Extreme Geeks

FDA approves first drug to prevent HIV infection

2012-08-01T07:26:00.000-07:00

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the prophylactic use of the antiviral drug Truvada to prevent healthy people from contracting HIV

While there are many methods for preventing HIV transmission that work in principle (abstinence, safe sex, monogamy to some extent), in practice efforts to prevent new HIV infections have reached a plateau - about 50 thousand new cases are reported every year in the United States and no progress has been made on reducing this number for at least 15 years, with the overall rate of infection remaining stable since at least 2004. In response to the almost complete lack of effective prevention methods, the U.S. FDA (Food and Drug Administration) has now approved the prophylactic use of the anti-retroviral combination drug Truvada, to reduce the risk of people acquiring HIV.

By 2000, hints had appeared that some antiviral drugs, if taken shortly following a potential exposure, might prevent HIV from becoming established in the body. Some thought had been given to seeking a "morning-after pill" that would be taken following a high-risk encounter, with the intent of preventing the HIV infection from becoming established. Unfortunately, the study participants would not follow the study protocols.

“That study brought home to me the fact that people have a hard time starting treatment after exposure,” says Dr. Robert Grant of the Gladstone Institute of Virology and Immunology. “You have to admit failure, admit that you failed to protect yourself in some way, and now you need to be rescued by some sort of pills. So for those reasons, we started thinking about pre-exposure prophylaxis as a possibility.”

Pre-exposure prophylaxis is probably most familiar in the prevention of malaria. Malaria is transmitted by the Anopheles mosquito, which is a host for the microorganism responsible for malaria. The trick is that, even in an area where malaria is endemic, you don't know if the mosquito that just bit you was infected. As a result, you are continually in "at-risk" status owing to the sheer number of mosquitoes in such areas.

People who can afford it now use a pre-exposure prophylactic regime that prevents malarial infection from taking hold in the body. It is difficult to cure malaria, but daily doses of antimalarial drugs taken before and during travel to locations where malaria is ever-present act to prevent infection.

The situation with HIV/AIDS is quite similar. There are people who, by choice or by necessity, are living with chronic exposure to HIV infection. However, one can't tell which exposure might actually result in infection. While physicians are able, in most cases, to hold off the progression of HIV to AIDS, the treatment regimen is difficult and very expensive. Taking a serious look at possible prophylactic treatments seemed a good direction for research.

Truvada (a combination of 300 mg tenofovir and 200 mg emtricitabine) was the first effective HIV antiviral drug combination which is taken once daily. Developed by Gilead Sciences, in 2004 it received FDA approval for treatment of HIV infection when combined with a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor such as Sustiva. Truvada's one-a-day dosing combined with a relatively small group of serious side effects suggested that large-scale clinical studies of Truvada's potential for prophylaxis were called for.

Two large clinical studies of at-risk populations clearly showed that a daily dose of Truvada is quite effective in reducing the risk of HIV infection. The first study was a U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) clinical study of some 2,500 HIV-negative gay, bisexual, and transgendered subjects. The second study was a University of Washington clinical study of 4,800 heterosexual couples in which only one partner was initially HIV-positive. Both studies were double-blind, and carried out in several countries. In both cases the prophylactic dosage was one Truvada each day.

The results were very encouraging. In the NIH study, for every subject who became HIV-positive in the Truvada-treated group, two became HIV-positive in the control group. Knowing that compliance was an uncontrolled factor, the researchers examined serum levels of Truvada in the treated group. Among those subjects showing measurable levels of Truvada on each check-in, HIV infection was thirteen times less likely than in the control group.

In the Washington study, the results indicated that a control participant was four times more likely to become HIV-positive than a treated participant. Independent smaller studies were also carried out, but with few exceptions the results were the same - if you take Truvada regularly, your chances of catching HIV are greatly reduced.

As a result of these findings, the FDA has now approve the use of Truvada for adults who do not have HIV but are at risk of becoming infected through sexual contact. The drug is to be taken once daily and used in combination with safer sex practices. The FDA stresses that the drug is not a substitute for safer sex practices.

Clearly Truvada is effective, but is it safe for prophylactic use? Like most drugs, there are a whole panel of relatively minor side effects, most of which are controllable (diarrhea, nausea, headache, disturbed sleep...). More seriously, Truvada is associated with liver and kidney damage, sometimes becoming life-threatening, and with bone thinning. Other problems include rapid progression of a preexisting hepatitis-B infection when Truvada is withdrawn.

While dangerous side effects are uncommon, it is clear that some evaluation is required to choose patients who will gain more from the anti-HIV properties than from the rare but serious side effects. Together with the FDA, Gilead Sciences has prepared a set of selection criteria for candidates for Truvada treatment.
Another issue is that candidates for prophylactic treatment must be HIV-negative. Otherwise, use of Truvada alone will suppress symptoms of HIV, but the level of infection may progress largely unchecked. It can take up to three months for tests to reveal a new HIV infection, so a period of abstinence before starting Truvada treatment seems advisable.

Truvada is expensive - a year of daily doses at present costs US$13,900. To Gilead's credit, it has a program to reduce this cost for people who cannot afford the treatment. It is also licensing Truvada to the Medicines Patent Pool Foundation, whose mission is to bring down the prices of HIV medicines and other products needed for the treatment and prevention of HIV, and to facilitate the development and production of improved formulations, by providing access to intellectual property relating to these products. Gilead is the first pharmaceutical company to cooperate with the patent pool.

HIV/AIDS, while largely treatable in First World countries, is still a massive scourge, especially in Africa. In addition to being one of the poorest countries in the world, the Kingdom of Lesotho, in Sub-Saharan Africa has nearly a 30 percent HIV/AIDS infection rate, with precious few resources to deal with this plague. Whole villages and families have been wiped out. It is to be hoped that we find a way to transfer the remarkable strides in fighting this scourge to those areas of the world that remain defenseless.

Source: FDA

Sports car-inspired design aims to bring hovercraft into the 21st century

2012-08-01T04:56:00.000-07:00

The Mercier-Jones hovercraft

Frustrated with what they see as stagnation in the evolution of hovercraft design over recent decades, cousins Michael Mercier and Chris Jones have teamed up in an effort to bring the personal hovercraft into the 21st century. As well as a futuristic, streamlined look inspired by high-end sports cars, the Mercier-Jones concept also purports to be quieter, easier to maneuver, and more environmentally friendly than existing craft.

The Mercier-Jones hovercraft side view

The Mercier-Jones hovercraft front angle close up

Maneuverability – or lack thereof – has always been one of the big downsides of hovercraft, but the Mercier-Jones team claim their patent-pending directional control system will enable steering and braking ability similar to that of a car. The front, side-mounted fans are said to provide fine tuned control in forward, lateral and reverse directions, with independent control over each side enabling advanced maneuvering capabilities.

The patent-pending directional control system is designed to enable steering and braking ability similar to a car

Taking inspiration from the marine, automotive and aerospace industries, the hovercraft will be constructed using lightweight materials including carbon fiber, aluminum, fiberglass and marine plywood. But by using existing technologies and fabrication methods, they aim to price their entry-level hovercraft at under US$20,000.

The Mercier-Jones hovercraft fan

The Mercier-Jones hovercraft is powered by a gasoline engine and electric motor

The craft would be a hybrid, powered by a gasoline engine and electric motor, the latter increasing efficiency and reducing air and noise pollution levels so that it could be piloted without the need for earplugs.

The Mercier-Jones hovercraft top view

The Mercier-Jones hovercraft front view

The Mercier-Jones hovercraft rear view

To raise funds to allow them to construct and test a number of prototypes, Mercier and Jones have turned to crowd-funding site indiegogo, where pledges range from $1, which will entitle you to a ride in one of the first hovercraft, up to $15,000, which will secure (one of three) pre-production models. They are hoping to raise $50,000 by August 22, but the project is off to a slow start with just over $1,000 pledged at the time of publication.

If things gather momentum and they reach their goal, Mercier and Jones plan to have the hovercraft built and test flights underway by May 2013.

The Mercier-Jones video pitch can be viewed below.

Source: Mercier-Jones, indiegogo

Top and best 5 Digital Cameras

2012-08-01T04:28:00.000-07:00

Digital Camera, an interesting gadget by which beauty can be captured in frame not only beauty every memorable incidents in our life can be saved as beautiful photos. Now a days the sales of Digital Cameras has decreased drastically due to the rapid change in technology which made high end camera's in an mobile phone. In recent times Nokia has released a 41 Mp mobile ( Nokia pure view ) which is almost equal to an digital camera. How ever digital camera's are the best ones and here are some the top Digital Cameras available in the market with there specifications and price is listed below.

Nikon D7000:

Price 1,029.95$

Key Features:

16.2MP CMOS sensor
1080p HD video recording with mic jack for external microphone
ISO 100-6400 (plus H1 and H2 equivalent to ISO 12,800/25,600)
39-point AF system with 3D tracking
New 2016 pixel metering sensor
Scene Recognition System
Twin SD card slots
3.0 inch 921k dot LCD screen
New Live View/movie shooting switch
Full-time AF in Live View/movie modes
Up to 6fps continuous shooting

Canon EOS Rebel T3i:

Price: 749.99$

Key Features:

18 Megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor8
DIGIC 4 processor with ISO 100-6400
Fully articulated 7.7cm (3.0”) 3:2 Clear View LCD with 1,040k dots
Full HD movie recording with manual control and selectable frame rates
Digital zoom in movie mode (3x – 10x)
‘Basic+’ and ‘Creative Filters’
Integrated wireless flash control
‘Video Snapshot’ mode for the creation of multi-take movies

Olympus PEN E-PL3:

Price: 599.00$

Key Features:

Updated 12MP Live MOS sensor
120 Hz ‘Fast AF’ focus system with 35-point area AF
Clip-on flash (included)
Built-in autofocus illuminator light
460,000 dot tilting LCD screen (16:9 aspect ratio)
Dual-core TruePic VI processor
1080i60 movies in AVCHD format
Shadow tone adjustment control

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX9V:

Price: 329.59$

Key Features:

16.2-megapixels
1080p Full HD movies
Fully manual controls
3inch, 921k-dot LCD monitor
Li-ion rechargeable slim battery
4 GB Sony SDHC Class-4 memory card
USB battery charger with power cord

Canon Powershot S95:

Price: 409.00$

Key Features:

High-sensitivity 10 MP CCD
28mm wide, 3.8x zoom lens, Hybrid IS
Lens Control Ring, Full Manual & RAW
7.5 cm (3.0″) PureColor II G LCD
HS System & f/2 lens
HD movies, HDMI
High Dynamic Range mode
Smart Auto
Multi-Aspect Shooting
Optional Waterproof Case

Top 5 UltraBooks

2012-08-01T03:53:00.000-07:00

We are now duly listening about ultra books now and then so what is an Ultra book? An Ultra book may be defined as an high end type of a laptop specifically defined by Intel Ultrabooks are mainly designed to feature reduced size and weight without compromising performance and battery life. They use low power Intel processors with integrated graphics and uni body chassis to fit larger batteries into smaller cases.

