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Friday, June 1, 2012

BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.1 Beta to hit before end of May

We have known OS 2.1 was coming, but, the exact date has been unknown until recently.  Michael Clewley, PlayBook product manager at RIM, has confirmed today via his Twitter account that the beta of 2.1 will hit before the end of May, which means in the next 2 days!
The rollout of the 2.1 beta will go exactly as the 2.0 beta where you sign up to get it and its pushed to your Playbook.  Michael also confirms that no features that will be on the official OS 2.1 will be removed, blocked or held back,  as they were on the 2.0 beta (no PIM)
READ MORE - BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.1 Beta to hit before end of May

Saturday, May 26, 2012

Kim Kardashian, Kanye West Nuzzle on the Beach in Cannes

Kim Kardashian is usually the one in the spotlight, but she played an affectionate supporting role Wednesday at the premiere of boyfriend Kanye West‘s experimental film in Cannes.
West, 34, and Kardashian, 31, were among the first to arrive at the tented pyramid on Palm Beach for the screening of Cruel Summer, an immersive video experience with screens on all sides of the audience. As they posed for photos, the wind caught Kardashian’s hair, and West gently smoothed it back into place.
The reality star, in a glittering mini dress and black booties and with slicked-back hair, was quietly adoring of West all night, sharing moments with him and helping to welcome friends including Jay-Z. As the film wrapped, she leaned over and whispered smilingly into West’s ear and heartily joined in the standing ovation he was given.
She seemed relaxed, though quiet, at the afterparty, happily nuzzling against West and letting him have his moment to shine.
READ MORE - Kim Kardashian, Kanye West Nuzzle on the Beach in Cannes

Kanye West Hides Out In A Mercedes-Benz S-Class

Kanye West tried to hide as he jumped out of the backseat of Mercedes-Benz S63 at Kim Kardashian's house recently. Kim's Range Rover was parked outside and her Ferrari 458 was hiding inside the garage. News flash Kanye -- if you're dating a Kardashian you can't hide from the cameras!
READ MORE - Kanye West Hides Out In A Mercedes-Benz S-Class

Anne Hathaway’s New Catwoman Posters For “The Dark Knight Rises”

Anne Hathaway
Here are a couple of brand spanking new posters for “The Dark Knight Rises” featuring Anne Hathaway as the sexy Catwoman, and the rest of the dudes from the movie for all of you fanboys… but who cares about those chumps when we got Anne Hathaway’s uber sexy body purring in her skin-tight outfit! Now these are the sexy Catwoman shots that I’ve been waiting for! Sure the last official photo of Anne as Catwoman was pretty damn hot as well, but that one was tarnished with the fact that she was carrying a gun… totally out of character. These photos on the other hand are all Catwoman.
I mean, look at that top photo; does she look like she really needs a gun to incapacitate some cowardly criminal? No freaking way; her wicked curves in that skin-tight suit can do that no problem. And then some. Ok, so we’ve established that Anne looks ridiculously sexy and pretty darn close to how Catwoman should look like in these posters, so all that’s left to say is… enjoy!
READ MORE - Anne Hathaway’s New Catwoman Posters For “The Dark Knight Rises”

This Cadillac Is Powered by Linux

LOS ANGELES, California – The brand once known as the “Standard of the World” has fully embraced the Standard of Geeks for its latest play for the hearts, minds and cash of the upwardly mobile. This is the all-new 2013 Cadillac XTS, and while it certainly isn’t your great-great (great) grandfather’s Cadillac, it’s designed to appeal to everyone from octogenarians to their baby-boomer spawn, and maybe — just maybe — even you….
While the XTS’ spate of processors and controllers isn’t running the open source offspring of Linus Torvalds, the game-changing infotainment intender known as the Cadillac User Experience (CUE) is.
Buried deep within the dash is a three-core ARM 11 processor, powering two displays: one eight-inch capacitive touch screen — the first non-resistive display to come to a production car — and a second, 12.3-inch fully configurable instrument cluster mounted behind the steering wheel. Two of those cores adapt on the fly to handle voice commands powered by the same Nuance technology used by many automakers, along with Apple’s personal assistant, Siri. But with CUE, everything is processed on board.
Because of that trick bit of natural voice recognition technology, and specifically its ability to listen for commands in-line, inputting addresses and performing point-of-interest searches is easily the best we’ve ever experienced in a modern vehicle.

