Download: 2 May 2012

Wednesday 2 May 2012

Wireless Network Operator

Industry expert sees Apple becoming a mobile operator | 9to5Mac ...
Specifically, he said Apple will beat Google to become a mobile virtual
network operator. While noting Apple's distribution through retail stores
and the 250 ...
<http://www.google.com/url?sa=X&q=http://9to5mac.com/2012/05/01/industry-expert-sees-apple-becoming-a-mobile-operator/&ct=ga&cad=CAcQAhgAIAEoATAAOABAgKuA_QRIAVgAYgVibi1VUw&cd=Cp6K3wkcvhM&usg=AFQjCNFQAgmdeofAftUzcyckGXYnCW--Bw>

Droid Bionic

Motorola DROID Bionic soak test underway
The Motorola DROID Bionic looks poised to receive a software update soon as
users have begun receiving notifications regarding a soak test. As usual,
<http://www.google.com/url?sa=X&q=http://phandroid.com/2012/04/30/motorola-droid-bionic-soak-test-underway/&ct=ga&cad=CAcQAhgAIAEoATAAOABArKKA_QRIAVgAYgVibi1VUw&cd=o9fAjIMeUEg&usg=AFQjCNGXtAbRig_r1_sdXZwx1eASYgyCTA>

Motorola DROID Bionic update soak test set to kick off soon ...
Good news for the Motorola DROID Bionic crowd today, as Motorola has begun
sending emails to owners of the device on the Motorola Feedback Network,
...
<http://www.google.com/url?sa=X&q=http://www.phonedog.com/2012/04/30/motorola-droid-bionic-update-soak-test-set-to-kick-off-soon/&ct=ga&cad=CAcQAhgAIAEoATABOAFArKKA_QRIAVgAYgVibi1VUw&cd=o9fAjIMeUEg&usg=AFQjCNE_2Wj3JJ8dKm4pcqV88xfpQerl2Q>

4.0.3 Update Droid Bionic [Rooted]
Hello, I have a rooted droid bionic and i want 4.0.3 ICS NOW!!! I cant get
it through the over the air update (because of root) and its not even out.
<http://www.google.com/url?sa=X&q=http://www.droidforums.net/forum/droid-bionic-hacks/207084-4-0-3-update-droid-bionic-rooted.html&ct=ga&cad=CAcQAhgAIAEoATACOAJArKKA_QRIAVgAYgVibi1VUw&cd=o9fAjIMeUEg&usg=AFQjCNFES3N8MqoRCoxDpREy4YMbMUHEGA>

Motorola DROID BIONIC Set To Receive Soak Test, Not The Update ...
Most people look at the DROID BIONIC as a flop, a phone Motorola shouldn't
have released considering the DROID RAZR was released not too long after.
<http://www.google.com/url?sa=X&q=http://www.droiddog.com/android-blog/2012/04/motorola-droid-bionic-set-to-receive-soak-test-not-the-update-we-want/&ct=ga&cad=CAcQAhgAIAEoATADOANArKKA_QRIAVgAYgVibi1VUw&cd=o9fAjIMeUEg&usg=AFQjCNERdzola2TlWh2nElntg8gGwOqUcQ>

Motorola Droid Bionic - Ford Tech Lane
By Vincent Hennigan, Ford Sync Specialist. The focus of this Sync Workshop
is simple – we'll be looking at the five top ways to get the most out of
your playing ...
<http://www.google.com/url?sa=X&q=http://fordtechlane.com/%3Ftag%3Dmotorola-droid-bionic&ct=ga&cad=CAcQAhgAIAEoATAEOARArKKA_QRIAVgAYgVibi1VUw&cd=o9fAjIMeUEg&usg=AFQjCNH3cWWpxZoc3MDF8A4ZNBWCuBzpoA>

Order Yours Now: Rimac Concept One Electric Hypercar

Order Yours Now: Rimac Concept One Electric Hypercar:
Rimac-Concept-One_007

The Rimac Automobili Concept One costs almost as much as a Bugatti Veyron, and runs as clean as a Nissan Leaf. And for approximately $1 million dollars, you can be one of the lucky few to own this 1088-hp electric-powered exotic. Only 88 will be built in total. However, with all due respect to Rimac, given the car’s stratospheric price tag and wild spec sheet, we can’t imagine demand far outstripping supply.

