Lea Michele Has ‘Horrible Anxiety Attacks’ over Cory Monteith’s Death

She lost boyfriend and "Glee" co-star Cory Monteith to a heroin
overdose, and now Lea Michele is suffering from debilitating anxiety,
a source tells HollywoodLife.
"Lea is getting worse -- the shock is wearing off now and the reality
is setting in," the insider said. "She's been having horrible anxiety
attacks where she feels like she can't breathe."

Video: Cory's Best 'Glee' Moments

Michele was with her "Glee" family at a memorial service on Thursday,
saying a final goodbye to Cory. The cast and crew are set to return to
work on Aug. 5.

"Lea pushes herself so hard and expects so much from herself," the
source said. "And she doesn't want to let down anyone at 'Glee'
because she knows everyone is counting on her to come back."
copyright http://www.extratv.com/

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Lady Gaga's Return To The VMAs: A Comeback And A Coronation

Gaga will take the stage at the 2013 VMAs on August 25, and Bigger
Than The Sound can't wait.
It's fitting that Lady Gaga will make her triumphant return to the
stage at the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards ... after all, since she
burst on the scene five years ago, the show has served as her own
personal catwalk, throne room, theater, soap box, studio, gallery,
performance art space and launching pad.

Now, it will play host to her rebirth.
It's not a stretch to say that, outside of any artist not named
Madonna or Britney or Beyonce (cue the angry comments!) there is no
artist as synonymous with the VMAs as Gaga. Beginning in 2009— when
she first creeped out Eminem while accepting her Best New Artist
Moonman, then thoroughly terrified all of America with her bloody
performance of "Paparazzi" — and running all the way through her
gender-bending turn as Jo Calderone in 2011, the Mother Monster has
continually found new was to shock and amaze. She has routinely stolen
the show, dominated blog discussions the following day, and managed to
outshine a room full of the biggest stars on the planet.

Photos: Lady Gaga's Best VMA Moments

In short, she is one of the few who seem to realize the stage and
scope of the VMA stage, but rather than shrink from the spotlight, she
seizes it, occasionally shines it directly into our eyes, and always
leaves us dazzled. She's delivered epic performances, touching
personal moments, and even album launches. She's won a staggering 13
Moonmen in just four years. How great has her impact been on this
show? I've already written more than 250 words about her, and I
haven't even mentioned the Meat Dress yet.

Oh, about that dress. She wore it — and several other outfits — at the
2010 show, a night that began with her walking the carpet with members
of the U.S. Armed Services that had been discharged because they were
openly gay and ended with her winning Video of the Year, announcing
the title of Born This Way and meeting Cher. Most artists don't pack
that much action into one year. Gaga did it in roughly four hours.

A Brief History Of Lady Gaga's VMA Outfits

Or consider the first nine minutes of the 2011 show, in which Gaga —
in full Jo Calderone garb — broke all sorts of California codes by
smoking inside, delivered a rambling monologue, launched into "You and
I," drank a beer, performed an elaborately choreographed routine,
weirded out Justin Bieber and jammed with legendary Queen guitarist
Bryan May. Oh, and then she hit on Britney Spears during a tribute
speech and won the Moonman for Best Female Video ... which she
accepted as a man. Naturally.

And on August 25, she'll return to the VMAs, performing the debut
single off ARTPOP for the first time. It's perfect, really — after
all, she's given our show more than its fair share of firsts over the
years. But you get the feeling this one may be bigger than any of the
others ... it's her comeback, her moment, her first salvo. Given her
history with the show, there's no better place for her to not only
launch the next phase of her career, but serve notice that she hasn't
lost a step.

Is there any doubt she'll deliver the goods? Have you been paying
attention? Gaga has always treated the VMAs like the biggest show in
the world, and given everything she's got riding on this performance,
well, let's just say August 25 can't come soon enough. It's time to
make new memories.
Copyright www.mtv.com

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Hot posters of Poonam Pandey's Nasha

Poonam Pandey is a classic example of a celeb who has climbed the
ladder of success by alluring the social media audience.

