Barack Obama tries to find a scapegoat for his own hubris The demise of the White House's Social Secretary is a morality tale that says much about Barack Obama's administration, argues Toby Harnden Toby Harnden's American Way Barack Obama walks with Desiree Rogers on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington Photo: AP WHEN Desiree Rogers swept into Washington, she seemed the epitome of Obama cool. Sleek, black and stylish, she made clear that in her job as Social Secretary was not going to be a mere party planner. Instead, she would be the guardian of the "Obama brand" - and do so from centre stage.Bitter and jobless after being replaced by a leading Democratic fundraiser, shunned by Obama's inner circle and the subject of the usual finger-pointing anonymous briefings, Rogers is now fighting back. Her sorry tale says much about how the Obamas have failed to change Washington and how they blame others for their own failings.A long-time Obama chum from Chicago - she got to know the First Couple because her ex-husband went to Princeton with Michelle Obama's brother - she revelled in being in the limelight. Last April, she posed for a magazine interview wearing a $3,495 Jil (CORR) Sander silk pleated dress and $110,000 Old Mine diamond earrings.During that interview, she remarked that "we have the best brand on Earth: the Obama brand", adding: 'Our possibilities are endless'. The "crown jewel" of the brand, the former marketing executive, opined, was the White House - which she compared to Unilever's Dove symbol - and the key to success understanding "what your customers want and need".Without apparent irony, Time magazine described Rogers, 50, as viewing her job as "an artistic template for her own vision" rather than a mere staff position. She was in the front row beside Vogue editor Anna Wintour for New York's Fashion Week and was described by an Obama aide as a "cultural liaison for the White House".Rogers fell to earth with a crash last November when three gate crashers managed to get into Obama's first state dinner. The Social Secretary, naturally, was not on the gate but inside the event, resplendent in a Comme des Garçons gown. It was hard to feel sorry for Rogers who, after all, had remarked in an interview nine days into her job that she "put party planning at kind of E" on her list of priorities.But anyone doubting that Obama has a ruthless streak should consider what happened to Rogers next. Summoned by Congress to account for the security lapse the White House - which had come into office promising a new era of transparency - forbade her to attend, citing a constitutional "separation of powers" issue.Then the whispering began. Fellow Obama cronies like Valerie Jarrett - who lives in the same Georgetown apartment block - cut her off. Rogers was told she had to resign. And then news of her resignation was leaked before she could line up another job. All along,…

 Now Apple has designs on the television market By Martin Hickman, Consumer Affairs Correspondent
Friday, 6 February 2009

Getty Apple has created a niche of stylish gadgetry such as its all-in-one desktop computers with a slim design. They can handle TV applications but Apple now promise to bring a major new shift to televisions themselves  Apple is developing a television set that will transform home entertainment by playing films or TV shows straight from the internet, according to a report that has created a buzz among the Californian company's online fans. A technology pundit with a US finance house said that the inventive firm would launch a stylish premium television with a Digital Video Recorder (DVR), allowing people to record and download content without a DVD player or set-top box. "We expect Apple to design a connected television over the next two years (launching by 2011) with DVR functionality built in," predicted Gene Munster, of American investment firm Piper Jaffray. Related articles More Gadgets & Tech Articles Moving into TV production would be a logical next step for Apple chief executive Steve Jobs, who has diversified the company away from its origins as a manufacturer of home computers in recent years. Under his guidance, the once faltering company has become a powerful force in home entertainment through its gadgets and iTunes online shop, now the world’s biggest seller of music online. Apple recently signed a five-year $500m deal for the production of computer monitors with the Korean electronic giants LG, which also makes televisions. Mike Butcher, editor of UK TechCrunch website, said that an Apple TV set made perfect sense. "I think it’s very likely," he said. "It would have the iTunes site built into it so you could run or download movies and play your music or video collection." Apple already makes the £199 Apple TV, a box which transmits music, films and shows onto TV screens but a new television would stand out from the competition because it would not require any extra devices or attachments. "With the use of a CableCARD for digital HD TV signal, Apple could effectively replace the home entertainment system (including a music stereo, cable box, Blu-ray/DVD player, and gaming console) with an all-in-one Apple television," enthused Mr Munster. He acknowledged television production was fiercely intensive but suggested Apple knew how to sell premium models in crowded markets, saying: "The argument that Apple will not enter the television market because prices have declined by 70 per cent in the past three years is a similar argument used to conclude Apple would not enter the cell phone market, given phones had seen similar price declines." Asked about the story yesterday, an Apple spokeswoman said: "We would never comment on rumour and speculation." Jobs usually announces new products at the Macworld conference in San Francisco in January, though he could not make the event last month due to…

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