Engineered and built in Croatia, the Concept One has four motors, one mounted in each wheel, which propel the car from 0-60 mph in 2.8 seconds. Special lightweight rims have been developed by HRE Wheels to specifically accommodate the motors and performance potential of the car. Top speed is listed as 189 mph. Driving range is estimated at a very impressive 372 miles, though it remains to be seen how long that charge lasts if you’re really gunning the Concept One. Typical electric cars have a range of roughly 100 miles, or less.
Rimac-Concept-One_004

Then again, for almost $1 million bucks, you should get triple the range offered by a Nissan Leaf or Ford Focus EV, right? In case you agree (and didn’t flinch at the asking price), the order book for the Concept One opened earlier this month at the Top Marques supercar show in Monaco.

Source : Google Reader

JLR Posts 1000 New Jobs

JLR Posts 1000 New Jobs:

It’s a sign of the times I suppose. The global economy appears to have gone down the river, the Euro is wallowing in a succession of debt crises, sales of new cars in Europe are tumbling. Yet, despite all of this parts of the auto industry are booming and can’t build cars fast enough.
Recently Jaguar Land Rover advertised 1000 new jobs to support the on-going global demand for the Range Rover Evoque and Land Rover Freelander 2.
They received 35,000 applications.
More than 6000 registrations were received within 24 hours of the new jobs being announced by JLR and after just one week that figure increased to 20,000 online registrations.
Based on the burgeoning growth of both Jaguar and Land Rover, with the announcement of new products like the F-Type – read instant sell out – and the Evoque, I just wonder what the suits in Dearborn are thinking? After all it is Ford that will have underwritten a lot of the investment in this slew of new product from JLR.
Yet the profits will be going elsewhere…
Just at a time when Ford of Europe has booked a pre-tax operating loss of $149m, compared with a profit of $293m a year ago.
After years of uncertainty, a profitable JLR probably looks quite inviting these days in Detroit.
Then again, hindsight gives everyone 20:20 vision…

Baja 1000 Race – Ford Triumphs

Source : Google Reader

How To Go from Gamer to Racer – GT Academy Season 2

How To Go from Gamer to Racer – GT Academy Season 2:

After a successful first year on Speed, the GT Academy isheaded to Spike TV for its second season.
Co-sponsored by Nissan, the inaugural GT Academy competition drew over 53,000 entrants who battled, digitally, on Gran Turismo 5 for the PlayStation 3. Of the tens of thousands, the top 32 gamers were invited to the semifinals in Florida where their numbers were halved in brutal GT5 racing. Afterward, the fastest 16 players moved on to the finals of GT Academy held at the Silverstone Circuit in England, ditching their PS3 steering wheels for real-life ones belonging to Nissan 370Zs, GT-Rs and open-wheel karts. Bryan Heitkotter, an unemployed enthusiast, won the first GT Academy earning himself full-time employment at Silverstone, training and racing for Nissan.

For season two, registration begins June 11, and the competition for the top 32 spots to the semifinals begins in July. The top 16 will move on to the GT Academy “boot camp” where they will train and compete as the first season finalists did in real cars. The reality show following the tribulations will air in late 2012.

To enter, PlayStation 3 owners can download GT Academy 2012 for free on the PlayStation Store. Players will compete in digital Nissans for eight rounds consisting of five events each, for a total of 40 trials. Land in the top 32 and you will be that much closer to becoming a race car driver. Fire up your PS3s.
For more info, check out http://us.gran-turismo.com/us/

Source : Google Reader

Driven: 2012 Chevrolet Cruze 1.7 VCDi LTZ

Driven: 2012 Chevrolet Cruze 1.7 VCDi LTZ:

Chevrolet is gradually expanding its European model line-up, the latest edition being this new 1.7-liter diesel Cruze that slots in below the 2.0-liter. Chevrolet is hoping it will appeal to fleet owners as its lower CO₂ emissions mean they won’t have to pay an annual road tax in the first year.
The headline figures for the new version are 128 bhp at 4000 rpm and a respectable 221 lbs.-ft. of torque from 2000 to 2500 rpm, so it should be reasonably economical. Although it is based on the same GM Delta platform that underpins the Astra, it feels roomier and outstrips it in terms of luggage capacity with a useful 14.5 cu. ft.
While the interior is pleasant enough in styling terms there are some surfaces and materials betraying the fact that the Cruze has been built down to a price, unlike the Astra or Ford Focus.