We know that Intel released a $300 million fund to facilitate the development of a new line of notebooks that would shake up the Mac Book Air’s seemingly unbeatable popularity among connoisseurs of slim and exceedinglyportable laptops

So ultra books are being a steady competition to Apple's mac books.an accordance to these events lets have a round up of top 5 Ultra books in the market.

1. Asus Zenbook UX31

The Asus Zenbook UX31 is know to be one of the first ultra books in the market –it has given a birth seed that would ultimately determine the direction of the ultrabook’s development. it has a 13.3 inch display and sleek aluminum finish. The specs are also quite impressive; the Intel Core i7 processor can handle multi-computing tasks remarkably well, but the lack of a dedicated graphics card can be a setback for those who want have heavy 3D gaming. But still, at the MSRP (Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price) of $899.99, the Asus Zenbook UX31 is a great deal.

Technical Specifications

Processor	Intel® Core™ i7 2677M Processor
Chipset	Intel® QS67 Express Chipset
Memory	DDR3 1333 MHz SDRAM, OnBoard Memory
Display	13.3" 16:9 HD+ (1600x900) LED Backlight
Graphics	Integrated Intel® HD Graphics 3000
Storage	SATA3 256GB SSD
Battery	50 Whrs Polymer Battery
Weight	1.3 kg
Price	$899

2. Dell XPS 13

Dell has given rebirth to the ultra book by its innovative and mac book killing design. The lid has a slightly glossy finish to it, and is, thankfully, fingerprint-resistant. The solid carbon fiber bottom has a special metal flap that covers unsightly product stickers. The keyboard has a nice travel and is conveniently backlit, which is extremely helpful for people who like to type in low light conditions. The 1.6 Ghz Intel processor, paired with a 128GB SSD memory drive, offers a phenomenal computing experience. The Dell XPS 13 has a budget-friendly price of $999.

Technical Specifications

Processor	2nd generation Intel® Core™ i7-2637M processor
Chipset	Intel® QS67
Memory	4GB Dual Channel DDR3 1333MHz Memory
Display	Elemental Silver Aluminum and 13.3" Hi-Def (720p) True Life(1366x768) WLED Display
Graphics	Intel® HD Graphics 3000
Storage	Up to 256GB Solid State hard drive
Battery	47WHr battery; 6-Cell Li-Polymer
Weight	1.36 kg
Price	$999

3. HP Folio 13

The HP Folio 13′s price currently ranges around $900, which could go significantly lower if purchased with an HP coupon code. Released a little late behind competitors such as Acer and Asus (who were the first companies to release ultrabooks), the Folio 13 was HP’s first foray into the Intel-powered, ultra-thin notebook market. It has the standard ultrabook specs, such as a 128GB SSD memory drive, and an Intel Core i5 processor. Its viewing angles can be quite dodgy, but its long battery life will surely attract lots of consumers.

Technical Specifications

Processor	2nd Generation Intel® Core™ i5 Mobile Processor
Chipset	Mobile Intel® HM65 Express Chipset
Memory	DDR3 SDRAM, 1333 MHz (1600 MHz downgrade to 1333 MHz), One slot supporting up to 4 GB
Display	13.3-inch diagonal LED-backlit HD2 (1366 x 768) BrightView
Graphics	Intel® HD2 Graphics 3000
Storage	128 GB mSATA SSD
Battery	6-cell (59WHr) Li-Ion battery, HP 65-watt non-smart AC adapter
Weight	1.50 kg
Price	$900

4. Acer Aspire S3

This Ultra book is known to be the cheapest of all known ultra books, it has an Intel Core i5 processor coupled with 4GB of RAM. But at a selling price of $699.99, Acer can be expected to compromise a few features here and there. Unlike most ultrabooks that depend solely on SSD for memory, the Aspire S3 comes equipped with a hybrid drive that features 320 GB of standard HDD memory and only 20 GB of SSD.

Technical Specifications

Processor	Core i5-2467M
Chipset	UM67 Express
Memory	4GB DDR3 SDRAM DDR3-1333/PC3-10666
Display	13.3" active matrix TFT
Graphics	Intel HD 3000
Storage	320 GB serial AT
Battery	3-cell Li PO
Weight	1.35 kg
Price	$699

5. HP Envy 14 Spectre

This ultra book from HP is tender sleek and ultra thin elegant device. Though it is quite heavier than most ultrabooks (due to its 14 inch display versus the standard 13.3 inch), it is still a great buy at $1300. The Envy 14 Spectre boasts the most brilliant and color-accurate display among its competitors. And it is also one of the sturdiest; the Envy 14 Spectre comes covered with Gorilla Glass which will surely protect the device for a long time.

Technical Specifications

Processor	Intel® Core™ i5 and i7 ULV Processors
Chipset
Memory	4GB or 8GB of DDR3
Display	13" diagonal HD BrightView LED backlit display
Graphics	Intel HD 3000
Storage	128GB mSATA solid-state drive for lightning-fast performance
Battery	Long lasting upto 9 hrs
Weight	1.8 kg
Price	$1300

All Shortcut keys for Windows 8

2012-08-01T03:30:00.000-07:00

Windows 8 consumer preview has been launched few months back and now Microsoft has conformed the release date of official Windows 8 on 26 th October 2012. Here are the list of shortcut keys for Windows 8 which helps you to do things faster and in convenient way on the all new Windows 8 operating system

WINDOWS 8 shortcut keys

Win + Page Up - Move Start screen to left monitor
Win + Page Down - Move Start screen to right monitor
Win + Enter - Launch Narrator
Win + Space - Switch input language and keyboard layout
Wind + Shift + V - Cycle through toasts in reverse order
Win + C - opens Windows 8 Charms menu where you can search, share, and change
Win + D - opens and brings up the old Windows desktop
Win + G - Cycle through Windows 8 desktop gadgets
Win + H - Share Charm
Win + I - Settings Charm
Win + J - Switch focus between snapped and larger apps
Win + K – Devices charm
Win + L – Switch users
Win + O – Lock screen orientation
Win + P – Windows 8 Projection options
Win + Q – Opens Windows 8 Metro App Search screen
Win + V - Cycle through toasts
Win + W - Opens the Windows 8 settings search app
Win + X – Quick link power user commands
Win + Z – Opens the App Bar for the current Metro application

10 Essential Google Chrome Extensions

2012-07-31T08:47:00.000-07:00

The new extensions and features introduced to Apple’s premium browser Safari, following last week’s release of Mountain Lion, may have been a long time coming.

But many of us who use Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer or Google Chrome will already have become accustomed to the world of browser extensions for our every day use.

Extensions have almost become a necessity, enhancing your web surfing experience. Firefox, Explorer, Chrome and now Safari all possess incredible functionality in the form of add-ons, which you can install within seconds.

The best browser extensions are those that feel like built-in features, so we decided to select the 10 best for essential web browsing to make using Chrome even more enjoyable:

Awesome Screenshot

The ability to take screenshots of the web page you’re looking at is always useful. Awesome screenshot takes that process one step further by giving you more options. Select a selection or the whole page. Once captured, you also have the option to crop the image, make annotations, plus more. Images can be saved locally or copied to the clipboard.

➤ Awesome Screenshot

Clipper by Clipboard

Save anything online with Clipboards very own Clipper extension for Chrome, and we mean anything! HTML, text, images even flash applications are easily clipped, annotated and tagged and then saved to your Clipboard gallery within seconds. All clips can be viewed in your Clipboard profile, which you can then publish or keep private, should you wish to do so.

➤ Clipper

Chrome to Phone

Android user? Excellent. Install the Chrome to Phone app to your phone and launch the Chrome to Phone extension icon on your browser. In a matter of seconds you’ll be able to push web links, maps and phone numbers to your Android device and open them up when you’re out and about. A must have extensions for all Android users.

➤ Chrome to Phone

RadioPlayer

For UK audiophiles only, Radioplayer is an online radio player giving you access to radio stations from across the UK and Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. With up to 320 stations, listen and rock to your favorite music, podcasts and shows straight from your browser. No additional software needed, you can store your favourite channels and set presets, which will automatically launch for the next time you tune in.

➤ RadioPlayer

Send from Gmail

You’ll find numerous Gmail extensions on the Chrome Web store – some good, some not so good. Send from Gmail falls in the former. Unlike other extensions, Send from Gmail will enable you to compose an email right from the extensions bar. It provides a button that will create a Gmail message when clicked, using the page title as the subject and selected page text and link address as the message. Handy.

➤ Send from Gmail

Download Master

You’re at a website and you want to downlaod more than one file? Well now you can with Download Master. With a single click, the Download Master extension gives you the option to see what links are available, enabling you to pick and choose of what you want to download. Once selected, leave the rest to Google, who take care of all downloads with its built-in manager.

➤ Download Master

Google Dictionary

Google’s Dictionary extension is a joy to use. Quick, easy and effective, it does the difficult things with ease. Double-click any word to view its definition in a small pop-up bubble. Or if you like, view the complete definition of any word or phrase using the toolbar dictionary. Foreign languages are also catered for making this an must have extension on your browser. You’d be lost without it.

