Apple officially gives Google Maps the boot, launches own Maps app with turn-by-turn navigation

Apple officially gives google maps the boot

It's been one the big questions hanging over WWDC -- will Apple actually toss Google to the side and launch it's own mapping service specifically for iOS? Well, it's not a question any more, but a cold hard fact. Apple's mapping solution is here, taking over where Google left off. The move is hardly shocking since Apple has already confirmed that it's been working on a traffic database and snatched up a number of mapping companies. Besides, it's not like Cupertino and Mountain View are the best of buds right now. This all new mapping solution includes 100 million different business listings, Yelp integration and, biggest of all, turn-by-turn navigation. The app does use anonymously collected data to populate traffic information and any rerouting is brought to your attention with a pop-up notification.

The story isn't done yet though. The maps are even rendered in full 3D, not unlike what Google announced last week. (And the news was delivered in a way that made it clear Apple think's they've one upped their former map app provider.)

Developing...

For more coverage of the WWDC 2012 keynote, head over to our liveblog!

Apple officially gives Google Maps the boot, launches own Maps app with turn-by-turn navigation originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 11 Jun 2012 14:38:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments


mike the situation jacksonville jaguars jacksonville jaguars benjarvus green ellis shaka smart olympics hungergames

PST: Spain-Italy showdown full of hype, history

Spain, coming off their win at South Africa 2010, open their European title defense against Italy. And there?s another game, but I can?t remember who?s playing. While I figure that out, let?s talk about the main event, which just so happens to be the day?s first game (12:00 p.m. ET on ESPN).

No team has won three major championships in a row, but Spain?s on the brink. They took Euro 2008 (their first major title since 1964) and followed it by 1-0?ing their way to their first world title. Come Sunday, they?ll be without the leading scorer and best defender, but after a perfect qualifying cycle, many are still picking the world?s top-rated team to retain their title.

They?re the type of expectations people used to have of Italy, but not any more. After a disappointing Euro 2008 and failing to get out of their group in South Africa, Italy?s had to acclimatize to life as second-tier power. Cesare Prandelli replaced Marcelo Lippi with the hope that he?d usher in the next era of Italian soccer. Goalless since Nov. 11, Italy?s future?s still out of reach.

Much of the hype surrounding the match up is based on history. Spain?s the biggest name in international soccer right now, while Italy?s won five major titles hint there?s some, eternal, ever-lasting quality to their game. But that quality?s produced only one win in the last two major tournaments (in fairness, they?ve only lost twice, too). They did dominate their qualifying group, a group in which Estonia finished second.

Oh, and it turns out, the second game of the day is pretty darn good. In fact, there?s a chance it may be the more competitive of the two. Both Croatia and the Republic of Ireland have legitimate chances of coming out of this group.

While it may not be the group of death, but Group C is might be the most difficult to predict.

I?ll have my picks in the live blog, which will go up later today. We?ll also have recaps, a day three review, and oh yeah: All your tournament information here.

For now, let?s get to your Euro 2012 Sunday playlist:

source:  Side 1: Things we?ve lost

1. No clue who I?ll miss more

Carles Puyol?s 99 caps would make him the most experienced player in Spain?s back line, in addition to its best. Having undergone knee surgery in May, Puyol moves to the stands to join David Villa (pictured, above), whose comeback from a December shin fracture couldn?t return him in time for Euro. His 51 goals is not only Spain?s all-time record, it?s 23 more than Spain?s next most-prolific scorer.

That scorer is Fernando Torres. If you haven?t heard, the Chelsea striker hasn?t been very good for some time now. He only scored six times in the English Premier League last season, and with Spain over the last 20 months, he?s only scored twice. This would be a significant problem for any team, but for Spain ? a team that relied on Villa for five of their eight World Cup goals ? it?s red alert.

At the back, only Gerard Pique will be starting in the same position he played in South Africa. Sergio Ramos moves from right back to the middle, Alvaro Arbeloa takes over on the right, while Jordi Alba?has ascended to first choice left back.

The defense should be fine. The attack, though has never recovered from the changes Vicente del Bosque implemented after he took over for Luis Aragones (post-Euro 2008). He went to a double pivot, injecting Xabi Alonso into the team at the expense of David Silva. Silva?s back in the XI (thanks in part to Villa?s absence), but Spain?s still playing with fewer attackers than they should.

2. Hard to know how far we?ve come

Another major problem for Spain: Miles. How many miles have Barcelona?s stars ? Xavi Hern?ndez, Andres Iniesta, Sergio Busquets ? accumulated over the last five years? How about Alonso for Real Madrid? That?s Spain?s entire engine room.

Long club seasons with little rest. Deep runs in all competitions. A national team?competing?for?everything?it can. There?s a price to pay for that. It?s unclear whether Spain can put it off for another tournament.

source:  3. 4 to 3

Italy?s set to go three at the back, the only team in the tournament to try it. Daniele de Rossi (pictured, right), normally a deep lying midfielder, looks set to play with Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci. Christian Maggio and (surprisingly)?Emanuele?Giaccherini are set to start as wing backs.

