The Geneva Motor Show is one of the best events of the year to find out what the world's automakers have up their sleeves. Here a look...
Nokia Lumia 610 can double as Wi-Fi hotspot
The low-end Windows Phone handset can act as a hotspot for other devices, a feature now missing from but destined for its 710 and 800 counte...
New iPad launch: Live from the streets
Techmandra reporters are out in force today covering the launch of Apple's new iPad, which is drawing crowds, per the norm. Join us for ...
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Saturday, 31 March 2012
Geneva Motor Show: 25 cars you shouldn't miss
The Geneva Motor Show is one of the best events of the year to find out what the world's automakers have up their sleeves. Here a look at the top 25 cars you shouldn't miss
Bentley EXP 9F
Powered by a twin-turbo W-12 capable of 600 hp and 590 ft-lbs. of torque, Bentley says the EXP 9 would rank among the fastest vehicles of its kind. All that motive force gets to the ground through an 8-speed transmission and all-wheel-drive system turning 23-inch chrome wheels that are as bling-y as anything from Tire Rack. Inside lies the usual assortment of hand-stitched leathers, wood veneers and one-percentery touches like a split tailgate that folds down to reveal a custom dining set
Powered by a twin-turbo W-12 capable of 600 hp and 590 ft-lbs. of torque, Bentley says the EXP 9 would rank among the fastest vehicles of its kind. All that motive force gets to the ground through an 8-speed transmission and all-wheel-drive system turning 23-inch chrome wheels that are as bling-y as anything from Tire Rack. Inside lies the usual assortment of hand-stitched leathers, wood veneers and one-percentery touches like a split tailgate that folds down to reveal a custom dining set
Audi A3
Keeping in line with current styling trends, the new A3 sports minimized headlights, larger front vents and a more aggressively styled front end. The car looks to have more pronounced character lines across the door, giving the restyled A3 a sense of speed and motion, even while standing still.
Keeping in line with current styling trends, the new A3 sports minimized headlights, larger front vents and a more aggressively styled front end. The car looks to have more pronounced character lines across the door, giving the restyled A3 a sense of speed and motion, even while standing still.
Tata Meagpixel
Combining a lithium ion phosphate battery and an on-board petrol engine generator for recharging on the move, the Tata Megapixel offers a range of up to 900 km (with a single tank of fuel), path-breaking CO2 emission of just 22 gm / km and fuel economy of 100 km / litre (under battery only power).
Combining a lithium ion phosphate battery and an on-board petrol engine generator for recharging on the move, the Tata Megapixel offers a range of up to 900 km (with a single tank of fuel), path-breaking CO2 emission of just 22 gm / km and fuel economy of 100 km / litre (under battery only power).
BMW M6
It may look like a mildly muscular 6 Series, but BMW’s new M6 promises to take all that’s good about the new M5 and serves it up in a decadent coupe experience. It’s not short of power; its 560 horsepower 4.4-litre turbo motor is all-new and already winning plaudits in the M5.
It may look like a mildly muscular 6 Series, but BMW’s new M6 promises to take all that’s good about the new M5 and serves it up in a decadent coupe experience. It’s not short of power; its 560 horsepower 4.4-litre turbo motor is all-new and already winning plaudits in the M5.
Aston Martin V12 Zagato
With the arrival of its revised V8 Vantage range, Aston Martin also unveiled a new limited-run flagship model powered by a V12 motor. This V12 Zagato, limited to 150, is said to be a celebration of the Aston’s links with the famous Zagato design firm, whose past collaborations produced many visually stunning cars
With the arrival of its revised V8 Vantage range, Aston Martin also unveiled a new limited-run flagship model powered by a V12 motor. This V12 Zagato, limited to 150, is said to be a celebration of the Aston’s links with the famous Zagato design firm, whose past collaborations produced many visually stunning cars
Ferrari F12 Berlinetta
Ferrari's most powerful road vehicle in history can sprint from 0-100km/h in 3.1 seconds thanks to an enormous V12 engine under the hood
Ferrari's most powerful road vehicle in history can sprint from 0-100km/h in 3.1 seconds thanks to an enormous V12 engine under the hood
Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse
Powered by 1200 bhp and W16 engine, Bugatti Grand Sport Vitesse doess a reported 0-100 kmph 2.6 seconds.