➤ Google Dictionary

Rapportive

The appeal of Rapportive is very easy to see. An intuitive Gmail extension that enables you to create a cool social profile of any individual whose email address you enter, by pulling all the social feeds from the web. A really smart and clever add-on to enhance your Gmail experience.

➤ Rapportive

AddThis

Sharing online content to your numerous social channels can be a bit of a chore. This is where Add This lends a helping hand.
AddThis allows you to instantly share content on Facebook and Twitter as well as many other services. You can bookmark, print, or even translate pages as well. Options to customize and personalize your list of services are a plenty. Choose Options and you’re good to go.

➤ AddThis

Pocket (Formerly Read it later)

Don’t have time to read your favourite blog, match report or film review? Save it to Pocket instead and read it later. Pocket automatically syncs to your phone, tablet or computer so you can view your saved page at any time, even without an internet connection. Containing integrated buttons on Twitter.com and Google Reader for one-click saving, Pocket is an essential tool for your everday online reading.

➤ Pocket

Stylish

An unknown gem, Stylish restyles your web pages with the help of a user styles manager. Install new skins and themes for your favourite sites and take out irrelevant content. Change colors and completely redesign an entire site. Want to remove ads from Facebook or change the color of your Twitter page? Use Stylish to do this plus a whole lot more.

➤ Stylish

If there are any extensions you feel that should have made the list, do let us know by leaving a comment.

BMW Vision EfficientDynamics Concept Features ConnectedDrive Technology

2012-07-29T10:10:00.000-07:00

The concept car BMW Vision ConnectedDrive made its first appearance worldwide from March 3 to 13th at the 2011 International Motor Show in Geneva. The top position in the vehicle world occupied by BMW in the progress of pioneering driver assistance systems as well as mobility services will be fortified further by this astonishing concept vehicle. This BMW Vision ConnectedDrive study manifests current and future systems of mobile networking in a specifically focused way. Comfort, security and the infotainment experience in the sedan can be accurately optimized by groundbreaking functionality, independently tailored to suit the requirements of the driver and passenger as well. The design personifies the bond amid the driver and the sedan, the dialogue amid the driver and the commuter, and the communication of the vehicle with the environment. New technologies as well as innovative design concepts are used to add more facets to this apparent BMW driving pleasure.

Designer : BMW

Source: Tuvie

BMW 328 Hommage Concept Car Design Was Inspired by The Legendary 328 Model

2012-07-29T10:07:00.000-07:00

BMW has launched the 328 Hommage concept, a design study concerned with a speedster, at the Villa d’Este. Taking its inspiration from the legendary 328 model, some of its awe-inspiring features include carbon-fiber body with asymmetric windscreen. The 328 Hommage holds the same layout. It is an exceptional 2-seater roadster having a front-mounted engine with a lightweight construction. The 328 Hommage BMW is unlike the 1930’s model in terms of its make, the usage of carbon fiber reinforced plastic. The exterior design boasts a surface treatment related to the one followed by BMW for its newest concepts, with its design incorporating an assortment of elements, which creates a visual tie to the original model. Thanks to the usage of materials as well as freely suspended elements including 2 iPhones included in the dashboard via special aluminum housing having a silhouette of classic stopwatches , that expresses a sense of lightness in terms of its interior structure. Clear-cut lines run across the sedan body’s taut surfaces. Overall, the 328 Hommage model is very awe-inspiring.

Designer : BMW

BMW i8 Concept Combines High Performance of A Sports Car With Fuel Efficient of a Small Car

2012-07-29T10:00:00.000-07:00

Escape from your busy routine life with BMW i8 Concept, it combines the performance of a sports car with benchmark efficiency, it’s the iconic symbol of emotional, dynamic and efficient. The BMW Vision EfficientDynamics has clearly stated that hardcore sports car and fuel economy of a compact car can work together in harmony and could soon be reality. BMW has tested a series of vehicle concept and so far it looks great that the decision to produce a series of this vehicle was quickly made. Yes, BMW i8 Concept is the next evolution from BMW Vision EfficientDynamics, this could be the most progressive and innovative sports car of its time.

From : BMW

The combination of plug-in hybrid concept with modified electric drive system from previous BMW i3 concept has been integrated into this car, fitted over its front axle with high performance 3-cylinder combustion engine 164 kW/220 hp and 300 Nm (221 lb-ft) at the rear. By combining these technologies, these two drive systems deliver awesome performance of a sports car as well as fuel efficient of a small car. BMW i8 Concept can travel up to 20 miles on electric power alone thank you to its large lithium-ion battery.

Audi RH Combines A Zero Emission Hydrogen Engine Concept With Extreme Lightweight Technology

2012-07-29T09:41:00.000-07:00

I’ve been enjoying driving from the moment I learned how to drive a car. I used to enjoy my daily morning drive to work when I was still an employee. Fresh air in the morning, not so crowded street, listening to soft music from the radio, a perfect 20 minutes alone. Due to rapid population growth, driving in the future might create more frustration than joy, especially in overcrowded cities. People will either use high-tech vehicles or public transport. The feeling of individual mobility, however, contributes a lot to the impression of freedom enjoyed by many motorists.

Created in cooperation with Audi AG, the Audi RH Concept carries Audi’s brand values. RH promotes enjoyable driving experience, a compact and lightweight transportation for the year of 2015. This car has been designed to carry only 2 passengers in a very narrow space (3.2 meters long). The interior features minimalist design. The driver seat is located in the middle of the vehicle and the second seat for the passenger is located behind. This increases the feeling of narrowness, which strongly contributes to the driving experience. As you can see the overall design was inspired by a lightweight aeroplane in both styling and construction.

Designer : Michael Scherger

Nokia GEM Phone Concept Transforms Its Entire Body Into a Touchscreen

2012-07-29T09:18:00.000-07:00

Nokia has released an innovative and futuristic phone concept called Nokia GEM phone. If you feel the display on the phone isn’t big enough, how bout turning the entire handset into a touchscreen? This is what Nokia GEM phone concept offers you. This futuristic phone was launched as part of the celebration of Nokia Research Center 25th anniversary. You can see that GEM has the ability to change its appearance from camera to phone based on the functionality selected by its user. In fact, this phone can display advertising messages on its back.

User could have the same image at different zoom levels, such as when you read a map, it’s possible for you to zoom and pinch the map from the rear of the phone while keeping the view of a large scale area on the front. Smart idea huh?

Jarkko Saunamäki, a senior design manager who led the team that invented GEM, explained that using this future mobile phone, user can launch any application and turn the mobile phone just like its active app. For example when you launch a camera app, Nokia GEM phone concept will automatically transform its body to look like a camera. The video animation from Nokia demonstrates how user can take a photo and transform the result to wrap around the whole device. There’s no need to buy phone casing every month, when you get bored with the old theme, you could just take a cool wallpaper photo and replace the exterior appearance of your Nokia GEM phone.

In this video, you’ll be able to see how virtual buttons and logos are located at both sides of the phone where you can easily browse them. This concept also becomes one of Red Dot Award winning concepts 2011. So, what do you think guys? Do you think Nokia GEM phone concept can beat iPhone?

How to get a free Domain Name

2012-07-29T02:35:00.000-07:00

First of all let me say it's almost impossible to buy a domain name for free, but there is a way through which you can buy domain names without loosing money from your pocket directly. And that's explained below. Just Move forward and get a free domain name.

Step 1: Signing into Cashle.com

Cashle is just a Site through which you can earn cash and by which you can shop products and coupons right around. What you have to do is just move on to www.cashle.com and register an account their with your details.

Step 2: Earning Cash at Cashle.com

Cashle is giving you many ways to earn cash like watching ads, completing surveys, playing games, referring friends, etc. Using any suitable ways you just have to increase your cash so as you can buy a domain from GoDaddy.Com

Step 3: Creating an account on GoDaddy.Com

You all may have heard about Godaddy.Com. And you just have to move on to GoDaddy.Com and register an account with your correct details.

Step 4: Getting Coupon from Cashle.com

1) Move your pointer towards the "GET PAID" option on the top and click on the "Withdraw Earnings" option on the drop down list.

2) Move down to the "Go Daddy Gift Certificate", enter the amount and withdraw and you will get the coupon right there.

Step 5: Using Coupon at GoDaddy.Com

Just log in to the account you have created earlier and just use the coupon code right there and enjoy the free purchase!

Hope you have understood it well if you have any doubts relating to this or whatever you can comment below!

7 Essential Tips for Picking a Student Laptop

2012-07-28T02:36:00.000-07:00

If I had been drinking something at the time, I would have spit it all over my screen. That's because I was reading a laptop buying guide that was so superficial, so full of errors, half-truths and oversimplifications, that I couldn't believe my eyes. I won't name any names (cough, The New York Times), but this was my favorite gem: "Most flash drives still exceed 300 gigabytes, which is enough for most people." Um, actually most SSDs start at 128GB.

Here's another: "Battery life specs mean little. Have a power cord with you." Oh, and the processor doesn't matter at all.

If I were a parent reading a guide like that heading into the back-to-school season, I would have just thrown up my hands and did some eerie eeny-meeny-miny-mo at Best Buy. But you don't have to. Just follow my simple buying tips.

1. Choose The Right Size

Although 15-inch laptops tend to be the cheapest, 13- and 14-inch models are better for students on the go because they usually weigh under 5 pounds, making them much easier to transport to and from class. If you're shopping for a high school student who will be using the system mostly at home, a 15-incher will be fine, but even then they'll probably want to easily move it from room to room.

A smaller 11-inch laptop will often do the trick, but it's not as practical back at the dorm, where your student would probably want to plug it into a bigger monitor.

2. Pay for Premium Design

One feature back-to-school shoppers tend to overlook is the look and feel of the laptop and materials used. After all, your student will want to be seen around campus carrying something that's sleek instead of clunky. At the same time, the notebook should feel like it's built to last. When possible, opt for a design that at least has a metal lid, which will help protect the display and resist wear and tear during those years away at school.

The HP Sleekbook ($599), for instance, has a brushed aluminum finish on the lid and around the keyboard, and a soft-touch finish on the bottom that's easy to grip. Another tip: if you press down on the lid or keyboard and you see a lot of flex, keep on looking.

