Download: 11 Aug 2011

Thursday 11 August 2011

Gizmodo Cleared as Charges Finally Brought in Lost Prototype iPhone 4 Case

Gizmodo Cleared as Charges Finally Brought in Lost Prototype iPhone 4 Case: "Gizmodo notes that the San Mateo County District Attorney has released an official statement announcing that misdemeanor charges have been brought against two individuals involved in the sale of an iPhone 4 prototype found in a bar back in March 2010 and subsequently sold to Gizmodo.

Gizmodo, parent company Gawker Media, and Gizmodo editor Jason Chen have been officially cleared and will not be charged in connection with the case. From the district attorney's press release:

The San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office has filed misdemeanor charges against two individuals for the misappropriation of an iPhone 4 prototype that was lost by an Apple employee and subsequently recovered in a Redwood City establishment by the defendants on March 25, 2010. Brian Hogan, 22, of Redwood City was charged with one count of misappropriation of lost property, and Sage Wallower, 28, of Emeryville, was charged with misappropriation of lost property, and possession of stolen property. Their arraignment is scheduled for Thursday, August 25, 2011 at 9:00 in Redwood City. After a consideration of all of the evidence, it was determined that no charges would be filed against employees of Gizmodo.

Hogan was the person who came into possession of the prototype iPhone in a Redwood City bar, with Hogan claiming that he had been handed the phone by another patron after Apple engineer Gray Powell left the phone on a bar stool as he left the establishment. Wallower has been said to have served as an intermediary who worked to shop the device to various tech sites before ultimately selling the iPhone to Gizmodo.

Last April, police officers entered Chen's apartment and seized a number of computers and other property thought to potentially be involved in the case. Controversy surrounded the seizure as Gizmodo and others claimed that the website and its employees should be protected under California laws shielding journalists from such actions as connected to their work. The search warrant was later withdrawn as Gizmodo agreed to cooperate with authorities and provide all relevant information pertaining to the investigation.

Source : Google Reader

Wal-Mart Debuts VUDU Movie Service on iPad as Web App, Shutting Down MP3 Store

Wal-Mart Debuts VUDU Movie Service on iPad as Web App, Shutting Down MP3 Store: "Wal-Mart today announced the debut of its VUDU video rental and purchase service for the iPad, avoiding Apple's required 30% cut of revenue for app-based content purchases by launching as a web app.

Beginning today, iPad users can go to VUDU.com and browse through VUDU’s entertainment content library, which includes more than 20,000 blockbusters, Hollywood classics, independent films and TV episodes, then rent or purchase and watch them instantly. For one touch access to VUDU, customers can add a VUDU icon to their iPad desktops by clicking the “Add to Home Screen” button when on VUDU.com.

VUDU's service is limited to standard definition and omits some titles such as those from Disney, but has proven to be a popular option for those looking for on-demand streaming, particularly for new releases not available through Netflix.

On a separate note, Digital Music News reports that Wal-Mart has also announced to its music partners that it will be shutting down its MP3 download store later this month. From the letter sent to Wal-Mart's distribution and licensing partners:

After eight years in business, the Walmart Music Downloads Store located at mp3.walmart.com will close on August 28, 2011. All content in the Store will be disabled and no longer available for download from the store.

'The sale of physical record music products on Walmart.com as well as in Walmart US retail stores will remain unaffected. Walmart Soundcheck (soundcheck.walmart.com) will remain operational as a live streaming site without any download options.'

Wal-Mart notes that it will continue to provide support to customers who purchased tracks through the download store, but content will no longer be available for sale. The download store has been in existence since late 2003, but has had little success eating into the iTunes Store's dominance in the digital music download market.

Source : Google Reader

Is This Audi's All-Electric City E-Tron? We Think So (Video)

Is This Audi's All-Electric City E-Tron? We Think So (Video): "

Audi might have not chosen the best name for its new range of all-electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles, but it certainly knows how to cause a stir in downtown Berlin. Spotted posing for photographs in the center of Berlin earlier this week is what we can only assume is Audi’s City e-tron. Unlike the city cars we’ve seen from rival..."

