Porsche Cayman S
Brash and brilliant fun
“Would you like to drive a Porsche around the south of France?” is the kind of question which – like, “Would you like either a kick in the crown jewels, or this gold ingot?” ?- doesn’t require a lot of thinking about. “Yes,” we replied, and a couple of weeks later we’re picking up the keys to a German fun wagon.
The Cayman is sort of the answer to the potential criticisms of the 911 range. For a start, it’s a mid-engined car, which is arguably a lot less likely to try and kill you than a rear-engined one, and the number of options in the range is a lot less confusing than the 911 – four, as opposed to 21 for the 911. We drove the Cayman S, which costs around ?48,000, but the vanilla Cayman starts at ?39,000, only a little more than the Boxster.
Price
It is, however, worth remembering that as with all German cars, the price is a fluid thing. While the base car is ?48,000, you can spend an awful lot more on various bits and bobs for it. You can pay ?90 for a aluminium “look” fuel filler cap. Or ?5500 on ceramic brakes – overkill unless you’re intending to use it on a track. There are also some very worthwhile additions. You can take an upgraded stereo for ?2,137. Go for the Bose here, the sound quality is far better than the Porsche system. Also, we think the 3G option, and sat nav are must-haves. You can have a TV tuner, but why would you ever stop to watch TV when you could be out driving. It’s probably worth getting parking assist too, for ?348.
We configured a car to this spec, and included the Porsche automatic, double clutch gearbox and Sports Chrono package, and ended up with a price of ?54,708. We do have some mixed feelings about the automatic gearbox. It is very good, but we’re also lovers of manual transmission, and that gives us some conflict. The speed, flexibility and addition of launch control would probably win us over though. And, at least with the PDK gearbox, you never lose full manual control.
Design
The interior of the Porsche is both the best, and worst thing about it. It is in every sense a luxury car. The leather is beautiful, the instruments clear and easy to read and everything is in a sensible place. It is very German indeed. But it’s devoid of any personality. This is not the sort of car that needs nannying, nor is it poorly made or temperamental. Like all Porsche vehicles, you can drive it every day.
Externally, too, the Porsche Cayman doesn’t look as pretty as the 911, or even the Boxster. It’s not an ugly car, but it looks bigger and its huge wheel arches dominate the style. It’s a more distinctive look than the Boxster – which apes the 911, to some extent – but it won’t appeal to everyone. The long boot, with a sort of kink put us off slightly, but who are we kidding, it’s still a Porsche, with Porsche looks, and we still think it’s terrific.
The Cayman is also an easy car to get in to, and it’s super-comfortable once you’re in. The seats are grippy, and keep you in place when you’re driving hard and you can see all the instruments, all the time. This is something that cannot be said for some other cars.?
Boot space isn’t a disgrace. You can store items behind the engine, and there’s enough room for a couple of weekend bags here. But you also get under-bonnet storage too. And there’s more capacity here for your various gubbins. The 911 might have fractionally more space, but while having the engine in the middle might deprive you of rear seats, there’s still enough room for two people to have a nice weekend away. ?
Driving on mountain roads does make you appreciate just how wide the Cayman is. There were certainly times when we longed for a more traditional, narrow, sports car, even if it would mean that you’d be sitting almost on top of your passenger. Still, no matter how wide or narrow your sports car, you’re always going to worry constantly about it, so the key is just to keep a watchful eye on other drivers and their nasty habit of driving to close to you.?
Declare yourself a driving god
Porsche makes it easy to look good in the Cayman. It’s an easy car to drive, especially in automatic mode. You get manual control, if you need it, but you might as well not bother. The automatic box is so quick, that it makes driving the car a stop and go affair. On a straight stretch of road, you bury the accelerator in the floor, and the car roars in to life.
There are three modes to choose from in a car with the PDK automatic, double-clutch gearbox. In standard, the car is fast, but it changes up quickly and the engine noise is suppressed. For most driving, this is how you probably want the car set up.
Switching to the “sport” mode changes things, with the car changing up later and making significantly more noise in to the bargain. This is still an easy enough mode to drive the car in, however, and while it’s fast, you’re still getting a lot of help from the car to keep it on the road.
If you’re on a track – or just fancy hearing your car enjoy itself – then “sport plus” is where it’s at. Here, the car doesn’t change up until its near the red on the rev range. With all of the modes, you can get to the top speed in sixth, with the seventh gear being provided for economy. If economy isn’t too laughable a word to use in conjunction with a sports car.
Of course, all of these modes really just make up for the fact that you’re driving an auto, rather than a manual. There is no trick this automatic box can pull off that you can’t with some driving experience. So it’s a tricky one. Certainly, saving ?2,000 is worth considering, especially if you invest the money in some Porsche driving days, to get the hang of your new car…
Performance
The Cayman is a little bit slower than both the Boxster S and the 911 Carrera, in both acceleration and ultimate top speed, but we really doubt you’ll notice. It is, very fast indeed. It’s also solid and feels rigid when you’re throwing it along country lanes or around French mountains.