The formation gives Prandelli three in men in the middle along with the ability to play five at the back (or have the wing backs track released fullbacks, when needed). Midfielder Andrea Pirlo will be relied upon to make the connections with forwards Antonio Cassano and Mario Balotelli, who will have their hands full dealing with Spain?s pressure while they wait for their packed in teammates to transition into attack.

Who knows if it will work, but with de Rossi in defense, Italy will have one more player capable of holding the ball, preserving whatever possession they can keep from the Spaniards.

4. Mario

Mario Balotelli was controversially left off the 2010 World Cup squad. Controversy saw Balotelli leave Italy, and controversy followed him to Manchester City. Clearly, it?s hard to separate Marion Balotelli from controversy.

Here are a couple of uncontroversial things about Mario Balotelli: He?s as talented as anybody in this tournament, and Italy needs him. They have nobody in their squad that?s scored more than 10 international goals.

Whatever excuse Marcelo Lippi had for excluding Balotelli in 2010, it?s is gone. There are no more excuses.

source: Getty ImagesSide 2: B-sides and demos

5. Come and get me

Ireland is the easiest team in the tournament to predict, and coach Giovanni Trapattoni doesn?t bother hiding it. The Republic?s head coach didn?t bother naming a preliminary roster (going straight to the final team, which has since changed). He also revealed his starting lineup earlier this week.

Why? Because it doesn?t matter. Whatever combination of players Trapattoni uses will play the same way. It will be 4-4-2/4-4-1-1. They?ll sit very deep, stay compact, and value organization above opportunity.

Which is not to say that don?t value opportunity. They?re just very big on organization, which is why when they do get forward, it?s going to have to be on the backs of Kevin Doyle and Robbie Keane (pictured, above). If the forwards can bring wide midfielders Aiden McGeady and Damien Duff into the play, so be it.

That, however, is all frosting for Ireland. They allowed only seven goals (in 10 games) in qualifying. They only scored 15. Their priorities are clear.

6. Deciding if I want to go

Slaven Bilic recently described his team?s propensity to sit deep and rely on the counter as a a necessity. The Croatian defense is slow, and the midfield can?t leave it exposed. With Luka Modric?distributing from the middle, Croatia can rely on one of the world?s best passers to manage their transitions.

But how does that work against a team that don?t come get you? Trappatoni is not going to let Ireland get out of their game just because Croatia wants to play another. They?ll wait out Croatia, and when Bilic changes to go for the points, Ireland will hit them.

Croatia need to have a more progressive mindset from the get go. They will undoubtedly have been working on it this week, with Bilic having said he both expected a win and doesn?t see Ireland as a threat.

source: Getty Images7. My star is burning out

Croatia?s biggest concern isn?t their opponent. It?s the fitness of their star.

Luka Modric came into camp warn down by a demanding English Premier League season. Bilic has tried to nurse him back to health, holding him out of the teams? two pre-tournament friendlies.

There many be no team as dependent on one player as Croatia. That includes Sweden, who have gotten results without Zlatan Ibrahimovic. While it?s possible Croatia could still get out of Group C without a fit Modric, there?s no way they can make a meaningful run.

8. Forgetting what we never knew

Spain and Italy are in big letters on top of the marquee. When you drive by, you don?t even see the small print at the bottom, though they may put on a better show.

No, Croatia and Ireland are unlikely to provide as much entertainment as their big name group-mates, but the game looks closer on paper. Where Spain could post a multi-goal result on Italy, the day?s second game is unlikely to be worse than a one-goal affair.

And beyond Sunday?s game, Croatia and Ireland each have a good chance of getting out of group. With Ireland?s style and discipline, it?s not hard to imagine them catching one team and getting to five points. On the other hand, Croatia is favored to beat Ireland, and they?ve never lost to Italy.

It?s a bit sad Italy?s been allowed to overshadow Croatia and Ireland. It?s unfair to Italy, putting excessive expectations on a decent team, and it certainly undersells the group?s ?underdogs.?
ProSoccerTalk is doing its best to keep you up to date on what?s going on in Poland and Ukraine.?Check out the site?s Euro 2012 page?and look at the site?s previews, predictions, and coverage of all the events defining UEFA?s championship.

friday night lights nick santino bruce arians the misfits hook troy miracle

Nauru president sacks cabinet

Published 2 hours ago by Herald Sun

Go to the Home screen by pressing the Home button or by unlocking your phone/iPad

Select the Settings icon.

Select Safari from the settings menu.

Select 'accept cookies' from the safari menu.

Select 'from visited' from the accept cookies menu.

Press...

Share this?


What others report on the same story

enemy of the state golden globe nominees joe philbin miss america pageant 2012 shipwreck jose aldo vs chad mendes lana del rey

Euro zone agrees to lend Spain up to 100 billion euros

BRUSSELS/MADRID (Reuters) - Euro zone finance ministers agreed on Saturday to lend Spain up to 100 billion euros ($125 billion) to shore up its teetering banks and Madrid said it would specify precisely how much it needs once independent audits report in just over a week.