Powered by 1200 bhp and W16 engine, Bugatti Grand Sport Vitesse doess a reported 0-100 kmph 2.6 seconds.
Lamborghini Aventador J
Starting with the everyday 700-hp Aventador, Lamborghini taunted the bull even further by removing the roof, adding several aerodynamic panels and generally shucking weight from a car that only had 3,472 lbs. to begin with. Even the seat fabrics have been swapped for something Lamborghini calls "Carbonskin," a fabric made from carbon fibers that's at least a decade away from being used on a teenager's hat. With no windshield, the interior has to get some form of waterproofing; the rear mirror pops up like Wall-E's head from the center of the dash. It and the roll bars behind the driver are the highest points in the car
Starting with the everyday 700-hp Aventador, Lamborghini taunted the bull even further by removing the roof, adding several aerodynamic panels and generally shucking weight from a car that only had 3,472 lbs. to begin with. Even the seat fabrics have been swapped for something Lamborghini calls "Carbonskin," a fabric made from carbon fibers that's at least a decade away from being used on a teenager's hat. With no windshield, the interior has to get some form of waterproofing; the rear mirror pops up like Wall-E's head from the center of the dash. It and the roll bars behind the driver are the highest points in the car
Fiat 500L
The Fiat 500, having somewhat recovered from the initial lackluster reception stateside, now seems unstoppable, and the large-scale version probably isn't going to do much to slow it down. It's roomier, but still instantly recognizable
The Fiat 500, having somewhat recovered from the initial lackluster reception stateside, now seems unstoppable, and the large-scale version probably isn't going to do much to slow it down. It's roomier, but still instantly recognizable
Suzuki G70
The G70 has an 800cc turbo engine and weighs less than Cheryl Cole's dinner. At 730kg it's about half the weight of a family hatchback, and thanks to such fuel saving measures as start-stop, it spits out just 70g/km of CO2 - hence the name
The G70 has an 800cc turbo engine and weighs less than Cheryl Cole's dinner. At 730kg it's about half the weight of a family hatchback, and thanks to such fuel saving measures as start-stop, it spits out just 70g/km of CO2 - hence the name
Koenigsegg Agera R
With a reputation for producing eye-watering quick cars, it was no surprise to see Koenigsegg raise the bar yet again with its new Agera R. Boasting more carbon fibre than an F1 car – chassis, wheels – the car’s claimed performance is enough to make even Sebastian Vittel jealous thanks to over 1,110 horsepower and a top speed the wrong side of 270mph
With a reputation for producing eye-watering quick cars, it was no surprise to see Koenigsegg raise the bar yet again with its new Agera R. Boasting more carbon fibre than an F1 car – chassis, wheels – the car’s claimed performance is enough to make even Sebastian Vittel jealous thanks to over 1,110 horsepower and a top speed the wrong side of 270mph
Toyota FT-Bh Concept
Weighing a scant 1,700 lbs., and sculpted for aerodynamics, the FT-Bh's power comes from a 1-liter, two-cylinder engine -- a smaller mill than what you find in large motorcycles
Weighing a scant 1,700 lbs., and sculpted for aerodynamics, the FT-Bh's power comes from a 1-liter, two-cylinder engine -- a smaller mill than what you find in large motorcycles
VW Cross Coupe
It uses a complex hybrid system combining a new, more powerful TDI diesel engine with two electric motors and a large battery pack to allow running on electric power alone for up to 28 miles
It uses a complex hybrid system combining a new, more powerful TDI diesel engine with two electric motors and a large battery pack to allow running on electric power alone for up to 28 miles
Mansory McLaren MP4-12C
It was only a matter of time before one of Woking’s finest received the Mansory treatment, and the infamous customisor of supercars proudly displayed a modified McLaren MP4-12C at the Geneva show. With plenty of exposed carbon fibre to catch the eye and the promise of around 70 horsepower more than standard, beauty really is in the eye of the beholder
