Styles & News

Windows 8 Release

2012-02-04T08:24:00.000+07:00

Windows 8 will be with us in 2012, according to Microsoft roadmaps apparently revealed at last week's Professional Developers' Conference (PDC).
Although microsoft has yet to officially discuss plans for Windows 8,a 2012 release would be consistent with previous Microsoft pledges to release a new desktop operating system every three years. Windows 7 was released a month ago.
The latest speculation suggesting a 2012 release has been credited to Microsoft Kitchen, a blog with the tagline "Serving up some seriously tasty Microsoft."
Despite showing roadmaps apparently picked up at PDC, the blog has little else to reveal about Windows 8.
However, a Microsoft employee may have inadvertently spilled the beans on one key Windows 8 feature last month.
Microsoft employee Robert Morgan appeared to detail the software giant's plans to make a 128-bit version of Windows 8, and even Windows 9, on LinkedIn, where he listed his job as 'senior research and development'. His profile, which has now been removed from the business networking site, said Morgan was "working in high security department for research and development involving strategic planning for medium and longterm projects".
It went on to reveal that his R&D projects included: "128-bit architecture compatibility with the Windows 8 kernel and Windows 9 project plan". He's also responsible for "forming relationships with major partners: Intel, AMD, HP and IBM".
Microsoft is also looking for employees to help shape Windows 8, according to reports online. Neowin.net spotted the vacancy for a Windows 7 software engineer on Microsoft's site.
"We just finished up work on Windows 7, and are pushing forth on Windows 8 planning and preparation," said the blurb in the job ad, which was replicated on the CodenameWindows website.
"As part of this team, you will help shape Windows 8. Components of our code include a core agent that runs as an NT service, an API layer and a UI application," added the advert.

Source : http://www.pcworld.com

Zuckerberg IPO Haul Could Top $28 Billion

2012-02-04T08:01:00.000+07:00

Facebook Inc.'s impending initial public offering of stock could yield 27-year-old founder Mark Zuckerberg's a fortune valued at $21 billion to $28 billion.
According to IPO paperwork Facebook filed Wednesday, Mr. Zuckerberg owns about 28% of the soon-to-be-public company, and is its single largest shareholder. If Facebook raises money at a high-end valuation of $100 billion, Mr. Zuckerberg's stock would be worth $28 billion.
On top of his stock, last year Mr. Zuckerberg was paid $1.49 million in salary, bonus and other compensation for his role as chief executive, according to the regulatory filing.
Facebook's filing added that Mr. Zuckerberg will sell shares in the IPO, but didn't stipulate how many. It said that he will use the proceeds to pay taxes.

A net worth of $28 billion would have placed Mr. Zuckerberg at No. 9 in Forbes magazine's rich list last year, following tech luminaries Bill Gates and Larry Ellison.
But even as Mr. Zuckerberg vaults into the pantheon of the world's richest people, the young entrepreneur has already proven he doesn't intend to act like a typical billionaire.
In a nearly 2,200-word letter filed with Facebook's IPO paperwork, Mr. Zuckerberg wasn't shy about his social ambitions, even as he played down the importance of running a business. "Facebook was not originally created to be a company. It was built to accomplish a social mission," he wrote.
Society, he wrote, is at a "tipping point" because of the Internet. Facebook gives "people the power to share and help them once again transform many of our core institutions and industries," Mr. Zuckerberg added.

That includes changing government, he wrote. "Over time, we expect governments will become more responsive to issues and concerns raised directly by all their people rather than through intermediaries controlled by a select few," he said.
Mr. Zuckerberg grew up in Dobbs Ferry, N.Y., the son of a dentist and psychiatrist. He graduated from high school at the elite Phillips Exeter Academy, where he honed his talents in science and the classics.
In the nearly eight years since Mr. Zuckerberg founded Facebook in his Harvard College dorm room, the entrepreneur has grown from a college sophomore into a leading voice for a new generation of technology entrepreneurs.
In the early years after Mr. Zuckerberg moved his start-up to Palo Alto, Calif., he was known for wearing Adidas flip-flops to business meetings and placing little priority on building out an advertising business for his growing social network. He handed out business cards reading, "I'm CEO, B—."

Today, Mr. Zuckerberg has upgraded his wardrobe to Brooks running shoes and even dons a sports coat for special meetings, like with President Barack Obama and Oprah Winfrey. And his social network has become so important to many big advertisers that they run Super Bowl ads directing customers to Facebook.
Mr. Zuckerberg has also set the tone for the lifestyles behind the latest Silicon Valley boom, eschewing the giant mansions and posh cars of the late 1990s dot-com bubble. Instead, he has lived in a modest house, and is known for his penchant for taking his dog on long walks. (He runs a Facebook page for his dog, Beast, a white Hungarian Puli.)
In 2010, when the movie "The Social Network" debuted and offered a sometimes unflattering Hollywood portrayal of his behavior in Facebook's early days, Mr. Zuckerberg treated his whole company to a day at the movies to watch the movie together.
Mr. Zuckerberg also didn't wait to begin establishing his reputation as a philanthropist. In 2010, amid the fallout from the Hollywood film, he announced the formation of a charity called "Startup: Education" and pledged $100 million to support public schools in Newark, N.J

Source : http://online.wsj.com

Audi Q1 under consideration

2012-02-03T12:12:00.000+07:00

According to a recent report, Audi is considering additional variants based on the A1.
As one source told What Car, "You've seen how our SUVs have been getting smaller - Q7, Q5, Q3 - and the A1 platform could go in that direction, but nothing is planned for the near future."
The latter comment is interesting, but previous rumors have suggested the crossover could be launched anywhere from 2013 to 2016.
Regardless, the insider said an A1 Cabriolet is unlikely because it would be positioned to close to the A3 Cabriolet.

Source : http://www.worldcarfans.com

Ariel freedom day in 2012

2012-02-03T09:55:00.000+07:00

Ariel jail term to expire in 2012 and he can sing the song 'deleting your tracks', the song Peterpan 'nothing lasts forever', and the song 'All about us'. So we wait for the freedom of Ariel in 2012.
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Final Fantasy XIII

2012-02-03T07:40:00.000+07:00

Whether you loved or hated Final Fantasy XIII, anyone who cares about its sequel wants to know how it compares: is it better than FFXIII? How different is it? Well, Final Fantasy XIII-2 definitely improves upon XIII… in some ways.
As with XIII, your enjoyment of XIII-2 will greatly boil down to personal taste, but speaking generally, XIII-2 is markedly catered toward longtime Final Fantasy fans compared to its vastly divergent (and therefore highly divisive) predecessor. The return of the moogle is symbolic of this, but its classic tendencies are manifested throughout the game, most notably through its increased focus on exploration and discovery. These changes aren't without their tradeoffs, but if you're a longtime Final Fantasy fan, you will probably prefer XIII-2 over XIII.

The freedom of the Historia Crux

One of the best parts of the Historia Crux structure is that it allows the player to selectively go back to key moments in the game and replay them to see different outcomes. Once you've obtained the Gate Seal for a particular node on the map, you can "close" the gate, resetting the time to when you first stepped through it, so you can experience that portion of the story again, and as many times as you'd like. And since the story does contain branching decisions here and there, being able to reset individual story moments makes it easy to see all possibilities without actually having to replay the entire game multiple times.
You might have guessed where this is going. Yes, there are multiple endings to Final Fantasy XIII-2 (quite a few, in fact). But the genius bit is that since you don't have to play the game in a linear fashion, you can see many endings without ever having to start over from scratch. It’s like a Choose Your Own Adventure book in a way – if you get to one dead end, you can simply turn back the page to where the story branched off and keep going down a different path. Don't like the way a scene played out the first time? You can easily go back and play it again without any fuss or penalty. This system thoroughly respects the player's time by not wasting any of it.