After a 2-1/2-hour conference call of the 17 finance ministers, which several sources described as heated, the Eurogroup and Madrid said the amount of the bailout would be sufficiently large to banish any doubts.

"The loan amount must cover estimated capital requirements with an additional safety margin, estimated as summing up to 100 billion euros in total," a Eurogroup statement said.

Spain said it wanted aid for its banks but would not specify the precise amount until two independent consultancies - Oliver Wyman and Roland Berger - deliver their assessment of the banking sector's capital needs some time before June 21.

"The Spanish government declares its intention to request European financing for the recapitalization of the Spanish banks that need it," Economy Minister Luis de Guindos told a news conference in Madrid.

He said the amounts needed would be manageable, and that the funds requested would amply cover any needs.

A bailout for Spain's banks, beset by bad debts since a property bubble burst, would make it the fourth country to seek assistance since Europe's debt crisis began.

With the rescue of Greece, Ireland, Portugal and now Spain, the EU and IMF have now committed around 500 billion euros to finance European bailouts.

Washington, which is worried the euro zone crisis could drag the U.S. economy down in an election year, welcomed the announcement.

"These are important for the health of Spain's economy and as concrete steps on the path to financial union, which is vital to the resilience of the euro area," Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said.

HEATED DEBATE

Officials said there had been a heated debate over the International Monetary Fund's role in Spain's bank rescue, which Madrid wanted kept to a minimum. It will not provide any of the money.

In the end it was agreed that the IMF would help monitor reforms in Spain's banking sector, while EU institutions would ensure Spain stuck to its broader economic commitments.

IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde said the euro zone's plan was consistent with the IMF's estimate of the capital needs of Spain's banks and should provide "assurance that the financing needs of Spain's banking system will be fully met."

Sources involved in the talks said there had also been pressure applied on Madrid to make a precise request right away, but Spain had resisted.

Euro zone policymakers are eager to shore up Spain's position before June 17 elections in Greece which could push Athens closer to a euro zone exit and unleash a wave of contagion. Spain's auditors could report back after that date.

Nonetheless, analysts said financial markets may be calmed by the announcement when they reopen on Monday.

"The figure of up to 100 billion is more encouraging and pretty realistic; it's an attempt to cap the problem," said Edmund Shing, European head of equity strategy at Barclays.

"The issue, however, is there is still a lack of detail about where the money's coming from, which is crucial. The market will treat it with some caution until they see how it will be funded."

The Eurogroup said the funds could come from either from the euro zone's temporary rescue fund, the EFSF, or the permanent mechanism, the ESM, which is due to start next month. Finland said that if money came from the EFSF, it would want collateral.

EU sources said there was a preference to channel money to Spain through the ESM, rather than the EFSF. Under the ESM, an approval rate of 90 percent or less is needed to trigger aid, and the fund also has more flexibility in how it operates.

"That's why it's so important that the ESM ... be ratified quickly," German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said.

The Spanish government has already spent 15 billion euros bailing out small regional savings banks that lent recklessly to property developers. Spain's biggest failed bank, Bankia, will cost 23.5 billion euros to rescue and its shareholders have been wiped out.

"Whatever the formula being used, we need to say two things: first the innocent should not suffer for the guilty, second public money should come back to public coffers," said Socialist opposition chief Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba after speaking with Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy on Saturday morning.

LIGHT CONDITIONS

The race to resolve the banks' troubles comes after Fitch Ratings cut Madrid's sovereign credit rating by three notches to BBB, highlighting the Spanish banking sector's exposure to bad property loans and to contagion from Greece's debt crisis.

It said the cost to the Spanish state of recapitalizing banks stricken by the bursting of a real estate bubble, recession and mass unemployment could be between 60-100 billion euros ($75-$125 billion).

Italy could yet get dragged in too. Its industry minister, Corrado Passera, said the economic situation in Italy had improved since the end of 2011, but remained critical.

"Europe was more disappointing than we had expected, it was less capable of tackling a relatively minor problem such as Greece," Passera told a conference on Saturday.

While Spain would join Greece, Ireland and Portugal in receiving a European financial rescue, officials said the aid would be focused only on its banking sector, without taking the Spanish state out of credit markets.

That would be crucial to avoid overstraining the euro zone's rescue funds, which would struggle to cover Spanish government borrowing needs for the next three years plus possible additional assistance for Portugal and Ireland.

Conditions in the plan did not appear to add to the austerity measures and structural economic reforms which Rajoy's government has already put in place.

"Since the funds being asked for are to attend to financial sector needs, the conditionality, as agreed in the Eurogroup meeting, will be specifically for the financial sector," de Guindos said.

EU and German officials have cited national pride in the euro zone's fourth largest economy as a barrier to requesting a full assistance program.

The European Commission and Germany both agreed in principle last week that Spain should be given an extra year to bring its budget deficit down below the EU limit of 3 percent of gross domestic product because of a deep recession.