With Sport+ engaged, you can make use of launch control too. Put your left foot on the brake, push the accelerator down fully, then release the brake and the car will propel you forward with the maximum speed it can muster. It’s handy for getting off the lights, but it’s probably more useful if you’re a fan of track days.
So, what happens when you put your foot down? Well, there’s noise and lots of it. The Cayman isn’t shy about yelling about how good it is. But it has the rasp of a 40-a-day smoker, it’s a metallic croak that seems too harsh at first, but then becomes something you want to hear as often as possible. Tunnels will become your very favourite place to be.
And in terms of comparison with the 911, the Cayman holds up well. It’s only a modest amount slower than Porsche’s flagship model – at least, the lower end of that range – but the money sayving is significant enough to make it worth considering.
Verdict:
There’s no doubt about it, the Porsche Cayman is a delight to drive. It’s properly bolted together. The cabin is a nice a place to be as any luxury car, and it’s comfortable too. Switches, buttons and controls all fall in to your hand, and the stereo/sat nav combination works better than many built-in systems.
The mid-engined nature of this car means you get less boot space than in a 911. There, you at least get the notion of a rear seat. And while you lose the “boot” that you find in the Cayman, you do get the under-bonnet capacity. Although, none of these cars are going to set the world alight with their ability to haul cargo.
What the Cayman does brilliantly though, is offer amazing performance for thousands of pounds less than a 911, and significantly bettering the handling of the convertible Boxster. But for a modest price increase. It’s bundles of fun, noisy and stylish and if you’ve got the cash to spare, it’s almost a no-brainier.
Normally, we wouldn’t struggle so much with the choice of auto or manual transmission. Annoyingly though, the Porsche double-clutch double-gearbox arrangement is so good, and so fast, that it muddies the water. Drivers who love driving will, almost certainly, want to go for the manual car.
Tags: Car And GPS Porsche Porsche Cayman S
Porsche Cayman S originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 15 May 2012 17:59:00 +0100
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Miley Cyrus – 7 Things
- Artist: Miley Cyrus
- Label: Hollywood Records
- Director: Brett Ratner
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Buzz Out Loud 1585: Girls just wanna Pinterest (Podcast)
Sure, there’s a new iPad to discuss, a mind-controlled skateboard to tell stories about, lawsuits against Apple over Siri, and the thing where Ray Kurzweil doesn’t think there’s intelligent life in the universe. But Sharon Vaknin is on the show today, so as soon as Pinterest comes up, that’s all we can talk about! PIN ALL THE THINGS! Plus, some news, I swear.
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EPISODE 1585
NEWS:
-CNET conversations with hot startups of SXSW 2012
-Ray Kurzweil interview: he doesn’t believe there are aliens out there!
-Five non-surprises from first new iPad reviews
-Walmart will stream your own DVDs back to you–for a fee
-”Why I left” letter turns into a meme; startups recruit dissatisfied hires
-After-244-years-encyclopaedia-britannica-stops-the-presses
-Man sues Apple over Siri ads: Does he have a case?
-Yahoo sues Facebook for infringing 10 patents
-Yahoo’s own lash out against company over ‘weaponized’ patents
-SXSW: Company Turns Homeless into Wi-Fi Hotspots in Texas
-Homeless-hot-spots-at-sxsw-a-manufactured-controversy
-The Power of Youth: How Invisible Children Orchestrated Kony 2012
QUICK HITS:
-Google hires DARPA Director Regina Dugan
-Police tell Twitter that missing girl is safe before telling mom
GADGETS:
-New rumor adds to 15″ MacBook Air chatter
INTO IT NOT INTO IT:
-iCEO: Cuddle with a Steve Jobs plush
-New iPad hits stores at 8 a.m. Friday
-Pinterest to get ‘beautiful’ profile redesigns
-Wal-Mart to offer digital movie content
-MP3 DJ Doorbell: Rickroll your unsuspecting visitors
VOICEMAIL:
AJ from Los Angeles has a prediction on the iPhone 5.
Collin Davies says he is not excited about the latest Apple Product.
Dan in Salt Lake City is super frustrated with ICS and Google.
EMAILS:
Hey Buzz Crew,
As a loyal AT&T customer for over 10 years and an iPhone owner for over 4 I was incensed when I began to be throttled in late February. Due to the success of Matt Spacarelli in small claims court, I began to plot my REVENGE!!! When I saw that my iPhone 4S had magically became a 4G phone overnight my bile began to rise and I was ready to add this to my list of complaints. But, lo and behold, my speeds have increased from a throttled .2 Mbps, to 2 Mbps on 3G, and now 8 Mbps! So, until I get throttled again later this month, AT&T can consider me a happy customer! Love the show.
Greg
—–
The elephant in the room omission from the new iPad is the failure to incrementally increase the maximum amount of storage.
Does that relate to the flash memory crisis from the tsunami?
Does that relate to a technical/financial issue (reaching the end of Moore’s law)?
Is that an attempt to force iCloud on users?
Will
New Haven
—–
Molly the iPhone is five years old and there are 500,000 apps. The iPad is two years old and there are 200,000 apps. Do the math.