Rather than breaking out each portion of an address into dedicated fields, you simply have to speak an address (say, “123 Main Street, Cupertino, California”) and CUE is smart enough to recognize the entire address in one shot. More impressive is the system’s ability to take local searches — everything from “I need coffee” to navigating to a restaurant — process the voice command within a few seconds and deliver a result.
CUE is one of the most attractive infotainment systems to date
This came in particularly handy while we were trying to make our way to the test-drive lunch stop. Instead of having to look up the address, input it into the navigation system and wait for the routing to begin, we simply said the name of the restaurant and seconds later it was dialed into the nav. And even though we stumbled on our words, pausing momentarily and stuttering in the process, it still recognized where we were trying to go. That’s a first and it’s something we can’t wait to see proliferate throughout other production vehicles.
This same functionality extends to the app and audio integration, allowing the driver to say, “Play Rolling Stones Radio” in Pandora or “I want to listen to 88.5″ without ever having to touch the screen, twist a knob or punch a button.
Which is good, since there are few knobs or buttons to speak of.
Images: Cadillac
Aside from the redundant controls on the steering wheel (and there are several), the entire center panel is made up entirely of capacitive, chrome-clad touch controls. The lower panel — which mechanically tilts upward to reveal a hidden compartment for stowing a phone, along with two USB ports for plugging in your mobile, MP3 player or thumb drive — houses controls for volume, climate, seat heating and cooling, plus “home” and “power” controls. Unfortunately, the very nature of capacitive switchgear means there’s a subtle lag between pressing a “button,” registering the input, delivering a haptic pulse, sending said input to the system and then eliciting a change in fan speed or volume level. It’s the same gripe we have with the MyFord Touch system — further proof that good ol’ knobs are still the best way to go, despite their lack of gee-wizardry.
And this same lack of responsiveness can occasionally be felt when navigating the eight-inch central display.
While the overall polish of the system is more than enough to impress, there’s still a perceivable lack of smoothness and immediacy
While the overall polish of the system is more than enough to impress, there’s still a perceivable lack of smoothness and immediacy when switching through menus, navigating pages and swiping between screens. The situation is exacerbated by the occasional misinterpreted press on the screen, a product of small touch points that don’t always register where you expect them.
Equally jarring is CUE’s ability to detect when your hand moves within eight inches of the screen, which then pulls up a series of configurable virtual buttons for everything from radio presets to frequently navigated addresses. When you pull away, the controls fade into the background.
It’s impressive to watch the system recognize your hand’s proximity to the screen and then display a series of controls that would make the display look otherwise cluttered, but having some of these items statically placed seems like a more intelligent user interface choice for frequently selected options. That’s one of the many reasons Cadillac is providing an iPad with every 2013 model to help consumers navigate the new system.
Image: Cadillac
General smoothness aside, CUE is one of the most attractive infotainment systems to date, mixing 3-D graphics with color icons and a beautifully rendered mapping display. And while the app selection is limited for now, with only Pandora, Stitcher and a pre-installed OnStar app available at launch, Cadillac tells Wired that an app store is on the way. Java and HTML5 are make up the core frameworks, so once developers are granted access to the SDK, Cadillac expects as many as 30 apps to be available within the next year.
But while we had our issues with CUE (growing pains, we’re sure), the configurable display that takes the place of traditional gauges behind the steering wheel never failed to impress.
Four different designs are available, beginning with a simple, three-gauge cluster with engine revs on the left, speed in the center and fuel, coolant and phone/navigation/audio on the right. It’s the most traditional display and what most drivers will feel immediately comfortable with.
The second display nixes all the round gauges for a digital speedo at the top, navigation instructions below and other assorted information flanking the sides, while an even more simple display – obviously aimed at some of Cadillac’s aging drivers – only shows speed, fuel level and a few other must-haves.
Finally, there’s a more enthusiast-friendly option, with an oversized tachometer and speedo, partnered with a 3-D rendering of the vehicle along with tire pressures, engine temp, navigation and audio controls, all displayed clearly and vividly for the driver. We stuck with the latter during the majority of our drive.
All this tech is pretty useless if the vehicle surrounding it isn’t up to snuff. And here Cadillac has a winner, even though the XTS won’t send chills down the spines of Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz.
The exterior is an odd blend of bold and bland, while the interior is a beautifully appointed mix of leather, wood and contrast stitching (the purple thread in the Platinum models has to be seen to be appreciated). There’s ample room for four people (five in a pinch), with leg and shoulder room abound, and a thoughtful, conservative approach to luxury that’s been utterly lacking from most American automakers. The XTS feels a bit more Japanese than German in execution, but injects a bit of emotion into an otherwise bland segment of upmarket rides.
The overall length is on par with Audi’s range-topping, standard wheelbase A8, but the interior dimensions and general size is more closely competitive with the slightly smaller A6, along with the BMW 5 Series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class.
A 3.6-liter V6 engine putting out 304 horsepower and 264 pound-feet of torque is either sent to the front wheels or all four depending on the trim, and no V8 option is planned, despite most of the XTS’ closest competitors offering some form of big or boosted drivetrains. A six-speed automatic is standard across the range, which nets acceptable fuel economy, despite coming in a few cogs short of other luxury players.
We spent time in both a Platinum all-wheel-drive model and a front-driven “base” version, and found both to be pleasing steers that eschew the wafting heritage of past Caddies thanks to a rigid chassis and the standard fitment of Magnetic Ride Control, the same suspension technology that keeps the Corvette ZR1 and Ferrari 599 stuck to the road. The front-wheel-drive model felt more floaty due to the lack of additional grip and weight in the rear, while the all-wheel-drive version was far more planted and — dare we say it — mildly sporty. The steering and brakes were equally at home while navigating the congested confines of Los Angeles — they might not be as composed as the impressive suspension, but are easily up to the task at hand.
But what exactly is that task?
For Cadillac, the XTS is an attempt to reassert itself as the Standard of the World, and that starts with a competent chassis, a plush interior and a revolutionary in-car entertainment system. But with Cadillac still lacking a proper flagship to go up against the BMW 7 Series and Mercedes S-Class, it’s still a ways away from regaining its former title, even though we’ve been assured numerous times that model is on the way. Cadillac’s head exec confided in us that the XTS is “a bridge” for some of the brand’s existing customers to move out of their aging DTS and STS land yachts, but we’ll call the XTS was it is: a tech-rich stopgap that points the brand forward. And with pricing ranging between the mid-$40,000 range up to near $60,000, the XTS is a solid alternative to the segment stalwarts, opting for comfort and convenience over sport and speed.
READ MORE - This Cadillac Is Powered by Linux

Friday, May 25, 2012

Liam Hemsworth on Miley Cyrus: 'She really makes me happy'

The young Australian actor has been dating Cyrus for two and a half years after they met on the set of The Last Song in 2009.

"What happened happened, and we've been together two and a half years," Hemsworth 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."

Cyrus previously caused controversy after a private video at her 19th birthday was released in November. The former Hannah Montana star was seen telling her guests that she smoked "way too much f**king weed" and joking about a Bob Marley-themed birthday cake.