It was only a matter of time before one of Woking’s finest received the Mansory treatment, and the infamous customisor of supercars proudly displayed a modified McLaren MP4-12C at the Geneva show. With plenty of exposed carbon fibre to catch the eye and the promise of around 70 horsepower more than standard, beauty really is in the eye of the beholder
Nissan Invitation
Invitation is an energetic design, bringing fresh style, innovation and excitement to the mainstream market. The clean fluidity of the silhouette hints at its dynamic potential and showcases class-leading aerodynamics for enhanced efficiency
Invitation is an energetic design, bringing fresh style, innovation and excitement to the mainstream market. The clean fluidity of the silhouette hints at its dynamic potential and showcases class-leading aerodynamics for enhanced efficiency
Lexus LF-LC
Truly outrageous Japanese supercars don’t come along very often, but when they do they tend to leave a lasting impression. The LFA from Lexus is one such car, what with its race-derived technology and ballistic V10 motor. So imagine what a roofless version would be like. Imagine no more with the LF-LC
Truly outrageous Japanese supercars don’t come along very often, but when they do they tend to leave a lasting impression. The LFA from Lexus is one such car, what with its race-derived technology and ballistic V10 motor. So imagine what a roofless version would be like. Imagine no more with the LF-LC
Mercedes-Benz A-class
This is perhaps the boldest redesign of the show. The new two-box profile will make it far more appealing than the previous boxy A-Class, and a sport version is in the works
This is perhaps the boldest redesign of the show. The new two-box profile will make it far more appealing than the previous boxy A-Class, and a sport version is in the works
Land Rover DC100
The newest member of the storied Land Rover Defender lineage, the DC100 aims to carve out a place for itself with an impressive new design that charges into the future, but retains the essential identity and character of the Defender brand
The newest member of the storied Land Rover Defender lineage, the DC100 aims to carve out a place for itself with an impressive new design that charges into the future, but retains the essential identity and character of the Defender brand
Ford B-Max
This car is worth looking at for the unique doors alone. Powered by an ultra-efficient engine and boasting an infotainment set-up to die for, it will launch later this year in Europe
This car is worth looking at for the unique doors alone. Powered by an ultra-efficient engine and boasting an infotainment set-up to die for, it will launch later this year in Europe
Hyundai i-oniQ Concept
i-oniq is powered by a 108-horsepower electric motor as well as a 1.0 liter 3-cylinder engine, and can travel up to 74 miles in electric-only mode
i-oniq is powered by a 108-horsepower electric motor as well as a 1.0 liter 3-cylinder engine, and can travel up to 74 miles in electric-only mode
Jaguar XF Sportbrake
Jaguar's largest estate is undeniably pretty despite its vast size -- the XF Sportbrake will launch later this year to take on the likes of the BMW 5 Series Touring
Jaguar's largest estate is undeniably pretty despite its vast size -- the XF Sportbrake will launch later this year to take on the likes of the BMW 5 Series Touring
Kia Cee'd
In line with Kia's current design prowess, the new C'eed is a seriously good-looking car, with a perfectly-proportioned grille and a short roofline that makes it look sportier than it really is. It will launch with five powertrains, later this year
In line with Kia's current design prowess, the new C'eed is a seriously good-looking car, with a perfectly-proportioned grille and a short roofline that makes it look sportier than it really is. It will launch with five powertrains, later this year
Porsche Boxster
Along with the new 911 Carrera S, Porsche has updated the entry-level Boxter convertible, which sees a trickle down of technology from its rear-engined, rear-wheel drive cousin. Most notably, the Boxter S is 55 pounds lighter than its predecessor, and also features electromechanical steering—an advancement with a mixed reception in the 911. The engine only sees a 5 horsepower increase to 315, but since it's directed injected and features start-stop technology, you can expect some slightly less trips to the gas pump as well.