The Eurogroup also said money could be funneled to Spain's FROB bank fund although the government would "retain the full responsibility of the financial assistance".

Irish Finance Minister Michael Noonan said the funds would be provided through the EFSF or ESM at the same interest rates which apply to funds provided to other bailout countries.

(Additional reporting by Luke Baker and Justyna Pawlak in Brussels, Erik Kirschbaum, Annika Breitdhardt and Matthias Sobolewski in Berlin, Antonella Ciancio in Italy, Conor Humphries in Dublin and Martin Santa in Bratislava. Writing by Mike Peacock and Fiona Ortiz.)

bud shootout aretha franklin stevie wonder new orleans weather new orleans weather sparkle sacagawea

elliott - Food At Glade | GLADE Festival 2012

Delicious finger linking Glade ? Check out what food and drink is being served up at this years festival!!

There?s nothing quite like a good drink whilst lounging in the summer sun or cutting some shapes to some seriously good music on a sunny summers afternoon. If your coming to Glade this is probably right up your street. ?In which case you will be pleased to hear that the bars at Glade will be serving a bevy of locally sourced beverages to wet you pallet and quench you thirst after a heavy dancing session.

For all you ale lovers out there we have music for your ears, all ales served at Glade have been sourced form a local Norfolk Brewer. They have been lovingly made using water from their very own spring, Norfolk-grown Barley and are all malted in?Norfolk. On offer will be Woodforde?s Wherry a fresh and zesty ale with crisp floral flavour,?Woodforde?s Sundew a?distinctive hoppy flavour golden in colour and very refreshing and finally Woodforde?s Once Brittern Bitter which has a?rich spice and citrus fruity flovor, with a sweet hint?.. ummmm delicious!

For those who like something a little fruitier the bars shall be mixing up a right summer treat? COCKTAILS! The bars will be using a range on your favorite tipples with fruity summer flavours to freshen things up on a sunny afternoon or to get the evening started with a nice refreshing BANG!

?

Now for a little taste bud trip around the world??

Smoky Tentacles??enjoy shisha in traditional Egyptian pipes. Teas, coffees and freshly made chai. Gourmet toasties cakes baklava.

Coyote Moon Cafe?english breakfasts, fantastic Mexican food with a host of daily specials. Homemade cakes, snacks, teas, coffee and chai tea will be served.

The Marverllous Tearoom?In the english country side enjoy?old fashioned pop, homemade cakes & pastries, scones with jam & cream and retro sweets.

Home Grown Cafe?Homemade chai tea coffee, with a rang of herbal teas to complement homemade organic cake. True English breakfasts, large baked potatoes, falafel platters, caramelised red onion and goatsccheese tarts, Indian curry with rice, pasta bakes. Not to mention a variety of homemade pastry squares and much more?.

Mochamania?fair trade teas and coffees, hot chocolate and soft drinks. Also offering a wide variety of cakes and confectionaries. All served from a Bedouin tent with a lovely seating area.

Coconut King??Fresh Green Coconuts baby!

Carnival Coffee?Barista style drinks, coffee, tea, iced lattes and a few cakes.

Passion 4 Juice Spikey Juice Dome??100% fresh pressed organic juice smoothies, herbal infusions. Fresh hot waffles with hot chocolates. Open?24 hours keeping punters healthy and happy .The Spikey juice dome is funky and acts as a creative installation.

Smooth Criminals?smoothies, milkshakes, frappes, juices, espresso coffees, herbal teas, luxury hot chocolates, scrumptious cakes cookies and brownies.

The Electric Lemon?refreshingly chilled freshly mixed Organic Lemonade and Elderflower drinks and cordials.

Lunched Out Lizards Chai Shop?chai tea, coffee, hot honey lemon ginger etc, organic cakes homemade lemonade, snacks and non-alcoholic soft drinks.

Camp Cooks?freshly made hot and cold food and drinks.

Chunky Chips Shack?handmade from scratch and we offer generous portions to our hungry customers. We are also offering new dusted chips this year including paprikagarlic & herb & Chilli chips as well as curly fries and an even bigger choice of hot & cold dips

Classic Caravan Cafe & Pizzaslut??a range of hot hot pizzas, fine English asparagus, a range of delicious puddings, teas and coffees and tea.

Cafe Carib??Authentic Caribbean food from the islands. Delicious jerk fantastic curries and exotic vegetarian dishes to give you a true back-a-yard experience. Gwaan!

Falafel (vegeteria)?For the Mediterranean weather!?Vegetarian Mediterranean foods. Freshly cooked organic Falafel and houmous served in a pitta with a variety of salads and sauces. Fire roasted red pepper and Feta Falafel. Feata and Kalamata olive falafel. Traditiobnal greek salad. Mezze plates-includes Dolmades aubergine saladherb tabbouleh spiced bean salad Tzatziki and more.