Having said that, it will appeal to those who see cars more as a functional necessity rather than a source of pleasure. As a consequence its dynamics are not a match for either the Astra or Focus, with a slightly firm ride and woolly steering. Nevertheless if you rein in any driving enthusiasm and let the car flow with the roads and through towns then it delivers what, I assume, Chevrolet wanted it to achieve: no nonsense motoring at a budget price.
Even the entry level version of this 5-door hatch comes equipped with electric front windows and electrically adjustable door mirrors, remote central locking, follow-you home headlamps and air conditioning. Not a bad package for a UK list price of under $27,000.

Source : Google Reader

Driven: 2012 Mazda MX-5 Miata Special Edition PRHT

Driven: 2012 Mazda MX-5 Miata Special Edition PRHT:

might wonder why I snapped a so-so picture of this red 2012 Mazda MX-5 in a parking lot at a shopping mall in Santa Barbara. Read on.
Driven: 2012 Mazda MX-5 Miata Special Edition PRHT

Miata fans are sure to know about the history of the iconic sports car. The inspiration for its development came from Bob Hall, who was an auto journalist back in the 1970s. His idea was for a modern interpretation of a British sports car.
Driven: 2012 Mazda MX-5 Miata Special Edition PRHT

Long story short. He was eventually hired by Mazda and was given the go-ahead to help develop the MX-5, or Miata as it was named in the U.S. Various British sports cars were used as ‘templates’ for the Miata including a blue Lotus Elan, which was purchased from Dave Bean Engineering in Santa Barbara. By coincidence, I had a maroon 1968 Lotus Elan SE, which I had owned for nine years, for sale at the same time. Mazda could have purchased mine but they opted for a blue one instead of a maroon one. Mine was even right-hand drive, which would have better suited Mazda. Imagine my Elan was one away from being a model for the Miata. Oh well.
Driven: 2012 Mazda MX-5 Miata Special Edition PRHT

When the first prototype of the forthcoming Miata was built by IAD in the UK in 1985 Mazda engineers wanted to test it on real sports cars roads in the country where they would sell most – the U.S. Naturally Santa Barbara fitted the bill nicely. If you read the history book on the development of the Miata, written by Jack Yamaguchi and Jonathan Thompson (both former R&T writers) in 1989, you’ll find several pictures of the very first V-705 prototype being driven around scenic two-lane roads in Santa Barbara in October 1985. There are couple of pictures of it in a shopping mall, which just happens to be my local mall. Naturally I could not resist taking this 2012 MX-5 for a stroll along the same roads the original prototype traced 27 years ago.

Just about one million MX-5 sports cars have been sold worldwide since it was introduced in 1989 at the Chicago Auto Show. With all the positive reviews of the new Subaru BRZ and Scion FR-S sports cars it’s been natural for people to compare them with the now ‘vintage’ MX-5.
Driven: 2012 Mazda MX-5 Miata Special Edition PRHT

How did I like the 2012 Mazda MX-5 Miata Special Edition PRHT, which was unveiled at this years’ Chicago Auto Show? Loved it. The more I drove it the more I liked it. It still handles like a dream. It has a wonderful short throw 6-speed manual transmission (don’t even think about buying the automatic version). The steering is precise. The PRHT (Power Retractable Hard Top) roof goes up and down at the touch of a button just as on a really expensive sports car.

Is it practical – not really, but then a sports car is not supposed to be, is it? It’s all about the driving pleasure derived out on winding twisty two-lane roads, preferably with the top down.
This special edition model is limited to a run of just 450, so if you want one you’d better get down to your local dealer with $32,020 in hand.

Source : Google Reader