Hemsworth addressed the incident, saying: "She's in a room full of her best friends. And you have one person who comes in there and videos it. The poor girl can't have one night where she can feel safe in her own world. It's ridiculous."
READ MORE - Liam Hemsworth on Miley Cyrus: 'She really makes me happy'

Toyota sells over four million hybrids worldwide

Toyota announced today it has sold over four million hybrids around the world since introducing the first Prius in Japan all the way back in 1997. Sales were slow, at first, but the pace is now picking up. For example, it was around 14 months ago that Toyota announced it had sold three million hybrids around the world. With the sales success of the newly introduced V, C and Plug-In models and Toyota looking for hybrid production capacity in the U.S., we imagine it won't take another 14 months to sell the next million. Especially since Toyota now sells a total of 18 different hybrid models around the world and make up 15 percent of the company's overall sales
READ MORE - Toyota sells over four million hybrids worldwide

Facebook Android Application

Facebook for Android app is the official facebook android app. Download this best android app free for your android mobile. Share and stay connected with your friends with the Facebook for Android app. Facebook Android App makes it easy to stay connected and share with friends. Share status updates from your home screen, chat with your friends, check out your News Feed, review your upcoming Events, look at your friends’ walls and user info, check in to Places to get Deals, upload Photos, share links, check your Messages, and watch videos.
facebook android apps best android facebook
Updates in last version of this best android app :
  • Added Deals – get access to savings, free offers and special deals from nearby businesses.
  • Added Chat – now you can chat with your Facebook friends right from your Android device
  • More messaging features like creating group messages and adding friends to existing group conversations
  • Shortcuts to share photos and messages right from your home screen
  • Push notifications (only supported for devices on Android 2.2+)
  • Navigate anywhere, fast: Get to your groups, apps, pages, and settings with a single press
  • Search and you will discover: Look through friends, subscribers, apps, and pages
  • See your friends tags on pictures and zoom: New photo viewing experience
  • Faster notifications: Get alerted in real time with new push notifications
  • Games & Apps: Play games and access your favorite apps on the go
  • Access to mobile timeline (If you already have a timeline)
  • Access to friend lists and subscriptions
  • More messaging features like creating group messages and adding friends to existing group conversations
  • Shortcuts to share photos and messages right from your home screen
  • Facebook Android Application is the official android app for android mobile. This is a free android application is last updated on May 11, 2012 by the developer. The latest version of facebook android app varies with device and requires ANDROID version 1.5 and up to be installed on your android device. This op android app for facebook is currently trending in Android Market under social android apps and has 100,000,000 – 500,000,000 installations since its launch. This android app is rated 3.6 with 3,293,452 reviews in google android market at the time of writing this post. You can download this free facebook android app from Google android market.

    You may also want to check out the facebook for android tablet and the 5 best android apps for facebook.
READ MORE - Facebook Android Application

Chrome for Android Mobile

The speed and simplicity of Chrome, now on Android. Chrome for Android is available for android phones and android tablets running Android 4.0 (Ice cream Sandwitch).

Smooth, quick, desktop integration, and easy tab and bookmark management. Great start but desperately needs flash support. A lot of websites still use Flash. HTML 5 is not widely used yet.
Features of Chrome for Android Mobile:
- Browse fast with accelerated page loading, scrolling, and zooming
- Search and navigate directly from the omnibox
- Open and switch between unlimited tabs in an easy-to-view stack
- Sign in to Chrome to sync your bookmarks and view tabs you have open on your computer
- Send pages from desktop Chrome to your smartphone or tablet with one click and read them on the go, even if you’re offline
- Browse privately in Incognito mode

Chrome for Android Mobile is one of the Best Android Application for android browser on your android mobile. This free android application is last updated on February 07, 2012 by the developer. The latest version of this android app is 0.16.4130.199 and requires ANDROID version 4.0 and up to be installed on your android device. This best android app is currently trending in Android Market under communication android apps and has 100,000 – 500,000 installations since its launch. This android app will require approx 16 M of free space on your device for installation. This free android application is rated 4.2 with 3,665 reviews in google android market at the time of writing this post. You can download this free android app from Google android market
READ MORE - Chrome for Android Mobile

Friday, February 24, 2012

2013 Audi Q7 Spy Photos Don’t Show the Biggest Change


The redesigned Audi Q7 will drop in 2013, and has been out testing its internal systems, as can be seen in our spy photos.
The second generation Q7 will exhibit some serious weight loss, about 880 lbs., a byproduct of new lightweight aluminum construction. The supercharged 3.0L V6 would be the obvious choice for the base engine in the new Q7, with diesel and plug-in hybrid setups both strong possibilities.
This second generation Audi SUV will share its new platform with the Porsche Cayenne and the Volkswagen Touareg, both of which also benefit from a large weight loss thanks to the new aluminum structure.
The Q7 mule you see in the photos is merely a test vehicle for Audi’s internal re-workings done on the newest generation SUV, but the organs of the car undergoing tests suggest that the skin of the new Q7 will be revealed soon. The Audi has always been bulkier than its Cayenne and Touareg counterparts, so expect the size and general shape of the vehicle to stay the same.
READ MORE - 2013 Audi Q7 Spy Photos Don’t Show the Biggest Change

Hilary Duff’s Bright Pregnancy Day

Pregnant Hilary Duff was spotted arriving at a office building in Hollywood, Ca on Monday. Duff wore a bright pink and orange trimmed sweater with black tights and boots as she made her way to the building.  Unfortunately, her mood did not match the bright colors of her sweater. She looked annoyed at the waiting paparazzi. Honestly who could blame her? She is 9-months pregnant!
READ MORE - Hilary Duff’s Bright Pregnancy Day

Jessica Simpson Having A Girl!