Gandhi?s Flip-Flop?A whole raft of fresh spices for the best Indian taste

Goodness Gracious Healthy Foods?vegan & vegetarian wholefood inc; falafels and hoummous served in wholemeal pitta bread crammed with a 13 ingredient salad 3 types of veggie burger including an organic option! Also a yummy gluten free option. Veggie breakfast fair trade teas coffees hot choclate.

Happy Crepes?Traditional French crepes always prepared from scratch in front of the customer filled with a great variety of fresh fruit or vegetables to hit either the sweet or savoury spot.

Jose Burts??pulled pork burritos slow cooked steak burritos chicken carnitas spicy bean burritos chilli and rice tacos breakfast burritos all fresh.

Harefields Bakery & Roast?Freshly baked foot long baguettes filled with various cold cuts of British meats, top side of British Beef Lemon Thyme and Garlic Chicken Honey glazed Ham etc with dressed salads these are really fillers and enough to share. For your evening meal roast dinner is served, Top Side of British Beef slow roasted pork belly and crackling Lemon Thyme and Garlic chicken honey glazed ham served with roast potatoes or Dauphinois vegetables and home made pan jus gravy. Cakes are baked from scratch on site through out the day.

MUU Japanese Food?Hot authentic delicious homemade Japanese food!

Olive Bar Kitchen??Chorizo rolls piri chicken rolls steak sandwiches chorizo chicken and chickpea stew olives Greek salad and antipasta.

Poco Loco ? The Shisha Lounge?fresh fillets of mackerel and local meats which are served in huge wraps with seasonal salads and their own harissa. Real mint tea and baklava.

Pasta Heaven?primarily serving pasta. A great range of sauces for vegans vegetariansand omnivores. All sauces are wheat free and Gluten free. The pasta is organic and wheat based pasta is served as well as corn based pasta.This means that any wheat or gluten dietry needs are catered for.

Prommarola Pizza Gardens?streaming hot?pizzas served straight out a roaring woodfired oven. Hot drinks such as coffee and cappuccino available.

Pure Pie?Delicious hand-made pies, creamy mash and chunky chips. Hot and cold drinks. Sticky toffee, chocolate brownie and treacle puddings with custard.

The Sausage Fest??The finest sausages produced and handmade in the Bristol area by The Sausage Fest! A variey of 8 sausages to choose from either a sausage fest hotdog or sausage and mash with our delicious gravy. An option of delicious hot soup will be served. All sauasages are made using british free-range meats and made with fresh ingredients.

Spud of the Earth?Hot warming jacket potatos with delicious fillings and melting toppings.

The Peckish Peacock?snack box packed with goodness, chickpeas, spinach, curry, cumin rice & pakoras all served with a range of chutneys. Vegetarian breakfast baps also served to wake you from your slumber.

The Seacow?It would not be an English festival without?Fresh fish and chips, tempura prawns with sweet chilli deep fried whitebait lemon sole goujons with tartar minted mushy peas.

Churros Bros?traditional Spanish Churros with thick hot chocolate from Villajoyosa.

Tikka Masala?a range of curries and?kebabs. Chicken or vegetarian and vegetable jalfezi available.

Dosa Samosa?Samosas & Dosas! Yum!

Tea and Toast hot drinks, toast and toasties, veggie bits and bobs and bacon rolls all served 24 hours!

The SAFE Foundation?A charity cafe serving fair-trade teas and coffees. Offering face-painting (donations accepted) aswell as holding daily fun workshops aimed at promoting cultural sustainability environmental sensitivity and an awareness of international development. Acoustic instruments are brought along for spontaneous jam sessions anyone can join in with!

Let the feasting begin??..

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

aziz ansari katherine jenkins peyton manning broncos mexico city earthquake stand your ground law dancing with the stars season 14 david garrard

weather dallas pat summitt real housewives of atlanta colton bo ryan the last waltz columbine

To the Finals: Heat top Celtics 101-88 in Game 7

Miami Heat's LeBron James (6) drives to the basket over Boston Celtics' Paul Pierce (34) during the second half of Game 7 of the NBA basketball playoffs Eastern Conference finals, Saturday, June 9, 2012, in Miami. At bottom is Kevin Garnett (5). AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

Miami Heat's LeBron James (6) drives to the basket over Boston Celtics' Paul Pierce (34) during the second half of Game 7 of the NBA basketball playoffs Eastern Conference finals, Saturday, June 9, 2012, in Miami. At bottom is Kevin Garnett (5). AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra gestures during the second half of Game 7 of the NBA basketball playoffs Eastern Conference finals against the Boston Celtics, Saturday, June 9, 2012, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Miami Heat's LeBron James dunks over Boston Celtics' Rajon Rondo (9) during the first half of Game 7 of the NBA basketball playoffs Eastern Conference finals, Saturday, June 9, 2012, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Miami Heat President Pat Riley watches during the first half of Game 7 of the NBA basketball playoffs Eastern Conference finals against the Boston Celtics, Saturday, June 9, 2012, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Miami Heat's Dwyane Wade (3), LeBron James (6) and Shane Battier walk on court as he Heat fall behind the Boston Celtics during the first half of Game 7 of the NBA basketball playoffs Eastern Conference finals, Saturday, June 9, 2012, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

(AP) ? LeBron James finally got a Game 7 victory, on his third try.