Saving the world

Say you're in the city, exploring one of Academia's many flashy alleyways and suddenly you remember where you might have seen a particular flower that some NPC asked for in a side quest. You can pop back to the Crux in a jiffy, skip over to Bresha Ruins, grab the item and complete the quest, then teleport back and return to exactly where you left off in Academia. The save system is so fluid and flexible that you never need to worry about losing your progress at any point at all, and the freedom to jump across time and space so easily feels delightfully efficient.
Speaking of locations, we were nervous going into the sequel that many of the environments would be recycled from XIII, but XIII-2 features a surprisingly large array of new locales. And the places that are recycled don't feel like they've been thrown in lazily, since it makes sense story-wise that we'd have to revisit some old places, since it's still the same world after all. Many of the old locations have been totally transformed too, and the environments constantly play a silent part in telling the story through how they've changed in different time periods (and across alternate timelines).

Above: Watch us play through some of the game
In FFXIII-2, the timeline has mysteriously changed, and everyone believes that Lightning perished in that battle. Only Serah remembers the truth, but even she questions her own sanity in the face of what all her friends believe to be reality. Then a stranger suddenly enters her life, a young man named Noel who claims he's from the future and has met Lightning in another dimension outside of normal space-time. Both want to alter the timeline – Serah wants to bring her sister back, and Noel wants to save humanity from the ends times he's seen with his own eyes. With their fates in alignment, they set out to change history.
As with any Final Fantasy game, it's difficult to write meaningfully about the story without spoiling anything. Where XIII created a fascinating mythos that revolved around the struggle between humans and demigods and the opposition between civilization and untamed wilderness, XIII-2's story is much more character driven. Serah and Noel are both surprisingly interesting and dynamic characters once you get past their over-the-top character designs.
It's a good thing too, because you won't be seeing much of anyone else for any extended length of time – Serah and Noel are really the only two main protagonists in the game. It's a bit of a shame, because the Final Fantasy series has excelled at creating some of the greatest ensemble casts in gaming, and being stuck with the same two party members for the entire game will definitely bother some people. If you can put your expectations of a larger party aside though, the extra time getting to know Serah and Noel isn't wasted, and makes them more memorable characters than most of the cast of XIII.

Above: The characters are less abundant, but arguably more likable
As you play through the story, one thing that's especially great about the "time gate" scenario is that it completely eliminates the break in reality that often comes from ignoring the narrative urgency of the main quest to explore and take on boatloads of sidequests. Because opening a time gate transports Serah and Noel to a specific moment in time, there's never a need for them to rush. Relax, explore, and when you're ready to take on the next big challenge, it'll be waiting for you, frozen in time until you hit play.

To battle!

Final Fantasy XIII-2 review

Whether you loved or hated the original, its sequel will surprise you

Words: Carolyn Gudmundson on January 30, 2012

64 Comments

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So what about the story?

All this time travel relates directly to the story, which begins immediately after the final cutscene of FFXIII ends (and it goes without saying, but SPOILER ALERT FOR FFXIII). Fang and Vanille have summoned Ragnarok, creating a massive crystal pillar to keep Cocoon from crashing down. In the original ending, Lightning survived the near-cataclysmic event and was happily reunited with her sister Serah.

Above: Watch us play through some of the game In FFXIII-2, the timeline has mysteriously changed, and everyone believes that Lightning perished in that battle. Only Serah remembers the truth, but even she questions her own sanity in the face of what all her friends believe to be reality. Then a stranger suddenly enters her life, a young man named Noel who claims he's from the future and has met Lightning in another dimension outside of normal space-time. Both want to alter the timeline – Serah wants to bring her sister back, and Noel wants to save humanity from the ends times he's seen with his own eyes. With their fates in alignment, they set out to change history.
As with any Final Fantasy game, it's difficult to write meaningfully about the story without spoiling anything. Where XIII created a fascinating mythos that revolved around the struggle between humans and demigods and the opposition between civilization and untamed wilderness, XIII-2's story is much more character driven. Serah and Noel are both surprisingly interesting and dynamic characters once you get past their over-the-top character designs.
It's a good thing too, because you won't be seeing much of anyone else for any extended length of time – Serah and Noel are really the only two main protagonists in the game. It's a bit of a shame, because the Final Fantasy series has excelled at creating some of the greatest ensemble casts in gaming, and being stuck with the same two party members for the entire game will definitely bother some people. If you can put your expectations of a larger party aside though, the extra time getting to know Serah and Noel isn't wasted, and makes them more memorable characters than most of the cast of XIII.
Above: The characters are less abundant, but arguably more likable
As you play through the story, one thing that's especially great about the "time gate" scenario is that it completely eliminates the break in reality that often comes from ignoring the narrative urgency of the main quest to explore and take on boatloads of sidequests. Because opening a time gate transports Serah and Noel to a specific moment in time, there's never a need for them to rush. Relax, explore, and when you're ready to take on the next big challenge, it'll be waiting for you, frozen in time until you hit play.

To battle!

If you're familiar with FFXIII, the core of the battle system in XIII-2 remains unchanged. While many traditional turn-based battle systems are all about micromanagement, the Paradigm system in XIII and XIII-2 puts the player in a high level, "big picture" role, if you will. Instead of selecting individual actions for each party member, you direct their actions all at once like an alpha dog issuing commands to the pack.
A Paradigm is a set of roles for the three party members that determines how each character functions in battle. Each role is extremely specific in what it can do – Medics can only provide healing and Commandos can only attack, nothing else. Each role also provides an added bonus to the entire team, like boosted defense for all allies when a Sentinel is in play.

Above: Take a look at the battle system in action During battle you always have an active Paradigm in place, which you can change whenever you'd like by hitting L1/LB to bring up your Paradigm deck. Building a Paradigm deck with a variety of offensive and defensive Paradigms allows you to respond strategically to dynamic battle conditions. So you might go in guns blazing with a Commando-Ravager-Ravager set, then fall back to Commando-Ravager-Medic to heal as needed. Roles like Synergist (buffs allies with status enhancements) and Saboteur (debuffs the enemy with status ailments) come in particularly handy during long, brutal boss battles where you'll need every advantage you can conjure.
Most of the new "cinematic action" sequences occur during boss battles too, and these are really nothing more than quick time events. It's a feature that almost wouldn't be worth mentioning if it weren't so heavily touted in FFXIII-2's trailers – they're used fairly sparingly, kept brief, and are overall pretty unobtrusive. During particularly dramatic cutscenes, we definitely has a few moments where pulling off a flashy killing blow with a successful QTE definitely felt pretty cool (and we can imagine the opposite if we'd missed it at the end of a lengthy battle), but overall it's not a feature that's going to make or break anyone's enjoyment of the game.
One of the complaints about the battle system in FFXIII was that it "played itself," but this isn't exactly the case. When the difficulty ramps up, the battle system is a perfect mix of thoughtful strategy and quick reflexes. Directing your entire team's actions with the press of a button by shifting Paradigms on the fly still feels satisfying when everyone comes together to pull off a hard-won victory.
Above: Learning the combat system reveals the deep intricacies

The problem is, it's a system that's only as great as your opponent is. Too often in FFXIII-2, we played through lengthy stretches of the game where we just didn't feel challenged enough by the enemies. Often, we never had to shift Paradigms at all from our default offensive stance, and in those cases it does feel like the game is playing itself because very little action is needed from the player. The challenge is there if you seek out some of the tougher sidequests and go for better endings, but at times we definitely felt like the overall difficulty level was too low. Monsters definitely scale up in strength when you revisit earlier areas too, so it's a bit puzzling why they almost always didn't feel scaled up enough. Even total wimps should not think for one second about playing this game on the easy setting. Don't do it.
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Source : http://www.gamesradar.com

The Humble Bundle for Android now playing

2012-02-03T07:23:00.000+07:00

The Humble crew launches its most “cross-platformiest” pay-what-you-want charity sale

Up to four games for Android, PC, Mac, and Linux are on offer in the latest Humble Bundle collection, which the charitable video game organization is calling its most “cross-platformiest bundle ever”.

Available now where fine Humble Bundles are sold (hint: its website), the Humble Bundle for Android stars 11 bit studios' reverse tower defense game, Anomaly: Warzone Earth; Hemisphere Games' amoeba adventure, Osmos; and Mobigame's cubic puzzle-platformer, Edge (and Edge Extended). Paying more than the average price, which is currently hovering around the $6 mark, will also unlock 2D Boy's mega-hit physics puzzler, World of Goo.