In December, Jessica Simpson told reporters that she had a feeling she was going to have a girl and now it looks like her intuition was right! According to onlooker, on a recent trip to L.A.’s trendy Bel Bambini boutique Simpson bought all pink baby clothes.
READ MORE - Jessica Simpson Having A Girl!

Thursday, February 23, 2012

Sneak Preview: Ferrari


Amedeo Felisa is pressed for time. He has been in the office since 7 a.m., and now he's almost ready to go home for dinner, only to return again for the final 9-to-11 p.m. session. Felisa loosens his already loose tie by another inch, leans back in a high-tech yet creaking leather chair, glances at his wristwatch. What about the rumored entry-level Ferrari, the reborn Dino, a $175,000 sports car that would sit quite comfortably below the 458 and the California? The CEO-cum-chief engineer grins a steely grin, hits his ballpoint pen hard on the desk, then puts his poker face back on and slowly shakes his head. "You don't want to understand, do you? Believe me, there is no such Ferrari. We have no intention of increasing our production volume beyond what it takes to satisfy the growing demand of new markets like China and Russia." So, no response to the changing times? "I didn't say that," Felisa quips, and this time the broad smile is genuine. "The weight of our cars has to come down, the aerodynamic efficiency must improve, and now that Formula 1 is about to agree to switch to six-cylinder engines, a downsized powerplant may become acceptable for our next entry-level road car."
At present, the R&D team is busy putting the finishing touches on the new 599. The next top-of-the-line GT retains the current front-engine layout and the familiar transaxle gearbox. The main detail change concerns the seven-speed dual-clutch automatic we know from the rest of the range. Lower, lighter, and tied down by ground-effects aerodynamics, the two-seater will be powered by a V-12 that is expected to develop 700 hp. The same engine is slated for the Enzo replacement, which may be badged F70 and is set to bow this fall. The normally aspirated engine is said to displace 7.3 liters, and the maximum output of the high-revving unit will be a whopping 800 hp. On top of that, there is a KERS package that includes a 120-hp electric motor for a grand total of 920 hp -- or for zero-emissions travel.
Since the weight target of the carbon-fiber supercar was clearly inspired by the Millechili (1000 kilogram, or 2200 pound) concept, the F70 should come close to the track-only FXX, which weighed 2550 pounds. The F70 could potentially be quicker off the mark and faster overall than the 1001-hp Bugatti Veyron. On a sadder note, it may be the swan song for the V-12, which in all probability will eventually be superseded by a twin-turbo V-8.
In mid-2012, another lightweight Ferrari is due in dealer showrooms. After a few sessions at the local gym, the 458 Challenge is expected to emerge with a 150-pound weight loss and a 30-hp gain in power output, to 600 hp.
Debuting at the Geneva Motor Show, the face-lifted California is on a totally different mission. The Pininfarina-designed retractable hardtop is in the process of being beautified by Ferrari's own design team under Flavio Manzoni, and it gets a round of tech updates to match.
Satchel in hand and jacket over the shoulder, Felisa fields one last question. "No, Ferrari won't do a four-door sport sedan. We won't do a crossover, either. That's Maserati turf."
READ MORE - Sneak Preview: Ferrari

Who Is Justin Bieber's New Girl, Carly Rae Jepsen?

You might have seen Carly Rae Jepsen's name in some of the same headlines as Justin Bieber's by now, but you need to know these two ARE NOT dating. They're actually just music pals, and pretty soon they'll be working together. Canadian pop singer Carly Rae Jepsen, who placed third on the fifth season of "Canadian Idol," caught the attention of the Biebs, who only happens to wield ALL OF THE POWER IN THE WORLD. After Bieber's girlfriend, Selena Gomez, tweeted about the couple's love for Carly's jam, "Call Me Maybe," the girl got more followers than you or I will ever have. And boom, now she's signed. #CanadianDream
Find out more about Carly Rae Jepsen and listen to her track "Call Me Maybe" after the jump.

Carly recently announced that she signed to Scooter Braun's record label Schoolboy Records (Scooter Braun is Justin Bieber's manager), and she shared her excitement with fans on Canadian music channel MuchMusic: "I'm speechless. It's an exciting journey we're going on and I'm very grateful and very excited." But Carly's seemingly newfound fame is actually well-deserved: Carly's currently out on the road opening for Hanson, she's been nominated for two Juno Awards and she's won a Canadian Radio Music Award for her 2008 track "Tug Of War." Girl's been making waves for a minute.
But if you want to know why Carly's track "Call Me Maybe" caught the Biebs' attention, just listen to it. I don't even want to tell you what the play count is in my iTunes for that song, but the moment you press play you're sucked in. "Call Me Maybe" might be the catchiest song I've ever heard in my life. Seriously! From the bouncy chorus to the lyrics you can't help but sing along to... Just beware: you're about to enter a Carly Rae Jepsen worm hole. But if you're anything like me (or Justin Bieber or Selena Gomez), you won't mind.
READ MORE - Who Is Justin Bieber's New Girl, Carly Rae Jepsen?