Source : Google Reader

Live in Idaho and Want an Electric Car? You're In For a Long Wait

Live in Idaho and Want an Electric Car? You're In For a Long Wait: "

If California is the undisputed capital of electric cars in North America, which state is its antithesis? According to the Idaho Business Review, Idaho could be that state, with both the 2012 Chevrolet Volt and 2012 Nissan Leaf unavailable at present. Worse still, Nissan won’t be even making its all-electric Leaf available in the state until..."

Source : Google Reader

Italian Engineering Company Reverse-Engineers to Keep Helicopters in Service

Italian Engineering Company Reverse-Engineers to Keep Helicopters in Service: "

Laserscan (Aug. 3, 2011) Well-engineered parts and components are vital for any machine assembly and maintenance. In the world of rotary-wing aircraft, this is of absolute highest priority. Our company is currently working on special maintenance projects involving the Agusta Bell 2065 and the Boeing CH-47 series of helicopters. Each of these aircraft was developed in the mid-20th century and has proved both valuable and versatile. That is why they are both still around and needing replacement parts.

The purpose of the operation we conduct using a 3D laser scanner made by 3D Digital Corporation is to obtain, through the use of vintage sample parts, totally digital technical documentation of the component design. As noted, these helicopters have been around long enough that the format of their design documents are paper blueprints. 1283152ae1 (2)

In sequence, we follow this procedure: First we scan the physical piece supplied by the client. Using the SLIM software application, we clean up all excess points. Next will come triangular construction of the mesh and creation of a solid digital object. Once that’s accomplished, we focus on data entry, including material type, material tolerances and specifications, and the like. What the 3D laser scanning process then delivers for us the all-important CNC digital file from which the component can be generated in the modern way. The other important factor is that, once the product is produced and ready for testing, we are able to store all data in digital format for the next time this part is needed. The result is that we can economically and efficiently keep valuable aircraft flying and help ensure safety for their crews.

Source : Google Reader

2013 Audi A3 Spy Photos: The A3 Gets Ready for Round Three

2013 Audi A3 Spy Photos: The A3 Gets Ready for Round Three: "

Audi’s compact car gears up for new competition from Mercedes-Benz and BMW.

After the Audi A3 concept debuted with an asylum escapee of an engine at last February’s Geneva auto show—it packed a 408-hp turbocharged five-cylinder—it’s hard not to be disappointed by these spy pictures of the three-door prototype, which is closer to production form. It’s not so much that the burqa-clad test car is likely powered by a frugal four-cylinder engine, but more that some of the show car’s clever styling details had to be ditched. This explains the absence of the show car’s space-age door handles, as well as the addition of the familiar Audi body-side crease. The final shape of this iteration is what you’d expect for a two-box hatchback based on the Volkswagen Golf.

Keep Reading: 2013 Audi A3 Spy Photos – Future Cars

Source : Google Reader

Production Subaru XV Crossover/Outback Sport Teased in Advance of 2011 Frankfurt Auto Show

Production Subaru XV Crossover/Outback Sport Teased in Advance of 2011 Frankfurt Auto Show: "

Subaru will reveal the production version of the XV small crossover concept at the 2011 Frankfurt auto show in September. In the meantime, however, the automaker released the teaser sketch shown above, which details the look of the XV’s headlamps and wheels. Unsurprisingly, those bits look similar to the XV concept’s. The headlights appear to be identical to 2012 Impreza units, appearing in the teaser with less fanciful interior elements than on the show car. And we like the wheels, which look a lot like the attractive black 17-inch rollers available on the new Ford Focus.

The XV concept previews the next Outback Sport—a niche Impreza trim that features a slightly raised suspension and a two-tone exterior color scheme—and shares many styling elements with the upcoming 2012 Impreza hatch. Subaru promises that the rest of the XV should remain as true to the concept as what we see in the teaser, saying that it “combin[es] the latest distinctive Subaru elements with the commanding silhouette expected of a crossover.” The XV will go on sale in the U.K. in early 2012; if it comes here, it’s probably safe to add several months to that timetable and “Outback Sport” back into your vocabulary.

