Techniquake

Grand Theft Auto 5 outsold almost every game in January

noreply@blogger.com (Waleed Abd Elzaher) — Tue, 16 Feb 2016 13:00:00 +0000

Rockstar Games is reaping the rewards of keeping GTA Online fresh with things like heist missions and holiday-themed events for these past few years. Grand Theft Auto 5 was the number two selling game last month amid slowing console hardware sales, a bizarre fact considering it debuted almost two-and-a-half years ago.

September 2013, to be exact. Of course, that evergreen gateway to GTA Online's multiplayer has also benefitted from a staggered release starting on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, later coming to PC and then PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. Regardless, how crazy this is wasn't lost on the NPD Group's David Riley:

This is the third consecutive January where Grand Theft Auto V was a Top 5 title. Astonishingly, the game has moved up in ranking placement from fifth place in January 2014, to third in January 2015 and to the second-best selling game in January 2016.

In January alone, Rockstar's (online-and-off) crime simulator outsold last fall's heavyweights Star Wars Battlefront, Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Siege and Fallout 4. And it handily beat out Lego Marvel Avengers, which released last month and sits near the bottom of the sales charts.

The only game it couldn't topple was Call of Duty: Black Ops 3. But hell, when publisher Activision reports that after less than two months at retail its futuristic shooter was the top-selling console title (PDF) in 2015 even a juggernaut like GTA is going to have a hard time closing that gap. I'd be remiss to not mention that Minecraft did something similar last August, however, taking silver over GTA 5's fourth place finish. Still, this is incredibly rare.

The NPD Group famously doesn't record digital sales data from the likes of Steam or PlayStation Store, but Rockstar parent company Take Two Interactive recently revealed that to date, GTA V has sold over 60 million copies worldwide across all platforms.

The average is going to be a little off considering the game sold over 11 million copies in its first 24 hours, but it's like Rockstar has moved two million copies per month, every month, since its initial release. — Timothy J. Seppala

Airmail might be the perfect email app for your iPhone

noreply@blogger.com (Waleed Abd Elzaher) — Mon, 15 Feb 2016 13:00:00 +0000

Airmail is a well-known, well-received email client on Macs. But when you have a huge screen, keyboard and mouse, a good email app on the desktop doesn't have to try so hard. However, making a good email app on a smartphone is a whole different can of worms. So here's Airmail for iPhone, which launched last week. It gives you all kinds of ways to deal with (or delay) the email problem, and it's claimed a space in my hallowed four-space iPhone dock. No more Mail, and no more Gmail.

I have two email accounts: my personal Gmail account and my Engadget address (which is also powered by Google). While I don't have many inboxes, though, I do have a few legacy email addresses that auto-forward to the main Gmail address. It's not a complicated or elaborate setup, but I lean heavily on email for work, travel, organizing app-based notifications (Twitter, Facebook, Amazon etc.) and communicating with folks back home. (I live overseas.) And because I deal with email throughout the workday, I'm willing to pay to make it easier. Specifically, $4.99 for the download. I'm likely to be in the minority, however.

It's hard for email apps on the iPhone to make it big. Given that the preinstalled email app doesn't do a bad job, and there's no shortage of challengers, it's hard for any single contender to break through, much less one you have to pay for. We've seen Dropbox's Mailbox appear and disappear despite a handful of clever ideas, and Google's Inbox-made automated responses aren't perfect -- and then you're already splitting a fraction of users away from the Gmail app itself.

Airmail's appeal on the iPhone is simply how much freedom you have to customize the app. This is particularly true for things that I constantly do. When immediately dealing with email from my lock screen, I can customize the two options. Want to star important emails before you've even opened them? Snooze for later? Archive that newsletter right now? You choose. You can toggle off starring functionality or sharing from the menus, or, when in the app itself, you can choose which folders (from which accounts) to have in the swipe-to-the-right lineup. You can even add tasteful spacers (gaps between folders, filters and accounts) if your design aesthetic demands it. If you've got one of Apple's latest phones, you'll also enjoy 3D Touch support for previewing emails. As it happens, I use a mere iPhone 6 Plus myself, so I didn't get to test that out.