Her candid comments, explicit statements and above all her revealing
photos have not just catapulted her position as the most sought after
model on the internet, but has also tremendously contributed in
bringing her upcoming film Nasha in the limelight.

Poonam Pandey's Nasha which releases on July 26 is an adult comedy
directed by Amit Saxena, the person who gave 'Jism' to Bollywood. Have
a look at some hot posters of Nasha that have become a rage on the
internet.

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Aubrey Plaza talks awkward sexual scene in new movie 'The To-Do List'

"Parks and Recreation" star Aubrey Plaza plays the lead role in "The
To-Do List," a raunchy low-budget comedy about a graduating high
school senior who wants to lose her virginity before she starts
college.
Plaza was on 'Conan' Tuesday night plugging the film and talked about
shooting a particularly awkward masturbation scene.
"I read it on the page and it said Brandy masturbates, and in my head
I envisioned a nice scene where you just see my hand slowly go out of
frame. That's what I thought I was going into," she said. "But then
when I showed up, the camera was mounted on the ceiling, I was in my
underwear and a Clinton tee shirt, and there were a bunch of old men
smoking. You know, the crew guys!"
The scene illustrates one of the sexual activities Plaza's character
Brandy is trying to check off her list on the summer between high
school and college. This was apparently much different than Plaza's
real-life checklist.
"I was a type-A loser, so I had a lot of 'Figure out how to dress
yourself' or 'Figure out how to make a better ponytail' [on the
list]," she told GQ magazine.


Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/

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Apple Earnings Tops Estimates on iPhone Sales, Sees A 'Busy Fall' With New Products

Apple, which reported tearnings that topped analysts' estimates on
better-than-expected iPhone sales, says it expects a "busy fall" with
new products.

"We are laser-focused and working hard on some amazing new products
that we will introduce in the fall and across 2014," Apple CEO Tim
Cook said in a statement. Later, during an hour-long call with
financial analysts, Cook added that "we're working on stuff we're
really proud of," while CFO Peter Oppenheimer said the company is "on
track to have a very busy fall."

Company watchers and investors, who have hammered the stock in the
past 10 months because of the absence of new products, are looking
for Apple to release an update to the iPhone, its top moneymaker, in
September or October. A smartwatch and interactive TV may also be in
the works, as well as an update to the iPad mini tablet.

"Our key catalyst will always be new products and services," said
Cook, who celebrates his second anniversary as CEO next month. "These
will be both in existing categories we're in and in new categories…I
think we have lots of growth opportunities. I don't subscribe to the
common view that the high-end of the smartphone market has hit its
peak."

Investors seemed pleased with the results and the company's
commentary, sending the shares up as much as 5 percent in late
trading.

Apple said today that sales rose to $35.3 billion from $35 billion in
the fiscal third quarter ended in June. Profit was $7.47 a share, down
from $9.32 a year ago. That topped the expectations of analysts, who
were expecting expecting sales of $35.01 billion and profit of $7.32 a
share.

Gross margin, a key measure of profitability, narrowed to 36.9 percent
from 42.8 percent, as analysts expected. Apple had forecast gross
margin of between 36 percent and 37 percent.

For the fourth quarter, which ends in September, Apple said it expects
sales of $34 billion to $37 billion and a gross margin between 36 and
37 percent. Analysts were looking for fourth-quarter revenue of $37.1
billion and a gross margin of 36.9 percent.

"We believe fiscal year 2013 will prove to be a year to forget, but
fiscal year 2014 will prove to be a year of new product innovations,"
said Brian White, an analyst with Topeka Capital Markets.

iPhone Shipments Up, iPad Shipments Down

Apple sold 31.2 million iPhones, up from 26 million in the year ago
quarter, on better-than-anticipated demand for the iPhone 5 and sales
of lower-priced iPhone 4 models to first-time smartphone buyers,
according to Cook. While sales of the iPhone 4 reduced the average
selling price for the iPhone — the ASP was down 4 percent of $27 a
unit in the quarter — that demand did drive a spike in the shipments,
allowing Apple to top analysts expectations. Toni Sacconaghi of
Sanford C. Bernstein was looking for third-quarter iPhone sales of
25.5 million units, while analysts on average were expecting iPhone
shipments of 26.4 million units.