Much like the non-Android friendly Humble Bundles that came before it, this humble package is available for whatever price you deem appropriate. Payments can then be split amongst the developers, Humble Bundle organizers, or the Electronic Frontier Foundation and Child's Play Charity. At time of print, total payments were closing in on $500,000, with Linux users paying the highest average at $8 and Mac buyers taking second place at $6.80.

The selection seems a bit sparse for a Humble Bundle promotion, but considering the sale is still on for another two weeks, expect even more “cross-platformery” games to be added to the list as the sale picks up.
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Source : http://www.gamesradar.com

New bi-turbo tdi packs even more punch into Audi A6 and A7 sportback

2012-02-03T07:00:00.000+07:00

The most potent Audi V6 TDI ever to enter production powers executive class Audi models to 62mph in a fraction over five seconds and returns up to 44.1mpg

Advanced new biturbo TDI engine heads diesel line-up in A6 Saloon, Avant, allroad quattro and A7 Sportback ranges – OTR prices from £43,810
Available now in A6 Saloon and Avant and A7 Sportback, and later in 2012 in A6 allroad – first deliveries in spring
313PS from 3,900-4,500rpm, 650Nm from 1,450 to 2,800rpm
A6 Saloon 3.0 BiTDI quattro – 0-62mph in 5.1 seconds, governed 155mph top speed, combined MPG 44.1, CO2 169g/km
Sound actuator in exhaust system accompanies remarkable performance with sports car exhaust note

Knockout punch in a velvet glove comes courtesy of a formidable new 313PS Audi Biturbo TDI engine, which is now available for A6 Saloon and Avant and A7 Sportback models. The new twin-turbo V6 is notable not only for being the most powerful six-cylinder diesel engine ever offered by the Vorsprung durch Technik brand, but also the sweetest-sounding. Available now in A6 models priced from £43,810 OTR, and from £51,645 OTR in the A7 Sportback, it combines trademark Audi TDI refinement with an exhaust-mounted sound actuator that enables it to deliver its mighty 650Nm output to the tune of a distinctly sporting soundtrack.
Slotting in above the single-turbo 204PS and 245PS versions of the 3.0 TDI that already feature in the A6 and A7 Sportback ranges, the latest V6 has a two-stage turbocharger group that delivers a maximum boost pressure of up to 3.2 bar, helping the A6 3.0 BiTDI quattro Saloon to lunge at the horizon and pass the 62mph marker in as little as 5.1 seconds, and the A6 Avant and A7 Sportback to do the same in just 5.3 seconds. An electronically limited top speed of 155mph is common to all versions.
Like the existing TDI engines, the new star performer is backed up by technologies from the Audi modular efficiency platform, including start-stop and recuperation systems and the innovative thermal management system that quickly brings the coolant and oil up to their operating temperatures. With their help, combined economy in A6 and A7 Sportback models is on an equal footing at 44.1mpg – an impressive figure given the high outputs and low acceleration times involved.

Sound actuator

Thanks to an innovative actuator in the auxiliary channel of the exhaust system, the BiTDI A6 and A7 Sportback models don’t sound like they should be capable of such level-headed economy figures. The actuator system essentially consists of a speaker which imposes a defined oscillation pattern on the exhaust flow and transforms the typical TDI exhaust note into a more sonorous roar that is closer to the output of a high-performance petrol engine.
Without exception, power is transmitted from the BiTDI engine via an eight-speed tiptronic transmission to the latest generation quattro all-wheel-drive system, which features a self-locking centre differential and torque vectoring for optimum traction and stability. A sport differential which distributes power in continuously variable proportions between the rear wheels is available from the options list to sharpen and quicken response even further.
The mighty new BiTDI engine is available in conjunction with SE and S line specification in the A6 Saloon, A6 Avant and A7 Sportback. The forthcoming A6 allroad quattro, due to open for order in February, will also offer this exceptional unit.
Stand-out features common to all these models include satellite navigation linked to a 6.5-inch retractable colour monitor, Milano leather upholstery, the Audi drive select adaptive dynamics system controlling throttle response, transmission shift points and steering feel, the Audi parking system plus, light and rain sensors, cruise control and keyless go push-button engine ignition.

Source : http://www.audi.co.uk

Honda’s new Acura NSX supercar concept

2012-02-02T12:05:00.000+07:00

Posted by Kelly Levinsohn in Automotive News, Autostyle, Concept car news, Super car news on 12 15th, 2011.Honda has officially confirmed that it will be showcasing its new NSX supercar concept at the upcoming Detroit Motor Show in January 2012. The next-generation Acura NSX supercar will be one of four all-new vehicles revealed by Honda next year.

Some background on Acura – it’s Honda’s upmarket wing in America that came to Europe as a Honda. It’s still fondly remembered as one of the first supercars to add comfort and ease to its pursuit of outright speed with three-time Formula 1 champion Ayrton Senna involved in its development. An earlier NSX project was scratched during the financial storm of 2008 but Honda are clearly back on track with this new project.
Aside for the confirmation of the project, Honda has not revealed much information but by looking at Honda’s latest strategy the new NSX will pioneer a more sporting hybrid application of the technology seen in lesser Hondas.
The Acura NSX is expected to be a two-seater with a lightweight build, a full zero-emissions EV capability and a launch date speculated to be in 2013.

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Source : http://100hotcars.info

2013 Kia GT to produce coupe and wagon

2012-02-02T11:53:00.001+07:00

There have been rumours circulating that Kia was planning to build a production version of its GT concept but a new report but a new report has indicated that the new model could also be available in a wagon and coupe variant.

Citing anonymous sources, Inside Line reported that Kia is considering a series of GT-based vehicles rather than a single sedan or hatchback. The aim of this decision is likely to assist Kia in spreading out development costs while allowing the model to target a wider range of consumers.
While no date has been confirmed for the launch dates of the coupe and wagon, the standard model could be available in 2013

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Source : http://100hotcars.info

EA leaves Online Passes out of Syndicate

2012-02-02T08:05:00.000+07:00

Electronic Arts' upcoming Syndicate won't include an Online Pass despite containing substantial online multiplayer content, the game's developer has revealed. Speaking to Eurogamer, executive producer Jeff Gamon explained that the title's multiplayer mode was given “equal billing” with the single-player campaign, rather than restricted access: “We want as little resistance or barriers to entry as possible.”

While Online Passes are standard-issue for Electronic Arts-built games, the title's development occupies a grey area between internal and outsourced. While coding of the EA-owned IP was overseen by EA Partners, indie studio Starbreeze managed to convince the publisher to bend the rules, Gamon says, “because it didn't have competitive multiplayer and because we wanted as many people as possible to be playing co-op.”

Gamon's hope is that the strategy – together with a decent helping of content – will be rewarded with a high user-retention rate. He estimates that players should take “a good six, seven hours” to see all the game's co-op, with the game containing what he sees as a high replay value: “to progress your character and upgrade a few weapons is a heap of content.”

The game releases Feb 21. We're not going to come right out and suggest you reward EA/Starbreeze's risk by keeping your copy until the day you're buried with it, but we're certainly not going to advise against it either.

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Source : http://www.gamesradar.com

High Horse: Difficulty in games is broken

2012-02-02T07:30:00.000+07:00

High Horse is a rotating opinion column in which GamesRadar editors and guest writers are invited to express their personal thoughts on games, the people who play them and the industry at large.

When I was younger, game difficulty barely factored into my consciousness: I acknowledged that certain games were harder than others, but I didn’t complain about it. I beat my head against the last level of Ninja Gaiden II on the NES repeatedly until I won, and I cursed and stomped around my room, but it never occurred to me the state of affairs could be a problem with the game. Older gamers may sound like we’re calling newer gamers coddled when we talk about the old days, but I’m glad that games have gotten easier and offered more difficulty levels. As a kid, I had all the time in the world to die over and over; as an adult, I need more fun and less frustration in my much-more-limited free time.
However. I’ve found my niche: that of an experienced gamer who’s good enough to enjoy a challenge, but not so amazing at games that I can crank difficulty up to the hardest level like it ain’t no thing. From that perspective, game difficulty is showing increasing problems.