Within the settings, you'll also find one of the most useful features: the sheer number of compatible apps you can pair with Airmail. Dropbox, Google Drive, Trello, Google Tasks, Pocket, Evernote and plenty more can all be connected to your inbox. Select an email and choose "action list" (or make it a swipe if you want to) and you can instantly create a PDF file of your email, load remote images or send it to Dropbox, among other tricks, all of which are usually several more touchscreen presses away. It's not the easiest app to use, but it's set up in such a way that the option you need is right where you expect it to be -- or is duplicated in several places, so you can't miss it.

Are there useless features here? Subjectively, yes. I don't care if my inbox is labeled in icons or colors, as long as I can distinguish one account from another. Do I really need to reorder each divider of my email accounts (sent, unseen, drafts, spam)? Nope, but it's there if I or, more important, you want the feature. That is the best thing about Airmail: It is what you make of it. — Mat Smith

Arrow Smart-Kart

noreply@blogger.com (Waleed Abd Elzaher) — Sun, 14 Feb 2016 18:42:00 +0000

The worst part of childhood is the doldrums in your life when you were still too small for a regular car, but too big for the Power Wheels. You couldn’t quite get out on the go-kart track, because it was expensive and dangerous, so you were stuck with your bike, pedalling away like a sucker.

To fill this void, Dave Bell, CEO of Actev Motors, has offered a smart kart for pre-teens looking to put the pedal down. It’s called the Arrow Smart-Kart.

The Arrow is green, which is a huge part of what makes it superior to its more dangerous gas-guzzling cousins. It also helps to limit the top speed a child can reach using it.

It gets up to a nice clip of 12-mph, which is far from terminal velocity but still quick enough for your in-betweener child, before they want to borrow the keys. The go-kart retails for $599. — M. W. Byrne [Purchase]

Custom 1996 Suzuki Bandit Cafe Racer

noreply@blogger.com (Waleed Abd Elzaher) — Sat, 13 Feb 2016 18:46:00 +0000

Sometimes a mechanic can look at a bike and find inspiration where few others do. Darrick Bartley did just that when he took on the task of redesigning his 1996 Suzuki Bandit 600s.

The Washington State native’s goal from the outset of this project was to turn his otherwise chunky bodied 1990’s era Suzuki into something that was stripped down and agile, with a modern aesthetic.

This wasn’t a small job, Darrick ended up doing away with nearly 1/3rd of the bike’s frame and got rid of all components except for the engine and tank. With the help of Rob Hancock of Flipside Customs, he threw on a Ducati Monster tail end of the bike, replaced the swingarm with a single-sided one from a Honda NT650 and bolted on a Showa Monoshock from a Triumph Speed.

For some finishing touches, Bartley and his buddy Steve Marks painted the bike with Audi’s Nardo Grey, and threw some orange highlights on the spring and brake calipers. The finished product looks damn good, and we wouldn’t be surprised if we start seeing more modified Suzuki Bandits. — J.D. DiGiovanni [Via]

The Slate by Iskn

noreply@blogger.com (Waleed Abd Elzaher) — Fri, 12 Feb 2016 19:26:00 +0000

Over the past ten years or so, tablets have become ubiquitous among designers and artists. Professionals who honed their craft with pen on paper have all but abandoned the medium and switched to digital tablets.

Now thanks to this new piece of tech by Iskn, artists can have the best of both worlds. The Slate makes it so you can attach any type of paper to its digital board and draw using the pen or pencil of your choice. All you have to do is slide a ring on your drawing utensil and start drawing, the ring will communicate with the clipboard and record what you’re doing digitally.

The drawing board can then connect to your tablet or phone using the Imagink app, allowing you to tweak your sketches as you see fit. The Slate is perfect for a designer or artist who wants to stick to the fundamentals without losing any of the utility software provides. You can pick one up for $159. — J.D. DiGiovanni [Purchase]

2016 McLaren 650S GT3

noreply@blogger.com (Waleed Abd Elzaher) — Thu, 11 Feb 2016 19:19:00 +0000

Next month’s Geneva Auto Show is going to be great. First with news of a new Ferrari, and now this? McLaren has plans to unveil the track-ready GT3 version of their 650S at the show.