Dane
——
http://bol.cnet.com, 800-616-2638 (CNET), buzz@cnet.com
Follow us on Twitter: @mollywood @brian_tong @stephenbeacham @sharonvak
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Amber Portwood — Released from Jail
“Teen Mom” star Amber Portwood has been released from jail — again — after a judge gave her a 10 millionth chance.As we reported, Amber was arrested and thrown in the slammer in Madison County, Indiana last week for skipping a drug court…
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Samsung Galaxy S III receives 9 million pre-orders
Are you one of the crowd?
Reports suggest more than 9 million customers have already pre-ordered the Samsung Galaxy S III before its official arrival on 30 May.?
The Samsung Galaxy S III, which was unveiled at a glitzy soiree in London, has already received rave reviews from the tech industry and, if the reports are to be believed, it’s hit the right note with consumers too.?
The Korea Economic Daily newspaper which published the figures has also been told by an unidentified Samsung official that the manufacturer’s smartphone factory in South Korea is producing units at a rate of 5 million a month.?
Samsung propaganda? Maybe, but there’s no denying the Korean outfit is enjoying a boom period of late, having overtaken Nokia as the world’s largest mobile manufacturer and published impressive financial figures in April.
The Samsung Galaxy S III officially arrives in the UK on 30 May, though some retailers will have the phone available a day early to customers who pre-order the device.
That should help Samsung hit the 10 million mark.
Tags: Phones Samsung Galaxy S III Samsung Android Ice Cream Sandwich
Samsung Galaxy S III receives 9 million pre-orders originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 18 May 2012 11:18:00 +0100
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Demi Moore’s Treatment and Troubled Times
by Claudine Zap
Demi Moore is seeking treatment for exhaustion and health issues. The news of the star’s health concerns adds to a troubled time for the actress. TMZ confirmed that Moore was taken to a hospital after paramedics responded to a 911 call placed from her home.
A rep for the actress told People, “Because of the stresses in her life right now, Demi has chosen to seek professional assistance to treat her exhaustion and improve her overall health. She looks forward to getting well and is grateful for the support of her family and friends.” It seems that ex-Ashton Kutcher is not part of that group: He has been catching headlines in Brazil, where he is doing a fashion shoot and partying with supermodels.
The 49-year-old, who had been busy with a directing stint for Lifetime and a part in the indie flick “Margin Call,” decided to pull out of the biopic “Lovelace,” in which she had a small role as feminist Gloria Steinem.
Moore had fans worried months ago when she showed up on the red carpet looking dramatically thinner than her usual toned and trimmed self.
The cover model for the February issue of Bazaar admitted to the magazine that she had lost an unhealthy amount of weight, which she chalked up to age. She said she is “now experiencing my body as extremely thin — thin in a way that I never imagined somebody would be saying to me, ‘You’re too thin, and you don’t look good.’”
In November, the news broke that she and her husband, “Two and a Half Men” star Ashton Kutcher, had decided to end their six-year marriage, after scandalous reports that the actor, 15 years her junior, had been cheating.
Moore, who starred in “Ghost,” was previously married to Bruce Willis. The two had three daughters together — the oldest, Rumer Willis, who is 23, took her mom out over the weekend to party at Beacher’s Madhouse in Hollywood’s Roosevelt Hotel. The newly single Moore reportedly sipped Red Bull, danced on a couch, and enjoyed the attention of “90210″ actor Ryan Rottman.
Rumer was spotted at the hospital where Moore is being treated, rallying for her mother’s recovery.
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Nikon D3200
The mighty megapixel machine
The Nikon D3200 set tongues wagging when announced last month. Its headline-grabbing 24-megapixel sensor promised to be unlike anything the entry-level DSLR market had seen before.
But in a world where the megapixel isn’t always king, can the D3200 deliver across the board, and, more importantly, is it what beginners truly need?
The might of megapixels
There’s no denying it, high megapixel counts have been used to sell cameras for years now. But most users don’t have the need for such resolution, in particular at the beginner or “entry-level” end of the market.
Arguably the D3200 isn’t just aimed at those newcomers. It is, after all, the highest-resolution DSLR in its class, and certainly the most affordable 24-megapixel camera on the market today. That resolution may speak volumes to landscape or portrait photographers that want a budget option capable of outputting huge file sizes for optimum quality prints – but these are people that, most likely, already know what they’re doing.
For the beginner, the megapixel count may be almost inconsequential to their work, yet it does present the option to crop into shots without overall quality loss. This is an appealing prospect, bettered by the camera’s in-camera crop function.
But Nikon has missed a trick here, one that Sony has had in its Alpha line for some time now: the ability to magnify the preview and, therefore, final image, by using less of the sensor’s real estate. A 2x magnifier, for example, would double a lens’s telephoto reach and, in the case of the D3200, still output images at 12-megapixels without quality loss – but that beginner-friendly approach hasn’t made it into the Nikon model.