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Two New Android Operated Smartphones by ZTE




ZTE Corporation, Chinese technological company, has announced two new smartphones, the PF200 and N910, to be revealed at Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2012, which will take place in Barcelona, Spain next week. These smartphones by the company will be operated at Google’s Android 4.0 i.e. Ice Cream Sandwich. These are LTE handsets with with 1.2GHz and 1.5GHz chipsets.
ZTE PF200 has 4.3-inch qHD touchscreen an 8-MP main camera and a 1080p Full HD capable front-facing camera for video-calling. It also gets near field communications (NFC) and mobile high-definition link (MHL)-HDMI output to connect to home audio and video devices. The phone also supports 3G/UMTS, GSM, Bluetooth 2.1, GPS, WiFi, A-GPS and digital living network alliance (DLNA) streaming support.
The ZTE N910 has WVGA (800 x 480) capacitive touch screen and LTE FDD, CDMA and EVDO connectivity; along with a 5-MP main camera having autofocus and flash and a 1080p HD capable front video camera. It also comes with GPOS, WiFi and Bluetooth, along with DLNA streaming support.
“These LTE devices are the fore-runners of a wide range of LTE devices ZTE will bring to the market in the coming months, and as more and more LTE networks come on stream,” said Mr. He Shiyou, Executive Vice President and Head of the Terminal Division of ZTE. “They will be feature products – among a very wide range of devices on display at the ZTE stand at Mobile World Congress 2012.”
READ MORE - Two New Android Operated Smartphones by ZTE

Panasonic Eluga smartphone for Europe official

Panasonic has officially named its first smartphone for Europe, the Panasonic Eluga, a 4.3-inch Android handset expected to go on sale this spring. The Eluga – then unnamed – was first revealed back in December 2011, a waterproof, dustproof and generally resilient smartphone fronted by a qHD 960 x 540 OLED display and toting NFC. The device tips the scales at a scant 103g and will supposedly also operate as a remote control for Panasonic HDTVs.
Full specifications of the Eluga aren’t yet available – for instance we don’t know what version of Android it runs – but previous indications suggest NFC and a sizable camera. It’ll also have a “D-shaped” cross-section, and Panasonic says it’s prioritizing slimline lines

Panasonic isn’t the only Japanese firm to be talking about European smartphone intentions today. Fujitsu is also looking to challenge the handset status-quo with a range of high-end Android and Windows Phone 7 devices, it’s been revealed, with those expected to be demonstrated for the first time at MWC 2012 next week.
Panasonic has promised more information on the Eluga today, with further details of the company’s 2012 smartphone expansion plans over the coming week. We’ll update when we know more.
 
READ MORE - Panasonic Eluga smartphone for Europe official

Nook 8GB Tablet coming on February 22nd to better compete with Kindle Fire

The Nook Tablet's biggest problem so far has been that it costs $50 more than Amazon's Kindle Fire while targeting the same budget-conscious Android tablet market. That's likely to change soon, however, as we've come across documentation showing a planned February 22nd launch for a Nook 8GB Tablet. It appears to be the same Android slate as Barnes & Noble's current $249 Tablet, but with less onboard storage (matching the Fire's 8GB) and what will very likely be a correspondingly lower price. All we know for sure is that Walmart plans to launch this new device at 12:01AM on Wednesday, February the 22nd, and deliveries of the 8GB Tablet should be arriving in stores already.
READ MORE - Nook 8GB Tablet coming on February 22nd to better compete with Kindle Fire

Kelly Brook Busts Out The Most Bodacious Cleavage You Will See Today

Here’s the uber hot and sexy Kelly Brook busting out an atomic bomb of an
amount of her bodacious super cleavage at the Giles Deacon Autumn/Winter 2012 show, and I’ll be damned if you actually see a more shwingtastic display of cleavage today. Hell, make that all week! Wow… absolutely amazing. And I’m not just talking about her super cleavage. Although said super cleavage is definitely responsible for eighty percent of the current shwing-fest. Ok, make that ninety percent. Enjoy the photos, and try not to drool all over yourselves!
Kelly Brook Kelly Brook Kelly Brook Kelly Brook
READ MORE - Kelly Brook Busts Out The Most Bodacious Cleavage You Will See Today

Friday, February 17, 2012

J.D. Powers names Porsche “Best European Car Brand”.

J.D. Powers has heaped praise on Porsche before, this year is no different. According to rankings release today. Porsche is the “best European car brand” in a study that focuses on a vehicles’ long-term quality. More than 31,000, who have owned their car since 2009, took part in the Vehicle Dependability Study unveiled earlier today.
The 911 – Porsche’s world famous icon from the main plant in Zuffenhausen – is the best vehicle in its segment. The review of the plant gave the top slot to the Porsche production plant in Stuttgart for the best long-term quality of its sports cars. With the completion of this study, Porsche’s overall results in long-term quality are the best yet from J.D. Power.
READ MORE - J.D. Powers names Porsche “Best European Car Brand”.