This version of the 650S will have a rigid carbon-fiber body for a much lighter weight (2,733 pounds), will have a widened wheelbase, new air-intakes, lighter wheels and new tires along with a big, beautiful fixed carbon rear wing. The modified body will come carrying a biturbo 3.8-liter V8 engine that can deliver 493 horsepower through its six-speed sequential gearbox.

The vehicle will be extremely limited, with roughly 15 units being built worldwide. Seeing that the race-ready 650S GT3 was developed to compete in the likes of the Blancpain Endurance Series, the $560,000 price tag should come as no surprise. The brand will pulling the curtain back on March 1st. — J.D. DiGiovanni

2017 BMW Alpina B7 xDrive

noreply@blogger.com (Waleed Abd Elzaher) — Wed, 10 Feb 2016 13:00:00 +0000

The German car customizing shop Alpina is back to their old ways, once again teaming up with BMW to release a luxury sedan with some seriously impressive power. Their BMW Alpina Biturbo 7 is essentially a BMW 750i xDrive jacked up on steroids; it has more tech, more speed, and more comfort.

The car comes with a 600 horsepower 4.4-liter twin turbo V8 that helps the car sprint from 0-60mph in 3.6 seconds and boasts 590 lb-ft of torque – delivered at just 3,000 rpm. It’s amazing that a luxury sedan can put up these types of numbers seeing that it wasn’t that long ago when these type of specs were only found on a top of the line racing vehicle.

The folks at Alpina didn’t just deck-out the engine, though, they also gussied up the interior with Nappa leather, comfort seats, and a leather-covered instrument panel that can function in either comfort or sport mode. Alpina hasn’t announced how much this car will end up going for – but it’s fair to say you’ll be paying well over the BMW 750i xDrive asking price of $97,400. Get the checkbooks ready. — J.D. DiGiovanni

Nissan Titan Warrior Concept

noreply@blogger.com (Waleed Abd Elzaher) — Tue, 09 Feb 2016 17:01:00 +0000

Nissan isn’t a company that’s known for their off-road vehicles. But because of their newly unveiled Nissan Titan Warrior concept, it’s likely that more people are going to open their eyes (and their wallets).

It’s slightly wider than the Titan XD for which it is based on — 6-inches wider, to be exact. It uses internal bypass reservoir shocks that have been custom-designed for long travel and a smooth ride on the road. It has longer prototype front axles, hydraulic bump stops, and full custom upper and lower control arms. It still has the Cummins 5.0-liter V8 turbo-diesel engine of the XD.

The exterior is beefed up a bit with thicker fenders, and the custom headlights and taillights take a more angular approach than the stock XD. It’s finished off with a matte paint job using “Thunder” paint with orange “Magma” accents. There’s no word on whether or not it will actually go to market, but it’ll likely serve as an allusion to what we can expect from Nissan in the future. — Bobby Bernstein

Drakan-Spyder

noreply@blogger.com (Waleed Abd Elzaher) — Mon, 08 Feb 2016 13:00:00 +0000

Inspired by the spirit of an American Formula 1 car, the mad scientists at Sector111 have developed the Drakan Spyder – a street legal track machine that was engineered, designed and built right here in the USA.

The antithesis of the modern-day sports car, the Drakan Spyder is packed with a GM-sourced eRod LS3 V8 engine that pumps out 430 horsepower. Power is transmitted through a Porsche G96 6-speed synchromesh transmission that helps the 2,000 pound vehicle rocket from 0-60 mph in just 3.2 seconds. Of course power is just one piece of the puzzle.

This thing is also outfitted with a Fox Racing coil-over suspension system for precision cornering and four-piston forged calipers for stop-on-a-dime braking power. So whether you’re looking to hit the canyons or spend a day at the track, the $100,000 Drakan Spyder should fit the bill nicely. — Bobby Bernstein [Purchase]

Jeep Wrangler Yellow Jacket by Starwood Motors

noreply@blogger.com (Waleed Abd Elzaher) — Sun, 07 Feb 2016 20:02:00 +0000

There’s a lot of cool customizations that can be done to a stock Jeep, and we’ve already seen some great adjustments. But, the Starwood Motors Jeep Yellow Jacket is one of the most impressive custom Jeep we’ve seen to date.