Guide-ing light
Ease of use is at the forefront of the D3200. Its guide mode, as adapted from the D3100, is an illustrated walkthrough guide that helps to achieve certain types of shots. For example, “capture red in sunsets” will adjust the camera’s white balance. Text and an accompanying image show that “color temperatures 5000K or more bring out reds most effectively”. Change the settings within the guide mode and the corresponding image shows how the final result will differ. So it’s a learning process that’s well suited to newcomers that might know the desired result, but not know the camera mode or settings to use.
It’s not infallible though and there are always other settings that can have knock-on effects, or conditions might not suit the desired shot. For example an auto?ISO sensitivity is available, but is switched off by default – a little menu digging will find the option, but newcomers may not know to head here, nor understand its relevance.?The auto modes also have a tendency to pop the flash up at the drop of a hat and, while it is possible to turn this off from within guide mode, it can become a nuisance.
More advanced users will use Nikon’s longstanding i-button to jump into a quick menu that displays on the rear LCD. Although the “info” name may not make perfect sense to newcomers, this Nikon staple is an essential to the camera’s design and a key way to access the important settings. To further speed things up there’s also a programmable function (Fn) button towards the front left side of the camera, which is well placed to adjust in use in combination with the rear thumb dial.?
Performance
It’s possible to shoot using either the D3200’s viewfinder or the rear LCD screen set in live view mode.
The 3-inch, 921k-dot LCD screen may sound like it delivers on paper, but its playback is too cold/cyan which makes accurate colour balance tricky. This isn’t isolated to our review sample either, as we checked multiple camera bodies.
Live view uses a user-positioned focus point that can be placed anywhere around the screen from edge to edge and, although not as fast as autofocus when using the viewfinder, is standard for this level. Just don’t expect to use it for action shots – it’s more one for still life shots and can be useful for unusual framing when it’s not possible to have the viewfinder to your eye.?
Burst speed comes in at four frames per second. Paired with the Expeed 3 processor the camera can crunch through images at pace. Although 4fps may not sound fast, consider that the 6016x4000px JPEG files can exceed 12MB each and the Raw files are around 25MB and it’s an impressive statistic. With a Class 10 SD card loaded up in the camera it was possible to shoot eight consecutive raw and JPEG files, or 23 JPEG “fine” shots in one burst. Good show.
It’s worth mentioning there’s also a wireless transmitter unit available, priced at ?55. The WU-1a?is only compatible with the D3200 (to date) and is a fun way of transmitting images or controlling the camera using your Android phone.?
The camera’s autofocus system is the same 11-point multi-CAM 1000 system that’s been used for many years by some Nikon product lines. It works well in good light and there’s an AF-assist lamp for when things get a bit too dim, yet the overall speed isn’t lightning fast. It’s an entry-level performance, though the camera’s price tag might suggest it would have stepped things up a gear or two in this department –?a potential oversight when considering what else is available on the market.?
Price wars
So, is the D3200 worth it?
The ?649 launch price is more than the (mostly) better-specified Nikon D5100 – the model which is supposed to sit above the D3200 in Nikon’s DSLR range.
While the D3200 adds the high-resolution sensor to its features arsenal, it doesn’t add any extras in the autofocus performance department.
Then there’s the Sony Alpha A65. This mid-level SLT uses the very same 24-megapixel sensor, but has a more advanced feature set which includes a faster autofocus system. But it also have a heftier price tag, at around ?755 with a kit lens.
Megapixels to marvel at?
But then the D3200’s images are great.
Despite the 24-megapixel resolution the entirety of the ISO 100-6400 sensitivity range is usable to some degree. A feat even more impressive when considering just how high resolution this camera is.
Critical detail is more visible at the lower ISO settings, though processing does render JPEGs softer than their raw counterparts. ISO 100-200 hold the most detail, while ISO 400-800 show more evidence of processing – these middle sensitivity settings look slightly softer yet grainier but are still of good quality.
At the higher settings ISO 1600 is where colour noise becomes noticeable and there’s a steeper turn to softness, while ISO 3200 is yet softer, colour is more muted, and although detail isn’t as prominent as at lower ISO settings there’s room to get a decent shot. ISO 6400 lacks detail but will be useful for some scenarios, and the inclusion of a Hi1 (ISO 12,800) setting pushes the limits of usability, yet isn’t awful.
Hyper-critical eyes will see some evidence of colour noise in gradient areas at any ISO setting upwards of ISO 100. This is negligible until ISO 400 where it has some presence, though won’t be to the detriment of most images.
Overall exposure is accurate, as is auto white balance – even if, in the case of the latter, the camera’s rear LCD screen isn’t the best at displaying the true colour balance.
Resolution hounds, take note, the D3200 has got this one in the bag.
Movie maestro
It was only a matter of time before an entry-level model went out all guns blazing in the moving image department. The D3200 is exactly that model: it includes a 1080p movie mode with 30, 25 or 24 frames per second capture using the H.264 codec to output MOV files.
As well as an onboard mono microphone there’s also a 3.5mm microphone input. This is particularly useful as Nikon AF-S lenses will, in general, create autofocus motor sounds that will be picked up in recordings. But that’s little to no problem when a third-party microphone is attached.