Keep Reading: Audi Urban Concept – Auto Shows

Source : Google Reader

July 2011 Sales: What the Headlines Don’t Tell You

July 2011 Sales: What the Headlines Don’t Tell You: "

You’d be forgiven for thinking the U.S. automotive market had done a princely processional through the last month like it’s July 1999, racking up sales in record numbers. Unfortunately, the reality is more grim. Toyota and Honda experienced dramatic sales declines because their production capacity is still hugely limited as a result of the Tōhoku earthquake. At other automakers, sales from newly introduced models concealed what were actually major drops in sales of what should be established, strong products. At Chevy, the Cruze’s spectacular performance—it was the second bestselling car in the country—offset a collapse in Impala sales and the cancellation of the HHR, as well as the failure of the Malibu to capitalize on the handicapped Japanese automakers.

What we’re seeing is a regression to an older automotive sales pattern: huge numbers for high-profit trucks and SUVs, and strong sales for mainstream cars. That huge boom in niche products over the past few years, which many predicted was the way of the future? Well, a few such models, like those at the higher end of the Audi lineup, are moving in good numbers, but it’s the bread-and-butter products that are really racking up the sales. What you’ll see in the numbers below is how heavily many automakers are relying on a few core products for the lion’s share of their income.

Big Sales for Small Cars from Munich

BMW Group U.S. sales during July 2011: 26,164

Mercedes-Benz’s U.S. sales during July 2011: 21,069

Date on which an Automotive News headline said “BMW pads lead over Mercedes”: August 2, 2011

Mercedes-Benz sales without Sprinter and Smart: 19,010

BMW Group sales without Mini lineup: 21,453

BMW Group sales without Mini lineup or the 3-series: 12,813

What the numbers reveal: BMW’s overall sales in the U.S. market were strong in July—although heavy incentives to clear out remaining 2011 5-series models helped—but ultimately, the money-makers are the iconic 3-series and the burgeoning Mini brand. Maybe the upcoming compact i3 hybrid has a good shot for success after all, size be damned.

Don’t Chry for Me, Marchionne

Number of Chrysler models heavily refreshed in the past 12 months (including the Sebring-cum-200): 12

Number of those models with July 2011 sales higher than in July 2010: 6

Number of those models with July 2011 sales higher than in July 2010 by more than six percent: 3

Chance that any Chrysler-company product—refreshed or not—sold in July 2011 was a Jeep Grand Cherokee, Jeep Wrangler, or Dodge Durango: 1 in 4

What the numbers reveal: Chrysler spent significant time and money on much-needed overhauls for its core products. The new 300 and Charger are great, but the sales haven’t been thus far. Jeep is really carrying the company’s sales, and it’s clear that Chrysler and Dodge are in desperate need of small cars executed as well as its big ones.

The Italian Non-Job

Number of Ford Fiestas sold in the U.S. in July 2011: 5296

Number of Ford Fiestas sold in Italy in July 2011: 5317

Population of the U.S., according to the most recent census data: 308,745,538

Population of Italy: 61,017,000

What the numbers reveal: OK, we know that Europeans love the compact stuff in a way that Americans don’t—yet. But with strong mileage numbers and snazzy sheetmetal, U.S. Fiesta sales should be a lot better than those of a market ostensibly one-fifth the size of ours. Blame the launch of the bigger, more-powerful, more-refined Focus, perhaps.

That Name is Starting to Sound Ironic

Infiniti’s bestselling model in July 2011: G25/G37

Number of Infiniti Gs sold that month: 4490

Number of Infiniti QX56s sold in July 2011: 1016

Rank of the QX56 in Infiniti’s sales chart for July 2011: 2

What the numbers reveal: Since the second-generation Q was put on an ice float to Alaska, Infiniti’s brand-defining product has been the G. That’s fine, but the rest of the company’s cars are dragging. The giant QX56 stacks up well to its rivals, but its size and price naturally limit sales. There’s no reason Infiniti should be struggling so much to shift its other cars and crossovers, which are less expensive than the QX—as well as many of their chief competitors. The upcoming JX crossover, which will be aimed squarely at products like the Lexus RX and BMW X5, should help.

Source : Google Reader

2012 Infiniti M35h Hybrid Road Test: Infiniti’s Recipe for Moderation

2012 Infiniti M35h Hybrid Road Test: Infiniti’s Recipe for Moderation: "

Equal parts harshness and softness make this M almost perfect.