3. Get Specs for the Long Haul

Despite what you may have heard, the CPU can make a big difference. For instance, Intel's latest third-generation Core processor (also called Ivy Bridge) offers up to twice the 3D graphics performance, which means the difference between being able to play "World of Warcraft" at a smooth frame rate and watching it stutter on the screen.

If you're looking to save money, though, a second-generation Core processor wi ll do the trick. Stay away from Pentium CPUs, though, as they're just not fast enough for the long haul.

As for memory, 4GB is sufficient, but if you can find a notebook for the same price with 6 or 8GB of RAM, get it.

A notebook’s storage drive has almost as much impact on its performance as its CPU. While more expensive and lower in capacity than hard drives, Solid State Drives (SSDs) dramatically improve the performance of the entire system so consider a system that has one.

If you’re buying a laptop with a traditional hard drive, go for one that operates at the faster 7,200 rpm speed and, when possible, opt for a minimum of 500GB, though you can get away with 320GB.

4. Consider an Ultrabook

Intel and its partners are going right after students with a new class of laptop called Ultrabooks, which sport thin profiles and wake from sleep almost as soon Junior flips the lid. They also offer at least 5 hours of battery life.

These notebooks tend to be more expensive, but there are a few value-priced models that parents and students should consider, such as the 14-inch Dell Inspiron 14z (4.2 pounds, $699) and Toshiba Satellite U845 (3.9 pounds, $749).

Lower-cost Ultrabooks combine a solid state drive with a traditional hard drive, which is fine for students, but more premium notebooks, like the 13-inch MacBook Air and ASUS Zenbook Prime UX31A, opt for all-flash memory. Your student will be trading blazing-fast performance for a smaller 128GB of storage, in which case the cloud will have to be their friend.

5. Go for at Least 5.5 Hours of Battery Life

Saying that battery life specs mean little and that you should just bring the power cord is a cop-out. It's not always easy for students to plug in when they're going to class or finishing up a paper in the campus coffee shop. So get them a notebook that lasts at least 5 hours and 30 minutes on a charge. How can you tell? Our reviews include results from our homegrown battery test, which involves continuous Web surfing over Wi-Fi.
While it's too pricey for some, the 13-inch MacBook Air blew us away with its 8 plus hours of endurance in our tests (continuous Web surfing over Wi-Fi). Another long-distance runner that’s a good choice for students is the Sony VAIO S Series 13 ($899), which not only lasts more than 6 hours in our test but features an optional battery slice that doubles the endurance.

6. Pick a Good Keyboard and Touchpad

Your student will be doing lots of typing, from writing reports to Facebook updates, so they should try it out to make sure there’s enough travel and springy feedback instead of a cramped or mushy keyboard. And don't ignore the touchpad, which is just as important. Make sure navigating the desktop is smooth instead of jerky and that multi-touch gestures like pinch to zoom and two-finger scroll are responsive. If the buttons are integrated into the pad, make sure they’re easy to press and not too stiff.

7. Consider Both Macs and Windows PCs.

Doing more of our computing online has indeed made choosing an OS less important, but there are still fundamental differences in the overall user experience. For example, some may like the fact that Apple’s OS X Lion offers an iPad-like Launchpad to see your apps, while some will prefer the way Windows 7 lets you multitask. Generally speaking, Macs are more secure and are typically better designed machines, while Windows’ systems tend to be cheaper and offer a wider array of programs (especially games).

The differences between Windows and Mac will become even more pronounced this fall with the introduction of Windows 8 and Mountain Lion. Windows 8 has an entirely new interface that, while dynamic, involves a learning curve. Meanwhile, Mountain Lion will bring more iOS features to the Mac while keeping the overall look and feel the same.

Fun Cars for Less Than $3000

2012-07-28T02:12:00.000-07:00

Being DIY types with our hands tight on our wallets, we've always been enthusiastic cheap-car purveyors. And as a result, we've gotten far more fun than we paid for from inexpensive used cars. So we thought we'd pass along our favorite budget used cars. If you don't pay much for the car, you're less inclined to worry about it, and consequently, you'll have more fun. We picked $3000 because that is about the floor for a fun-to-drive car that will probably have high mileage but not be three feet from lunching the gearbox. As with any used-car purchase, do your due diligence.

Mazda Miata

The Miata is the gold-standard fun-to-drive car. For three grand, you're probably looking at a first-generation edition (1989–1994) with the 1.6-liter four-cylinder. Mazda built tens of thousands of them, and many folks who bought them barely drove them, so plenty of low-mileage examples exist. They're enormously fun, with a lithe feel, telepathic steering, raspy engine note and one of crispest gearboxes in the industry. They're tough, too, as evidenced by the number plying road courses every weekend—they're the most raced cars in the country via the Spec Miata class. Get one with a rust-free body, as the mechanical bits are easily sourced and reasonably priced. With only 120 hp, you won't win any drag races, but you'll never fail to enjoy time spent behind the wheel.

BMW E30 3 Series

Admittedly, finding a decent 1984–1991 3 Series for three grand might be tricky, but they're worth the search. We'd hold out for six-cylinder version, as the silky-smooth inline-six is a stand-out engine, especially among other cars from the Eighties. If you find one with "i" at the end of the badge, grab it. That denotes a more powerful version, with 168 horsepower. The chassis is the main draw, however, as these rear-drivers (yes, they made an AWD version, but good luck finding one for under five grand) had near perfect weight distribution and eager handling. Inside, the cabin is airy and surprisingly roomy considering the compact exterior dimensions. As with the Miata, there's a healthy enthusiast following for these cars, so aftermarket parts are plentiful.

Toyota MR2

Back in 1985, the then-new MR2 showed just what Toyota was capable of. This pocket-size mid-engine road burner offered a 112-hp DOHC engine, five-speed manual gearbox and near-perfect ergonomics for the then-reasonable sum of about $11,000. Plus, it was every bit as thrilling as the specs suggested. The engine revved to an unheard of 7500 rpm, turning every grocery run into the Grand Prix of Monaco. In 1988, Toyota slapped on a supercharger and netted 145 horsepower, a combination that shamed many higher-priced sports cars. For 1990, Toyota's pocket rocket morphed from an angular Asian to a svelte 5/8-scale Ferrari. But we prefer the character—and price—of the original.

Volkswagen Rabbit GTI

The 1983 Volkswagen GTI, sold as the Rabbit GTI until 1985, was a light and lithe two-door hatchback. With its 1.8-liter, inline four-cylinder fuel-injected engine, the GTI directed 90 horsepower to its front wheels through a five-speed manual transmission. A 16-valve version was optional, transforming the GTI into quite the performer, despite its basic styling. On the outside, GTIs were easily distinguishable from normal Rabbits, with their boxier front ends and snowflake-style alloy wheels, while the interiors offered sport seats covered with striped fabric. While economical, this hatchback was also practical for drivers who wanted a bit of zip and zest when they hit the gas. The GTI's preternatural handling and maneuverability made it one of the most fun to drive cars available at any price.

Jeep Wrangler

Jeep's Wrangler is basically the same as it ever was. Like the CJ that preceded it, the Wrangler is a go-anywhere, do-anything 4WD vehicle that's as comfortable crawling over rocks on the Rubicon Trail as it is chauffeuring the dogs back and forth to the beach. From 1987 to 1995, YJ became the Wrangler's official model designation. The YJ featured front and rear live axles and a larger windshield, and rectangular headlights replaced the classic round headlights. The YJ was initially available with either a 2.5-liter inline four-cylinder or 4.2-liter inline six-cylinder engine (a 4.0-liter came later). Prospective buyers should look closely for rust, as Wranglers—like many capable four-wheelers—are often ridden hard and put away wet. The tires and undercarriage also tend to suffer abuse off-road, so check low for signs of abuse.

Pontiac Fiero

The Pontiac Fiero was a two-passenger, rear-wheel-drive, mid-engine coupe GM built from 1984 to 1988—and the first mid-engine car produced by an American car manufacturer. Initially, the Fiero was powered by a 2.5-liter inline four-cylinder engine that achieved up to 40 mpg, which is comparable to some of the best modern drivetrains. In 1985, an optional 2.8-liter V6 debuted, and in 1986, that engine was paired to a five-speed Muncie Getrag transmission. But it wasn't until 1988 that the Fiero finally received a proper sports-car suspension and four-wheel vented disc brakes. Unfortunately, 1988 was also the last year GM built the little sports car, just as it perfected the recipe. On the bright side, frames of earlier model-year Fieros will accept the improved 1988 suspension, which is good news for driving enthusiasts on a budget.

Porsche 914

The Volks-Porsche was propelled by a clanky air-cooled 1700-cc, 78-hp four-banger borrowed from the VW 411 sedan, but the front suspension and transmission were stolen directly from the 911. Later models got engines upgraded to 1800 cc and then 2 liters. Lightweight (under 2000 lbs), the 914 had handling and road-holding that is unparalleled for affordable cars. A well-set-up 914 is unbeatable in its autocrossing class, but still is plenty practical as a daily driver, with two huge trunks (the engine hides in the middle somewhere) and the largest sunroof in the industry. An increasingly rare variant is the 914-6, which sported a 2.0-liter carbureted six-cylinder 911 engine. You won't find any of them for $3000, though. Engine and brake upgrades are reasonable, but don't break the very expensive gearbox, which could cost more than the rest of the car to replace. The first modification after an exhaust system upgrade is generally to switch the fuel injection out for a pair of Weber or Solex downdraft carbs.

Mitsubishi Starion ESI

The Starion name is claimed by Mitsubishi to be a contraction of "Star of Orion," although an urban legend claims that it was intended to be "Stallion," as a result of a Japanese-to-English mistranslation. Regardless, the desirable version is the ESI, the widebodied car with the 2.6-liter throttle-body injected, turbocharged / intercooled SOHC eight-valve inline Four; 155 bhp; 225 lb-ft at 8 psi. The rear-drive chassis is capable of putting at least twice the horsepower down the ground. Turbocharger and intercooler upgrades make that fairly easy to achieve, although cooling system upgrades to match are necessary. Many parts should be interchangeable with the Chrysler/Dodge/Plymouth Conquest based on the same platform and drivetrain.