Along with the new 911 Carrera S, Porsche has updated the entry-level Boxter convertible, which sees a trickle down of technology from its rear-engined, rear-wheel drive cousin. Most notably, the Boxter S is 55 pounds lighter than its predecessor, and also features electromechanical steering—an advancement with a mixed reception in the 911. The engine only sees a 5 horsepower increase to 315, but since it's directed injected and features start-stop technology, you can expect some slightly less trips to the gas pump as well.
Volvo V40
This five-door hatch is aiming squarely at the Audi A3 and features some pretty impressive lines to help it hit home. One of the most remarkable features is the industry's first pedestrian airbag, which inflates outside of the car ahead of an impact.
This five-door hatch is aiming squarely at the Audi A3 and features some pretty impressive lines to help it hit home. One of the most remarkable features is the industry's first pedestrian airbag, which inflates outside of the car ahead of an impact.
Renault Zoe
The new Renault Zoe is relatively cheap for an electric car (€15,700 in France) and boasts an impressively long range of up to 210km. It will launch later this year
The new Renault Zoe is relatively cheap for an electric car (€15,700 in France) and boasts an impressively long range of up to 210km. It will launch later this year
Friday, 30 March 2012
Nokia Lumia 610 can double as Wi-Fi hotspot
The low-end Windows Phone handset can act as a hotspot for other devices, a feature now missing from but destined for its 710 and 800 counterparts.
Owners of Nokia's Lumia 610 can use their phone as a hotspot to provide Wi-Fi coverage for up to five different devices.
Nokia's Lumia 610 Web site specifically lists that feature under the Sharing and Internet category. The feature pages for the Lumia 710 and the 800 don't yet make any mention of hotspot capability.
But sit tight, Lumia owners. A Nokia spokesman confirmed to CNET that the company will add hotspot functionality to the 710 and 800 in a future software update.
Nokia's Web site doesn't yet provide details on the Lumia 900, which is expected to debut in the U.S. on April 22through AT&T. But the 900 will also offer built-in hotspot access for up to five devices. A Nokia product managerconfirmed that news in January, explaining that the 900 will come with Wi-Fi tethering out of the box with the right AT&T data plan.
Both Nokia and Microsoft are fighting to make a dent in the smartphone market and can use every available advantage. With more customers using phones, tablets, and other laptops to hop online, the ability to offer a Wi-Fi hotspot no longer seems to be an option but a necessity.
Thursday, 29 March 2012
New iPad launch: Live from the streets
Techmandra reporters are out in force today covering the launch of Apple's new iPad, which is drawing crowds, per the norm. Join us for our continuous live coverage.
Friday is D-day for consumers looking to get their hands on Apple's third generation iPad, and lines are expected to be long because the device is already sold out online.
8:12 a.m. PT, Palo Alto: Chris Strike, the first person in line at Apple's Palo Alto store, exits with his loot.
8:02 a.m. Palo Alto: The doors open at the Palo Alto store.
7:53 a.m. PT, SF: We're about 10 minutes away from opening here. Members of Change.org are here, prepping for their own debut, a quiet protest, urging for the ethical treatment of workers in Apple's supply chain. The group appeared at Apple's stores last month, as well as its headquarters on the day of Apple's 2012 shareholders meeting.
7:33 a.m. PT, Palo Alto: Three members of the Raging Grannies are on hand, advocating for workers rights.
7:04 a.m. PT, Palo Alto Apple Store: The queue formed long before dawn in Palo Alto. There are around 150 people in line.
Friday is D-day for consumers looking to get their hands on Apple's third generation iPad, and lines are expected to be long because the device is already sold out online.