Continuous or single autofocus are both available, as is manual focus. Metering, however, is automatic – there’s no manual control to be found here.
Verdict:
There are two ways to think about the D3200: as a souped-up D3100 with ultra high resolution, great quality images; or as a camera that’s purporting to be entry-level when it’s straddling the mid-level DSLR market.
The latter is a view to take seriously, as the Sony Alpha A65 – which shares the same sensor as this camera – is roughly ?100 more, yet offers both faster autofocus and burst modes and similar, if not the very same, 24-megapixel image quality. In fact the D3200 is pricier than either Nikon’s higher spec D5100 model or the Canon EOS 600D.
But when every penny counts, the D3200 does pull out the image quality stops. This already proven sensor produces fantastic images and ushers in a new era of quality to the entry-level end of the market.
Guide mode is a great tool, as proven by the D3100, that will help first timers to develop their understanding of photography. But then the budget D3100 has the same mode (bar a couple of changes) and costs far less.
In summary it’s all about your imaging needs: If great quality images at high resolution and a decent movie mode to match are a must, or if you’re a newbie, then the D3200 is excellent and outperforms middleweight DSLRs on those fronts.
Tags: Cameras Nikon Nikon D3200 DSLR cameras
Nikon D3200 originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 11 May 2012 20:24:00 +0100
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Olympic diving hope Tom Daley gets own iOS game
Tom Daley Dive 2012
Team GB diver and Olympic medal hopeful Tom Daley stars in Tom Daley Dive 2012, his own iPad, iPhone and iPod touch game, released today. The app, which is free to download, allows you to use gesture movements in order to perform Olympic-standard dives from a variety of locations.
Several of the dives are available in the free version of the application, while others can be unlocked through a one-off in-app purchase of 69p.
Pocket-lint has been told that 17-year-old diver Daley was involved in the game’s approval process throughout its development. London software company Chelsea Apps Factory worked closely with the teenager, and have highlighted the fact that he has a staggering one million Twitter followers in China alone as good cause to get a dedicated title out there.
There are plenty of features in Tom Daley Dive, including Game Center-based leaderboards, Practice and Championship modes, an unlockable photo gallery,?achievements, and a chance to view the virtual Daley perform each dive perfectly before you attempt it. There are also several camera angles to play in, including one from above.
“Apps are one of the best things about having a phone, and I jumped at the chance to create my own,” said the Olympian.
“There are no good diving games out there and I love how this game has turned out: it looks great and feels very realistic – although I’m a bit nervous my own score won’t make the online leader-board!? If the game helps raise awareness of diving and gets people excited about the Olympics this year, I’ll be really pleased.”
You can download the universal Tom Daley Dive 2012 from iTunes for iPad, iPhone and iPod touch now.
Tags: Apps iPad apps iPhone apps iPod Touch apps Tome Daley Dive 2012 London 2012
Olympic diving hope Tom Daley gets own iOS game originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 18 May 2012 14:15:00 +0100
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Sony: The 4K video revolution is at tipping point
EXCLUSIVE: Content will follow home tech
Sony is taking a brave gamble on the future of home entertainment technology by releasing its VPL-VW1000ES 4K projector before there’s native content to view on it.
Sure, you get a code for the 4K version of PlayStation 3 image software PlayMemories with every purchase of the ?17,000 behemoth, and its Reality Creation 1080p upscaling prowess is simply mind-blowing, but there’s not much in the way of 4096 x 2160 video for it to project.
So, in an effort to encourage the next stage in the evolution of home video quality, the company has decided to get its technology on the shelves before content is widely available. It is hoped that this move will prompt studios to look at ways to get its 4K movies into the hands of consumers.
“4K is rapidly gaining momentum in the distribution community, as evidenced by releases from studios such as Paramount, Warner Brothers, 20th Century Fox and Sony Pictures.?So while many people complain about the lack of content, it can’t be made without the technology and it can’t be seen in the home without this technology,” Sony told Pocket-lint exclusively in a one-to-one chat.
“It’s not just something we talk about; the camera’s there, the projector’s there. We’re ready to go.”
Even massive movie blockbusters are being currently created in UHD (Ultra High Definition). “Sony Pictures is behind The Amazing Spider-Man, which is in 4K,” Sony said.
“And M. Night Shyamalan is using Sony F65s to film his next project [After Earth], so it’s getting there. It’s at the tipping point now.?It’s a really interesting time for 4K.”
Sony Europe’s own home cinema expert and product technical specialist Kin Loong Chit agrees, but also emphasises that it’s not the lack of content per se, but how to get it into the home that’s the biggest issue. “Shooting-wise, there is a lot out there already, it’s just delivery,” he told us.
“Delivery is the most important thing at the moment, because there is no way to deliver 4K [to the home]. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo [David Fincher's English-language version] was shot in 4K, and The Hobbit, but how do we deliver? A home server? A BD disc player? Only then will it be possible.”
But Sony does believe that there is plenty of interest out there for the next generation of high definition video. And definitely more so than with 3D.