Ford Probe GT

Sharing a platform and a factory with the Mazda MX-6, the Probe was originally intended by Ford to carry the Mustang badge. Classic Mustang owners and fans were horrified to see the prancing pony badge on a Japanese-derived FWD car, so the RWD Mustang stayed in production, and the new joint-venture car (built in Flat Rock, Mich., only a stone's throw from Ford's headquarters in Dearborn) became the Probe. The car to search for is not the anemic four-speed four-banger, but the second-generation (1993–1997) Probe GT, which boasts a very lusty-sounding 2.5-liter 164-hp V6, and a five-speed manual tranny. Other upgrades for the GT included significantly stiffer suspension—on the downside, these cars rode on harsh side—and four-wheel disc brakes.

10 Most Expensive Mobile Phones in the World

2012-07-27T23:30:00.000-07:00

Technology.am — Nowadays, mobiles are not only essential thing but also an important status symbol. Manufacturers feel the public pulse and are making handsets that cost many thousand dollars.
To know more about the world’s most expensive mobile phones, read on.

1. Goldvish “Le million”:

Goldvish Le million is the most expensive mobile phone in the world and is a masterpiece, basically in addition to the ILLUSION collection, according the Guiness Books of Records. Its cost is $1,000,000.
Geneva-based Goldvish phone is made out of 18-carat white gold and features 1,800 diamonds totaling 120 carats, according to designer Emmanuel Gueit.

There were only 100 of these phones made and is only available on special request. These Goldvish Le million handsets are of the highest levels of Swiss craftsmanship and precision.

If you want less costly mobile phone than Goldvish Le million, then Goldvish also offers several other diamond-encrusted 18k gold models in your choice of rose, yellow, or white, starting at a much more reasonable $25,600.

2. Vertu Signature Cobra:

This phone is so exclusive that only eight will ever be made. Its cost is $310,000.

Vertu is now taking orders for the Signature Cobra, designed by French jeweler Boucheron.

The Cobra will feature one pear-cut diamond, one round white diamond, two emerald eyes and 439 rubies.
For buyers who are only filthy rich, rather than obscenely rich, twenty-six of the less flashy Signature Python phones will be available for a mere $115,000.

3. Sony Ericsson Black Diamond:

Singapore-based industrial designer Jaren Goh has presented this rendering of an ultra stylish high-end Sony Ericsson, dubbed Black Diamond.

The designer has used some pretty impressive materials for the build, featuring titane with polycarbonate, mirror-finish cladding and diamonds.

The OLED technology underneath the polycarbonate skin that covers the phones entire face gives the 4 megapixel screen a borderless look. The mirror finish gives the phone a sleek, futuristic look.

Now for the scary part this will only be available in 5 Unique numbered pieces in Limited Edition for the astronomical sum of $300,000.

4. Vertu Diamond:

The Diamond is Vertu’s premium range of high-end mobile phones. As the name suggests the handsets in the Diamond range are diamond-encrusted handsets made from platinum.

This Vertu Diamond Cellphone comes in four 18-carat white or yellow gold models, and one made of platinum. They are embedded with Pave diamonds and are only made to order.

Only 200 of the handsets are being produced, the most expensive believed to be worth an estimated $88,000.

5. GResso luxury phone with Black Diamonds:

Luxury cellphone maker Gresso keeps churning out more and more expensive handsets. With their first models they were content with African Blackwood and some golden plating on the back. Then came Gresso Avantgarde Sol collection, with the keypad keys made from gold.

Now they planned to replace golden keys with diamonds. And no ordinary diamonds, but extremely rare and expensive black diamonds to boot.

For just a $12,663 you get your African Blackwood phone with golden keypad and four navigation keys replaced wit black diamonds.

But in addition if you want to be a real show-off, you should opt for Gresso Avantgarde Royal Black Diamonds edition.

In this phone all your keypad keys will be made from black diamonds of 2.53K. And, because these gems are rare enough, only 50 pieces of this Royal handset will be made ever. Its cost is around $42, 213.

6. Motorola V220 Special Edition:

This Motorola phone has been customized by Austrian designer Peter Aloisson, who took a standard phone, encrusted it with 1200 diamonds and gave it an 18k gold keyboard.

The Motorola V220 Special Edition costs around $51,800 which is basically for football stars and film stars.

7. Gold Edition Nokia 8800 Phone:

Nokia enjoy making over their N8800 cell phone.

The GOLD edition of Nokia 8800 comes with a $2,700 price tag. Its Gold Edition includes a special edition box and charging dock.

It includes a 0.5 Mega pixel SVGA camera and a 2, 62,000 colors, TFT (208 x 208) display.

Connectivity options include EDGE, Bluetooth, Infrared, Java, MMS, SMS, USB, WAP and it has 64 MB of internal memory.

Some other features found on the phone which now may now look standard include, 64 polyphonic, FM Radio, Mp3 Player, Video Recording and 180 mins talk time.

8. Mobiado Professional EM (wood):

Have you ever thought of wood to be the basic element to epitomize your affluence? Well, think now as the mobiado professional EM has been launched to redefine your classiness with the elegance and grace of wood.

Made from ebony wood, hard-anodized aluminum and titanium, Nokia driven Mobiado Professional EM handsets are individually unique due to the variations in wood patterning per instrument.

It features a 1.3 megapixel camera, music player, FM radio, Bluetooth, and according to Mobiado it’s the first production phone with Titanium buttons.

Only 200 are being made and each one has its limited number engraved on the back and it is available at $1,900.

9. Bang & Olufsen (Samsung) Serene:

A joint venture of Bang & Olufsen and Samsung has crafted this Samsung serene as one of the elegant choice of the era to show off the “affluence”.

The Bang and Olufsen Serene has several novel features. It has a built-in motor to assist you in opening and closing the phone.

A side camera and a circular keyboard make this phone quite a nice piece to just even look at. You can use the phone either way up as the handset can invert the screen display.

The B&O cleverly stops the screen from getting greasy when you talk on the phone.

There’s a toblerone-shaped docking station/charger, so that the Serene can be used on a desk.

The B&O Serene weighs 110 grams and measures 65x70x24mm when closed. Talktime is 3 hours with 10 days standby time.

The Serene is currently available for a cost of $1,275.

10. Lamborghini 8800 Sirocco from Nokia:

Nokia and Lamborghini have created a limited edition Nokia 8800 Sirocco phone.

The Lamborghini Nokia 8800 Sirocco is another special edition, like the previously launch Aston Martin branded Sirocco.

The phone features special Lamborghini themes and ring tones as well as a video documentary.

The legendary Lamborghini logo impressed at the front and at the back of the handset makes it an ideal logo of “highlife”.

It has a unique slider mechanism because of the Lamborghini manufactured ball bearings. It will also feature Lamborghini graphics as wallpapers, screensavers, ringtones, and even has a short documentary video about the Lamborghini.

Only 500 of the phones will be made and will only be available from Lamborghini dealerships but if you badly need a 8800 Sirocco limited edition phone, check out the Diamond Edition.

Best New Cars For 2013 that are worth waiting for!

2012-07-27T09:33:00.000-07:00

Go back a few years and every new car shouted about mpg and economizing. This year, fuel efficiency is still important, but style is back for the new cars sporting 2013 and 2014 model years. Sportiness is taking center stage once more, and a fierce competition is about to happen between $20,000 and $30,000—so if you can't afford the next $100,000 Viper, fear not. Here are 12 cars we're waiting for over the next year or so.

2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo

When: Late summer 2012
How Much: TBD
Our Guess: $23,000

Right now, the Veloster lacks the performance cred to back up its killer looks. But that will change once this 201-hp version hits the streets. The 45 percent boost in horsepower has most folks taking a second look at the Veloster, and hoping this Turbo is a signal that Hyundai is getting as serious about performance as it has been about quality and design over the last few years.

So far, though, signs remain cloudy—the stonking 1.6-liter motor with dual exhaust notwithstanding. Word is the Veloster Turbo gets the same suspension, which is disappointing. The stock Veloster is fun but stiff-kneed and less refined when compared to better-bred sporty cars like VW's GTI—or the Subaru BRZ, which is only somewhat costlier than what we're expecting to see from the Veloster Turbo. Also, ask Mini engineers about controlling torque steer in a 200-hp car with a short wheelbase. That, too, has probably made Hyundai sweat.

Even if the Veloster Turbo isn't perfection out of the gate, we hope it's a sign of better-performing Hyundais (and Kias) to come.

2013 Dodge Dart R/T

When: October 2012
How Much: $23,290

Most of the new front-wheel-drive Dart models go on sale this summer, and we like what we've driven so far. But the fastest of the breed, the R/T, holds off for a fall launch.

Like its less muscular brethren, the R/T rides on a Fiat chassis borrowed from the Alfa Romeo Giulietta, with a fully independent suspension. We expect that suspension to be a little lower and stiffer in the R/T. The car will get the most horsepower of the lot, with a 184-hp 2.4-liter four under the hood.

At this point it's unclear if the R/T will come with only a six-speed manual or with a dual-clutch automatic as well. We do know that the R/T, like the Sonic RS, is going to face stiff competition from slightly pricier models, including the Ford Focus ST, the expected Fiesta ST, and the Scion FR-S and Subaru BRZ. Even if these sporty cars are bunched around $25,000, slightly above the Dart R/T, their performance chops could put a pinch on sales of the Dodge.

2013 SRT Viper

When: December 2012
How Much: TBD
Our Guess: $100,000

With a 640-hp V-10 and a body made of magnesium, aluminum, and carbon fiber, we're expecting greatness from Chrysler's supercar. And at 100 grand, it'd better be great—there's already a Corvette ZR1 in this price range that can eat Ferraris, and the C7 will only up the ante. Plus there's a certain new Mustang that's far cheaper and should be mighty impressive too. And even if the Viper is faster than the Ford or Chevy in a straight line, it must improve its handling over the outgoing model. While SRT folks are claiming a scorching 0-to-60 time of 3.5 seconds and a 206-mph top speed for the new car, the last Viper was time-warp-fast too—and also saddled with unpredictable handling and frequent maintenance headaches.