Blindfold us and put us behind the wheel of any car—preferably not in heavy traffic—and we would probably be able to correctly identify Infinitis with more success than any other make. From the throttle to the brakes to the steering, the major controls in vehicles from Nissan’s luxury division are remarkably consistent. Unfortunately, those controls are consistently too hair-trigger quick to achieve perfection, the throttles overly snappy, the brakes too grabby, and the steering too twitchy for the sort of relaxed driving that we don’t do often but that a well-balanced car should be capable of.

Keep Reading: 2012 Infiniti M35h Hybrid – Short Take Road Test

Source : Google Reader

Subaru XV – 2011 Frankfurt Auto Show Preview

Subaru XV – 2011 Frankfurt Auto Show Preview: "

Subaru XV-concept

Subaru will be unveiling the production version of the Subaru XV crossover at the upcoming Frankfurt Auto Show – and to nobody’s surprise it looks just like the XV Concept Subaru unveiled at the Shanghai Auto Show back in April.

Subaru XV Concept

As a tease Subaru has only released this simple sketch of the front fender at this time. However if you check out the photos of the XV Concept it looks just the same.

Indeed, in a brief statement released in Europe today, Subaru says “the final production version of the XV remains true to the Concept and Subaru is confident that it will bring something fresh, as well as a new level of engineering excellence, to the segment.”

There’s no additional information or news as to when the XV will appear in the U.S. or even what it will be named. However, if Subaru follows the past it will likely be sold as the 2013 Impreza Outback Sport here sometime early next year. Our guess is that the US version will be unveiled at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November.

Photos: Subaru XV Concept >>

Source : Google Reader

Increased Demand: Rolls-Royce Expands Bespoke Division

Increased Demand: Rolls-Royce Expands Bespoke Division: "

Rolls-Royce-Bespoke-Division_06

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars is expanding its bespoke operation due to growing customer demand.

The bespoke operation, based at the home of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars at Goodwood in West Sussex, will see an increase in team members, including designers, engineers and project management staff, doubling the headcount by the end of 2011 to over 50. Operational support functions will also expand in various areas including product marketing and sales.

Rolls-Royce-Bespoke-Division_04

Bespoke allows Rolls-Royce customers the luxury of commissioning cars to suit their personal lifestyles. Examples are as versatile and unique as picnic sets that are color-matched to a car’s interior, carefully selected luxurious interior materials or the creation of seamless storage for an owner’s favorite belongings.

Source : Google Reader

Not Your Typical Art Cars: Automotive Canvases at Art in the Streets

Not Your Typical Art Cars: Automotive Canvases at Art in the Streets: "

Kenny-Scharf-61-Cadillac-(Ultima-Suprema-Deluxa)-1

“Ultima Suprema Deluxa” by Kenny Scharf

Monday August 8^th saw the closing of the Art in the Streets exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Downtown Los Angeles, California. With the end of the historic installation looming, we made the trek up from our offices deep in Orange County with 45 minutes to spare before the 5 p.m. closure.

Art in the Streets made history as the first graffiti and street art exhibit held in a major U.S. museum. Fab 5 Freddy, Futura, Shepard Fairey, Mister Cartoon, Estevan Oriol, Keith Haring, Spike Jonze, Terry Richardson and the notorious Banksy were amongst the 50 artists who had installations at MOCA. If the names mentioned sound unfamiliar, Google them. These urban geniuses are the pointed edge of culture, creating thought-provoking and visually entertaining pieces that engage the viewer in both social and political dialogue. From a tagged freeway sign taken off of the Interstate 10 highway, a mock urban setting replete with storefronts and neon signs, toy trains decked out in paint, gritty photographs, and a working skate park, to looping documentary footage and sprawling graffiti pieces, Art in the Streets literally brought the streets straight into a highbrow institution without sacrificing a gram of street cred. It was the coolest (i.e., sickest) exhibit we’ve ever been to.

As to be expected in a showcase influenced by the street, there were several interesting vehicles on display. You’re probably familiar with the kooky, playful art cars that roll through family festivals and parades, but the vehicles you’re about to see are a far cry from the usual art-inspired fare.

While the curtains have closed on the West Coast, for those in the east, there will be another opportunity to cop this groundbreaking explosion of street culture. The exhibition will re-open at the Brooklyn Museum in New York from March 30-July 8, 2012.