“With 3D, there seemed to be a lot of divided opinion,” we were told. “But with 4K it’s just positive.”
And from our extensive viewing experience of the VPL-VW1000ES, we have to say we thoroughly agree.
Tags: Sony Home Cinema 4K Projectors Sony VPL-VW1000ES
Sony: The 4K video revolution is at tipping point originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 17 May 2012 14:41:00 +0100
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Belkin gearing up for 802.11ac debut meaning three times faster Wi-Fi speeds
The future of Wi-Fi is here
Belkin has announced that it is pressing ahead with plans to be one of the first technology solutions to tackle the 802.11ac Wireless Networking Market.?
Its wireless dual-band router will mean Wi-Fi speeds three times faster than existing 802.11n technology thanks to Broadcom’s fifth generation or 5G Wi-Fi chips.
Still very much in its infancy, the 802.11ac?technology is set to revolutionise the Wi-Fi world with faster streaming, downloads and file synching while ensuring there’s less drainage on battery life – particularly relevant to smartphone and tablet devices.
Of course it’s far more complex than that, and you can read more about what 802.11ac will mean by reading Pocket-lint’s feature on the technology here, but Belkin’s strides make for existing times.?
As Michael Hurlston, Broadcom’s SVP of Wireless Combo Connectivity, beams:?”By incorporating Broadcom’s 5G Wi-Fi chips, Belkin’s new products will improve home wireless performance, provide faster video streaming, enable simultaneous connection of multiple devices to the network, and deliver broader coverage-all with a longer battery life.”
Belkin’s ac router range will begin rolling out through Europe in August 2012. Expect other technology outfits to follow suit.
Tags: Internet Wi-Fi Belkin Networking Downloads Streaming
Belkin gearing up for 802.11ac debut meaning three times faster Wi-Fi speeds originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 16 May 2012 13:28:00 +0100
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Amber Portwood — Released from Jail
“Teen Mom” star Amber Portwood has been released from jail — again — after a judge gave her a 10 millionth chance.As we reported, Amber was arrested and thrown in the slammer in Madison County, Indiana last week for skipping a drug court…
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Miley Cyrus Pranks Liam Hemsworth And Khloe Kardashian On ‘Punk’d'! (VIDEO)
Watch out world, Miley Cyrus is on a punking spree! Miley Cyrus seems like such a sweet girl. That is, of course, until she starts punking practically everyone she’s ever met! In the latest episode of of MTV’s “Punk’d,” Miley gets her prank on, first by tricking her boyfriend, Liam Hemsworth, and then by totally fooling [...]
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Olympic diving hope Tom Daley gets own iOS game
Tom Daley Dive 2012
Team GB diver and Olympic medal hopeful Tom Daley stars in Tom Daley Dive 2012, his own iPad, iPhone and iPod touch game, released today. The app, which is free to download, allows you to use gesture movements in order to perform Olympic-standard dives from a variety of locations.
Several of the dives are available in the free version of the application, while others can be unlocked through a one-off in-app purchase of 69p.
Pocket-lint has been told that 17-year-old diver Daley was involved in the game’s approval process throughout its development. London software company Chelsea Apps Factory worked closely with the teenager, and have highlighted the fact that he has a staggering one million Twitter followers in China alone as good cause to get a dedicated title out there.
There are plenty of features in Tom Daley Dive, including Game Center-based leaderboards, Practice and Championship modes, an unlockable photo gallery,?achievements, and a chance to view the virtual Daley perform each dive perfectly before you attempt it. There are also several camera angles to play in, including one from above.
“Apps are one of the best things about having a phone, and I jumped at the chance to create my own,” said the Olympian.
“There are no good diving games out there and I love how this game has turned out: it looks great and feels very realistic – although I’m a bit nervous my own score won’t make the online leader-board!? If the game helps raise awareness of diving and gets people excited about the Olympics this year, I’ll be really pleased.”
You can download the universal Tom Daley Dive 2012 from iTunes for iPad, iPhone and iPod touch now.
Tags: Apps iPad apps iPhone apps iPod Touch apps Tome Daley Dive 2012 London 2012
Olympic diving hope Tom Daley gets own iOS game originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 18 May 2012 14:15:00 +0100
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Bono — Facebook WON’T Make Me World’s Richest Rocker
Looks like Paul McCartney’s title as world’s richest entertainer is safe … ’cause Bono says his stake in Facebook will NOT push him into the number one spot. Bono was in D.C. this morning to attend a fundraiser for President Obama … when a…
E! Online Elisha Cuthbert Eliza Dushku Elizabeth Hurley Elizabeth Mcgovern Elizabeth Shue
Wi-Fi blocking wallpaper to paper over security concerns
Cellular and radio signals allowed
A wallpaper that blocks Wi-Fi signals is being developed to help protect people’s networks, whether at work or in the home.
Although the paper will stop skinflint neighbours from jumping on board your Wi-Fi signal, the wallpaper has been designed in such a way as to still enable both mobile phone signals and radio waves through.