Haunted by those ghosts of Vipers past, Chrysler engineers started over. They lowered the car's weight by about 140 pounds and made its chassis 50 percent stiffer. (That alone tells you how far Chrysler had to go to make a Viper that's world class.) The Tremec-supplied six-speed manual (no automatic, at least not yet) is said to have far lower clutch effort, while bringing tighter ratios and more precise feel. The suspension is entirely new, again with the aim of more predictable handling. And there's a multi-setting stability-control system with a full-off mode for the track. That could be great, but only if the car doesn't actually need the electronic assist to handle like a supercar.

That will be key. This Viper is designed to challenge cars that can reach nine tenths of their potential without technological guardrails. The SRT needs to get in that ballpark to be a real winner.

2013 Ram 1500

When: Late 2012
How Much: Starting at around $22,000

There is an upside to the game of catch-up Chrysler is playing in so many segments: It gives the company an opportunity to try bold remakes that leap-frog the current benchmarks. We think the automaker chose wisely by doing this to its flagship Dodge pickup.

The Ram was due for a facelift, but rather than giving it a superficial makeover, Chrysler went for so many smart updates that Ford and GM will be chasing for their own answers. Start with aerodynamics, where Chrysler has altered the front wheel openings and given the truck's grille active shutters said to reduce drag by 3 to 5 percent. It added an eight-speed automatic transmission too, tied in electric power steering, and brought in start/stop technology to save gas in traffic.

All of these changes are included with any of the available engines, although the Ram's V-8s—the aging 4.8-liter and the 5.7-liter Hemi—are less noteworthy than the 3.6-liter V-6 that'll punch out 305 hp and 269 lb-ft of torque. Ford's EcoBoost V-6 is still more powerful, pumping out 365 hp and 420 lb-ft in the F-150. But the Pentastar engine, used already in the Jeep Wrangler and Grand Cherokee and now available in the Ram, could be the more fuel-efficient choice, especially when combined with all the other tech Chrysler has brought to bear. And because most of the Ram's torque is available nearly from idle, at just 1800 rpm, load-haulers won't miss the V-8 unless they tow serious weight.

2013 Chevy Sonic RS

When: Late 2012
How Much: TBD
Our Guess: No higher than $22,000 (any higher and the Sonic RS would bump up against more serious sports cars like the Subaru BRZ and probably the Ford Fiesta ST, which is still to come but should cost around $22,000)

The RS is a sportier Sonic with an affordable sticker. Yeah, we wish Chevy would cram its 2.0-liter Ecotec under the hood of the Sonic, but barring that, we'll get the Sonic RS with a 1.4-liter turbocharged four borrowed from the Chevy Cruze and good for 138 hp.

Still, this car gets more than just a mild exterior makeover. The six-speed manual has closer ratios and the suspension has been stiffened. The stock Sonic is already one of the tautest-handling cars in the "B" segment. Adding 17-inch rubber and a slightly lower suspension is going to make the RS a rip to drive.

There are also new rocker moldings and a new rear spoiler, but more important for the driver, the car gets sportier, firmer front buckets. The RS will be the only Sonic to get four-wheel discs as well as four-channel ABS with electronic brake-force distribution.

2013 Subaru WRX

When: Early 2013
How Much: TBD
Our Guess: $27,000 to $28,000

Recently the blogosphere has been alive with chatter that the next-gen Subaru WRX will get the FA motor developed for the Subaru BRZ, and this is one instance when there's logic behind the rumor. The FA engine can sit a lot lower in the car because it's more compact. A lower engine has many advantages, chief among them the ability to shove the mass farther rearward in the car for better balance. Better still, Subaru engineered the FA for higher compression from the start, so it should tolerate the amount of forced induction required to take it from 200 hp in the BRZ to the expected benchmark of 265 hp. And let's just say here that we'd bet Subaru designed its latest Impreza chassis with the WRX (not to mention the STi) in mind, and we'd bet the newest WRX will be lighter and more nimble as a result. A bonus: Fuel economy should jump a good 15 percent.

2014 Jaguar F-Type Roadster

When: Summer 2013
How Much: $50,000 to $60,000

Jaguar's C-X16 concept from 2011 makes its production debut as the new F-Type with a supercharged 3.0-liter V-6 that should make 380 hp. Expect at least one turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder derived from the Range Rover Evoque, but that powerplant probably won't be sold in the U.S. Both engines will be mated to eight-speed automatics with start–stop technology.

An aluminum body will keep weight down but price up. Expect this Jag to compete with the Porsche Boxster as well as with the Audi TT-RS. The platform may also underpin a forthcoming XF sedan replacement.

2014 Audi A3

When: Mid-2013
How Much: $30,000 and up

The forthcoming A3 will be based on the VW Golf. It would be nice if the U.S. got the hatch, but that's unlikely. We probably will get a diesel A3, though, and the four-door sedan will come in a hotter S3 version that's also a possibility for North America, though an über-powerful RS3 is highly unlikely.

Hopefully the chassis that underpins the new Audi will be more modular than previous versions. That would allow integration of hybrid tech and front-drive or AWD setups that could shave weight on various Audis and Volkswagens, helping engineers to increase fuel economy while downsizing displacement.

Chevy Corvette C7

When: Fall 2013
How Much: $50,000 and up

We know more about the next Vette than we did just a few months ago. Gone are thoughts of a split rear window, a turbocharged V-6, or a midengine design. It now appears that the C7 will debut at this coming winter's North American auto show in Detroit with a 5.5-liter V-8 that still uses pushrods. However, thanks to direct injection and higher compression, it's reasonable to expect the new Corvette to put out 440 hp, so it could match or best the outgoing 6.0-liter.

The car will be visually arresting for certain. Inspiration will come at least in part from the present Camaro. One sure bet—GM will finally, praise heaven, give its $50,000 Ferrari slayer an interior that's gorgeous, and with seats that hold the driver comfortably on track day.

2014 Jeep Liberty

When: Mid-2013
How Much: TBD
Our Guess: $22,000 to $24,000

Jeep has a real conundrum on its hands. Diehard off-roading loyalists want every Jeep to be capable of conquering mule paths and mud bogs. But the RAV4, CR-V, and Santa Fe buyers that Jeep would like to entice don't care about rock-crawling prowess. They care about modern amenities such as hitting 70 mph highway speeds with low noise and vibration and little harshness; carlike handling; and reliability. All-wheel drive is fine if it gets you out of the driveway on a snowy morning, but that's as much Trail Rating as they need.

We think that means Chrysler is going to push back against those sensitive Jeep fans, hard. That translates to a Liberty that is a Jeep in name but carries the same chassis that undergirds the new Dodge Dart. Expect a fully independent suspension and 4WD but no low range, even if hill-descent control is an option. There's also rumor of an all-new V-6 (the outgoing 3.7-liter V-6 was anemic, unrefined, and thirsty), and a ZF-sourced nine-speed automatic. That would mean a whopping five more forward gears than the outdated four-speed auto in the old Liberty (pictured above). The base Liberty could have the same 1.4-liter turbo deployed in the new Dart, and, though it is sacrilege to some Jeep fans, front-wheel drive.

2014 Porsche Macan

When: Mid-2013
How Much: Low $40,000s

Porsche loyalists, look away. You might cry foul over this latest VW Group tie-up with Porsche, but Porsche can't hear you over the ka-ching of all those dollars, euros, yen, and yuan.

We actually have high hopes for the Audi Q5–based Macan. The reason: The Q5 could be much more capable than it is, but while we don't foresee Audi bringing us an R-edition Q5, we can believe Porsche would go there.

At first, we expect Porsche to go for improved handling, the way it built the Cayenne to be a more capable high-speed machine than the VW Touareg. AWD will be a given, as will two Audi-derived engines, the 237-hp 2.0-liter turbo four and the 288-hp V-6. Rumors suggest that a manual gearbox could be possible, but we're betting on a seven-speed auto, though there's still hope it could come in a dual-clutch arrangement.

2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA

When: Late 2013
How Much: TBD
Our Guess: As high as $45,000 for the AMG, mid-$30,000 range for later CLAs

Mercedes has been toying with bringing Americans a compact Benz since Harry Truman was in the White House. Okay, not quite, but it seems that way. Think of how much money Mercedes hasn't made while BMW brought the 1 Series, and then several hundred thousand Minis, to the U.S.

Now Mercedes is finally pulling the trigger. What the CLA promises, Mercedes says, is something slicker than we've seen on American shores, and the first A-Class to grace the New World will arrive as an AMG with a muscular 300-hp turbocharged four-cylinder fed to all-wheel drive. It's even possible we'll see a double-clutch, seven-speed automatic.

Only the sedan version of the smallest Benz will come to America, probably because the hatch versions of the 1 Series and the Audi A3 haven't sold well here. After the CLA AMG debuts, though, we will see more fuel-efficient CLAs with smaller engines, possibly a diesel, and front-wheel drive.

Double-Sided Design Solves Painfully Universal USB Problem

2012-07-27T09:11:00.000-07:00

Sometimes something begs for a simple solution. The nearly-ubiquitous USB port is perhaps the technological poster child for an obvious failure to work both ways (right-side-up or upside-down) despite looking perfectly symmetrical on both sides. Thankfully, and finally, this has been tackled from two directions (appropriately enough): one more idealistic, one more realistic, but both ingenious.

Ma Yi Xuan is a student designer who has solved the problem in theory, and in reality by UltraTek‘s new Flipper. These answers have been a long time coming. This author, for example, has bend more than one USB plug (and port), though fortunately only destroyed one to date.

In the student version, there is a piece on either side of the interior that slides out of the way to reveal a data connection – which half moves depends on what way the plug is placed into the accepting slot. Simple, but vital for making this work both ways.

If you have not encountered the error of normal-style USB plugs, well, it is becoming a bigger issue the more we compute on a daily basis. In short: while there are sometimes visual indicators on the exterior housing of a plug-in, a forceful failure to insert the cord in the correct way can damage the socket permanently. Having a switchable solution could save many people from painfully expensive hardware fixes and replacements.