At the core of the issue are some basic assumptions of what “Normal” and “Hard” are. In the old days, Normal was what you played until you got good enough at a game until you could tackle Hard mode (something which I almost never attempted back then). Nowadays, Normal in many games has edged closer to what Easy mode would have been 20 years ago. Hard is now the equivalent of Normal. The solution to this should be obvious: just crank it to Hard on every game.
Unfortunately, developers seem to be approaching the actual difficulty balance within Hard mode like they did in yesteryear: they don’t worry if it’s pitched just right, because if you choose Hard mode, you “kind of deserve whatever you get.” That mentality was fine in the past, but now that Hard is the only option for a decent challenge, it means that I can almost never find a reasonable sweet spot for my own skill level. Here’s an example: in Gears of War 2, the difficulty levels have descriptions to guide you. Easy mode says (I’m paraphrasing) “You’re new to shooters.” Normal mode says “You have experience with shooters” and Hard says “You know how to pull off a headshot.” I thought “Hey, I know how to do headshots!” And off I went.

The game’s challenge was perfect for much of the story, but a number of times, I hit difficulty spikes that went from challenging to ludicrous. I’d get through most areas without dying, and then suddenly a random room would kill me 20 times in a row. Sure, I “deserved what I got,” but if I’d played Normal mode, the game would have been horribly boring, considering most of Hard mode wasn’t even particularly challenging.
Similarly, when I played the original Infamous on Hard mode, I had no problem tackling the entire game… until I got to the final boss. Suddenly, the difficulty spiked to 10 times greater than anything else in the game, and I tried to kill that jerk like 30 to 40 times before giving up in disgust. When Infamous 2 came around, I wanted to play through a complete story, so I shamefully turned Infamous down to Normal – and the last boss became a joke. That’s the only time I’ve ever reduced the difficulty of a game, and it still bothers me, as though I never truly beat it.

This trend worries me, because it feels like even developers of “hardcore” games are abandoning the notion that games are even games anymore. If there’s no actual challenge, then you’re just playing a vaguely interactive movie. If games all trend toward an easy-ass Normal mode and totally unbalanced Hard modes, where are gamers like me left?
On the other end of the spectrum, we have games that err on the side of too much difficulty without bothering to balance for tight controls or fair enemies. Again, it’s like the attitude of “you deserve what you get,” except that in this case, the games offer no easier options. Recently, I knocked the score down on BloodRayne: Betrayal, War of the Worlds, and Choplifter HD, due to their sloppy approaches to difficulty – each one had clunky controls combined with level design that called for pinpoint accuracy.

I had no problems with these games as concepts. If a dev wants to make a super-difficult old-school game, more power to them. However, they need to give players the proper tools for the job – for instance, I liked Hard Corps: Uprising, because it had great controls and an RPG system that let you beat it slowly, through attrition. Super Meat Boy had some of the most precise platforming controls ever, and it also didn’t punish you too much for failure, always respawning you super-quickly, and never far from your goal.

I know I’m not alone when I stare at the start screen and wonder, “If I choose Normal, I’ll be vaguely bored, but if I choose Hard, will I be screaming later?” Now more than ever, devs need to carefully balance difficulty, precisely because the gaming sphere is so much bigger. The range of skill levels is broader than ever. Games these days don’t need a million difficulty levels, just slightly expanded ones: devs only need to carefully balance Normal and Hard modes, and then leave Easy and Insane as the “you deserve what you get” options. There are exceptions: games like Dark Souls and Kirby’s Epic Yarn can still sit in their bookends at either end of the spectrum. But for most games, devs should focus on balancing their games for both “casual” and the “semi-hardcore” – those of us currently left hanging out to dry.
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2012 raider S

2012-02-01T13:52:00.000+07:00

Key Features :

“S” model gets even more chrome: chrome triple clamps, fork sliders, air box cover, engine covers, headlight housing, handlebar risers, etc.
A 6-degree yoke angle—the first ever on a Star® Motorcycle—makes it possible to achieve that custom look as well as neutral handling and straight-line cruisability: 33-degree rake plus 6 degrees yoke angle gives total rake of 39 degrees and 102mm of trail.
5-spoke wheels carry a 120/70-21-inch bias tire up front, and a wide, 210/40-18 radial out back—the tallest and widest ever on a Star.
Estimated 42 mpg* means this cruiser can go the distance between fill-ups.

Engine :

113-cubic-inch (1854cc) air-cooled, OHV with 4 valves per cylinder, pushrod 48-degree V-twin pumps out max torque at just 2500 rpm and max power at 4500 rpm for powerful, relaxed cruising.
Four pushrod-activated valves and two spark plugs per cylinder provide optimum combustion efficiency along with classically beautiful engine architecture.
Ceramic-composite plated cylinders for superior heat dissipation with forged pistons cooled by oil jets. Provides outstanding reliability and longer engine life.
9.48:1 compression ratio and aggressive cam timing increase power output across the board.
Computer-controlled, twin-bore fuel injection monitors multiple engine parameters to calculate perfect mixture under all conditions; wide-angle 12-hole fuel injectors provide excellent atomization.
A 3.5-liter airbox is hidden in the area below the fuel tank for great performance and clean styling.
Two-into-one-into-two exhaust with Exhaust Ultimate Power valve (EXUP®) inside boosts torque in the 2500~3500-rpm range.
Special custom-machining of the cooling fin edges gives a jewel-like appearance to the engine as light hits it from different angles.

Chassis/Suspension:

All-aluminum cast frame is lightweight, rigid and tuned for light, athletic handling. A light, Controlled-Fill, aluminum swingarm casting complements the bike’s lithe style.
Low, sculpted seat holds the rider in place, and pullback bars reach back to enforce a casual, urban cruising style.
A 6-degree yoke angle—the first ever on a street-legal Star Motorcycle—makes it possible to achieve that custom look as well as neutral handling and straight-line cruisability: 33-degree rake plus 6 degrees yoke angle gives total rake of 39 degrees and 102mm of trail.
Custom 5-spoke wheels carry a 120/70-21-inch bias tire up front, and a wide, 210/40-18 radial out back—the tallest and widest ever on a Star.
46mm fork tubes serve a sweet appearance and an excellent ride through 5.1 inches of wheel travel.
A tucked-out-of-sight single shock with adjustable spring preload out back provides a smooth ride under varying loads.
Flangeless fuel tank carries a full 4.2 gallons of fuel.
Front brake master cylinder with integrated lever operates a pair of 298mm front discs squeezed by strong monoblock calipers for excellent power and feel, with a 310mm disc out back.
Strong, light and narrow belt final drive contains embedded carbon fiber for even greater strength.
Wiring harness uses super-slim wires for compactness, are lighter weight and switchgear wiring is routed inside the handlebar for a clean appearance.

Additional Features:

Left-thumb operated high-beam switch, and right-thumb activated accessory driving light switch for great visibility.
Jewel-like fit and finish, and Star quality paint, chrome and attention to detail are evident all over the Raider S.
Cool, tank-mounted instrumentation complements the custom look, and contains analog speedometer and fuel gauge, along with twin digital tripmeters, odometer and self-diagnostics.
Bright multireflector headlight, LED taillight, and amber turn signals behind clear lenses give a custom look.
02 sensor and three-way catalyst reduce emissions.

Read More ...

Source : http://www.starmotorcycles.com

SPECIFICATIONS NINJA 1000 ABS

2012-01-31T11:54:00.000+07:00

SPECIFICATIONS

Engine

Four-stroke, liquid-cooled, DOHC, four valves per cylinder, inline-four

Displacement

1,043cc

Bore x Stroke

77.0 x 56.0 mm

Compression Ratio

11.8:1

Fuel System

DFI® with four 38mm Keihin throttle bodies, oval sub-throttles

Ignition

TCBI with digital advance

Transmission

Six-speed

Final Drive

X-ring Chain

Rake/Trail

24.5 deg / 4.0 in.

Front Tire Size

120/70 ZR17

Rear Tire Size

190/50 ZR17

Wheelbase

56.9 in.

Front Suspension / wheel travel

41 mm inverted cartridge fork with stepless compression and rebound damping, adjustable spring preload / 4.7 in.

Rear Suspension / wheel travel

Horizontal monoshock with stepless rebound damping, adjustable spring preload / 5.4 in.

Front Brakes

Dual 300mm petal-type rotors with radial-mount four-piston calipers, ABS

Rear Brakes

Single 250mm petal-type rotor with single-piston caliper, ABS

Fuel Capacity

5.0 gal.

