After a bit of odd UPS tracking behavior, that saw my Apple Watch order move from PA to NJ and back to PA on Thursday, I finally did receive my package on Friday morning as promised. I must have been the first delivery of the surprisingly heavy and long box for the delivery driver because, even though he knew it was from Apple, he had no idea what they were and why he had over a dozen on his truck.

All Apple Watch Sport models come in a long rectangular box where as Apple Watch and Apple Watch Edition models come in higher end square boxes. Although lower end, the Apple Watch Sport packaging is still very nice with an embossed outer white cardboard box containing a white plastic case for the actual Watch (with “Watch Sport” embossed into felt on the underside of the lid), a sleeve containing the S/M size fluoroelastomer band, charging puck, USB A/C adapter and a "Welcome to Apple Watch" quick start guide.

After I removed the protective film from the Watch, I was surprised at how light and small the 42mm version was. The pictures and videos on Apples website doesn’t do it justice. Where it looked big and bulbous in pictures, it felt like an average watch on my wrist. It doesn’t feel or look large at all.

I was just as surprised at the quality of the fluoroelastomer band. The white one I got is silky smooth and very flexible. Securing it on my wrist the first couple of times was a bit fiddly, but it gets easier with practice. It feels very nice against my skin all day long with no abrasion or stuck hairs. 

I’ve already ordered the black version of the band and would love to have a classic leather strap as well, but at $150 from Apple, I’ll wait a little longer for some less expensive 3rd party leather straps to come along. I expect the 3rd party Watch band market to be huge.

The Watch was already turned on, so I was greeted with a very fuzzy looking sphere on the screen. This is Apples version of a QR code and you use it to link your new Watch to your iPhone. I simply launched the Apple Watch app on my iPhone, clicked “Start Pairing” and held the Watch up to the iPhones camera.

There are a few remaining questions that the iPhone brings you through to finish setup and then the Watch takes a couple minutes to sync. After that, it’s probably a good idea to head on over to Apples website to view some guided tours on using your Apple Watch for the first time. You can also view them in the Apple Watch app on your iPhone in the “Explore” tab. They are extremely helpful and will take some of the guesswork out of using a brand new UI.

Since I’d already watched the videos as they were revealed over the past couple of weeks, I just jumped right into using the Watch. I noticed right away that the native Watch apps are pretty quick, but 3rd party apps (that currently only run off the iPhone) are a bit sluggish. Will be nice to have 3rd party apps right on the Watch come later this year.

It’s also fairly obvious that most of these 3rd party apps were developed on the built-in simulator that comes with Xcode. I’m looking forward to a rush of app updates once developers start to get their hands on actual Watches to fine tune their apps. I’m also looking forward to (hopefully) a steady stream of Apple Watch OS updates from Apple over the coming weeks and months.

The built-in watch faces are ok and customizing them is actually kind of fun, but I am hoping for some more watch faces soon. Really hoping Apple can open this up to 3rd party watch faces (approved through the App Store or course). I would actually love to design one.

Notifications are easy to turn on and off. Took me a few hours to realize all I really needed for notifications to my Watch were texts, one email account and Twitter mentions/DMs. The “Time to Stand” notification got old real fast so I turned that off. Especially after I received the notification numerous times while I was already standing up!

I listen to quite a few podcasts during the day, so being able to play and pause podcasts without reaching into my pocket for my iPhone every time was a dream. Apples “Now Playing” glance worked every time. I simply brought my wrist up, swiped up and hit pause. I installed Overcast on the Watch so finding and playing podcasts is quick and easy.

I received a couple of phone calls through the Watch, but I don’t like talking via speakerphone so I still reached for my iPhone. Phone calls are rare now a days so this doesn’t really concern me. 

Using Siri to respond to texts so far has been working fine. Sometimes there is a bit of a delay between when you stop talking and the words show up on the screen and I do wish Siri spoke to you as it does on iPhone. That audio feedback would be nice.