5 Big Car Buying Mistakes

Last Saturday I was out to dinner at one of those Japanese Hibachi places. Over a scorpion bowl, I was talking to a friend who works as a sales manager at a luxury car dealership. He was mulling over getting out of the industry because—as you might imagine—car shoppers aren’t the nicest people to deal with every day.
“Customers logon to Kelly Blue Book once and think they know everything about the car business,” he said. “The minute they walk in the door they hate us just because we’re trying to make a profit.”
Regardless of how ruthlessly you’ve ever negotiated with a car dealership, you have to admit it’s odd that we’re so loathe to pay car dealerships a profit. After all, we will happily pay a department store a markup on clothes and realtors a commission when we buy a home.
Yet last week, I asked my focus group about their experiences buying cars, including their biggest fears when they think about the process. Out of 50+ responses, the majority shared a singular theme. Here’s a sample:
  • “Getting ripped off on price.”
  • “Overpaying because I am a woman and the salesman would take advantage of that. I am not good at negotiating.”
  • “I didn’t want to get screwed over on the price.”
  • “Getting screwed.”
  • “Getting ripped off.”
  • “Getting ripped off by a salesman. Paying too much.”
  • “That the salesman would try to intimidate me into paying too much or push me into something I didn’t want.”
This isn’t just what my friend is up against; it’s how we all set out to buy a car…with our guard up and feathers out. And because of that, we frequently make several mistakes in the car buying process. 
1. We overfocus on price.
Look at the words people used when talking about their fears of car buying. Not only do they mention “getting ripped off”, the say “getting ripped off on price” and “paying too much” for the car.
The price we pay for a car is one element of the transaction of buying a new car, and arguably the largest. When we buy a car, we ask ourselves: Did I get a good deal? (for the specific year, make and model we purchased). In other words, we want to know if we paid more or less than the average person for that particular car. Among identically-equipped new cars, it’s possible to find this out, and indeed sites like Edmund’s try. Of course, due to mileage and condition factors, no two used cars are identical, so this is a much harder game.
More important than price is whether you’re getting the right car for your needs and not buying more car than you can afford. (So if you have to finance the car, should you be going for the leather?)
Or, should you consider a recent-year used car instead of a brand new model? It will likely save you far more than you can haggle off a new car sticker price. If you “have to have” a new car, I get it; go for it. But if you’re on the fence, remember: Everybody drives a used car!
2. We ignore financing terms.
This makes no sense: Fighting tooth and nail with a car salesman for three hours to get an extra $500 off the price, and then financing the car with no money down at 6.0% for four years at a cost of over $2,000.
But we do this all the time because in our heads, the $500 we saved now on the sticker price is tangible while the $2,000 we’re paying to finance the car isn’t. When I asked my focus group about any regrets they had about their last car buying experience, there was another common thread—the loans!
  • “We should’ve put more of a down payment.”
  • “The loan.”
  • “I didn’t shop around for my loan rate.”
  • “My only major regret is that I let them sucker me with an 11% interest rate out of the gate…”
The wrong loan can quickly cost more than savings you’ll get negotiating on price. Here’s an example:
Looking at Edmunds.com pricing on a 2012 Honda Civic LX Sedan, the difference in MSRP ($17,855) and Dealer Invoice ($16,452 — what the dealership pays for the car) is $1,402. Nothing to scoff at, and a smart buyer will attempt to dicker the dealer down from the MSRP or up from the invoice.
But if the buyer then finances the car for 48 months at 6.0%, he’ll pay $2,094 in total interest over the four years. I suspect fewer buyers negotiate interest rates, but if this buyer could get a loan at 4% instead of 6%, he’d save $716 in interest. And if he could pay off the car at 4.0% in three years instead of four, he’d save another $344. Adding a $1,500 down payment would drop the total interest to $934—a savings of over $1,000 off the original financing quote.
Unless you’re looking at 0% or other low incentivized interest rates, it’s best to buy a car with cash. If you have to borrow, my advice is this: Do so conservatively. Obviously get the best rate you can. Stick with loans no longer than 36 months. And try to put 20% down.
3. We don’t value our time.
The average American spends 10 hours shopping for a car, compared to only five hours shopping for a home loan. Some shoppers become so obsessed with getting the “best deal” that they’re willing to spend weeks car shopping. But at what price?
Although everybody values time differently, let’s say a free hour is worth $15 to you (if you earn a lot, it could obviously be much more).
Spend 10 hours buying a car and you’ve invested $150 worth of your time.
Spend double that and you’ve invested $300.
The more you value your time, the more the cost of additional hours spent car shopping, and the bigger a chunk that takes out of your potential savings.
4. We underestimate total cost of ownership.
When you decide to buy a new car, your Emotional Brain is already sold—it can picture itself behind the wheel and it loves it!
Your Practical Brain, however, is like: “Whoa, not so fast! Is this a good deal? Is it reliable? What’s the mileage? What’s the resale value?”
And then you try to calculate those things to justify the purchase. You may, for example, tell yourself you’ll keep the car for 10 years to justify the depreciation.
But that estimate (and similar estimates of the car’s future value) may be overly optimistic thanks to something psychologists call the optimism bias. Everybody who marries thinks they’ll stay married forever even though sociologists predict that between 40 and 50 percent of marriages will end in divorce.
And according to the USDOT’s 2009 National Highway Travel Study, the average length of car ownership is 59 months—just shy of five years. So just remember that the next time you think you’ll keep your next one for 10.
You may also overestimate the gas you’ll save and underestimate ongoing costs like maintenance, insurance, and excise taxes. Consumer Reports attempts to put some numbers on true cost of vehicle ownership. Accurate or not, you can at least see how different models compare.
5. We set our expectations too high.
Psychologist Barry Schwartz shows that the abundance of choice we have in affluent society wrecks havoc on our happiness. With so many choices, we feel constant pressure to choose perfectly, making us anxious about the choice and depressed when we choose poorly.
If the product we choose doesn’t live up to our expectations, we’re disappointed. We’re rarely, if ever, pleasantly surprised. Schwartz jokes that the secret to happiness is lowering our expectations. Only it’s not entirely a joke.
This rings true for car buying.
Given cars’ high price tags, the infrequency in which we buy them, and the adversarial nature of the buying process, we stress out about getting the perfect car at the perfect price. Then, regardless of how well we do, we drive off the lot with this lingering suspicion we’ve been screwed.
If you do your homework, open your eyes to the true costs of owning a car, and avoid making expensive mistakes (like ignoring the financing terms), you can get a good car at a good price. And that’s the goal.
Recap
Buying a car doesn’t have to be a miserable experience. Spend most of your time choosing a car that you can afford, meets your needs, and you will be happy to drive. Yes, get online pricing and competing dealer quotes from a site like Edmund’s, but don’t kill yourself fighting with the dealership unless you like that sort of thing. And borrow smartly: Get the best interest rate you can and put money down.
Soon I’ll post more about auto financing (when to do it, how to get the best deal, how to refinance a bad loan, etc.) I’m also working on a post on negotiating skills (even for shy people). I’m shy and it has taken practice to be able to negotiate at all. I’ve had some successes, which I’ll share in the post, but still have some work to do, so I’ll show you what I’m doing and how you can practice negotiating (for a new car, for a raise, for anything).
READ MORE - 5 Big Car Buying Mistakes

Whitney Houston Dead

Whitney Houston, a multiplatinum pop/R&B singer who ruled the charts for decades beginning in the mid-1980s, has died, her publicist Kristen Foster confirmed to MTV News on Saturday (February 11). Houston was 48.
According to CNN, Beverly Hills Police confirmed the singer was found dead inside a Beverly Hilton hotel room at approximately 3:55 p.m. PT. The cause of death is being investigated.