Doors at Apple stores and most other retailers selling the new iPad open at 8 a.m. local time in nine countries, including the U.S., and two U.S. territories. The first iPad was already sold in Australia at a Telstra store that opened at midnight local time. Other countries getting the new iPad include: Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Germany, Switzerland, France, the U.K., and the U.S., along with Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
AT&T and Verizon Wireless will be selling 4G versions of the iPad in their stores. And you can get iPads at other retailers, too. Wal-Mart will be selling the iPad starting at midnight in the U.S. Radio Shack, Best Buy, Sam's Club, and Target will also sell the iPad starting at 8 a.m.
The new iPad looks a lot like the iPad 2, but it's got a souped-up high-resolution Retina Display, an updated processor, Apple's A5X chip, and 4G connectivity (4G LTE in the U.S. and HSPA+ in international markets.)
The device is expected to be a hot seller. Apple sold out of presale iPads online just a couple of days after it announced the new tablet. Groups protesting working conditions for Apple contract factory workers in China have also said they plan to be at the Apple Fifth Avenue store in Manhattan Friday morning.
CNET's crew of reporters and photographers will be at the cube on Fifth Avenue documenting the expected long lines and protesters. We'll also have coverage from Apple's new Grand Central store in New York , as well from our reporters in San Francisco and Palo Alto, Calif., and Paris, too.
9:04 a.m. PT, SF: It's a wrap at Apple's flagship SF store on Stockton. There are about five people left in a quickly moving line, and there are still iPads on hand.
Chris Strike had been first in line in Palo Alto.
Scott Miner with his third-gen iPad after braving rainy weather overnight.
8:07 a.m. PT, SF: Scott Miner is the first person at the Stockton Street store to purchase the new iPad.
The flow in Palo Alto.
John Browett (left), the new retail chief at Apple, and Steve Cano, Apple's manager of retail stores, survey the line in SF.
Unlike those times, however, the group said it was not delivering signatures from people who signed its online petition. Instead, spokeswoman Charlotte Hill explained that the group has a banner printed and is handing out cards with iPhones printed on them, featuring written pleas from those who signed the petition.
Here's the rest of the line in downtown SF, stuck in a nearby parking lot for now.
7:36 a.m. PT, San Francisco: Scratch the original estimate. There are about 300 people in line. Apple's in an unusual position this year. Construction adjacent to the front of the store forced the line to go in different direction around the block. To avoid blocking the front of neighboring stores, the company rented out a nearby parking lot where approximately 100 shoppers are snaked into a line.
Raging Grannies used the iPad's release to speak up for workers.
7:20 a.m. PT, San Francisco: About 140 people are in line here now, with the earliest having gotten here around 9:30 p.m. last night. Scott Miner, a local teacher and instructor arrived yesterday and braved some rainy weather overnight. Miner, who's purchasing the 32GB black model on AT&T, shrugged off the wait, mentioning that he was here two years ago for the first-generation model's launch.
Another returnee is Josh Elavitti, who's picking up two iPads not for himself, but for people who hired him to line wait using TaskRabbit, a paid-for chore service. Elavitti was among the first in line last year also for TaskRabbit, a gig he says ended up being a repeat affair with last year's model when it was hard to come by. Elavitti said he ended up doing similar early morning waits for another five tablets.
Good morning, San Francisco.
7:08 a.m. PT, Apple Store, downtown San Francisco: Josh Lowensohn, here in San Francisco. About 110 people are lined up outside of Apple's Stockton Street store.
The line outside Apple's Palo Alto store this morning.
8:31 a.m. ET, NYC Fifth Ave. store: Five people representing Change.org hand over the 250,000 signature petition to Apple.
8:30 a.m. ET Anton Sazanov (left) and friend Andrey Smimov were among the first to emerge out of the Grand Central App store. Both were visiting from Russia and heard the news about the upcoming iPad. Sazanov, who got here a few hours before the store opened, was 15th in line and saved a spot for Smimov, who said he slept in. Each bought two 16GB Wi-Fi-only iPads. They both intend to give the spare iPads to their friends, saying they have no intention of selling them.