In addition, Apple sold 14.6 million iPads, down from 17 million in
the same period a year ago. Analysts had expected iPad shipments of
17.8 million units. Cook said the decline was due to lower levels of
iPad inventory in the 2013 third quarter versus the 2012 third
quarter.

"Overall we view Apple's June quarter results and September quarter
guidance as largely as expected with better iPhone sales and worse
iPads," Gene Munster of Piper Jaffray said after the results were
announced. "Since we continue to view iPhones as the most important
part of the story, we view the overall report as slightly better than
expected. Nothing about the report itself changes our belief that the
key factors on the stock are the expected cheaper phone in the fall as
well the potential TV announcement late this year and an iWatch in
2014."

Apple shares jumped in late trading after earlier closing down $7.33,
or 1.7 percent, to $418.98 in regular Nasdaq trading as investors
awaited the results. In late trading, they rose as much as 5 percent,
or $20.98, to $439.97, and were up about about 3.3 percent at the
conclusion of the earnings call with Cook and Oppenheimer.

The company hosted a conference call to discuss earnings results.
Here's a play-by-play.

2:00: Apple is starting the call, with opening comments to be made by
CFO Peter Oppenheimer.
He's reading through the sales, earnings and gross margin results.
Channel inventories declined sequentially by $1 billion. Sell through
was $36.3 billion. As such, our June quarter sell through increased by
6 percent year over year.
On to iPhone. 31.2 million shipments were up from 26 million a year
ago. 'iPhone sales were ahead of our expectations." Says sales were
good in the US, UK, Japan (up 66 percent year over year), Brazil,
Russia, India and Thailand. iPhone 5 was the most popular but Apple
was "happy" with sales of iPhone 4 and 4S sales too. Apple exited the
quarter with 11 million iPhones in channel inventory.
iPhone has earned the top spot in customer satisfaction from JD Powers
nine consecutive times, Oppenheimer says.
Enterprise and government customers continue to adopt iPhone.
American Airlines, Cisco, General Electric, Roche and SAP have
deployed more than 25,000 iPhones each across their organization. JPL,
ATF and National Geospatial Agency are supporting "thousands of
iPhones" on their network.
RE: iPad decline in shipments from a year ago, Oppenheimer says the
tough year over year comparison was due to channel inventory. "We
built 1.2 million units of iPad inventory in the June quarter last
year, but reduced it by 700,000 units this quarter. Sell through was
down about 3 percent year over year."
2:08: Number of iPad apps continue to grow, along with custom iPad
apps used by business and government. Novartis, SAP and others have
deployed more than 25,000 each at their companies.
On to Macs. Oppenheimer says sales of 3.8 million units, down from 4
million a year, was better than Apple expected. He says the new Mac
Pro, demonstrated at WWDC in June, is still set to be available in the
US (and made in the US) starting later this year.
OS X Mavericks, the new version of the Mac operating system unveiled
at WWDC in June, is still on track to be available in the fall.
Education sales were up, thanks to sales of 1.1 million iPads as well
as sales of Macs in the June quarter. LA Unified School District made
a $30 million purchase of iPads (as reported June 19).
iTunes revenue now being discussed. Sales of iTunes, software and
services totaled $3.99 billion.
Apple has posted a data sheet that breaks out earnings by products and
geography. You can find it here.
2:15: More than 900,000 apps created for iOS, with 375,000 designed
specifically for iPad.
iOS 7, new version of the mobile operating system, still on track for
fall release.
On to retail stores, 408 stores — 156 outside the U.S. Apple will open
9 new stores this quarter. Four stores were relocated in June quarter
that had outgrown their space. Retail sales were $4.07 billion.
Average store sales were $10.1 million, down from $11.1 million a year
ago.
Cash: Apple now has $146.6 billion in cash, up from $144.7 billion at
the end of the March quarter. $106 billion of that cash is offshore.
Apple spent cash in the third quarter on stock repurchases and
dividend payouts. (They announced an expanded dividend and stock
repurchase program back in April). 9 million shares were retired in
the quarter.
Fourth quarter outlook: Revenue of 34-$37 billion. Gross margin of
36-37 percent, including $90 million related to stock-related
expenses. Operating expenses will be between $3.9 to $3.95 billion.
Tax rate will be 26.5 percent.
2:20: Shares still up about 4.5 percent.
Q&A Begins. First question is about why gross margins don't seem to
reflect the fact that Apple says it will announce new products in the
fall.
"We are on track to have a very busy fall." Oppenheimer says he will
talk more about in October, when Apple announces 4Q results.
Tim Cook now joins the call to answer a question about channel
inventory. Cook says channel inventor for iPad was down 700,000 units
in the third quarter and iPhone inventory was down over 600,000 units.
"We typically don't like to have any more inventory than we need. So
if we can find a way to reduce, we do so."
Cook asked about where new innovation will come from. "Our key