The technology is the brainchild of French researchers at the Institut Polytechnique de Grenoble who have been working with the Centre Technique du Papier. It’s thought that as well as preventing strangers accessing people’s Wi-Fi networks, the wallpaper will be able to be used in hospitals and theatres to help block external sources.
Despite the research that has been invested in the technology, the development team claims the wallpaper will cost the “equivalent to a traditional mid-range wallpaper.”?
The wallpaper is being licensed to a Finnish manufacturer for production and it’s hope it will be available to buy from 2013.
Tags: Security Wi-Fi Internet Online
Wi-Fi blocking wallpaper to paper over security concerns originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 14 May 2012 12:09:00 +0100
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Justin Bieber – Pray
- Artist: Justin Bieber
- Label: RBMG / IDJ
- Director: Alfredo Flores
- Album: Rarities
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Buzz Out Loud 1585: Girls just wanna Pinterest (Podcast)
Sure, there’s a new iPad to discuss, a mind-controlled skateboard to tell stories about, lawsuits against Apple over Siri, and the thing where Ray Kurzweil doesn’t think there’s intelligent life in the universe. But Sharon Vaknin is on the show today, so as soon as Pinterest comes up, that’s all we can talk about! PIN ALL THE THINGS! Plus, some news, I swear.
Subscribe: iTunes (MP3) | iTunes (320×180) | iTunes (640×360)
RSS (MP3) | RSS (320×180) | RSS (640×360)
EPISODE 1585
NEWS:
-CNET conversations with hot startups of SXSW 2012
-Ray Kurzweil interview: he doesn’t believe there are aliens out there!
-Five non-surprises from first new iPad reviews
-Walmart will stream your own DVDs back to you–for a fee
-”Why I left” letter turns into a meme; startups recruit dissatisfied hires
-After-244-years-encyclopaedia-britannica-stops-the-presses
-Man sues Apple over Siri ads: Does he have a case?
-Yahoo sues Facebook for infringing 10 patents
-Yahoo’s own lash out against company over ‘weaponized’ patents
-SXSW: Company Turns Homeless into Wi-Fi Hotspots in Texas
-Homeless-hot-spots-at-sxsw-a-manufactured-controversy
-The Power of Youth: How Invisible Children Orchestrated Kony 2012
QUICK HITS:
-Google hires DARPA Director Regina Dugan
-Police tell Twitter that missing girl is safe before telling mom
GADGETS:
-New rumor adds to 15″ MacBook Air chatter
INTO IT NOT INTO IT:
-iCEO: Cuddle with a Steve Jobs plush
-New iPad hits stores at 8 a.m. Friday
-Pinterest to get ‘beautiful’ profile redesigns
-Wal-Mart to offer digital movie content
-MP3 DJ Doorbell: Rickroll your unsuspecting visitors
VOICEMAIL:
AJ from Los Angeles has a prediction on the iPhone 5.
Collin Davies says he is not excited about the latest Apple Product.
Dan in Salt Lake City is super frustrated with ICS and Google.
EMAILS:
Hey Buzz Crew,
As a loyal AT&T customer for over 10 years and an iPhone owner for over 4 I was incensed when I began to be throttled in late February. Due to the success of Matt Spacarelli in small claims court, I began to plot my REVENGE!!! When I saw that my iPhone 4S had magically became a 4G phone overnight my bile began to rise and I was ready to add this to my list of complaints. But, lo and behold, my speeds have increased from a throttled .2 Mbps, to 2 Mbps on 3G, and now 8 Mbps! So, until I get throttled again later this month, AT&T can consider me a happy customer! Love the show.
Greg
—–
The elephant in the room omission from the new iPad is the failure to incrementally increase the maximum amount of storage.
Does that relate to the flash memory crisis from the tsunami?
Does that relate to a technical/financial issue (reaching the end of Moore’s law)?
Is that an attempt to force iCloud on users?
Will
New Haven
—–
Molly the iPhone is five years old and there are 500,000 apps. The iPad is two years old and there are 200,000 apps. Do the math.
Dane
——
http://bol.cnet.com, 800-616-2638 (CNET), buzz@cnet.com
Follow us on Twitter: @mollywood @brian_tong @stephenbeacham @sharonvak
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Google starts to roll-out the Knowledge Graph – instant related information
US first
Google has started to offer its Knowledge Graph aided-search results to US English users, with a global roll-out on the cards later. It is a new technology that understands and uses associations between people, places, events and “things” in the world to present relevant extra information during each search.
When you search for a particular subject – for example, Simpson’s creator Matt Groening – the Google results will list the usual links on the left-hand side while the right now includes an information box, which will list other associations, biography and details. Or, as with Groening, links to his work. It will, Amazon-style, present a snapshot of other things searched for by people who also typed in “Matt Groening”.
At first, the new tech is design to work closely with many of the familiar information resources, such as Wikipedia, Freebase and the CIA World Factbook, but Google has also been building its own resource.
It currently recognises?500 million objects, and includes more than 3.5 billion facts about and relationships between these different objects. And, because it learns from users and their search queries, the Knowledge Graph will become more expansive and accurate over time.