Immediately apparent is its feisty yellow paint job, with black accents which, of course, gives it the appearance of a yellow jacket. It comes with metal cloak fenders and massive VPR JK front and rear bumpers. It uses an AEV Heat Reduction Hood that has cooling properties to keep the engine compartment cooler than the average Jeep.

It has a 4″ Terra Flex short arm suspension lift, which has a yellow powder coating on the components, adding to the aggressive appearance. It’s not only the exterior that’s worth talking about, either. Within its doors, you’ll find Ferrari 458 Italia Leather seats in Black Nappa Leather with Yellow contrast stitching. An Alpine 7″ touch screen navigation system is outfitted in the front, and the factory gauges have been replaced by Starwood Customs’ own. — Bobby Bernstein [Purchase]

Land Rover Defender 40th Anniversary by Overfinch

noreply@blogger.com (Waleed Abd Elzaher) — Sat, 06 Feb 2016 20:34:00 +0000

The announcement that Land Rover would no longer be making their iconic Defender series of utility vehicles, the car world lost one of its greatest contributors. What it gained was a rush by many manufacturers to make specialized Land Rover Defenders to honor the line of trucks that have become part of the world’s landscape.

Overfinch was one of the first to make their own version of the Land Rover, and have done it many times over the years. The 40th Anniversary edition promises to be a respectful nod to each iteration. It has Overfinch’s signature hood, as a tribute to the old, but also a bumper with integrated LED lights, black satin corner panels, a specially machined gas cap, a total leather trim package that is made complete with headrest stitching. It’s a look back and a look forward for this MIL-SPEC marvel. The brand will be asking $101,000 for the coveted 4×4. — M. W. Byrne [Purchase]

Canon EOS-1D Mark II Camera

noreply@blogger.com (Waleed Abd Elzaher) — Fri, 05 Feb 2016 20:58:00 +0000

Canon is starting the year out with a brand new body. Just today Canon released the EOS-1D Mark II, the company’s new flagship camera body. Boasting a 20.2 megapixel full-frame sensor, dual pixel auto-focus (the first full-frame Canon with this feature), a completely wild ISO sensitivity range (100 to 51,200), and the capability of shooting RAW continuously at up to 14 frames per second. The camera will be a boon to sports photographers and photojournalists – it can shoot bursts of 170 images with the assistance of auto-exposure and auto-focus.

The new flagship shooter from Canon is also capable of filming 4K video at 60 frames per second, has a 3.2-inch touch panel and 1.62 million-dot screen to review all the shots you’ve taken. Other features include built-in GPS and Wi-Fi. The body is build from durable and rugged magnesium alloy that is both dust and water-resistant, letting your camera go wherever your adventure takes you. The EOS-1D Mark II comes in at $5,999, no lens included. — J.D. DiGiovanni [Purchase]

Legacy Scrambler Jeep

noreply@blogger.com (Waleed Abd Elzaher) — Thu, 04 Feb 2016 21:08:00 +0000

Straight out of Jackson Hole Wyoming comes a real piece of the past. Made by Winslow Bent – a gearhead from the time he could turn a wrench – this is a new line of custom Jeep Scramblers that have been re-imagined, redesigned, revamped, and offered to the public. If you’re an off-roader, get in line now.

They’ll cost more than you’d pay for many luxury cars, but with a 6.2-liter LS3 V-8 engine that’s completely aluminum and can push out 430 horsepower to go hand in glove with its 420 lb-ft of torque, they’re much more fun than having heated seats. Though the seats are nice too, being pure Recaro with leather trimming. The steering wheel is Nardi and works well for keeping control with the off-road suspension. The gauges and dash are waterproof (and also mud, grit, dirt, and sandproof) so it can go through rough terrain during rougher weather without sweating. This vintage Jeep can be yours for about $110,000. — M. W. Byrne [Purchase]

Sony's new A6300 camera adds better autofocus and 4K video

noreply@blogger.com (Waleed Abd Elzaher) — Wed, 03 Feb 2016 19:48:00 +0000

Stressing "curiousity" and "creativity" and timing the launch to avoid the noise of CES in January, Sony today announced the replacement for its immensely popular APS-C sensor-based A6000, the A6300, and a new line of flagship lenses, called G Master.