catalyst will always be new products and services…these will be both
in existing categories we're in and in new categories." Apple can also
expand into markets such as enterprise market with iPhone and iPad. "I
think we have lots of growth opportunities. I don't subscribe to the
common view that the high-end of the smartphone market has hit its
peak."
Question about decline of iPad shipments — a 2.4 million unit decline
from a year ago. Cook says 1.9 million units were just due to changes
in channel inventory. We reduced by 700,000 units in the current
quarter. So the underlying sell through declined by 3 percent. If you
look at the situation we were in a year ago quarter, we had just
announced the third-generation iPad…It was not a surprise to us."
iPad accounts for more than 80 percent of Web traffic. "IF there are a
lot of other tablets selling, I don't know what they're being used
for," Cook said. "We feel incredibly good about where we are."
Shares snapshot: $436.79, up $17.80 (4.25%) at 5:27PM EDT.
2:28: Question about gross margin. Oppenheimer says they were
"pleased" with the third quarter results. The sequential decline from
the prior quarter "wasn't a surprise to us." Apple expected lower
sequential revenue going from March to June, and the company expected
a different product mix. Oppenheimer said gross margin "ultimately
ended up within the range we thought it would be and we hit the high
end' of our guidance.
Question about a decline in average selling price of iPhone. The
iPhone ASP was down 4 percent, or $27 as customers bought more
lower-priced iPhone 4.
Cook said that we saw very strong sales in emerging markets — or
prepaid markets. India up 400 percent, Turkey and Poland up over 60
percent, Philippines were up about 140 percent. Apple also said it saw
uptick in demand
Question about sales of China. Cook says that China was weaker in the
quarter. Sell through in China was "only down 4 percent from the year
ago quarter, when you normalize for channel inventory." Hong Kong was
down — not sure why — while mainland China was up 5 percent year over
year. That is a lower growth rate than we've been seeing. He
attributes it to the economy there.
2:34: Question about whether there will be an iPhone trade in program.
Cook says we haven't announced anything related to a trade-in program.
Says there are a number of other places that do trade ins. "The reason
is that it's so attractive around iPhone is the residual value around
iPhone stays so high…it makes the trade-in programs lucrative. But we
haven't announced anything…I'm not opposed to it. I see the channels
doing it and I like the environmental aspect of it."
China: $4.9 billion in sales in the quarter. "We've grown our business
there significantly. In the last 12 months, we've done $27 billion.
It's a huge business for us." Cook says that there are more than half
a million developers in China developing iOS apps. That number is up
70 percent from a year ago.
Shares shapshot: $432.11, up $13.12 (3.13%)at 5:38PM EDT
Cook asked about more affordable pricing and if that speaks only to
iPhone 4 sales. Cook says yes, and that the iPhone 4 is attracting
many first-time smartphone buyers. "It's proving to be a great product
for that buyer." Are there more weapons Apple could use to attract
more iPhone buyers? Cook says there are always more weapons.
Question: Are there new product categories big enough to move the
needle on sales growth? Cook says, "We'll see…We're working on stuff
we're really proud of."
Question about carrier partners. He says that there have been articles
about partnerships in Russia. Apple is selling phones through retail
organizations, as well as through some carrier-owned stores. iPhone
activations in Russia set a record — were the highest ever.
Cook asked about components. He says DRAM pricing has increased and we
see continued upward pressure. NAND pricing is fairly stable and
following seasonal trends. LCD prices have dropped and we expect
further reductions. Other commodities are in a supply-demand balance,
which means pricing will decline.
Cook asked about new products and if Apple is chasing some huge
markets. Cook says that's not how Apple looks at things; they start at
products. "We're focused on great products." Says if we do that really
well, the financial rewards will come. If you don't look at products,
"you can end up creating things that customers don't want."
2:48: Question about iPhone ASPs. Cook again says the company saw good
demand for the lower-cost iPhone 4. He says those sales, coupled with
great demand for iPhone 5 allowed Apple to ship more iPhones than many
expected.
Oppenheimer asked about gross margin forecast for Q4. He says they
expect component costs to be favorable but currency exchange to be
challenging.
Shares at $433.51, up $14.52 (3.47%) at 5:52PM EDT.
Question about iOS being built into car models. "I see it as very
important," Cook said. "It is a part of the ecosystem. Just like the
app store is a key part of the ecosystem and iTunes and all our
content are key and the services we provide from messaging to Siri and
so forth, having something in the automobile is very very important.
It's something people want. I think Apple can do this in a unique
way."
2:55 p.m.That's it. Call ends with shares at $433.05, up $14.06 or
3.36%, at 5:55PM EDT.
Copyright http://www.forbes.com/