A couple of things surprised me after the first 24 hours with Apple Watch. First, the Watch reduced the amount of times I retrieved my iPhone from my pocket a good 80%. Between text, email, and Twitter notifications, I never realized how much I was just glancing at my iPhone day in and day out. With the Watch, it’s so much easier to respond via your wrist either by using Siri or the handy built in responses.

Second, the battery life was amazing. My Watch was at about 72% battery life when I first took it out of the case. By the time I was in bed, it was only down to 37% when I attached the magnetic charger. And that was after a full 12 hours of constantly playing with a brand new device. The second day, after a full recharge overnight and still an above average amount of playing with the Watch, it was only down to 61%. Impressive.

Here is a handy trick. After you take your Watch off for the night, simply re-secure the band like it was on your wrist and sit it up on your night stand to charge. A great solution until charging dock start shipping (I've already pre-ordered the Spigen Watch Stand).

Since the 3rd party apps are running off the iPhone (for now), I did notice a bit of a hit on my iPhone battery usage, but nothing drastic. I would usually plug it in at night with about 35% battery left. The past couple of nights its been down around 25%.

For a 1.0 device, Apple has truly impressed me. Over the coming weeks I’m sure things will be in a constant state of flux with both Apple and 3rd party developers releasing updates to smooth some of the edges and quicken things up a bit.

Looking back at how some of Apples previous devices have evolved, iPod, iPhone, iPad, MacBook, I’m very excited as to the evolution of the Apple Watch over the coming years.  This is a device that would fit perfectly into Apples current philosophy of “thinner is better”. Can’t wait.

Twenty-two years ago, the McLaren F1's time of 3.2 seconds to 60 mph was the technological redline of what a mad genius Grand Prix designer could conjure from a road car. I tested one back in the day, and although it was at a closed airstrip encircled by acres of table-flat run-off room, it was among the most shattering few seconds of my life. One moment everything was still; the next, the cabin had exploded in a maniacal machine racket. The tach needle swept clockwise, the clutch pedal fought my left foot's stabs, the shifter pinballed through its detents, the V-12 engine charged through its revs again, my right foot feared staying planted but did anyway, everything shook, and I just hung the hell on as the world melted into a smear. Exhale. Launch one of Musk's Falcon 9 rockets horizontally, and you'll get the idea.

But scrambling to the same 60 mph time in the P85D bears no resemblance to that at all. With one transmission gear and no head-bobbing shifts, it's instead a rail-gun rush down a quarter-mile of asphalt bowling lane. Nothing in the drivetrain reciprocates; every part spins. There's no exhaust smell; the fuel is invisible. The torque impacts your body with the violence of facing the wrong way on the train tracks when the whistle blows. Within the first degree of its first revolution, 100 percent of the motors' combined 687 lb-ft slams the sense out of you. A rising-pitch ghost siren augers into your ears as you're not so much accelerating as pneumatically suctioned into the future. You were there. Now you're here.

I am a German car fanatic. I want to drive and own as many as I can before I die. GTI's, RS's, M's, 911's,  I want them all. Over the past couple of years though, Tesla has really caught my eye, especially with the announcement of their new Model 3 sedan coming after the Model X crossover. If it's actually the same size as a BMW 3-series with the performance of the Model S, count me in.

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]]>iPhoneChris NeumanThu, 13 Nov 2014 16:12:26 +0000http://9to5mac.com/2014/11/12/staples-apple-pay-retail/52fd3924e4b095b640968182:53002d28e4b04a4825505bf0:5464d5cae4b0bb89e3fda7f2Zac Hall for 9to5Mac:

Staples shared in an announcement today that it is now accepting Apple Pay transactions at its “over 1,200 stores” in the United States for iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus users. Apple Pay, of course, will also be available for iPhone 5, iPhone 5c, and iPhone 5s users starting next year when paired with the upcoming Apple Watch. Apple included Staples in its list of retail partners when announcing its secure mobile payment service, although Apple noted that support would be “coming later this year” from the retailer as it was available in time for last month’s launch.