Amit Singhal,?Google’s senior vice-president of engineering, believes that the Knowledge Graph adds a whole new layer of “intelligence” to search results. “We hope this added intelligence will give you a more complete picture of your interest, provide smarter search results, and pique your curiosity on new topics,” he posts on?the company’s blog.
“We’re proud of our first baby step – the Knowledge Graph – which will enable us to make search more intelligent, moving us closer to the ‘Star Trek computer’ that I’ve always dreamt of building.
“Enjoy your lifelong journey of discovery, made easier by Google Search, so you can spend less time searching and more time doing what you love.”
The Knowledge Graph will also be used to improve mobile and tablet search.
Tags: Google Online Search engines Internet Google Knowledge Graph
Google starts to roll-out the Knowledge Graph – instant related information originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 17 May 2012 10:16:00 +0100
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Leica M9 Monochrom pictures and hands-on
Will you beat your wallet black and blue?
A flurry of Leica launches last week caught our attention, not least thanks to the addition of the Leica M9-M Monochrom – the first rangefinder camera with a dedicated, full-frame black and white sensor. Heck, from what we can recall it’s the first non-medium-format camera with a dedicated black and white sensor.
The Monochrom – that’s right, drop the “e” and say it in a very German accent for extra coolness – shoots files in black and white. That means its Raw files are true black and white renders.
Specialist? For sure. But it’s clever stuff. Based on the same sensor as the original M9, at least in terms of its full-frame size, the M9 Monochrom doesn’t need the usual colour array found in most, if not all, digital cameras. This means no interpolation – the process of the camera “educatedly guessing” accurate colours at each pixel site – is required, instead a super-accurate greyscale reading is taken for precision tonality.
The print we saw on fibre paper in the Leica studio – printed by Whitewall in Germany, a company offering an exclusive digital-meets-wet process for Leica M users – looked like a stand-out example of how classic black and white photography should look.
Lovely though all this may sound, its ?6,120 price tag will leave many jaws on the floor. Oh, and that’s without the 50mm Leica APO-Summicron-M 50mm f/2 ASPH lens that you can see in our hands-on pictures – that’ll set you back a further ?5,400.
Tags: Cameras Leica Leica M9 Monochrom leica m9 Photos
Leica M9 Monochrom pictures and hands-on originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 16 May 2012 13:15:00 +0100
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Is Miley Cyrus Engaged To Liam Hemsworth?
Sources say the sparkler she’s wearing isn’t engagement bling.
By Jocelyn Vena
<P><a href="http://www.mtv.com/movies/person/1086152/personmain.jhtml">Liam Hemsworth</a> currently has the #1 movie in the country with <a href="http://www.mtv.com/movies/movie/422817/moviemain.jhtml">"The Hunger Games,"</a> but could he also be celebrating an engagement to his longtime lady love, <a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/cyrus__miley/artist.jhtml">Miley Cyrus</a>?</P><P>The rumor mill is in full effect after Miley was spotted wearing what looked like a sparkling diamond ring on her ring finger at several events (including one over the weekend) as well as in a photo she <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/MileyCyrus/status/182945477547933696/photo/1" target="_blank">tweeted</a> out showing a manicure she recently got.</P><P>While the actress and her beau haven't commented on an engagement or whether the ring actually symbolizes anything, sources tell <a href="http://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/miley-cyrus-liam-hemsworth-engaged-see-her-huge-ring-2012253" target="_blank">Usmagazine.com</a> and <a href="http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20581671,00.html" target="_blank">People.com</a> that the couple is <i>not</i> engaged.</P><P>The couple met in 2009 on the set of "The Last Song," when they took their onscreen love affair offscreen. They <a href="/news/articles/1646500/miley-cyrus-liam-hemsworth-split.jhtml">broke up</a> for a short time in August 2010 and reportedly got <a href="http://hollywoodcrush.mtv.com/2011/04/01/mile-cyrus-liam-hemsworth-dating-again/">back together</a> in April 2011 and have been going strong ever since. The pair haven't appeared on the big screen together since "The Last Song," and Hemsworth recently kept the possibility of a Miley cameo in <a href="http://hollywoodcrush.mtv.com/2012/03/23/hunger-games-liam-hemsworth-miley-cyrus/#more-76500">"Catching Fire"</a> open-ended, simply telling MTV News, "Who knows?"</P><P>Cyrus was also on hand at the "Hunger Games" premiere, and she seemed to have a different answer: "I don't think so. I don't think so!" Whatever the status of their relationship, Hemsworth made it clear in a recent <a href="/news/articles/1679310/miley-cyrus-liam-hemsworth-details.jhtml"><i>Details</i> magazine interview</a> that things are great between them. "What happened happened, and we've been together two and a half years," the Aussie star said. "She makes me really happy. When you start, you want to be professional, but when you're filming those scenes with someone and pretending to love them, you're not human if you don't feel something."</P><P><a href="http://www.mtv.com/photos/?fid=1617615"><img src="http://www.mtv.com/news/photos/s/spotted/banner/spotted.jpg"></a></p>
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