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Google takes another stab at the living room with Chromecast

Walking in to the Dogpatch Studios in San Francisco on Wednesday
morning, one of the only objects already propped up on the bare stage
was an HDTV from Samsung.

It became evident that Google taking yet another approach at syncing
up the living room, but the surprise announcement wasn't another
Google TV or even the dead-on-arrival Nexus Q.

Enter the Chromecast.

Measuring in at just two inches in length, Chromecast runs a
"simplified version" of Chrome OS. It plugs into any HDMI input port
and "simply disappears behind your TV."

Essentially, the Chromecast links up other Google products in your
home (Android and Chrome-based) such as smartphones, tablets, and
laptops.

The Chromecast streams the content (i.e. YouTube, Netflix, Google Play
social games, etc.) from the device source via the cloud. The device
(i.e. smartphone) operates as the remote control.

For developers, there is the new Google Cast SDK, which should enable
building upon existing apps and interactions between devices and the
TV through the Chromecast devices.

The developer preview for Android, Chrome and iOS is rolling out today.

The obvious benefits here include the compact form factor and the easy
upgrade in a simple package. That is to say that consumers just need a
TV with HDMI connectivity, and this device should be good-to-go.

Instead of paying hundreds of dollars to upgrade the HDTV itself (at
least for Internet connectivity and related apps), consumers could
save themselves a lot of time, trouble and money with a dongle that
just plugs in.

Compared to the confusing Nexus Q and the expensive Google TV models
that had limited functionality, the Chromecast peripheral is possibly
Google's best attempt at satisfying home entertainment devices yet.

That is, at first glance.

There are a few features still in the infamous beta mode, meaning
users can't expect things to work so seamlessly out of the box.

For example, one function rolling out in beta is the ability to launch
any Chrome tab from a user's laptop to the television via Chromecast.
Based on the live demo, it also appears that there is a bit of a time
delay between the source and the TV's display of Chrome.

Regardless, the Chromecast is nothing to shake your head at when you
consider the price.