Next up, the NBA finals ? and his third try at that elusive first championship. A year after watching someone else celebrate on their home floor, the Miami Heat were the ones dancing at midcourt.

James had 31 points and 12 rebounds, Chris Bosh hit a career-best three 3-pointers ? the last sparking the run that put it away ? and the Heat won their second straight Eastern Conference title by beating the Boston Celtics 101-88 in Game 7 on Saturday night.

Miami opens the title series in Oklahoma City on Tuesday night. The Heat got there by outscoring Boston 28-15 in the fourth quarter, with the "Big Three" of Dwyane Wade, Bosh and James scoring every Miami point.

"We decided to come together and play together for a reason," Wade said.

Wade scored 23 points, Bosh finished with 19 and Shane Battier added 12 for the Heat, who won a Game 7 for the first time since 2004 ? Wade's rookie season. Now it's back to the finals, where Miami fell in six games to Dallas a year ago.

Rajon Rondo finished with 22 points, 14 assists and 10 rebounds for Boston, which got 19 points from Paul Pierce in what might be the last game of the "Big Four" era for the Celtics.

Boston took out its starters with 28.3 seconds left. By then, workers already had a rope around the perimeter of the court, preparing for the East trophy presentation.

"Give them credit," Rondo said. "They spread the points out as a team tonight. Give them credit. They played great tonight as a team and we just came up short."

When Heat President Pat Riley was shown on the giant overhead video screen in the moments just after the final buzzer, the crowd screamed. Riley finally acknowledged them with some claps, before the 2012 Eastern Conference champions logo was shown as players below the scoreboard high-fived and hugged, all wearing the new T-shirts and caps that marked the accomplishment.

The screams kept coming, first when Alonzo Mourning took the microphone ? "We still got a lot of work to do," Mourning said ? and then again when he handed the trophy to Heat owner Micky Arison.

"A roller-coaster ride," Arison said.

A roller-coaster game, too. In a roller-coaster season.

All worth it ? for now, anyway. The next step awaits, another shot at the finals. In a championship-or-bust season, the Heat board a plane for Oklahoma City on Sunday.

"We have been through a lot," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said.

James and Celtics coach Doc Rivers ? who teared up often postgame ? shared a long embrace when it was all over. Before coming to Miami for Game 7, Rivers had packed for Oklahoma City, a trip he won't make, set to now spend his time seeing if James can win that first title.

"I told him to go do it," Rivers said.

Down by seven at the half and eight early in the third quarter, Miami started clawing back. An 8-0 run tied it at 59-all, capped by Wade hitting a jumper, and then the fun really started.

There were six lead changes and five more ties in the final 7 minutes of the third. Bosh scored with 29 seconds left for the last of those ties, and it was 73-all going into the fourth.

Six games decided nothing, and nothing was decided in Game 7 until the very last moments, neither team yielding much of anything. Battier's 3-pointer with 8:06 left in the third cut Boston's lead at the time to 59-57.

And back and forth they went.

For the next 13 minutes, a span of 46 dizzying, unbelievable possessions, neither team led by more than two points.

That finally changed when Bosh his third 3-pointer with 7:17 left. James made a runner on the next Miami trip, and suddenly the Heat had their biggest lead of the night to that point, 88-82 with 6:54 remaining.

They were on their way.

"He was big time ? every shot, every defensive play, every rebound ? we missed him," James said of Bosh. "We're just happy to have him back at the right time. If it wasn't for him and the rest of the guys that stepped up, we don't win this game."

Said Spoelstra: "Our most important player."

James made a 3-pointer ? it went into the books as a 30-footer, as he leaped from atop one of the Eastern Conference finals stickers on the floor ? as the shot clock was expiring with just under 6 minutes left, making it 91-84.

"Backbreaker," Rivers said.

Even mistakes were going Miami's way, as James lost a behind-the-back dribble, only to have the ball skip right into Battier's hands.

Bosh scored from inside the lane to end that possession. Wade scored on the next one, the lead was 95-86 with 3:23 left, Boston called time and the building was simply rocking. James did plenty of talking on the Heat bench in that stoppage, clearly saying the word "Finish" at one point.

They listened. A three-point play by Wade with 2:53 left all but sealed it, the Heat were up 12, and Oklahoma City beckoned.

"We had nothing left," Rivers said. "That's how it felt, as a coach. ... But overall, I don't know if I've ever had a group like this."

Brandon Bass scored 16, Ray Allen finished with 15 and Kevin Garnett scored 14 for the Celtics, who know next season could bring big changes.

A team that was under .500 at the All-Star break almost made the NBA finals.

Almost.

"One game away on the road, banged up. ... I don't know if we could have gotten any more from the group," Rivers said.