An odd announcement since Staples was the first store I tried out Apple Pay with the day iOS 8.1 came out and it worked fine. They've been accepting it since day one.

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]]>AutosChris NeumanThu, 09 Oct 2014 19:05:55 +0000http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/jay-leno-nears-deal-launch-73912052fd3924e4b095b640968182:53002d28e4b04a4825505bf0:5436da18e4b0b5cde8b926baMatthew Belloni for The Hollywood Reporter:

Leno is close to a deal to host a new show for cable network CNBC, sources tell The Hollywood Reporter. The show will focus on Leno's longtime love of cars and will air in primetime, not late night.

Landing Leno is a coup for CNBC. The network, known for financial news, has been trying to broaden its viewership by airing reality shows like The Profit and Restaurant Startup in primetime. Its biggest draw is reruns of financial game show Shark Tank, which have performed very well for the network.

I was never a fan of Leno's Tonight Show but I've been watching Jay Leno's Garage for the past couple of years and I really enjoy it. Looking forward to this on TV.

I also think it's rather sad that CNBC's biggest draw is reruns of ABC's The Shark Tank.

Update: 10/15/14

According to Jalopnik, Jay Leno's new series on CNBC has been comfirmed:

Confirming the rumors that Jay Leno is coming back to television, Jay Leno told The Today Show that his popular "Jay Leno's Garage" series is coming to CNBC for a weekly, hourlong show.

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]]>AppleiPadChris NeumanThu, 09 Oct 2014 16:17:49 +0000http://www.infinitestatic.com/post/2014/10/9/next-apple-event-set-for-october-16th52fd3924e4b095b640968182:53002d28e4b04a4825505bf0:5436b0eae4b06e878ccd772eHere we go again.

Apple sent out invitations to a select few in the media for an event to be held next Thursday in the Town Hall auditorium at their campus in Cupertino. The event will begin at 10:00 AM PST/1:00 PM EST.

This seems to be the usual October iPad event with the possibility of new Macs (I have cash burning a hole in my pocket for a Retina MacBook Air) and maybe even the release of iOS 8.1 which would finally allow iPhone 6 users to start using Pay.

I've been waiting for this iPhone for a very long time. So much so that, in August of last year, growing overly impatient for a bigger phone, I actually jumped ship and purchased an HTC One Google Play edition.

The hardware was gorgeous and the screen brilliant but, after a week of use, I was getting sick of Android fighting me at every turn. So I learned my lesson, returned the HTC One and went back to my iPhone 5 (then upgraded to the 5S a few weeks later).

Fast forward to early 2014 and the iPhone 6 leaks start trickling out of China. It finally seemed like my perfect iPhone would soon be in reach. It was a long summer of anticipation until, finally, Apple held their iPhone event on the 9th of September.

Like thousands of other eager iPhone buyers after the event, I printed off and cut up an iPhone 6 and 6 Plus PDF file to get a good idea as to the size of each phone (I pasted mine on a piece of corrugated cardboard to get a feel of the thickness as well).

I had the brief idea of ditching my iPad mini and going straight to an iPhone 6 Plus as my only device. I mainly use my iPad mini to read text and even though the 5.5" screen of the 6 Plus would be a bit smaller, reading text would still be ok with the help of the higher dpi screen. But after carrying around the cardboard mock-up for a few hours I decided it really wasn't the size for me because:

1. It was too big to use as a personal computing device that's on me at all times (mostly in my front pocket) like the way I've used every iPhone since 2007.
2. It was too small to watch Netflix and HBOGO content on, which is what I use my iPad mini for about 30% of the time.

With my decision made, I set my alarm for 3am on the morning of the 12th to place a pre-order for a 64GB Space Gray iPhone 6.

There are many brilliant in-depth reviews of the iPhone 6 online so I'm not going to fuss over tech specs and millimeters. Here I wanted to post about some specific aspects of the new iPhone that impressed me the most after a week of use.