Cost-effective solar power module could also serve as an eco-friendly furnace

2012-07-27T08:29:00.000-07:00

A dish-shaped mirror focuses sunlight onto a glass ball, which distributes it evenly onto an array of photovoltaic cells

Borrowing technology from sophisticated telescope mirrors as well as high-efficiency solar cells used for space exploration, a group of students and researchers at the University of Arizona is putting the final touches on a novel power plant that promises to generate renewable energy twice as efficiently as standard solar panel technology with highly competitive costs and a very small environmental impact.

Curved mirrors in solar power plants usually concentrate the sun's rays along a water pipe, heating the water into steam that is then fed to power-generating turbines. But rather than distributing the power over the area of a water pipe, researchers at the University of Arizona are working on focusing as much as possible of the sun's captured energy onto a precise point in space.

The target is a small glass ball that is only five inches in diameter. The ball contains a specially coated lens that redirects the light to an array of 36 small, high-efficiency solar cells, which were originally developed for space applications, that can absorb light over a broader spectrum than standard cells. And instead of mirrors shaped like a cylinder, the team had to develop dish-shaped mirrors that focus light onto a point.

Regents' Professor Roger Angel has pioneered a new way to make glass mirrors to concentrate sunlight to make electricity

"By using mirrors to focus on small but super-efficient photovoltaic cells, we have the potential to make twice as much electricity as even the best photovoltaic panels," Prof. Roger Angel, who is coordinating the research efforts, commented.

Because the rays concentrate on a small area, the process generates very high temperatures – so high, in fact, that they could melt the solar cells in seconds. To prevent this, the team designed an effective cooling system, a simple combination of fans and radiators that keeps the solar cells within 36° F (20° C) of the ambient air temperature.

Each module features two highly reflective, curved, 10 by 10 feet (3 x 3 m) glass mirrors mounted on a steel structure. The module automatically orients itself toward the sun for maximum performance: in the morning it turns to the east, tracks the sun's path for the entire day and, after sunset, predicts where the sun will be rising and preps itself for the next day of clean, efficient power generation.

A prototype with only two mirrors was shown to generate 2.5 kilowatts of electricity – enough to meet the demand of two average U.S. households – but the team plans to place eight mirrors on each module.

The manufacturing process for the dish-shaped mirrors is going to be optimized for mass production to reduce costs. The materials used are relatively cheap and, because no water is required to generate power, the plant's environmental footprint would be smaller than that of a conventional solar panel-based plant.

"Our technology holds the promise of getting the price of solar energy down to where it can be used on a large scale without depending on subsidies and be competitive in the electricity market," Angel commented. He says that an array of sun trackers on an area measuring about seven by seven miles (11 x 11 km) would generate 10 GW of power during sunshine hours – as much as a big nuclear power plant – and suggests that the system could be deployed in deserts for maximum effect.

The researchers have already patented their process for manufacturing their curved, highly reflective glass mirrors, and the team is now looking to find new applications for this technology.

One promising prospect, which would require little adaptation, would be to explore the thermal properties of the modules. Because the temperatures achieved are so high, Angel's team plans to adapt their system into a novel, eco-friendly furnace that can melt glass within seconds. The researchers were recently awarded a US$1.5 million grant by the Department of Energy to investigate just such a possibility.

The video below illustrates some of the challenges the team faced in developing their system.

Source: University of Arizona

Nanosheet catalyst brings a hydrogen economy one step closer to reality

2012-07-27T08:06:00.000-07:00

Wei-Fu Chen examines the atomic structure of the platinum alternative electrocatalyst

Harnessing the power of hydrogen gas presents one of the most promising options available for obtaining a large-scale sustainable energy solution. However, there are numerous and significant challenges present in the production of pure hydrogen, one of the most prominent of which is the high costs associated with the use of rare and expensive chemical elements such as platinum. Accordingly, the team at the Brookhaven National Laboratory set out to create a catalyst with high activity and low costs, that could facilitate the production of hydrogen as a high-density, clean energy source.

The key component in the production of pure hydrogen is one of the most abundant elements on the planet. Water provides a cheap and plentiful source and is free of harmful greenhouse gas by-products. Electrolysis, or the splitting of water (H2O) into oxygen (O2) and hydrogen (H2), requires an external source of electricity and an efficient catalyst. It's the latter of these that causes the difficulties.

An effective catalyst has to combine high catalytic activity, high durability and high surface area. The most effective material for use as the catalyst for electrolysis is platinum: a highly expensive commodity. The rising cost of platinum (currently around US$50,000 per kilogram) has gone a long way to discouraging widespread investment in the production of hydrogen gas.

However, the high cost isn't the only issue associated with use of the rare element. James Muckerman, senior chemist on the project, said “People love platinum, but the limited global supply not only drives up price, but casts doubt on its long-term viability ... There may not be enough of it to support a global hydrogen economy”.

Creating an alternative to platinum presents a significant challenge. The strength of an element's bond to hydrogen determines its level of reaction – too strong and the initial activity will poison the catalyst, too weak and there is little or no activity. “We needed to create high, stable activity by combining one non-noble element that binds hydrogen too weakly with another that binds too strongly," said Muckerman.

Magnification of the nickel-molybdenum-nitride catalyst, detailing the unexpected nanosheet structure

The new catalyst is initially made up of nickel and metallic molybdenum, but the resulting compound is still unable to match the performance levels of platinum. To solve this issue, nitrogen is introduced through a complicated procedure in which the compound is subjected to a high-temperature ammonia environment. This process infuses the nickel-molybdenum with the nitrogen, but also produces an unexpected result.

Nitrogen has been used for similar applications in the past, but only for bulk materials, or objects larger than one micrometer. When applying the element for use on nanoscale materials, with dimensions measuring billionths of a meter, the reaction transformed the resulting compound into unexpected two-dimensional nanosheets. These structures provide highly accessible reactive sites, and therefore more reacting potential. The paper's lead author, Wei-Fu Chen, comments on the resulting compound, stating that “Nitrogen has made a huge difference – it expanded the lattice of nickel-molybdenum, increased its electron density, made an electronic structure approaching that of noble metals, and prevented corrosion."

The Brookhaven National Laboratory research team

The combined cost of the components required for the compound is about one one-thousandth that of platinum, but with a comparable (though slightly lower) performance level. The production process is also simple and scalable, making it viable for industrial applications.

Although this new compound falls short of providing a complete solution to the multi-faceted challenge of creating affordable hydrogen gas, it does provide a significant reduction in the cost of the required materials. “We needed to figure out fundamental approaches that could potentially be game-changing, and that's the spirit in which we're doing this work," said Muckerman. "It's about coming up with a new paradigm that will guide future research”.

It's all about fundamental exploration, without which the surprising discovery of the nanosheet structure would never have been made.

Source: Brookhaven National Laboratory

What is Chitika PPC(Pay-per-click) program? Is Chitika affiliate PPC program better than Google adsense?

2012-07-26T09:45:00.000-07:00

Many of you may be well aware of Google adsense affiliate program which is the market-leader in PPC(pay-per-click) affiliate marketing. However, many of you may not be aware of "Chitika" PPC affiliate program which is closely following Google adsense. Google AdSense and Chitika are the current two top players in the PPC advertising market.

Started in 2003, Chitika (pronounced as CHIH-tih-ka), is a full-service on-line advertising network serving over 2 billion monthly impressions across more than 30,000 websites.Chitika has been named one of the leading private technology companies in North America by Red Herring. It is also one of the top 100 private companies in North east.

In the last few years, Chitika has been growing incredibly as a popular PPC program around the globe due to its overall features, and affiiate- friendliness. Several people are making thousands of dollars through the Chitika affiliate program.

Chitika is currently Google adsense's close rival, and their pay per click rate has been considerably higher than that of Google Adsense. Further, their eMiniMall ads are different from Google AdSense text ads in a number of ways.

1.Chitika eMinimall ads contain product pictures and hence, they can target specific products.
2.Visitors can search for competitive products on your website without leaving the page.
3.Publishers have the option to control the context sensitive keywords.
4.Unlike Google adsense, new pages with low click-thru rates (CTR) are not penalized.
5. Chitika has a Chitika affiliate program for publishers to recruit new members.

Chitika ads can run on the same page as Google adsense.

Another significant way of earning money through Chitika is their referral program, through you’ll get 10% of what your referral gets. Chitika outperforms Google Adsense in some cases. The CTR(click-through-rate) is also outstanding . Chitika will make payment 30 days following the end of the month provided that your total revenue has exceeded $10 (for PayPal).

However, Chitika does have a significant disadvantage. Since Chitika ads look much more like actual advertisements than AdSense ads, the CTR of Chitika eMiniMalls is considerably lower when compared with AdSense.

Chitika ads are a wonderful source of income if you are planning to implement them newly on your webpages, or maximize your revenue in addition to Google Adsense.

Ten Unusual Shapes For Mobile Phones

2012-07-26T08:59:00.000-07:00

The form factor of your cellphone is quite a defining factor on whether you approve of it or not. The grip, the interface and accessibility, all depend on this. Here is a re-cap of the Ten Most Unusual Shapes For Mobile Phones.

10) Nokia 888 Mobile Phone by Tamer Nakisci

A wiggly worm or a bracelet, you choose its form!

9) Tarati – Touchless Cellphone by Nonobject

No keys on this phone, just poke your stubby fingers through the holes to dial the numbers, fat fingers…watchout!

8 ) The Brix by Seokwon Hong

Long before someone thought of the tablets, designer Seokwon Hong gave us a taste of prime screen space with this concept. It just whetted our appetite for more, only difference is that we don’t need multiple faces to seamlessly connect, just a single iPhone-esque piece will do.

7) Soft Mobile Phone Concept by Roman Kriheli

Reminds me of a puffer fish more than anything else! It just bloats up!

6) Dial Phone by Jung Dae Hoon

Jewelry, retro , projector mish-mash!

5) Mobile Script Phone by Aleksandr Mukomelov

Like a script that opens up to unveil the secrets, the OLED screen unfurls and becomes your playground.