Seat Height

32.3 in.

Curb Weight

509.4 lbs.

Overall length

82.9 in.

Overall width

31.1 in.

Overall height

48.4 in.

Color Choices

Metallic Spark Black / Metallic Flat Micron Gray, Candy Lime Green / Ebony

Warranty

12 Months

Good Times™ Protection Plan

12, 24, 36, 48 months

Read More ...

The new Ferrari 458 Spider

2012-01-30T21:43:00.002+07:00

Maranello, 23rd August – The new 458 Spider joins the 458 Italia, widening the range of Ferrari’s mid-rear engined V8s and offering the same uncompromising technological solutions, handling and performance in a refined open-top configuration. It is equipped with a Ferrari patented, fully retractable hard top, a world first for a sports car with this lay-out.

The 458 Spider is powered by Ferrari’s naturally-aspirated, direct-injection 4.5 litre V8 which was nominated as the 2011 International Engine of the Year for its engineering excellence in terms of driveability, performance, economy and refinement. The power is transferred to the road by Ferrari’s class-leading dual-clutch F1 paddle-shift transmission through the sophisticated E-Diff, itself integrated with the F1-Trac traction control and high-performance ABS for maximum handling dynamics.

Certain of the car’s features, such as its accelerator pedal mapping and the damping of the multilink suspension, have been calibrated to guarantee maximum sportiness and absolute driving pleasure with the top down, in line with Maranello’s exclusive spider tradition. Even the engine soundtrack has been honed to ensure that the car’s occupants are completely captivated by the drop-top driving experience.

Entirely in aluminium, the hard-top solution adopted for the 458 Spider offers a number of advantages over the traditional folding soft-top, including a reduction of 25 kg in weight and a deployment time of just 14 seconds. Fully integrated into the styling of the car, the hard-top was engineered to fit neatly ahead of the engine bay without compromising aerodynamics or the performance of the car. The small space needed to house the roof enables the designers to include a generous rear bench for luggage behind the seats.

The rear of the car is characterised by innovative forms with the buttresses designed to optimise the flow of air to the engine intakes and the clutch and gearbox oil radiators. For maximum comfort whilst driving top down the 458 Spider features a generously-sized adjustable electric wind stop. The design was perfected to slow and diffuse the air in the cockpit, enabling normal conversation to be held even at speeds over 200 km/h.

New technical solutions adopted for the chassis guarantee identical levels of structural rigidity with the roof up or down. The result is a car that is truly exciting to drive, blending extreme performance with the responsiveness that has always characterised Ferrari’s open-top berlinettas.

458 Spider technical specifications

Dimensions
Length	4527 mm (178.2 in.)
Width	1937 mm (76.3 in.)
Height	1211 mm (47.7 in.)
Wheelbase	2650 mm (104.3 in.)
Dry weight	1430 kg (3153 lbs)*
Weight/power ratio	2.51 kg/CV (7.42 lbs/kW)
Weight distribution fr/r	42%/58%

Engine
Type	90° V8
Displacement	4499 cc (274.5 cu in.)
Maximum power	570 CV (425 kW)** @ 9000 rpm
Maximum torque	540 Nm (398 lbs/ft) @ 6000 rpm
Specific power output	127 CV/l
Compression ratio	12.5:1

Tyres
Front	235/35 ZR20 8.5”
Rear	295/35 ZR20 10.5”

Performance
Maximum speed	>320 km/h (>198 mph)
0-100 km/h	<3.4 s

Fuel consumption + emissions
Fuel consumption***	11.8 l/100 km
Emissions***	275 g CO2/km

Gearbox
Dual-clutch, 7-speed F1

Electronics
E-Diff3, F1-Trac, high-performance ABS

Read More ...

Source : http://www.ferrari.com

HONDA CR-Z

2012-01-30T10:40:00.001+07:00

EXTERIOR :

Proof that efficient design does not have to come at the expense of beauty.

A two-seat heritage

A design steeped in tradition with an eye towards the future.

Fun yet functional

Open the hatch for access to the expansive cargo area.

Making a Statement

With 16" alloy wheels pushed out toward the corners, the CR-Z broadcasts its handling prowess.

PERFORMANCE :

The intersection of sport and hybrid can be found under the hood of the CR-Z.

Hybrid Thrill

The CR-Z is powered by a 16-valve, 1.5-liter i-VTEC^® 4-cylinder engine with Integrated Motor Assist IMA^®. This combination delivers both spirited performance rarely seen in the hybrid world with impressive fuel economy[1].

IMA Power

The battery pack, positioned low in CR-Z's body structure for optimal center of gravity, supplies juice to the Integrated Motor Assist system, giving the CR-Z abundant low-rpm torque for quick off-the-line acceleration. This is an attribute unique to electric motors and something the CR-Z would not benefit from with just the conventional engine.

6-Speed or CVT

The CR-Z's sporting credentials include a 6-speed manual transmission—the first production hybrid vehicle ever to be equipped this way. The transmission allows enthusiasts to drive the CR-Z to its maximum capabilities. Those who choose the CVT automatic transmission, however, are treated to racing-inspired paddle shifters that also provide driving excitement and engagement.

Sophisticated Suspension

A low center of gravity, wide tread and a low overall height contribute to the CR-Z's excellent handling. These virtues, together with specially tuned independent front and torsion-beam rear suspension, provide an exciting blend of agility, stability and ride quality.

Read More ...

Source : http://automobiles.honda.com

Six-Cylinder Streetfighter Shootout of the Future: Honda EVO6 vs BMW Concept 6

2011-12-28T09:09:00.002+07:00

There are currently two motorcycles that have six-cylinder engines, and both of them power big and bulky touring machines: the BMW K1600 and Honda Gold Wing.

Both engines are large-displacement, high-torque powerplants that create sweet-sounding exhaust music, and we’ve wondered what other uses could be made from these unique engines.

We’re not the only ones, as designers from Honda and BMW have both shown concept motorcycles built around these motors, making us wonder if we might one day see a version of either enter production.

Honda was first to the game when it unveiled the EVO6 at the 2007 Tokyo Motor Show. A “Pride Fighter,” according to Honda, it was a bold concept streetfighter based around the company’s flat-Six engine from the Gold Wing.

Two years later, at the EICMA show in Italy, BMW teased visitors with the Concept 6 streetfighter model based on a previously unseen inline six-cylinder engine that later debuted in the K1600 GT and GTL.

This year’s launch of BMW’s K1600 series strengthens the possibility of a production version of the Concept 6 becoming reality in the not-too-distant future. The EICMA show might’ve been BMW’s way of doing market research on the Concept 6’s viability.

With four years having passed since a public appearance of Honda’s EVO6, the promise of that model coming to fruition dims, but like the limited-production, high-concept 2005 Rune that utilized the Gold Wing mill, we could be pleasantly surprised. It could be that Honda is just sitting on its hands waiting for the global economy to recover.

With neither bike a sure thing, we decided — in the spirit of a good, old, black and white Godzilla movie — to create some science fiction of our own; to pit one concept model against another by extrapolating information from the current models they’re derived from and combining that knowledge with the limited facts presented by the respective manufacturer.

The introduction of the BMW K1600 series sheds light on what the Concept 6 is capable of achieving. In its current touring guise the inline six-cylinder engine produces a claimed 160 hp and 129 ft-lb of torque. It’s likely a streetfighter like the 6 would be given performance tuning to bump up peak output somewhere near 180 hp at the crankshaft.

The larger displacement GL engine (1832cc vs 1649cc) cranks out a relatively paltry 118 hp but a more respectable 125 ft-lb of torque. The extinct Rune used hotter cams and 12-hole injectors to achieve a slight power upgrade, but we’d hope there’s more oomph than that lurking inside. In terms of sheer horsepower numbers, the Beemer will have a clear advantage.

The Rune, carrying about 840 lbs, could cover a standing-start quarter-mile in 12.5 seconds. In contrast, the lighter and more powerful BMW GTL can perform the same feat in the low 11-second range.