Hardware

Taking the iPhone 6 out of its (very minimalist) box for the first time, I was in awe at how thin it was. You can read dimensions all day long but nothing compares to actually holding the device in your hands. To think of the engineering brilliance that went into this sliver of a device is mind blowing. It felt delicate yet robust and solid at the same time.

This is my first black device since the iPhone 4 and the Space Gray is just gorgeous. The curved glass edges add a jewel like quality to the display when turned off and the display itself is a nice step up from the iPhone 5S. Other than the fact it's larger at 4.7", the display seems brighter with slightly better viewing angles. Here's hoping for a curved glass edge display in the next iPads.

The thinness of the device along with the weight being distributed over a larger area creates this illusion of lightness which continues to fool me every time I take it out of my pocket. It is heavier than my 5S, according to the specs, but damned if I can tell.

And speaking of my old 5S, Apple continues with their unearthly ability to make the last generation iPhone look unhip and old the second a new one is released. The 5S's screen now feels massively cramped and the hard edges are just plain insulting to the hand.

Camera

The pixel count may not have changed over the past few years, but that doesn't stop Apple from doing extraordinary things with only 8 MP. I've found the iPhone 6's auto focus to be super fast and very smart in both photo and video modes. Low light images are brighter and sharper with less noise than before too.

The 240fps slow-mo video mode is true genius. It captures so much detail in fast situations that you think you missed the shot, but then you see the replay and everything is there crisp and smooth.

After a week of use, I don't even notice the camera bulge. 

Reachability

When I saw this feature announced at the September Event keynote, I thought of it as gimmicky and something that iPhone 6 Plus owners would use with their larger phones. I was dead wrong. I've been using the crap out of Reachability over the past week.

I've also come to realize how handy it is to just swipe from left to right to go back. I didn't use it much on the iPhone 5S because 1) it was easier to reach the top left corner with my thumb and 2) the hard edge of the 5S created interference with the swipe (have I mentioned how much I love the rounded glass corners of the 6?).

There are still many apps that use a "Close" or "<" button in the top left corner to dismiss a web view or to go back. With the larger iPhone 6, those buttons are now out of reach and now takes two taps of the Home button to initiate Reachability, then a tap of the top left button to dismiss. I'm hoping that once developers get their iPhone 6 units for testing we will start to see more swipe gestures and less Reachability with future app updates.

iOS 8

I've been using iOS 8 beta since June and watching it mature over the past few months has been, let's just say, not boring. Couple that with brand new hardware and things will need some tweaking over the next few weeks to iron out problems.  Case in point: iOS 8.0.1 was released a couple days ago introducing more problems than it solved. That was quickly resolved last night with the release of iOS 8.0.2, which is working fine for me so far.

Even though iOS 8 still looks like iOS 7 (and it's drastic visual overhaul completed only 12 months ago), the fact is it's a massive upgrade giving developers considerably more access to deeper parts of the OS and hardware than ever before. Extensibility is going to be a very big deal as well as HomeKit and HealthKit integration once developers start taking advantage of them. Also using TouchID for 3rd party apps is a welcome addition.

I also love when new hardware is released with a new OS at the same time because the "newness" of the device doesn't disappear as quickly as, say, an "S" upgrade. We will continue to see new and exciting apps developed specifically for these new larger devices with iOS 8 and it will be like Christmas morning every time the App Store icon shows updates ready to be installed.

Conclusion

I've loved every minute with this iPhone 6. I can't really make any claim as to battery life compared to the 5S because I find I'm using the 6 much more. I continue to read articles and watch YouTube videos on it rather than send to my iPad mini for later viewing. I reply to more emails and even write short blog posts because the keyboard is easier to type on rather than forwarding to my MacBook Air. And, of course, playing with every new app that comes out for it.