8:23 a.m. ET, NYC Fifth Ave. store: Eric Ladd of Brazil was the eighth person in line here and, thus, one of the first to get his iPad. He flew in Thursday night and started waiting in line at 2 a.m. today. He plans to give his iPad 2 to his mother so they can FaceTime each other. He bought two iPads today. He is selling one to a friend, which will pay the cost of his flight. Ladd said he flew in for the iPad since it could be months before Brazil will get the tablet and it will likely cost twice as much as it does here in the U.S.
8:11 a.m. ET, Grand Central store: Customers are being let in initially in groups of 20 to 25.
8:08 a.m. ET, NYC Grand Central store: Alex, who wouldn't give his last name, was the first through Apple's Grand Central doors--even though he wasn't the first in line. Apple let people who reserved for pickup inside first. Alex was in New York on vacation from Moscow when his son called and asked him to wait in line for a new iPad. His son has an iPad 2, which will soon belong to Alex himself.
8:07 a.m. ET, NYC Fifth Ave. store: The first people are emerging from the Apple store. The first man who came out was surrounded by reporters and quickly walked down the street with a pack following him.
8:00 a.m. ET, NYC Fifth Ave. store: People are streaming into the store now. There's tons of cheering from Apple employees.
8:00 a.m. ET, NYC Grand Central Station store: Roger Cheng here at the Apple Store in New York's Grand Central Station. The Grand Central store, unlike the other Apple stores, doesn't have the luxury of space for a line by its front steps. Instead, about 200 iPad buyers, who queued up as early as 6 a.m. today, were sent to a nearby tunnel by the Northeast Passage trains.
Jorg Bokelmann and Kersten Schumacher were the first in line at the Grand Central Apple store in New York. Bokelmann, 37, and Schumacher, 32, flew in from Germany specifically to buy the new iPad. "It's the new one, so I had to have it," Bokelmann said.
7:56 a.m. ET, NYC Fifth Ave. store: Protesters from Change.org are here. They have brought a petition with 250,000 signatures asking Apple for fair and ethical treatment of workers. Shelby Knox, who works for the organization said that she expects between 5 and maybe 20 people to show up. She said the Apple employees here have been very accommodating.
7:50 a.m. ET, NYC Fifth Ave. store: This is Maggie Reardon reporting from the Fifth Avenue store. The line of eager iPad fans is around the block. Maybe 200 to 300, waiting in the cold, damp morning. Greg Packer from Huntington, N.Y., is the first person in line. He's been here since Monday.
2:30 a.m. PT, Century City, Calif.: Apple co-founder Steve Wokniak and his wife are the first in line at the Westfield Mall in the Los Angeles area, according to What's Trending. Normally, Wozniak shows up at the Apple Store in Palo Alto. But he apparently was in the L.A. area to give a speech today, so he found the closest Apple Store he could.
8 a.m. local time, Paris: Hundreds of consumers lined up outside the Appel Store near the Paris opera house. "J'aime le Mac," said Zhuang Bin, who shuffled slowly but steadily down a chicane of metal crowd-control barriers to buy a new companion for his first- and second-generation iPads.
Midnight PT, Union City, Calif.: Wal-Mart's 24-hour stores in the U.S. got the jump on Apple by releasing the third-generation iPad a full eight hours before Apple stores even opened. There was limited supply, however. For example, dozens of people lined up at a Wal-Mart in Union City, which had 40 iPads to sell. And many left disappointed.
8 a.m. local time Tokyo: About 450 people lined up outside the Apple store in Tokyo's Ginza district, and a nearby Softbank outlet had about 70 people in line, according to Japan's Nikkei news service. The lines had begun forming two days earlier. About an hour after opening, the crowds were dispersed.
Midnight Australia time, Sydney: The flagship Telstra electronics store in Sydney sold the first new iPad to David Tarasenko. The man earned bragging rights as the very first consumer to snag the new tablet, a white 64GB iPad Wi-Fi + 4G model to be exact.
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