“Untitled” Installation by Banksy

“Untitled” Installation by Banksy. An internationally acclaimed graffiti artist, political activist, film director and painter based in England, Banksy is best known for his politically charged and visually striking stencils. With an Oscar nod for Exit Through the Gift Shop, Banksy is also known for making a statement with his physical prop pieces, such as this pair of cocktail-sipping golfers cruising the green in a golf cart wearing biohazard suits and gas masks. Not really a car per se, but a four-wheeled transportation device nonetheless.

“Untitled” by RISK

“Untitled” by RISK. A Los Angeles-based graffiti artist and fashion entrepreneur, RISK was one of the first artists to paint freight trains, subway cars and freeway overpasses. He is also known for his work in various art shows, a graffiti-inspired clothing line, and many Hollywood movies and music videos. Returning to his roots, he painted this city bus for the MOCA exhibit.

Kenny-Scharf-61-Cadillac-(Ultima-Suprema-Deluxa)-2

“Ultima Suprema Deluxa” by Kenny Scharf

“Ultima Suprema Deluxa” by Kenny Scharf. An American painter and installation artist based in New York, Kenny Scharf’s work reflects his love for underground comics, cartoons, thrift stores, and of course, graffiti. Utilizing spray paint, the street art medium of choice, and urethane enamel, Kenny Scharf bedecked and bedazzled this 1961 Cadillac with a myriad of bright colors and unexpected knick-knacks.

“Untitled” by Keith Haring

“Untitled” by Keith Haring. One of the most iconic American street and pop artists, Keith Haring first gained notoriety for his chalk drawings in the subways of New York. His distinctive work is instantly recognizable for its bold lines and moving figures and has continued to appear on CD booklets, posters, jewelry, and apparel throughout the decades. This 1963 Buick Special is painted in classic Haring style, with bold strokes of blue and orange enamel.

Mister-Cartoon-39-Master-Deluxe-(Midnight-Express)-2

“Midnight Express” by Mister Cartoon

Mister Cartoon is a Mexican American tattoo artist and graffiti artist based in Los Angeles, California. Out of the exhibitors at MOCA, Cartoon held the title for the most installations on wheels, including the “Midnight Express”, a sleekly modified and airbrushed 1939 Master Deluxe.

“Street” by Todd James, Barry McGee, Stephen Powers, Devin Flynn, Josh Lazcano, Dan Murphy, and Alexis Ross

“Street” by Todd James, Barry McGee, Stephen Powers, Devin Flynn, Josh Lazcano, Dan Murphy, and Alexis Ross. The graffiti artists writing on the side of this building are actually robotic mannequins mounted on top of a van filled with running televisions! Just one of many impressively executed installations in “Street,” a three-dimensional indoor setting featuring mock buildings, fences and narrow streets for museum-goers to walk through.

“Untitled” by Banksy

“Untitled” by Banksy. Another example of the satirical dark humor that defines Banksy, this installation shows Yogi Bear being flattened by a steamroller, complete with red spray paint blood splatter across the asphalt. This piece is a lighter twist on a previous steamroller piece of Banksy’s, seen in London, which depicted a traffic warden being flattened.

“Posters” by Craig R. Stecyk III

“Posters” by Craig R. Stecyk III. A Southern California native, Stecyk has been printing and surreptitiously placing his brightly-colored posters on telephone poles and other urban and rural places since 1967. Naturally, the poster that immediately drew our attention was the bold silhouette of a steel-belted radial tire.

Source : Google Reader

Not Your Typical Art Cars: Automotive Canvases at Art in the Streets

Not Your Typical Art Cars: Automotive Canvases at Art in the Streets: "

“Ultima Suprema Deluxa” by Kenny Scharf

“Untitled” Installation by Banksy

“Untitled” by RISK

“Ultima Suprema Deluxa” by Kenny Scharf

“Untitled” by Keith Haring

“Midnight Express” by Mister Cartoon

“Street” by Todd James, Barry McGee, Stephen Powers, Devin Flynn, Josh Lazcano, Dan Murphy, and Alexis Ross

“Untitled” by Banksy

“Posters” by Craig R. Stecyk III

Source : Google Reader