Obviously Honda must contend with this performance imbalance for its EVO6 to compete with BMW’s Concept 6. Perhaps underneath the EVO’s stylized cylinder-head covers is a new DOHC valvetrain and four-valve cylinders, which would go a long way in bringing more horses to Honda’s trough. The addition of gasoline-direct-injection technology would allow a bump in compression from its current 9.8:1 ratio to a figure commensurate with BMW’s 12.2:1.

According to Honda’s press material, the EVO6 is to utilize an automatic transmission, with two automatic shifting modes in addition to a bar-mounted toggle for operating the six-speed gearbox manually. With the introduction last year of the dual-clutch transmission in the VFR1200F, we’ll assume that technology would make it to this concept, and, likely, to the next Gold Wing.

BMW makes no claims to advancing transmission technology. In fact, the Concept 6 closely resembles the company’s own K1300R, making it even more feasible that we’ll see this bike in dealerships as a pseudo replacement to the 1300R that isn’t imported to America. The K1300 platform will provide a base from which to construct the Concept 6 streetfighter, although a completely new frame will be necessary to hold its wider engine.

Besides the engine, the EVO6 shares little to nothing with other Honda models. The aluminum twin-spar frame on the Gold Wing is replaced by one with an aluminum backbone that uses the large engine as a stressed member. The EVO’s rear suspension is via twin dampers with remote reservoirs that appear to be sprung by air, leaving open the possibility of remote suspension adjustment (the current Gold Wing has an onboard air compressor for preload adjustment).

Up front the Honda wears a standard inverted fork, while the Concept 6 utilizes BMW’s Duolever front suspension technology borrowed from the K series. In the rear each bike sports a shaft final drive and a single-sided swingarm, just like their corporate brothers.

Exhaust routing on both bikes is highly stylized, with the BMW showcasing a six-into-two-into six system, each side featuring a trio of rectangular exhaust outlets. The Honda’s upswept GP-esque exhaust system appears to be a six-into-six format. It would be challenging for either system to meet EPA regulations, but some under-engine canisters might allow the basic designs to carry into production.

Visually the two bikes are keenly different from one another. The BMW is futuristic and stealthy in appearance; a motorcycle Hollywood would use in an upcoming sci-fi flick. Its “split face” design echoes a David Robb-penned theme seen in other BMWs, with the nose blending into the sidepods and carbon-fiber fuel tank.

The Honda portends the brute force of a refined muscle car on two wheels, assisted by its fattish 220mm rear tire. Its handlebars are positioned higher than the BMW’s. Of note are the peg feelers on the EVO6, perhaps a sign that it might see a production line.

"The completion of this model run doesn't herald an end to this fabulous motorcycle,” Honda Motorcycle Division Vice President, Ray Blank, once said about the Rune: “Nor to Honda's determined pursuit of bringing concepts to production reality."

Of motorcycles currently in production, the Star/Yamaha VMax would be the closest match to this conceptual pair, boasting high-end features and a monstrous engine like these prototypes. However, the VMax’s near-$20K price has hurt its sales, a situation that might give pause to BMW and Honda.

Resting on a 66.9-inch wheelbase, the VMax scales in at 684 lbs full of fluids and boasts nearly 200 hp. The K1600GT already weighs just 703 lbs wet, so the Concept 6 could easily match the Max. But for the EVO6, that giant Gold Wing engine will ensure an optimistic mass of just below 800 lbs.

So, which would be a more desirable streetfighter grande? We’re not sure, but we’re betting BMW’s Concept 6 will be the first one you’ll see at a dealership.

As we noted in our K1600 Unveiled article, “BMW would be foolish not to amortize the cost of developing that powerplant by including it in another platform, and we’re reasonably sure BMW understands that, too.”

Read More ...

Source : http://www.motorcycle.com

2012 Kawasaki ZX-14R Review

2011-12-28T08:42:00.003+07:00

It’s neither easy nor politically correct to build the most powerful streetbike ever offered to the public for mass consumption, but that’s what Kawasaki has done with the incredibly potent new ZX-14R.

The ZX-14 has been a major player in the hyperbike wars since its introduction in 2006, becoming the only machine that could hold a candle to Suzuki’s mega-powerful (nearly 160 hp) Hayabusa that was introduced back in 1999. The ZX-14 cranked out a remarkable 171 hp on the dyno and must’ve worried Suzuki’s marketing department and engineering team, as they released a more powerful Hayabusa in 2008 with a bigger engine that produced around 165 horses.

Kawasaki surprised us with a revised ZX-14 in 2008, just two years since its debut, to meet the revitalized Suzuki challenger. While the Kawi remained the smoother and more accommodating choice, emissions regulations took a chunk out of the ZX’s top-end performance. Running excessively rich to preserve its catalyzers, the ZX spat out 10 peak horses less than the original.

his obviously didn’t sit well with Kawasaki, so they’ve now responded with the ZX-14R for 2012. Note the addition of the R to its name. Kawi’s engineers made a host of upgrades to the ZX’s powerplant, most notably by adding 4mm to the engine’s stroke that ups displacement from 1352cc to 1441cc. This 6.5% size increase plus hot-rodding tricks like hand-finished intake ports, more radical camshaft specs, a compression ratio increase and tapered exhaust headers has resulted in what Kawasaki claims is the most powerful mass-produced motorcycle engine in the world.

Read More ...

Source : http://www.motorcycle.com

How cybercrime hijacks your computer

2011-07-11T10:46:00.000+07:00

International police have teamed up with civilian specialists from Microsoft to inflict a devastating blow on internet crooks. Lia Timson reports.