The A6300 incorporates a new 24.2-megapixel sensor and new 425-point phase-detection autofocus. It uses on-sensor phase detection so it works with A-mount lenses. Also new is 4K video recording with 14 stops of dynamic range, to the SD card. Other new video features include 120fps slow motion (albeit not in 4K).

Speed increases to 11fps continuous shooting with AE/AF, and a new high-density tracking AF system with clumps of focus points on the subject. This is new, since Sony has traditionally used contrast AF for its tracking. It also has continuous-live-view framing at up to 8fps.

It will ship in March for $1,000 body-only, and $1,150 for a kit. UK and Australian prices weren't available, but those prices convert to £685 and £790, or AU$1,400 and AU$1,615 respectively.

G Master lenses

The new lenses are basically a pro full-frame E-Mount line designed for high resolution and wide apertures. The first to ship will be the FE 24-70mm f2.8 GM ($2,200, coming in March), then the 85mm f1.4 GM ($1,800, also March) and lastly the long-awaited FE 70-200mm f2.8 GM OSS (price TBC, coming in May). The latter has a minimum focus distance of under 1 meter and a fluorine coating on the front element for protection. There will also be a couple of 1.4x and 1.2x teleconverters designed for the 70-200mm lens.

Like most lens makers, Sony is working on creating products that can resolve to the new high-resolution sensors it's using. It has created a new extreme aspherical (XA) lens element, targeting a spatial frequency of 50 line-pairs per millimeter. According to Sony, this XA lens has a more precise surface, to smooth abrupt transitions between in- and out-of-focus areas, which should produce much more realistic images and softer bokeh.

The G Master lenses also have an update to Sony's quiet-operation Direct Drive Supersonic Motor technology, which needed to be scaled up to drive the larger, heavier glass in the faster lenses. Its SSM dual-linear motor also drives the front and rear lens groups simultaneously.

See zombies evolve over 100 years in gory time-lapse video

noreply@blogger.com (Waleed Abd Elzaher) — Tue, 02 Feb 2016 19:52:00 +0000

You're probably familiar with those "100 years of style" videos showing how clothing and hairdos have evolved over time. The folks at Xbox decided to take that concept and apply it to "100 Years of Zombie Evolution in Pop Culture."

Xbox posted the video to its official YouTube channel on Tuesday. It rates the video as M, or Mature, for "blood and gore, intense violence and strong language." The video doesn't have any NSFW words, but it does delve into plenty of physical carnage.

It kicks off in black and white with a look at voodoo zombies from 1932. These are almost unrecognizable based on today's "Walking Dead" standards for reanimated corpses. Instead of a mysterious medical outbreak, the creature is created through sipping a "special concoction."

1978 Toyota Land Cruiser FJ40 Sky Blue by FJ Company

noreply@blogger.com (Waleed Abd Elzaher) — Mon, 01 Feb 2016 20:00:00 +0000

The exterior design of Toyota’s 1978 Land Cruiser has stood the test of time. In fact it’s a vehicle that becomes even more beautiful with each passing year. And every time the team at FJ Company gets a hold of one of these beauties, we’re in for a real treat.

The FJ Company received the car in mid-2015, and following its arrival, the car was put through a concours-quality restoration. The most notable upgrade is the Sky Blue paint job and white hard-top, which is a major difference when compared to the original’s tan exterior. Inside, the roll bar was repainted, and the car received new door panels, dash pads and headliner.

The seats were re-upholstered in grey, and the windows were removed, reinstalled, and resealed. Quite a number of original parts were gutted and replaced with OEM parts, and a new Old Man Emu suspension was added. The FJ40 will be up for auction at RM Sotheby in Arizona in January 2016. [Purchase]

Espresso Veloce Titanio Espresso Machine

noreply@blogger.com (Waleed Abd Elzaher) — Sun, 31 Jan 2016 20:10:00 +0000

A couple of the biggest commodities in the world are coffee and petroleum, and the South African company Super Veloce has combined both in their Espresso Veloce Titanio. This monster of a machine is made out of stainless steel and titanium and is designed for taking espresso pods. The 23 Kilogram engine-block sits on a counter with a length of 380mm, a width of 420mm and a height of 340 mm.