Boston's first score came when the Celtics were inbounding from under their own basket with 1.2 seconds left on the shot clock. Rondo surveyed the defense, then decided to simply toss the ball off Wade's back, catch it and score himself.

It was an omen ? the Celtics got plenty of easy scores early.

Boston ran out to a 23-14 lead, before the Heat settled down and tied it twice in the second quarter, the last of those at 35-all with 6:50 left. It was then that Garnett left with his third foul. Heat on a run, Garnett going to the bench, so momentum Miami, right?

Not quite.

Bass scored 10 points in a stretch of just over 3 minutes to spark a 14-3 run, with the Celtics scoring three times off turnovers in that stretch. Allen waltzed in unbothered for a layup with 22 seconds left in the half, and Boston took a 53-46 lead into the break. And the least surprised person in the arena was Rivers, who sensed at the morning shootaround that his team would be sharp for Game 7.

They were.

Just in the end, Miami was sharper.

"That's what we talk about," said James, who lost Game 7 appearances with Cleveland in 2006 and 2008. "It has to be a collective group to win the championship. Everybody was in tune today. We wanted to give our fans a big win. We look forward to the next challenge."

NOTES: Strange but true: Celtics fans in leprechaun outfits ? green glittery vests, bow ties and hats ? posed for photos with fans during the game. They were seated directly behind Arison. ... Also strange but true: Manny Pacquiao ? from the Philippines, the country where Spoelstra's mother hails from ? planned to delay the start of his fight Saturday night so he could see Game 7. Pacquiao is a Celtics fan. ... It was Heat F Udonis Haslem's 32nd birthday. ... Former Heat forward Jamal Mashburn and former Red Sox slugger Mo Vaughn chatted near the Boston bench before the game.

Associated Press

juelz santana greg halman greg halman dancing with the stars results ucla basketball walmart black friday sales walmart black friday sales

China May car sales up 22.6 percent year-on-year: official data

[ [ [['Connery is an experienced stuntman', 2]], 'http://yhoo.it/KeQd0p', '[Slideshow: See photos taken on the way down]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['Connery is an experienced stuntman', 7]], ' http://yhoo.it/KpUoHO', '[Slideshow: Death-defying daredevils]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['know that we have confidence in', 3]], 'http://yhoo.it/LqYjAX ', '[Related: The Secret Service guide to Cartagena]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['We picked up this other dog and', 5]], 'http://yhoo.it/JUSxvi', '[Related: 8 common dog fears, how to calm them]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['accused of running a fake hepatitis B', 5]], 'http://bit.ly/JnoJYN', '[Related: Did WH share raid details with filmmakers?]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['accused of running a fake hepatitis B', 3]], 'http://bit.ly/KoKiqJ', '[Factbox: AQAP, al-Qaeda in Yemen]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['have my contacts on or glasses', 3]], 'http://abcn.ws/KTE5AZ', '[Related: Should the murder charge be dropped?]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['have made this nation great as Sarah Palin', 5]], 'http://yhoo.it/JD7nlD', '[Related: Bristol Palin reality show debuts June 19]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['have made this nation great as Sarah Palin', 1]], 'http://bit.ly/JRPFRO', '[Related: McCain adviser who vetted Palin weighs in on VP race]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['A JetBlue flight from New York to Las Vegas', 3]], 'http://yhoo.it/GV9zpj', '[Related: View photos of the JetBlue plane in Amarillo]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['the 28-year-old neighborhood watchman who shot and killed', 15]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/photos/white-house-stays-out-of-teen-s-killing-slideshow/', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/cv/ip/ap/default/120411/martinzimmermen.jpg', '630', ' ', 'AP', ], [ [['Titanic', 7]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/titanic-anniversary/', ' ', 'http://l.yimg.com/a/p/us/news/editorial/b/4e/b4e5ad9f00b5dfeeec2226d53e173569.jpeg', '550', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['He was in shock and still strapped to his seat', 6]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/photos/navy-jet-crashes-in-virginia-slideshow/', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/cv/ip/ap/default/120406/jet_ap.jpg', '630', ' ', 'AP', ], [ [['xxxxxxxxxxxx', 11]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/photos/russian-grannies-win-bid-to-sing-at-eurovision-1331223625-slideshow/', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/a/p/us/news/editorial/1/56/156d92f2760dcd3e75bcd649a8b85fcf.jpeg', '500', ' ', 'AP', ] ]