The Chromecast will launch in the United States first for $35, which
garnered an audible (but deserved) gasp from the media audience, a
typically jaded bunch at these product announcements.

Google reps promised that Chromecast will be shipped out to other
international markets as soon as possible.
Copyright http://www.zdnet.com

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Google Unveils New Nexus 7

Google unveiled a new version of its Nexus 7 tablet computer
Wednesday, boasting new features like a virtual surround sound and a
faster processor, as it looks to boost Android's lead over Apple 's
iPad in terms of market share for tablets.

Google showed off the new device, designed in partnership with Asustek
Computer , at an event in San Francisco. It is powered by an updated
version of Android, which also is the No. 1 software for smartphones.

The Mountain View, Calif., company is working to fend off Apple and
its popular iPad tablet, as well as Amazon.com's Kindle Fire tablets.
Sundar Pichai, senior vice president of Android and Chrome, said
Android tablets now account for nearly half of all such computers sold
worldwide.
"By the end of 2013, consumers are going to buy more tablets each year
than personal computers," said Pichai.

The new tablet, which goes on sale at Best Buy Wal-Mart and other
retailers July 30, costs $229 with 16 gigabytes of storage and $269
for 32 gigabytes, according to Google and the Best Buy website. That
compares to $329 for the 16-gigabyte iPad mini, an 8-inch tablet, and
$429 for the 32-gigabyte version.

The device will soon be available in major markets in Europe and Asia,
Google said.

The new Nexus device has parental controls so an owner can restrict
the type of apps their children can access, as well as 3D graphics and
video compression capabilities that would appeal to videogame app
developers, said Android executive Hugo Barra, at the event.

Google's support for the Nexus tablet serves several purposes,
including the need to compete with Amazon's $159 Kindle Fire tablet, a
formidable threat to Google. Unlike the majority of Android devices,
Amazon's tablet uses a separate version of Android that doesn't come
with Google services pre-installed. (Android is a free, open-sourced
software, so it is available to anyone.)

Google is currently at work on a major update of Android software that
is expected to be unveiled sometime later this year. Nearly a billion
Android devices have been activated since 2008, the company has said,
allowing Google to ensure that its revenue-generating services such as
Google Search have a guaranteed spot on people's mobile devices.

The Nexus 7 has a high-definition display that is more advanced than
that of the iPad, but its 1.5GHz Qualcomm Snap dragon S4 Pro quad-core
processor is less advanced than some Android enthusiasts had expected.

The Nexus 7 became the most successful device in the history of the
Nexus program—at one point selling at a rate of about one million
devices per month—after being launched last year. Typically, Nexus
devices cater to hardcore fans of Android and are meant to show
hardware makers what they can do with the Android operating system,
but aren't meant to be big sellers.

Still, Asus-made tablets still were a distant No. 4 behind Apple
Samsung Electronics and Amazon in terms of shipments during the
critical fourth quarter of last year, according to research firm IDC.

The Nexus 7 succeeded in part because it was the most advanced
Android-powered tablet on the market at the time and thanks to its low
$199 price tag and significant marketing push by Google, which some
analysts believe subsidized the device so that it cost the same as
Amazon's Kindle Fire tablet at the time.

Amazon has yet to release the next version of the Kindle Fire, which
is expected to be available before the fourth-quarter shopping season.

Unlike Apple, which generates hefty profit from the sale of hardware,
Google and Amazon play a different game. Google, which does get an
undisclosed cut of Nexus 7 sales, simply wants as many Android-powered
devices in the market because they are preloaded with
revenue-generating services such as YouTube, Google Search and Google
Maps. Amazon's bet is that customers will use its tablet to shop for
products and digital media that is sold by Amazon.

For Google, increased sales of Android tablets can help its financial
results in the short term, as prices for online ads viewed on tablets
are higher than for ads viewed on smartphones and nearly in line with
ads viewed on PCs. The rise of smartphones has weighed on Google's
revenue growth in recent quarters.
copyright http://stream.wsj.com

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