At exactly 11am on March 16, data centres in seven US cities heard an unusual knock on the door.
US Marshals bearing search warrants wanted access to the premises and their computer servers. Tools were immediately downed. No one was allowed to leave.
But the bulletproof-clad law enforcement officers did not conduct the ensuing searches.
In an unprecedented move, they stood aside and watched as civilian computer forensic specialists and lawyers bearing the Microsoft logo on their tags seized hard drives and severed internet connections.
Their actions were repeated with the help of police in the Netherlands a few hours later.
In the days that followed the raid, more than a million unsuspecting computers in homes and offices all over the world, including Australia, rang for their masters in vain, reaching instead newly established links into Microsoft's internet security labs.
It was the audacious private legal coup that outmanoeuvred canny cyber criminals and the usual slow progress of police investigations.
A civil court in Seattle had a few days earlier granted permission for the world's biggest software maker to dismantle the world's biggest known spam botnet, Rustock.
Botnets are robot networks of infected personal computers - our computers - at the mercy of cybercrime bosses. They are used to automate the distribution of spam, viruses and phishing, and counterfeit drugs. They are also deployed in money laundering, online advertising fraud and bringing down websites, an action known as a denial-of-service attack. Most users do not know if their computers are infected.
Rustock had hidden 96 command and control centres in the servers housed in those eight locations.
At its peak the five-year-old botnet was believed responsible for 30 billion spam messages daily, mostly peddling fake Viagra, Microsoft-branded lottery scams and bogus news items leading to malicious websites that installed malware on victims' machines. One Rustock-infected PC was sending 10,000 emails hourly.
Viagra's manufacturer, Pfizer, provided evidence and a private cyber security firm, FireEye, intelligence for the civil action.
Patrick Ford, Pfizer's global security chief and a former FBI agent, told Fairfax Media the company bought advertised drugs to test.
Products pretending to be Viagra, the anti-inflammatory Celebrex and the hypertension medicine Norvasc, among 50 others, turned out to be generic drugs, placebos or a cocktail of wrong doses and chemicals including rat poison.
''We gave the courts something they could have a good understanding of. Not only people's computers get a virus and machines are compromised but it is bad in a health safety sense,'' Ford said.
He said innocent people were unsuspectingly drafted into botnets. ''You become an unwitting partner in the criminal organisation by clicking on those things.''
According to the security company, Symantec, Rustock's downfall caused global spam volume to drop from 121.5 billion emails a day last year to 36.9 billion. Last month it was still below 40 billion, or 72.6 per cent of all global email traffic.
Adrian Covich, a security expert at Symantec, says spam won't go away. There are at least two other botnets ready to take over Rustock's reins.
New Microsoft intelligence recently showed 702,860 infected computers, identified by their IP addresses, were still reporting for Rustock work in June.
It is a 56.12 per cent reduction on the 1.6 million IP addresses commanded before the takedown but those computers are not clean yet and infected computers are more likely to be redeployed.
Symantec estimates there are up to 5.4 million personal computers operating under the control of 10 major botnets at present. Waledac, Rustock and Coreflood may be down but Bagle and Cutwail are still active. Grum recently earned the nickname ''son of Rustock'', while Dark Mailer and Harvester have increased their output since March.
Even when arrests are made, crime bosses move their servers and domain addresses to other jurisdictions. The Rustock civil action was thus a masterstroke. Its conductor, Richard Boscovich, the senior attorney at Microsoft's Digital Crimes Unit, is a former US Department of Justice white-collar crime prosecutor.
Without a full understanding of how botnets worked and with no technical training, the legal eagle admits to being overwhelmed when asked to advise on the takedown.
''I'll be frank, I was really worried because [I thought] 'what exactly am I going to contribute to these guys?' '' he said. ''I'm not anengineer, you know, I'm a lawyer … I started thinking out of the box and it just came to me. I went back to the basics of law school to see what we could do and that's how I came up with the first legal strategy.''
He used an ex-parte ''John Doe'' legal action to sue unknown defenders without the other party present. Such action is commonly used to seize counterfeit goods such as luxury handbags.
''It was amazing no one had used the ex-parte restraining order [in technology] this way before,'' Boscovich said. ''The judge could've said no, but it was a smart calculated risk - you can't be too risk averse.''
Microsoft is now in the process of advertising in newspapers in Russia, where it believes the bot masters live, giving them due notice to reclaim the servers. It does not believe they will.
Eugene Kaspersky, owner of the Russian anti-virus software company Kaspersky Labs, said in May that cyber criminals are very difficult to locate. ''Cybercrime is integrated into the computer world like in Australia sharks are integrated into the beautiful ocean.
''Cybercrime is organised, but not like the Mafia … [They're] interconnected groups that trade information, develop malware by request, then infect thousands of computers.
''They steal everything from the infected machines, even software licences that they sell on eBay, they steal pictures, scans of your passports, your driver's licence. Everything that is stolen from infected machines is sold. It's the criminal economy.''
James Turner, a security analyst with IBRS in Sydney, said cybercrime seems abstract and hard to understand until it happens to you.
''Every single dollar spent on computer security is wasted. It's money we could be spending on roads, on schools, on health, but we have to do it because we have to defend ourselves. We don't live in a world of unicorns, rainbows and cute baby ducks,'' Turner said.
Meanwhile, in April the FBI borrowed the lawsuit idea and took it a step further in dismantling another botnet, Coreflood. After obtaining a court order to hijack botnet servers, it sent infected PCs a ''stop'' command, effectively blocking the fraudulent online banking transactions they were enlisted to make.
But others have questioned the leading role of private companies in such criminal cases.
Critics say Microsoft's motives for dismantling botnets are more commercial than altruistic. Spam costs its Hotmail service millions of dollars a year in filtering technology and human resources - and still 450,000 spam messages bypass its filters every day. Its Windows market leadership is at risk if computers run on pirated copies, or users believe it is exposed to more viruses than competing platforms. And its trademark is under siege when lottery scams branded with its logos deceive unsuspecting citizens.
But Boscovich denied the company's actions were designed to solely protect its market positioning. ''We don't know if you're running a pirated copy or not - all we know is your computer is infected. Our operation is not an anti-piracy program.''
Dave Dittrich, a University of Washington researcher who provided expert advice in the lawsuit, said other technology companies should consider similar action. He had helped Microsoft take down the smaller Waledac botnet last year, a process used as a test case for Rustock.
''This is a model that is very expensive, very time-consuming and requires close collaboration with experts and academics,'' Dittrich said. ''But it is a sustainable model and I'm hopeful the [technology] community will start adopting it.''
A spokesperson for the Attorney-General's Department said 16,464 computers had been compromised each day in Australia in 2010-11, up from 11,215 the previous year.
The Australian Federal Police's Detective Superintendent Sharon McTavish, who is seconded to the Microsoft DCU in Redmond, said Australians were not immune to cybercrime. ''Ultimately the consumer is a threat to themselves. They are opening, there are clicking.''
Next week top lawmakers of Australia, the US, Britain, Canada and New Zealand will meet in Sydney to discuss how to respond to the growing threat posed by cybercrime.
Turner said it was idealistic to leave it to law enforcement alone.
''Sadly, they are not fully funded,'' he said. ''It is also unrealistic to expect computer users to always be right in defending themselves. We should be able to depend on software vendors, ISPs and law enforcement together.''
Microsoft admits to ''an aggressive roadmap'' to attack botnets but wants others to share the load. While the names Google and Apple do not cross their lips, Boscovich would like the industry to do more.

Read More ...

Source : http://www.smh.com.au/

Chevrolet launches the upgraded 2012 Corvette

2011-07-02T14:06:00.000+07:00

Chevrolet is about to make some improvement in the performance capabilities of the Corvette. The improvement is expected to be brought about by introducing a series of enhancements for the 2012 model year car. The enhancements have been decided upon with the objective to offer an on track performance and on road comfort, the quality of both of which would be better than the prevalent. The improvements on the performance are subtle and they concern the Z06 and ZR1 models. The rest of the lineup of Corvette also gets to receive upgrade in interior and equipment department though those are modest at best.
Among the features that are new to the 2012 MY Corvette include optional Michelin Pilot Sport Cup Zero Pressure tires. The tires would be available for the Z06 and the ZR1 versions that have a max power rating of 505 and 638 HP respectively. These competition based tires have increased cornering and handling capacity in the warm and dry conditions. These in combination with the Performance Traction Management technology or PTM are expected to offer a 8 percent gain in maximum lateral acceleration for the car, which is more than 1.1 g. Then there is a corresponding enhancement in braking performance as well with considerably shorter braking distances achieved.
The new Michelins finds its inclusion in the optional Z07 performance package for the Corvette Z06 and a new PDE performance package on the ZR1. The tires actually feature brand new wheels that flaunt the aluminum Cup-style. The wheels have either a satin black or machined finishes. The weight by which the wheels have gone lighter is about 5 pounds or 2.2 kgs though the strength has gone up in that it is now stronger than even a 20 spoke wheel.
There is yet another upgrade – the racing style spoiler that is part of both the Z07 and PDE packages. The Z06 will also get the Magnetic Selective Ride Control suspension technology and Brembo carbon ceramic brakes as part of the Z07 package. The optional extras that are further added make the inclusion of carbon fiber hood on the Z06 models and taller gearing for the ZR1 in 5th and 6th gear for an improvement of 2 mpg in the high way fuel economy rating.

As far as the inside of the car is concerned, all Corvette models of 2012 version will get new seat and steering wheel designs. Chevrolet describes the seats to have features like large bolsters and optional microfiber suede inserts. The bolsters contribute to the improvement in the lateral support. In addition to this, all models further receives contrasting color stitching that come in colors red, blue and yellow and padded center console and armrests.
Equipment levels of the car include the incorporation of a new Bose Audio System that has 9 speakers, 2 more than what was present in the 2011 version. The audio system is better tuned to the cabin’s acoustics. The 2LT trim level is said to be featuring new Technology Package that includes navigation, head up display, Bose premium audio system. In addition to all these, Bluetooth wireless phone connectivity and USB port will also be available in the coupe. After the long wait, the customers can finally make an option of choosing the braking caliper getting painted in red, yellow, silver or gray colors.
Production of the Corvette version 2012 begins in the month of July 2011.
Read More ...