The cam covers on the Titanio come in 6 different colors, red, blue, orange, gunmetal, gold, and black. The cylinder heads are made with anodized natural alloy, and main components with a combination of anti-corodal 6082, 6061/T6 alloy, stainless steel 316, and titanium 304. The Titanio comes in three different models, the V8, V10, and V12 for the supercar fan in all of us. The machine is limited to just 500 numbered units worldwide, and starts out at $12,999 [Purchase]

Auction Block: 1958 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster

noreply@blogger.com (Waleed Abd Elzaher) — Wed, 27 Jan 2016 13:00:00 +0000

Mercedes-Benz has come a long way from their original car designs. But before they became the quintessential name brand of luxury cars, they earned their way to the top with stylish rides. Now, one of the company’s landmark cars is heading to auction. Meet the 1958 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster, which is set to be auctioned off on January 29.

The car uses an innovative space-frame chassis, and it has a fuel-injected engine that’s built for racing. In fact, it was the first car of its kind to have a fuel-injected engine. This drop-top car has a gorgeous chrome paint job and a grey leather interior. The engine is a 2,996cc six-cylinder engine that has been in the car since day one. The car is expected to fetch over $1.25 million, which is a long way from its $11,000 original asking price. — Bobby Bernstein [Purchase]

Ducati DraXter Drag Racing Concept Bike

noreply@blogger.com (Waleed Abd Elzaher) — Tue, 26 Jan 2016 19:23:00 +0000

Ducati has its eyes on the future, but that doesn’t mean they can’t look to the past for inspiration. Transforming the beloved XDiavel cruiser into a menacing track machine, the Ducati DraXter drag racing concept is one beastly bike.

Designed by the Ducati Design Center’s Advanced Design team, this stripped down 2-wheeler is absolutely beautiful. Powering the Italian bike is the company’s 1262cc two-cylinder Testastretta engine that’s ready to race down the strip – all 156 ponies of it. In addition to the beefed up powerplant, it’s also been outfitted with new supporting mods like an upgraded suspension, brake system, lower handlebars and footpegs, and a refined fuel tank to promote that drag-focused riding stance.

The DraXter is draped in a matte black paint job with contrasting yellow accents, and finished off with a large #90 to celebrate the brand’s 90th anniversary. As of right now this is just a one-off concept, but it’s definitely one we’re ready to see land on showroom floors.

Nissan Rogue Warrior

noreply@blogger.com (Waleed Abd Elzaher) — Mon, 25 Jan 2016 13:00:00 +0000

Yesterday, we had a look at an F1 car driving down a snow-covered ski slope, and even with the chains on it, the car was having a tough time. Today, our eyes are on a vehicle that’s actually built specifically for the snow, the Nissan Rogue Warrior.

This crossover has a secret weapon to battle the winter: a full snow track system that turns the car into an SUV snow-ready beast. It stands on a set of Dominator tracks, with each track measuring 30 x 48 x 15 inches. This allows the crossover vehicle to have 23 inches of ground clearance. It has suspension modifications and a few small changes to the body to help accommodate the big tracks. But aside from the body changes and the addition of the track system, Nissan notes that it’s a stock AWD Rogue. It has a top speed of 62 mph, and it can scale a 45-degree grade hill.

Fender In-Ear Headphones

noreply@blogger.com (Waleed Abd Elzaher) — Sun, 24 Jan 2016 19:55:00 +0000

Fender is certainly no stranger to big sound, as the company has been making top-quality electric guitars for decades. Yesterday, the company announced that it will venture into the headphones space with a series of five new wired in-ear models.

The company will soon debut models of headphones ranging from $99 to $499. But instead of developing their own, the company acquired Aurisonics, a high-end American manufacturer that catered to serious audiophiles and professional musicians.