This is, without a doubt, the iPhone I've been waiting all these years for and after hearing the news that Apple sold over 10 million units over the course of opening weekend, I would say I'm not the only one who's patiently waited.

Apple is officially responding to the "bendgate" controversy. Today the company told CNBC and other media outlets including The Verge that despite an uproar that's emerged online and in the media this week, it has received only nine complaints from customers who've had an iPhone 6 Plus bend through normal use. Apple says the problem is "extremely rare" and is pointing to the design of iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus as proof that the company took several steps to prevent bending or any permanent deformations. Both models feature steel / titanium inserts meant to reinforce potential stress points, Apple says, and the company also highlights its "ion-strengthened" glass screens as another design element that should keep iPhones from bending out of shape.

Overblown.

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]]>AppleiPhoneChris NeumanMon, 22 Sep 2014 16:03:35 +0000http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2014/09/22First-Weekend-iPhone-Sales-Top-10-Million-Set-New-Record.html52fd3924e4b095b640968182:53002d28e4b04a4825505bf0:54203d23e4b042b085c6da00Tim Cook:

“Sales for iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus exceeded our expectations for the launch weekend, and we couldn’t be happier,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “We would like to thank all of our customers for making this our best launch ever, shattering all previous sell-through records by a large margin. While our team managed the manufacturing ramp better than ever before, we could have sold many more iPhones with greater supply and we are working hard to fill orders as quickly as possible.”

I can't imagine the logistics of this type of product rollout.

Three nights after the launch, people are still camping out in front of Apple Stores in Boston. Unreal.

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]]>iPhoneiOSChris NeumanFri, 30 May 2014 14:26:25 +0000http://www.macrumors.com/2014/05/29/iphone-6-back-cover/52fd3924e4b095b640968182:53002d28e4b04a4825505bf0:53889090e4b09e20aac7f655I usually don't report on rumors, but I found this one rather interesting.

MacRumors is reporting (from a post on MacFixIt Australia) on an alleged leaked image of the back cover to the iPhone 6. They mention that this back cover is supposedly for the rumored 4.7" version and also point out the cutouts for the camera and flash near the top.

But what I found interesting is that there is no mention of the quite obvious cutout of the Apple logo. Leaked images of all previous iPhones (that have turned out to be real) have never shown Apple logo cutouts.

Is the iPhone 6 actually going to have a glowing Apple logo like the MacBooks?

What I'm really hoping for is the logo to glow or even "breath" (like a MacBook in sleep mode) to indicate a missed notification. That would be tremendously handy.

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]]>AutosChris NeumanSun, 13 Apr 2014 02:06:55 +0000http://www.autoblog.com/2014/04/11/2014-mini-john-cooper-works-countryman-all4-review-quick-spin/52fd3924e4b095b640968182:53002d28e4b04a4825505bf0:5349f14be4b0dd40982ec3b9Seyth Miersma for AutoBlog:

Now, add the expensive John Cooper Works package to the Countryman's already niche goodies list, and Mini starts to lose me. So, I'm getting the softer suspended, taller, generally less dynamically joyful version of the brand's core values, but now you're charging me at least $35,000 ($13k more expensive than the basic, front-drive Cooper Countryman and $7k more than the MSRP of the Cooper S All4 version)? What's that? You're going to make it look like a garish, tippy-toed tuner car in the process? Take my money. [...]

Black stripe package ($500), black headlamp surrounds with Xenon lamps ($600), 19-inch wheels ($750), leather seats with red piping ($2,000), flat load floor in hatch ($250), chrome line interior ($250), tech package with navi ($2,250), premium pack with dual sunroof ($1,250), cold weather pack ($750). Sorry for the list; that's what it'll take to make your JCW Countryman ring up for almost $43k, as mine did.

$43,000? Are you kidding me?