Source : http://www.speedlux.com

2013 Chevrolet Corvette: here are more details that has emerged

2011-07-02T14:01:00.000+07:00

There are many fans who have been waiting for quite sometime now for the grand launch of the Corvette C7. It has nothing to do with being hardcore Corvette fans, nor will the next Corvette be drastically enhanced in terms of technology or aesthetics. But the key thing is that with our growing awareness about our environment and its effects on our financial condition – all that we are curious to know is whether Chevrolet will get the hint and stop using the trade mark V8 engine. Tadge Juechter, the chief engineer at Chevrolet had revealed in a video a few months back of the Corvette being the company’s most favored product. This had led many to speculate that the next generation Chevrolet will continue its reliance on the V8 engine that made them famous, albeit with some modification that is necessary to keep pace with the times.
The 2013 Chevrolet Corvette – and not the 2011 edition as was earlier planned will have a 5.5 liter small block V8 engine under its hood in its front engine, rear wheel drive setup. The engine though will be more powerful in spite of its smaller volume, capable of churning out 440 hp. This is about 5 hp more than the 6.2 liter and 7.0 liter engines that the previous Corvettes dished out. The Corvette will now also have a better economy in terms of fuel performance while the engine will also feature a revised combustion system and aluminum block and heads.
We can say for certain that the engine will not be the only change about the new Corvette. For there are also rumors that the Chevrolet will at last raise the quality of the materials that is used in the sports car, which means an end to the almost incessant complains about poor quality of materials used for generations might finally comes to an end. The new Chevrolet sports car will see higher end seats that resemble bucket seats. If Chevrolet wishes to keep up with the times then they should definitely consider putting in high-tech features in the new Chevrolet. After all, if the Ford Focus is able to get technologically updated then we may expect better things from the Corvette as well.
Latest details about the new edition Corvette suggests that the car will have a European styled, small block, turbocharged V8 engine. The new engine will be a little bigger than the 3 liter displacement and will be of an overhead-cam design instead of the conventional overhead-valve design. A dry sump oil system that is friendly to the high performance road courses and not straight line acceleration capabilities will be used. We can expect to see an output of 125 Hp per liter and an overall of 400 HP. Seems like the Porsche 911 and the Lamborghini Gallardo have got a competitor.
Read More ...

Source : http://www.speedlux.com/

Jeep released the New Xplore Grand Cherokee

2011-07-02T13:58:00.000+07:00

A new tentation for SUV lovers, Xplore Jeep Grand Cherokee was unveiled yesterday by Venchurs and promisses to offer everyone a “premium SUV that’s more at home on a dirt trail than in front of fancy restaurants”.
Xplore Jeep Grand Cherokee manages to surpass the preceding models with all kind of improvements like the modified suspention package and a great hardware from Mopar, BF Goodrich and Method Racing. Mud Terrain tires wrapped around Method Race wheels make this car adaptable to plenty of tough terrain. Beside this, the car wears a signature special matte clear titanium grey paint which give a sinister look,an interesting darker edge.
On this car, Jeff Wyatt, CEO of Venchurs said that “Over the last 70 years, Jeep has defined true off-road capability and introduced the world to the great outdoors – the Jeep Grand Cherokee is an amazing vehicle.We feel privileged to offer this special version designed to deliver more power, capability and satisfaction to faithful Jeep enthusiasts.”
The car will be initially available only as a built-to-order custom vehicles from Venchurs and customers will be able to order it through select Jeep dealerships nationwide.The main aim of Xplore is your fulfillment and, for this, if you purchase an Xplore Grand Cherokee, you’ll get a one-year pass to America’s national parks and you, also get a one-year subscription to the Xplore Lifestyle Journal, which talks about the places you should be taking your vehicle.
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Source : http://www.speedlux.com/

Jaguar XF 2.2 Diesel Covers 816 Miles On One Tank: Forbidden Fruit

2011-06-28T20:11:00.000+07:00

Before you get all excited about this report, note that there are no plans to bring the highly-efficient Jaguar XF 2.2 Diesel to the U.S., at least in this generation of the car. Now that we’ve got that out of the way, we can tell you that overseas buyers can enjoy a luxurious 2012 Jaguar XF sedan that’s capable of driving 816 miles on a single tank.

We’ve reported on the car several times before, namely, its 2.2-liter turbodiesel four-cylinder engine that’s rated at 190 horsepower and 332 pound-feet of torque and in the XF returns a combined fuel economy figure of 52.2 mpg.

Further improving efficiency, the new 2.2-litre engine is linked to ZF’s latest eight-speed automatic gearbox and an engine stop-start system--the first time such a device has been fitted to a Jaguar.

The XF 2.2 Diesel is no slouch either, able to dish off 0-60 times in the eight seconds bracket and top out at 140 mph.

Now, two brothers in the UK, David and Alexander Madgwick, managed to drive the car across four countries in Europe, taking in a mix of winding country roads, highways and dense urban traffic. In the end they used just under 17 gallons of diesel fuel, which took them the 816 miles from Birmingham in the UK to Munich, Germany. This equates roughly to an average fuel economy of 48 mpg.
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Source : http://www.motorauthority.com/

Upcoming BMW M5 Is The Fastest Sedan Around Nürburgring

2011-06-28T19:30:00.000+07:00

When it comes to gauging a car’s performance, most will look at figures like accelerations, top speed, skid-pad numbers, and braking distance. Manufacturers have another number in mind, especially when a performance car is involved: A Nürburgring Nordschleife Lap Time. A lap time of the 14 mile course measures all the performance factors of a car. Drivers may also experience a 1,000 foot elevation change and can even experience different weather patterns during one lap of the famed German Track.
The top-spots are normally occupied by race cars, but production cars enjoy some fast times too. While there are no exact categories for separating laps, manufacturers will group similar cars that compete in the same segment, like the Porsche GT2 RS and Chevrolet Corvette ZR1. Another category that gets lumped together are four-door sedans, which the new BMW “F10” M5 dominates with a 7:55 lap. For comparison, it’s just as fast as a Ferrari F430, while the next quickest sedan, the Porsche Panamera Turbo is a second behind.
The F10 BMW M5 has lost the V-10 in favor of the twin-turbo 4.4L V-8 found in the X6 M and X5 M performance SUVs. This means that the car is producing 560 hp, 50 more horsepower than the old engine, and nearly eight-percent more torque lower in the rev-range. A seven-speed dual-clutch transmission will be bolted to the back of the engine, but a six-speed manual will be available to enthusiasts who’d like to shift.
For now, BMW can claim they still offer the best new performance sedan on the market.
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Source: http://www.carnewsbreak.com/

Tantowi / Liliyana subdued, Indonesia Without Degree

2011-06-26T19:41:00.000+07:00

Jakarta - Indonesia Expires already won gold in the odds of Djarum Indonesia Open 2011.

The last hope of the mixed doubles sector, Tantowi Ahmad / Liliyana Natsir uprooted.

The fourth-seeded mixed doubles fell, three sets of Chinese top seed Zhang Nan / Zhao Yunlei 20-22 21-14 21-9.
At the beginning of the first set, Ahmad / Liliyana looks would take the set easily after streaking 8-1 and 11-5. But after the break in mid-set, double China's top seed is up and pursue, leveled at 14 points.
They even had time to turn things around 19-17, before Ahmad / Liliyana closed the first set by Deuce 22-20.
The second set went more heavily for the fourth seed from Indonesia, who could not beat the Chinese pair gain points to pause mid-second set. After lagging behind 2-6, the two couples entered the break on a score of 9-11 to Zhang / Zhao. Difference in both kept away hingga10-17, before the Chinese pair won the second set 21-14.
Tantowi / Liliyana like running out of petrol in the third set, immediately behind 0-4 and getting drowned by a margin of 2-8. But before the interval mid-third set, the only hope of Indonesia to win the gold managed to reduce the lag to be 7-11.
Unfortunately the results of this back away to 8-16. Plus a number returns a ball which is less perfect than Tantowi, Indonesia has lagged 19-9. Indonesia finally succumbed to the position 21-9.

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Source : http://olahraga.inilah.com

The Indonesian Vice Fall in Final

2011-06-26T19:37:00.001+07:00

Jakarta - The Indonesian representative in the final of Djarum Indonesia Open 2011 collapse.

Vita Marissa / Nadya Melati surrender of the women's doubles 12-21 10-21 China Xiaoli Wang and Yu Yang.

The first set was tight until both partners reach the same nine points, but after that first seed of Chinese origin was shot up to 17-9, and closed the second set 21-12.

While the second set went much easier for Wang / Yu. After a 1-1 draw, they continue to keep a distance with Vita / Nadya 7-2 and 15-4. Indonesian couple to the same ten points while the Chinese partner to grab gamepoint.
With this defeat, Indonesia left to live mixed doubles Tantowi Ahmad / Liliyana Natsir who will face top-seeded Chinese Zhang Nan / Zhao Yunlei.

Source : http://olahraga.inilah.com