Go™. The company was founded in 2009 with roots in San Francisco’s urban art scene and the Tahoe action sports arena. In 2010, BoomBotix splashed into the portable electronics scene with the worlds loudest portable speaker tailored to the transient lifestyles of surf, skate, and snow culture.

Startups that survive go through a series of funding stages, usually starting out with investments from friends, family, and credit cards. The next step is funding from angels, wealthy individuals who are willing to put up money for high risk investments in return for the potential of very high returns. Also known as accredited investors, they are always looking to get in on the ground floor of another Google (GOOG), Apple (AAPL), or LinkedIn (LNKD).

The third stage is venture capital. VC companies are willing to invest funds in early stage companies with proven sales and traction. There may be several stages of funding at this point. The final stage in the process is going public through an IPO (Initial Public Offering) or being taken over by a much larger company.

BoomBotix has seen rapid growth; it boasts distributors in over 20 countries with more than 140 retailers domestically including Best Buy, Backcountry.com, and Amazon, though it began with a virtually non-existent marketing budget. Because of the company's success, it has reached its third stage of funding, closing its first venture capital round. Walden Venture Capital has lead a Series A round in Boombotix.

Walden Venture Capital is a 'Sprout Stage™' investor based in San Francisco that focuses on Digital Media and Cloud Services companies. With investments including Pandora, SoundHound, The Clymb and Glam among others, they have a track record of helping companies attain mass-market adoption. 'Lief Storer and his team are incredible at design and technology while having a real passion for the consumer', said Larry Marcus, Managing Director of Walden Venture Capital, 'We are looking forward to helping take the Boombotix brand and product line to the next level. The company that is young, hungry and dedicated to serving its users with better sound, design and functionality.'

Boombotix CEO Lief Storer commented, 'The Boombot speaker line is constantly expanding, and the team is eager to develop new products and continually improve the products already in our portfolio. This round is just going to help us lay down the real foundation that we need to take things to the next level.'

Boombotix portable speakers are available in several styles, in wired or BluTooth® models for $65 to $79 at Amazon, Best Buy, Backcountry, Tilly’s, or direct from the company at www.boombotix.com.

No investment recommendation nor any investment promotion is expressed or implied by either Stockerblog.com or BoomBotix Inc.

Dot Apple, Dot Google, Dot Netflix, Dot AOL New Domains

A top level domain is what you see after the last dot in a basic website address; in other word, .com, .org, .net, .gov, and so on. Now, the non-profit organization that manages the Internet, The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, also known as ICANN, will now allow brand identity top level domains.

For example, Apple (AAPL) could have www.apple.apple in addition to www.apple.com, or www.ipad.apple as a website address. And they are pursuing it. Other companies jumping on the bandwagon include Netflix (NFLX), AOL (AOL), Volkswagen AG (VLKAY), Amazon (AMZN), and Google (GOOG).

It is not just company names that are being applied for. Many businesses have applied for .baby, .baseball, .money, .pizza, .read, .store, .music, and .news. Want to apply for your own top level domain? The application fee is $185,000.

Google Glasses

Have you heard about the latest rumored item from Google (GOOG)? The Google Glasses. These are Android-powered glasses that receive wifi, and will have a built-in camera with flash. Head tilts will control the glasses. They are expected to b released this year at somewhere between $250 and $600.