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]]>Related TechChris NeumanMon, 24 Feb 2014 03:15:00 +0000http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-02-22/ford-said-to-swap-blackberry-s-qnx-for-microsoft-in-sync-system.html52fd3924e4b095b640968182:53002d28e4b04a4825505bf0:530ab828e4b01ddda83b99aaCraig Trudell and Jeff Green for Bloomberg:

Ford Motor Co., struggling with in-car technology flaws, will base the next-generation Sync system on BlackBerry Ltd.’s QNX and no longer use Microsoft Corp.’s Windows, according to people briefed on the matter.

Using QNX will be less expensive than licensing Microsoft technology and will improve the flexibility and speed of the next Sync system, said the people, who declined to be identified because the decision hasn’t been made public. Ford has more than 7 million vehicles on the road with Sync using Microsoft voice-activated software to make mobile-phone calls and play music.

This just doesn't seem to be Microsoft's year.  

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]]>DetourChris NeumanSat, 22 Feb 2014 20:39:40 +0000http://www.latimes.com/food/dailydish/la-dd-girl-scout-sells-cookies-pot-clinic-20140221,0,174680.story#axzz2u4jxAH7j52fd3924e4b095b640968182:53002d28e4b04a4825505bf0:53090b18e4b035db71716e9eJenn Harris for the LA Times:

On Monday, Danielle Lei and her mother set up shop outside the Green Cross store with the cookies. With the store's blessing, Lei sold 117 boxes in two hours. 

Holli Bert, a spokeswoman for the Green Cross, said that after just 45 minutes, Lei had to call for backup cookies to replenish her stock.

Brilliance.

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]]>Related TechChris NeumanSat, 22 Feb 2014 20:26:29 +0000http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-02-22/microsoft-said-to-cut-windows-price-70-to-counter-rivals.html52fd3924e4b095b640968182:53002d28e4b04a4825505bf0:53090802e4b096bf489daa55Tim Culpan and Dina Bass for Bloomberg:

Manufacturers will be charged $15 to license Windows 8.1 and preinstall it on devices that retail for less than $250, instead of the usual fee of $50, said the people, who asked not to be named because the details aren’t public. The discount will apply to any products that meet the price limit, with no restrictions on the size or type of device, the people said.

Stronger competition from Apple Inc. (AAPL) and Google cut revenue last quarter at Microsoft’s devices and consumer licensing division, which includes Windows software, as the computer industry posted its biggest annual decline on record. By offering incentives for PC makers to sell cheaper models, Microsoft may be able to increase its share of the growing $80 billion tablet market and stave off Chromebooks, notebooks that run Google’s operating system.

Good luck with that.

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]]>AutosChris NeumanFri, 21 Feb 2014 02:51:21 +0000http://jalopnik.com/the-volkswagen-golf-gte-is-a-130-mpg-plug-in-hybrid-gti-152675687452fd3924e4b095b640968182:53002d28e4b04a4825505bf0:5306bf67e4b05512e6e801f1Máté Petrány for Jalopnik:

Following on the success of the new Golf GTI and GTD, Volkswagen is introducing an electrified version called the GTE. With a 1.4-liter 148 horsepower TSI engine and a 101 hp electric motor, it gives you a combined power of 201 hp and 258 lb-ft with remarkable mileage.

What I love about this setup (other than the instant torque an electric motor brings) is the fact that, on battery alone, you have a range of about 30 miles with a top speed of 81 MPH. Enough for the occasional spirited grocery run. Plus it only takes about 3.5 hours to fully recharge from a standard (I assume 220) wall outlet.

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]]>AutosChris NeumanFri, 21 Feb 2014 00:30:05 +0000http://www.infinitestatic.com/post/2014/2/20/audi-teases-new-2015-tt-in-sketches52fd3924e4b095b640968182:53002d28e4b04a4825505bf0:5306975ce4b03dd2ecdbef41I've always been a fan of the Audi TT and I'm looking forward to the third generation TT's official debut at the Geneva Auto Show in a couple of weeks. Looks like Audi was kind enough to tease us with some sketches until then.