Each of the new headphones has a titanium driver, and the higher-end models are 3D-printed using “Digital Hybrid Technology,” meaning they use the data from thousands of ears to get headphones that fit 95 percent of people properly. Rendered models shown came in bronze, red, blue, silver, and clear. More details on Fender’s new venture aren’t available, but hopefully we’ll hear more about what sort of response these new headphones will have soon.

Honda CB550 Fade to Black by Federal Moto

noreply@blogger.com (Waleed Abd Elzaher) — Sat, 23 Jan 2016 20:00:00 +0000

We’ve seen quite a number of Honda CB cafe racer customs over the years, so, admittedly, it’s hard to get us excited about such a common ride. But this CB cafe racer sports a name of “Fade to Black,” and with a name like that, it’s hard to not demand your attention.

It’s a 1975 CB550 that belongs to Grant Harvey, a Canadian movie director. In celebration of his 50th birthday, his wife suggested he do something fun. His choice? Bring his bike to Federal Moto for a redux. Now, the bike runs a Dynoman Stage 1 Performance kit that includes a 572 cc engine and forged pistons with boosted compression ratios from 9:1 to 10:1.

It’s a technical build that makes a ton of changes, including uprated gaskets and a stronger clutch to handle the extra power. It also has a different-looking tank that’s now a CB360 tank that has been finished in matte black with a glossy black stripe. — Bobby Bernstein

Boba Fett Ballistic Armor by AR500 Armor

noreply@blogger.com (Waleed Abd Elzaher) — Fri, 22 Jan 2016 20:06:00 +0000

It looks like no one is immune to the Star Wars fever going around. Teaming up with some of our favorite gear brands like SOG Knives & Tools, Heckler & Koch, Trijicon, and SureFire among others, body armor manufacturer AR500 Armor is delving into the galaxy far, far away with their Mandalorian Ballistic Armor.

The suit of armor was inspired by the infamous bounty hunter Boba Fett, and is part of a special initiative by AR500 dubbed GalacTac Project. It was designed by artist Ryan B. Flowers, and will include a helmet complete with T-shaped visor, chest and shoulder armor, along with gauntlets to finish the ensemble. Unfortunately we don’t yet know what the armor is made of, but we’re sure to find out at this week’s Shot Show in Las Vegas – specifically on Wednesday. — Bobby Bernstein

1990 Riva Ferrari 32 Speedboat

noreply@blogger.com (Waleed Abd Elzaher) — Thu, 21 Jan 2016 20:15:00 +0000

One of the rarest speedboats in history will be heading to auction soon, as RM Sotheby’s has unveiled images for a 1990 Riva Ferrari 32 speedboat.

Only 30 models of this beautiful boat were ever built. It’s modeled after Ferrari’s trademark Rosso corsa coloration, and it has a sleek Formula-1 style hull. It has a black carbon fiber spoiler that spans over the vessel. Of course, it wouldn’t have the Ferrari name if it didn’t have exceptional power, so it is outfitted with two 390hp V8 Vulcano 400 engines, allowing the boat to hit a top speed of 62mph.

The speedboat also has a small cabin in the ship’s bow, and it has an automative-style steering mechanism. The side of the boat bares the Ferrari logo, with the yellow providing a nice contrast to the red, like we’ve seen so many times before. — Bobby Bernstein

Jetboil Genesis Base Camp Stove

noreply@blogger.com (Waleed Abd Elzaher) — Wed, 20 Jan 2016 20:22:00 +0000

Typically speaking, camp stoves are bigger and bulkier than they should be. It’s 2016 — time to slim down. Jetboil’s new Genesis Base Camp Stove does just that, coming in at not only a lower weight than average, but also smaller.

It’s a two-burner stove that gets its flame from a traditional propane cylinder. There’s no heavy metal surrounding like you’d find on the traditional camp stove, and they’re packed in a compact clamshell design that weighs just 9 pounds, 15 ounces.

Each burner pushes out 10,000 BTUs. The system is easy to set up, and you can get it out from packed away in under a minute. The stove is also significantly quieter than most. With this camp stove, you have an unprecedented level of temperature control, with a simmer setting that’ll rival your stove at home. It’ll be available soon for $350. — Bobby Bernstein [Purchase]