Houston had recently staged a comeback in 2009, after a tumultuous divorce from singer Bobby Brown in 2006 after 14 years of marriage. The ex-couple have a daughter together, Bobbi Kristina. Brown and Houston battled substance abuse issues throughout their marriage, and their travails were well-publicized. But in recent years, Houston had made attempts to revive her once thriving music career only to find that her show-stopping voice had gathered some rust.
At her height, Houston was the music industry's reigning diva, releasing chart-topping albums well into the late 1990s, and earning her place as one of the best-selling artists in the world. Her unparalleled voice and All-American beauty propelled her onto the silver screen as well, with roles in the "The Bodyguard" and "Waiting to Exhale." The soundtrack for the former film yielded a string of hit singles and broke myriad chart records as well.
READ MORE - Whitney Houston Dead

Nicole Brings Lewis and Her Bra Top to Dublin

"Does anyone want two spare tickets to Nicole Scherzinger tonight in the Olympia?" *tumbleweeds* "Anyone? Nicole Scherzinger? Tonight?" *ghostly wind* "I know it's short notice, but nobody's interested? It's just up the road there?"

Somebody was interested in Dave's two spare tickets, but he works in the office across the hall. And was obtaining them as a favour for a lady friend. Given the hue of his face when picking up the tickets, he'd most likely prefer to remain nameless.

So, yeah, Nicole Scherzinger - she who cooed her way through judging on US X Factor - brought her solo Puddycat Dolls tour to Dublin last night. She also brought Lewis Hamilton, because they've reunited yet again everybody, just in time for her tour.
READ MORE - Nicole Brings Lewis and Her Bra Top to Dublin

Rihanna To Collaborate With Chris Brown On Cake Remix?


Chris Brown has reportedly recorded a guest appearance on Rihanna's next single.
It was reported earlier this week that RiRi had recruited a 'crazy' guest star for the remix of 'Cake', with many fans speculating as to who it could be who will feature on the single. However, nobody could have guessed that it would be the man convicted of assaulting her in 2009.
According to Hot 97's Miss Info, Brown has recorded two verses for the 'Talk That Talk' track, one in which he raps and another featuring him singing.
The guest spot is likely to cause trouble with Rihanna fans, many of whom have not forgiven Brown for the vicious assault and openly criticised the Grammy Awards for welcoming Brown back to their event earlier this week.
READ MORE - Rihanna To Collaborate With Chris Brown On Cake Remix?

Thursday, February 16, 2012

Grammy Winners List 2012

Who took home the most awards on the biggest night in music? Adele, Foo Fighters and Kanye West led the charge in a night that saw plenty of excitement around dance music, compelling country performances and tributes to the late Whitney Houston.
Check out the selected list of major Grammy winners below, and see the complete list at Grammy.com.


    Record Of The Year

  • WINNER: "Rolling In The Deep" - Adele
  • "Holocene" - Bon Iver
  • "Grenade" - Bruno Mars
  • "The Cave" - Mumford & Sons
  • "Firework" - Katy Perry

    Album Of The Year

  • WINNER: 21 - Adele
  • Wasting Light - Foo Fighters
  • Born This Way - Lady Gaga
  • Doo-Wops & Hooligans - Bruno Mars
  • Loud - Rihanna

    Song Of The Year

  • WINNER: "Rolling In The Deep" - Adele
  • "All Of The Lights" - Kanye West
  • "The Cave" - Mumford & Sons
  • "Grenade" - Bruno Mars
  • "Holocene" - Bon Iver

    Best New Artist

  • WINNER: Bon Iver
  • The Band Perry
  • J. Cole
  • Nicki Minaj
  • Skrillex

    Best Pop Solo Performance

  • WINNER: "Someone Like You" - Adele
  • "Yoü And I" - Lady Gaga
  • "Grenade" - Bruno Mars
  • "Firework" - Katy Perry
  • "F***in' Perfect" -- Pink

    Best Pop Duo/Group Performance

  • WINNER: "Body And Soul" - Tony Bennett & Amy Winehouse
  • "Dearest" - The Black Keys
  • "Paradise" - Coldplay
  • "Pumped Up Kicks" - Foster The People
  • "Moves Like Jagger" - Maroon 5 & Christina Aguilera

    Best Pop Vocal Album

  • WINNER: 21 - Adele
  • The Lady Killer - Cee Lo Green
  • Born This Way - Lady Gaga
  • Doo-Wops & Hooligans - Bruno Mars
  • Loud - Rihanna

    Best Dance Recording

  • WINNER: "Scary Monsters And Nice Sprites" - Skrillex
  • "Raise Your Weapon" - Deadmau5 & Greta Svabo Bech
  • "Barbra Streisand" - Duck Sauce
  • "Sunshine" - David Guetta & Avicii
  • "Call Your Girlfriend" - Robyn
  • "Save The World" - Swedish House Mafia

    Best Dance/Electronica Album

  • WINNER: Scary Monsters And Nice Sprites - Skrillex
  • Zonoscope - Cut Copy
  • 4x4=12 - Deadmau5
  • Nothing But The Beat - David Guetta
  • Body Talk, Pt. 3 - Robyn

    Best Rock Performance

  • WINNER: "Walk" - Foo Fighters
  • "Every Teardrop Is A Waterfall" - Coldplay
  • "Down By The Water" - The Decemberists
  • "The Cave" - Mumford & Sons
  • "Lotus Flower" - Radiohead

    Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance

  • WINNER: "White Limo" - Foo Fighters
  • "On The Backs Of Angels" - Dream Theater
  • "Curl Of The Burl" - Mastodon
  • "Public Enemy No. 1" - Megadeth
  • "Blood In My Eyes" - Sum 41

    Best Rock Song

  • WINNER: "Walk" - Foo Fighters
  • "The Cave" - Mumford & Sons
  • "Down By The Water" - The Decemberists
  • "Every Teardrop Is A Waterfall" - Coldplay
  • "Lotus Flower" - Radiohead

    Best Rock Album

  • WINNER: Wasting Light - Foo Fighters
  • Rock 'N' Roll Party Honoring Les Paul - Jeff Beck
  • Come Around Sundown - Kings Of Leon
  • I'm With You - Red Hot Chili Peppers
  • The Whole Love -- Wilco

    Best Alternative Music Album

  • WINNER: Bon Iver - Bon Iver
  • Codes And Keys - Death Cab For Cutie
  • Torches - Foster The People
  • Circuital - My Morning Jacket
  • The King Of Limbs -- Radiohead

    Best R&B Performance

  • WINNER: "Is This Love" - Corinne Bailey Rae
  • "Far Away" - Marsha Ambrosius
  • "Pieces Of Me" - Ledisi
  • "Not My Daddy" - Kelly Price & Stokley
  • "You Are" - Charlie Wilson

    Best Traditional R&B Performance

  • WINNER: "Fool For You" - Cee Lo Green & Melanie Fiona
  • "Sometimes I Cry" - Eric Benét
  • "Radio Message" - R. Kelly
  • "Good Man" - Raphael Saadiq
  • "Surrender" - Betty Wright & The Roots

    Best R&B Song

  • WINNER: "Fool For You" - Cee Lo Green & Melanie Fiona
  • "Far Away" - Marsha Ambrosius
  • "Not My Daddy" - Kelly Price & Stokley
  • "Pieces Of Me" - Ledisi
  • "You Are" - Charlie Wilson

    Best R&B Album

  • WINNER: F.A.M.E. - Chris Brown
  • Second Chance - El DeBarge
  • Love Letter - R. Kelly
  • Pieces Of Me - Ledisi
  • Kelly - Kelly Price

    Best Rap Performance

  • WINNER: "Otis" - Jay-Z & Kanye West
  • "Look At Me Now" - Chris Brown, Lil Wayne & Busta Rhymes
  • "The Show Goes On" - Lupe Fiasco
  • "Moment 4 Life" - Nicki Minaj & Drake
  • "Black And Yellow" - Wiz Khalifa

    Best Rap/Sung Collaboration

  • WINNER: "All Of The Lights" - Kanye West, Rihanna, Kid Cudi & Fergie
  • "Party" - Beyoncé & André 3000
  • "I'm On One" - DJ Khaled, Drake, Rick Ross & Lil Wayne
  • "I Need A Doctor" - Dr. Dre, Eminem & Skylar Grey
  • "What's My Name?" - Rihanna & Drake
  • "Motivation" - Kelly Rowland & Lil Wayne

    Best Rap Song

  • WINNER: "All Of The Lights" - Kanye West, Rihanna, Kid Cudi & Fergie
  • "Black And Yellow" - Wiz Khalifa
  • "I Need A Doctor" - Dr. Dre, Eminem & Skylar Grey
  • "Look At Me Now" - Chris Brown, Lil Wayne & Busta Rhymes
  • "Otis" - Jay-Z & Kanye West
  • "The Show Goes On" - Lupe Fiasco

    Best Rap Album

  • WINNER: My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy - Kanye West
  • Watch The Throne - Jay-Z & Kanye West
  • Tha Carter IV - Lil Wayne
  • Lasers - Lupe Fiasco
  • Pink Friday - Nicki Minaj

    Best Country Solo Performance

  • WINNER: "Mean" - Taylor Swift
  • "Dirt Road Anthem" - Jason Aldean
  • "I'm Gonna Love You Through It" - Martina McBride
  • "Honey Bee" - Blake Shelton
  • "Mama's Song" - Carrie Underwood

    Best Country Duo/Group Performance

  • WINNER: "Barton Hollow" - The Civil Wars
  • "Don't You Wanna Stay" - Jason Aldean With Kelly Clarkson
  • "You And Tequila" - Kenny Chesney Featuring Grace Potter
  • "Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not" - Thompson Square

    Best Country Song

  • WINNER: "Mean" - Taylor Swift
  • "Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not" - Thompson Square
  • "God Gave Me You" - Blake Shelton
  • "Just Fishin' " - Trace Adkins
  • "Threaten Me With Heaven" - Vince Gill
  • "You And Tequila" - Kenny Chesney Featuring Grace Potter

    Best Country Album

  • Own The Night - Lady Antebellum
  • My Kinda Party - Jason Aldean
  • Chief - Eric Church
  • Red River Blue - Blake Shelton
  • Here For A Good Time - George Strait
  • Speak Now - Taylor Swift

    Best Folk Album

  • WINNER: Barton Hollow - The Civil Wars
  • I'll Never Get Out Of This World Alive - Steve Earle
  • Helplessness Blues - Fleet Foxes
  • Ukulele Songs - Eddie Vedder
  • The Harrow & The Harvest - Gillian Welch

    Best Compilation Soundtrack For Visual Media

  • WINNER: "Boardwalk Empire: Volume 1"
  • "Burlesque"
  • "Glee: The Music, Volume 4"
  • "Tangled"
  • "True Blood: Volume 3"

    Best Score Soundtrack For Visual Media

  • WINNER: "The King's Speech"
  • "Black Swan"
  • "Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows Part 2"
  • "The Shrine"
  • "Tron Legacy"
READ MORE - Grammy Winners List 2012