2015 Audi TT Sketch

2015 Audi TT Sketch

Interesting story: All my life I've owned standard transmission cars until, in 2010, I had a chance to drive a new Audi TT with the brilliant DSG dual clutch transmission. I instantly fell in love with the millisecond gear shifts and the rev matching down shifts.

At the time the TT was a bit out of my price range, but the same transmission was to be had in the VW GTI with the same engine and chassis (minus the Quattro, higher end interior and about $15,000 in base price). I'm still driving that GTI and the DSG still brings a big ass grin to my face every time.

This is why I love reading quotes like this one from WhatsApp founder Jan Koum: “Marketing and press kicks up dust. It gets in your eye, and then you’re not focusing on the product.”

While there was a fight-to-the-death going on in the United States to control the mobile messaging space, WhatsApp seemed glad to focus on parts of the world like England and India. They saw what was working for them and they didn’t get distracted. They didn’t build apps for the Galaxy Gear or Google Glass, they built apps for Nokias and BlackBerrys. Why? Because that’s where their users were.

Such unsexy apps on dying platforms will ensure you absolutely no press. But they will ensure you a shit ton of users, apparently.

Hell, these guys were so anti-distraction that they apparently refused to even put up a company sign. “I can’t see a reason for there being a sign. It’s an ego boost. We all know where we work,” Koum told Olson. Amazing.

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]]>Related TechChris NeumanThu, 20 Feb 2014 02:41:48 +0000http://www.theverge.com/2014/2/19/5427332/facebook-is-buying-whatsapp52fd3924e4b095b640968182:53002d28e4b04a4825505bf0:53056b70e4b0291f04e67f4dChris Welch for The Verge:

Facebook has entered into an agreement to purchase WhatsApp, the massively popular messaging client, for $16 billion in cash and stock. A document filed with the SEC today confirms the huge purchase. As was the case with Instagram, the company says WhatsApp will continue to operate independently after the acquisition — separate from Facebook Messenger — but claims the deal "accelerates Facebook’s ability to bring connectivity and utility to the world." Facebook is also throwing in an extra $3 billion in restricted stock units that will go to WhatsApp’s employees; those will vest over a period of four years after the acquisition is finalized.

So that $3 Billion for SnapChat is now going to WhatsApp employees as restricted stock units?

Also, I give Messenger 8 months tops.

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]]>AutosChris NeumanMon, 17 Feb 2014 01:43:58 +0000http://www.infinitestatic.com/post/2014/2/16/the-perfection-of-a-ferrari-f1-pit-stop52fd3924e4b095b640968182:53002d28e4b04a4825505bf0:530176e8e4b006094c9475c3After watching the movie Senna, with its eternally long pit stops, this modern Ferrari F1 pit crew (of 21 people!) makes changing four tires in three seconds look like magic.

They're right.

I love my MKVI GTI, but I would grab a Scirocco in a heart beat if I could.

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]]>AutosChris NeumanTue, 28 Jan 2014 17:01:31 +0000http://jalopnik.com/porsches-first-car-found-after-being-left-in-a-shed-fo-150971944352fd3924e4b095b640968182:53002d28e4b04a4825505bf0:53002d35e4b04a4825505c75Máté Petrány for Jalopnik:

The first Porsche ever built has been untouched since 1902. Officially called the Egger-Lohner C.2 Phaeton, this electric car from 1898 has 'P1' engraved onto all of the key components standing for Porsche 1, done by the then 23-years old Ferdinand Porsche himself.

The P1 took to the streets of Vienna on June 26, 1898, making it one of the first vehicles registered in Austria. Porsche's first design included a compact electric drive weighing 286 pounds and offering an output of 3 hp, or up to 5 hp in overloading mode, allowing it to reach up to 22 mph. When driven in this manner, speed was regulated via a 12-speed controller.

The overall range could span up to 50 miles. Under the electric system was coachbuilder Lohner's alternating vehicle body, which allowed the vehicle to be used all year.

Fascinating!

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