4) “_______” by Marc Schömann

This phone was probably heavily influenced by Dan Brown!

3) Soft Phone by Qian Jiang

Cotton Candy of a phone; It’s a series of discs with electronic fabric stretched in between! Unique in shape and materials.

2) Wearable Mobile Phone by Sunman Kwon

How many times have you used your fingers to dial a number, now how about using them for a keypad?

1) Moto Concept by Joseph Liang

This has to be the cutest looking phone EVER! A total DOLL!

Sony Xperia 'Mint' leaked and reviewed: 4.3-inch (?) HD screen, 13MP camera, 1.5GHz S4 processor

2012-07-26T08:41:00.000-07:00

While we've been fussing over the Xperia GX (aka the LT29i), it seems Sony's been working on something one integer higher. Mobile-review has published a run-down of a device it claims is called the LT30p -- aka the Mint we first heard of back in January -- which also appears to possess many of the specs we'd want from a high-end phone. The front side hosts a 1280 x 720 4.3-inch LCD, while the rear boasts the same 13-megapixel camera as the GX, and there's a microSD slot on the side too. Internally, Mobile-review says ICS is running off a 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 with 1GB of RAM and 16GB of storage, which all sounds healthy enough -- but since the build quality looks a bit suspect and we don't know for sure that this is a final production handset, we'll wait for IFA fever to paint a fuller picture.

Update: Although Mobile-review says it has a 4.3-inch screen, a side-by-side photo with the GS III after the break suggests the Mint's panel may be slightly larger than that.

Hands-on with the Nikon D800

2012-07-26T08:06:00.000-07:00

Photography enthusiasts all over have one dream when it comes to hardware, and that’s to own a full-frame sensor camera. They’re way more

Photography enthusiasts all over have one dream when it comes to hardware, and that is to own a full-frame sensor camera. They are way more expensive than standard DSLR cameras. A modern full-frame camera designed for professionals sells at over 3 lakh rupees, about 10 times more than a regular DSLR camera. Fortunately, a handful of models break the price barrier. One of them is the Nikon D700, which was launched in 2008. Four years, on a new model, the D800 has been released. We used the D800 for a while and put together a quick hands-on review of the product.

Features and hardware specs
The old D700 came with a 12.3 MP sensor good for its time. Nikon has now bumped it up with the D800 supporting a resolution of 36.3 MP. The resolution is also much greater than that of the D4, but the D4 is in a league of its own, considering its performance and features. The shutter speed is also quite impressive, ranging from 1/8000th of a second down to 30 seconds. The Burst speed mode shoots at 4 frames per second (fps).

The input and output ports on the left side of the Nikon D800

The D800 features many improvements over other cameras. While most DSLRs offer exposure enhancement levels of upto +/-2 EV, the D800 offers +/- 5EV. Unlike the D4, the D800 sports a flash. A separate flash control button lets you choose the kind of flashing, without going through the complicated menus. There are two memory slots; one is an SD card slot, the other a Compact Flash (CF) one. Two things of the D4 you don’t get with the D800 is the smaller lower display and the vertical shutter release.

Design and controls
The D800 isn’t as massive as the D4. One benefit of using the D800 is that is only slightly larger in size than a regular DSLR. The controls are also fewer and using it isn’t very complicated. Not all the aspects of the camera have been picked up from the D700; some components come from the D4.

The controls display on the top

For example, the mode selection is done via the left dial, which is almost identical to the D4. There is a control button and a small dial that can be turned to choose from among the basic shooting modes such as timer, single shot, and burst mode. Four primary controls for the ISO, bracketing, quality settings and white balance can also be found on this dial, at the top as buttons. This means that there is hardly any need to browse through menus to select controls; it can be done in seconds. The eyepiece on the camera appears massive. A small slider dial lets you put on a protective cover over the eyepiece.

User interface
The large screen has a good resolution. There are plenty of menus and options visible on the screen. Existing Nikon DSLR users won’t find it difficult to get used to the interface and controls. There are a few unique options, though. For example, users can choose to shoot at FX or at cropped regions of 1.2x and 1.5x. There is also a 5:4 aspect ratio option. A Vignette control is present. An Auto distortion control helps reduce warping of images.

The large screen and simple controls layout

There are not many controls and features for video recording. Users can choose the resolution, frame rate, frame quality, and the memory card in which you’d like to dump them. This means that you won’t risk running out of space while shooting photos or videos in quick succession. The organization of media can be simplified too. The Manage Picture Control option lets you modify existing shooting presets and save those as separate custom presets.

Performance
The D800 is very fast. Focussing takes no more than half a second in almost all conditions, indoors and outdoors. A quick focus button helps you focus without having to half press the shutter release button. We received the camera with a Nikon 50 mm AF-S lens, which supports autofocus.

Sample photo shot indoors with little light

It has a really wide aperture of F/1.8, which boosts the performance in low lighting conditions. Image quality is great, colours are natural. Low-light performance is impressive.

Another example of low-light photography

Verdict

The D800 sample we received, came with a 50mm lens

The D800 is a worthy successor to the D700, but it's costlier as well. The body, for example, sells at a price of Rs. 149,950 in India. If you're looking for a somewhat affordable full-frame DSLR, then the D800 is for you. We hope to take a closer look at the D800 in the near future, when we do a more thorough review of the product.

The new R8 V10 Plus represents the pinnacle of Audi’s halo supercar

2012-07-25T07:16:00.000-07:00

In the seven years since Audi launched the R8, the automaker has kept their flagship sports car fresh by adding the roofless Spyder, the V10 and GT models, but this is the first time the lineup has been given a proper going over.Highlights of the revamped 2013 R8 range include subtle cosmetic tweaks, the addition of a 7-speed S-tronic dual clutch transmission across the range (replacing the awkward 6-speed automated manual R tronic), and a new range-topping V10 Plus model.

Squint and you can just about make out a revamped fascia with new LED headlamps, and a six-point single-frame grille with horizontal chrome inserts that dress the struts of the V10 model.At the rear, the refreshed R8 boasts a redesigned bumper, a new set of LED taillights, a new R8 logo, restyled diffuser, air outlets with a trio of slats on each corner and two new round tailpipes. Interior changes are limited to modifications to the shift paddles, needles in the instrument cluster and trim. Diamond-stitched leather seats, door panels and headlining are offered as an additional option.

The new seven-speed S-tronic transmission is the main talking point of the refresh. Utilizing two multi-plate clutches, gears are shifted directly, resulting in seamless shifts that take mere hundredths of a second to complete. The six-speed manual remains an option for purists.

The R8 V8 coupe with S tronic sprints from 0-62 mph in 4.3 seconds, topping out at 186mph, while the R8 V10 with S tronic completes the sprint in 3.6 seconds and has a top speed of 195 mph.New brake discs reduces weight by 2 kg, and the facelifted R8 rides on larger 18-inch alloys for the V8 and 19-inch rims for the V10 models.Enthusiasts will be most enthused, however, by the new R8 V10 Plus, pictured here in matte blue. Taking its name from Audi's latest Le Mans racecars, the R8 Plus packs a tweaked version of the 5.2-liter V10 with 550 horsepower and 398 lb-ft of torque.

Essentially replacing the limited-edition R8 GT model, the new flagship is offered (at least at first) solely in coupe form and - equipped with the new dual-clutch gearbox - hits highway speeds in just 3.5 seconds en route to an increased top speed of 197 mph.Further distinguishing the V10 Plus are carbon fiber splitter, mirror housings, wider side blades and air vents, as well as special 19-inch lightweight alloys and a larger rear diffuser. Carbon-ceramic brakes, specially tuned springs and shocks, adaptive magnetic damping and LED lighting for the engine compartment complete the package.

European customers will receive the overhauled Audi R8 by the end of the year, with prices starting at 113,000 Euros for the V8 coupe, 124,800 Euros for the Spyder, and 154,600 Euros and 165,900 Euros for the V10 variants, while the R8 V10 Plus comes in at 173,200 Euros. US deliveries of the revised R8 are expected at the start of the year.

15 Things White Girls Love To Do on Facebook

2012-07-25T05:48:00.000-07:00

1. Take pictures of their feet.

This is what our feet look like!

2. Express their extreme annoyance at this work day today and hint that it deserves a much needed alcoholic beverage at the end of it. WINK WINK.

3. Thank their hubby for being the best hubby in the world while their hubby is sitting right next to them.

4. Complain about bad service at restaurants. “Never eating at Applebee’s AGAIN!”

5. Express their extreme excitement to see their best friends tonight, Brintney, Whitney, and Sarah!!! Love YOU GIRLS!!

6. Take pictures wearing a lot of makeup and looking really preppy while simultaneously making a “hard” facial expression and holding up what they consider to be a gangster sign. Potential caption: ‘Straight thuggin.’

We're hard!!!

7. Take pictures of undeserving food.

I effing love oatmeal!!! Mmmmmmm.

8. Make their status the song lyrics of any Kings of Leon Song.

9. Take a picture of someone they deem inferior to themselves in some way with the question: Really?

10. Write angry letters to companies (Dear EZ PARK, I hate you!), unorganized groups of people (Dear slutty freshmen who think that leggings can be worn as pants..), and non-entities (Dear unseasonably cold weather, WTF?!)

11. Subtly yell at no one in particular while being very specific. “Wow, it’s hard to believe that you think you know someone and then they turn around and STAB YOU IN THE BACK. Will never make that mistake again. EVER.”

12. Document exceedingly mundane activites for the day. “Getting my oil changed today. Then getting much needed groceries. Then it’s off to the post office to mail some bills. Then stopping by the gyno. Will probably need some gas by the end, so I may stop at the gas station. But I might be tired so I’ll probably just get it in the morning on my way to pick up a prescription. But if I’m not very tired I’ll probably just get the gas on the way home. Again, unless I am tired.”

13. Express their distaste for facebook on facebook and threaten to leave facebook to their facebook friends.

14. Ask seemingly rhetorical questions. “It’s cool to do a bunch of meth and babysit 20 six year olds, right?”

15. Write a status in another language. Parce que, Je suis tres intelligente!!