[ [ [['did not go as far his colleague', 8]], '29438204', '0' ], [ [[' the 28-year-old neighborhood watchman who shot and killed', 4]], '28924649', '0' ], [ [['because I know God protects me', 14], ['Brian Snow was at a nearby credit union', 5]], '28811216', '0' ], [ [['The state news agency RIA-Novosti quoted Rosaviatsiya', 6]], '28805461', '0' ], [ [['measure all but certain to fail in the face of bipartisan', 4]], '28771014', '0' ], [ [['matter what you do in this case', 5]], '28759848', '0' ], [ [['presume laws are constitutional', 7]], '28747556', '0' ], [ [['has destroyed 15 to 25 houses', 7]], '28744868', '0' ], [ [['short answer is yes', 7]], '28746030', '0' ], [ [['opportunity to tell the real story', 7]], '28731764', '0' ], [ [['entirely respectable way to put off the searing constitutional controversy', 7]], '28723797', '0' ], [ [['point of my campaign is that big ideas matter', 9]], '28712293', '0' ], [ [['As the standoff dragged into a second day', 7]], '28687424', '0' ], [ [['French police stepped up the search', 17]], '28667224', '0' ], [ [['Seeking to elevate his candidacy back to a general', 8]], '28660934', '0' ], [ [['The tragic story of Trayvon Martin', 4]], '28647343', '0' ], [ [['Karzai will get a chance soon to express', 8]], '28630306', '0' ], [ [['powerful storms stretching', 8]], '28493546', '0' ], [ [['basic norm that death is private', 6]], '28413590', '0' ], [ [['songwriter also saw a surge in sales for her debut album', 6]], '28413590', '1', 'Watch music videos from Whitney Houston ', 'on Yahoo! Music', 'http://music.yahoo.com' ], [ [['keyword', 99999999999999999999999]], 'videoID', '1', 'overwrite-pre-description', 'overwrite-link-string', 'overwrite-link-url' ] ]

super pac dre kirkpatrick mls superdraft school cancellations bald barbie peoples choice awards deplorable

Cost to lunch with Buffett: $3.5 million

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) ? The cost to dine with investor Warren Buffett has apparently spiked in value, with one deep-pocketed bidder forking over nearly $3.5 million during a charity auction.

The annual auction for a private lunch with the Nebraska billionaire closed following a flurry of activity in the final hours Friday night. In the end, the highest bid was a record-breaking $3,456,789.

The auction benefits the Glide Foundation, which helps the homeless in San Francisco. Buffett has raised more than $11.5 million for the group in 13 past auctions. The event provides a significant portion of Glide's roughly $17 million annual budget that pays for social services to the poor and homeless.

"We just had a most amazing, shocking experience occur in our great city," Glide's founder, the Rev. Cecil Williams, said in a statement Friday night. "We are shouting, dancing, rejoicing and celebrating."

The organization said Friday's winner bidder wished to remain anonymous. Williams said 10 people actively engaged in bidding.

Buffett became one of the world's richest men while building Berkshire Hathaway into a conglomerate. But he says most of the questions he gets at the lunches aren't about investing.

As in past auctions, the bids didn't reach astronomical levels until close to the end. Within the final hour of the auction's 9:30 p.m. CDT closing, bids jumped from $1 million to the final $3.46 million.

Buffett has supported the San Francisco organization ever since his late first wife, Susan, introduced him to Williams. Buffett says Williams is a key reason why Glide has been able to help so many people after the world had given up on them.

"He's changed thousands of lives that would not have been changed otherwise," Buffett said before the bidding closed.

The previous four winning bids have all exceeded $2 million with records set every year. Last year's winner, hedge fund manager Ted Weschler, paid $2,626,411.

In fact, Weschler paid nearly $5.3 million to win both the 2010 and 2011 auctions, and he wound up getting hired by Buffett last year to help manage Berkshire's investment portfolio. Buffett says he doesn't expect to find another new hire through the auction.

Buffett's business brilliance and remarkable record of investment success as Berkshire's chairman and chief executive is a big part of the draw for bidders, though he won't talk about potential investments.

And Buffett has also made a mark on the world of philanthropy, so past winners of the lunch have also wanted to discuss giving. Buffett has slowly given away his fortune since 2006, and he plans to eventually divide most of his shares of Berkshire stock between five charitable foundations. The largest chunk will go to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Buffett and Gates have also been encouraging other wealthy people to give away at least half of their fortunes. Nearly 80 of the nation's wealthiest families have signed the pledge.

The Glide auction's winners traditionally dine with Buffett at New York's Smith and Wollensky steak house. The restaurant donates at least $10,000 to Glide each year to host the auction lunch.

Past winners of the auction have said they believe the time with Buffett was well worth the price they paid in the auction. The lunches often continue for several hours as Buffett answers their questions.

Buffett says many of the questions he gets at the lunches are about nonbusiness subjects such as family and philanthropy.

Buffett's company owns roughly 80 subsidiaries including insurance, furniture, clothing, jewelry and candy companies, restaurants and natural gas and corporate jet firms, and has major investments in such companies as Coca-Cola Co. and Wells Fargo & Co.

___

Associated Press writer Erin Gartner contributed to this report from Chicago.

___

Follow Business Writer Josh Funk at www.twitter.com/funkwrite

___

Online:

Buffett Lunch Auction: www.GlideLunchWithWarrenBuffett.com

Berkshire Hathaway Inc.: www.berkshirehathaway.com

Glide Foundation: www.glide.org

war eagle pawn stars restrepo nba news nba news florida gators hope solo