Mercedes-Benz A45 AMG: Mercedes’ performance brand downsizes

The A45 AMG will be the smallest model ever from Mercedes' performance division, and it has big shoes to fill.

It’s hard to believe that the Mercedes-Benz A45 AMG is made by the same company that created the SLS AMG Black Series and other aggressive performance models. This isn’t a sports car with a 6.2-liter V8, it’s a front-wheel drive hatchback. Although the first hot hatchback from AMG won’t debut until the Geneva Motor Show in March 2013, Mercedes decided to whet appetites with a couple of teaser images.

The car in the photos wears virtually no camouflage, and has the requisite hunkered-down stance, big wheels and tires, and body kit of an AMG car. It also wears a version of the Solar Beam yellow paint available on AMG’s Black Series models. However, on this little hatchback, the overall effect is more boy racer than high end European performance car.

The A45 really needs the chops to prove that it isn’t just a cynical exercise in cost-cutting. It will reportedly have a 2.0-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder under the hood. Autocar reported earlier this year that the engine, which also does duty in the regular A-Class, will be tuned to 330 horsepower and more than 295 pound-feet of torque.

The only available transmission will be a seven-speed, dual-clutch, automated manual.

Front-wheel drive cars don’t do well with large amounts of torque; all that power can actually tug the wheels in a phenomenon called “torque steer.” To cancel that out, AMG will equip the A45 with all-wheel drive. That should quiet the torque steer, and hopefully give the car better grip as well.

The all-wheel drive system, designed by Haldex, will reportedly send most of the power to the rear wheels when the driver puts his or her foot down, which could mask the A45’s humble origins even more.

Although it’s still a bit unorthodox for AMG, the A45 is shaping up to be a competent performance car. It will need to be competent, too, because this three-pointed star won’t be the only premium performance hatchback on the market.

When it goes on sale, the A45 AMG will face off against the BMW M135i and Audi S3, both of which are new for 2013. The BMW packs a 320 hp inline six and is available with either all-wheel drive or rear-wheel drive. The Audi has a 300 hp, turbocharged four and is only available with all-wheel drive.

The M135i and S3 probably won’t come to the U.S., but the A45 AMG might. Mercedes has talked about bringing other A-Class variants, including the CLA “four door coupe,” to the States, so why not include this performance version?

At this early stage, its hard to tell exactly what Mercedes’ plans for the AMG are. Look for more information, and more detailed specifications, in the coming months.

Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

Ferrari-fighting Tesla Model R reportedly in the works for 2017

Electric vehicle automaker Tesla Motors is reportedly working on a successor to its discontinued Roadster, dubbed the Model R, which is expected to take the fight to Ferrari.

A rumor coming out of jolly old England’s Auto Express suggests electric car manufacturer Tesla is looking to bring a new model to the market in 2017.

The new car would replace Tesla’s first car, the Roadster, and be built from the ground up as pure all-electric vehicle (EV). Whereas the current Roadster is underpinned by Lotus’ Elise platform, Auto Express claims the successor to the Roadster, thought to be named the Model R, will utilize the same platform currently underpinning the Model S and the upcoming Model X crossover.

In addition to adhering to the company’s current naming convention, the Model R will reportedly expand on the Roadsters lightning-quick acceleration, which is capable of rocketing from 0-60 miles per hour in 3.9 seconds and traveling 254-miles on a single charge of its 53 kWh lithium-ion battery.

If true, the Model R would undoubtedly benefit from a platform switch. The Lotus Elise weights about 1800 pounds, while the Roadster weighs in at 2,723 pounds. A new platform built from the ground up to accommodate an EV powertrain has the potential to reduce the weight of the car, while at the same time improving range and acceleration.

Tesla sold the Roadster between 2008 and 2011, with about 2,500 rolling off the line. Base price for the zippy EV started around $109,000. While no longer selling the Roadster, the California-based automaker started a buyback program last month that allows Roadster owners the option to trade theirs in for credit towards a Model S.

According to Auto Express, Tesla has its sights set on Ferrari with the Model R, but we remain skeptical. Still, if the Model R can indeed go toe-to-toe with the iconic Italian automaker we’ll be very impressed. Of course that leaves us with another question: How much will it cost?

Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

NenaMark 2 scores for Sony Xperia C360X appear, promise Xperia T-level specs

We’ve been seeing a steady stream of leaks about the next crop of Sony Xperia Androids but this one is about a new model – the C3602 (since the last digit indicates the region, let’s just call it the C360X).

We’ve already seen the low-end C1 series (Xperia E and E Dual) and the high-end C6 series (Odin and Yuga with their 5″ 1080p screens), so this C360X should be our first look at the mid-range offerings.

The model number appeared in NenaMark 2 results database, which gives us info on the Android version – v4.0.4 as tested – and the GPU and the screen.

The Xperia C360X has a 720p screen (not bad for a mid-ranger) and on-screen buttons (the reported resolution is 1196×720, the missing 84px are for the virtual keys).

The GPU is an Adreno 225, which means we’re talking about a Qualcomm Snapdragon chipset, possibly the same MSM8260A chipset as on the Xperia T (which has two Krait cores at 1.5GHz).

Thanks to Sushil Goyal for the tip!

Source : blog[dot]gsmarena[dot]com

Cellular versions of the iPad Mini could start to ship next week

Although Apple hasn't provided an exact, single date on when the iPad Mini Wi-Fi + Cellular model will ship, buyers who have pre-ordered the tablet are seeing their accounts updated with various shipping dates, some as soon as five days time.

Ever since the iPad Mini was announced, there was a question mark over when the model with 3G/4G LTE connectivity would appear. Apple’s press release stated the cellular models would ship “a couple of weeks” after the Wi-Fi only Mini, putting the date somewhere around the middle of November.

It looks like Apple will keep its promise too, as reports are coming in that customers who pre-ordered the cellular Mini tablet have started to receive notices that it’ll ship “in the next five business days.” That could be on or slightly before November 16, two weeks after the iPad Mini went on sale.

This won’t be the same for everyone, of course, and Apple has already flip-flopped on iPad Mini LTE release dates once, with some buyers finding a November 21 and November 23 shipping date added to their account soon after launch, but this was quickly replaced with “mid-November” instead. Subsequently, these dates have been re-applied to some accounts.

So, if you’ve ordered an iPad Mini LTE, there’s a chance it will arrive sometime between November 16 and November 23, depending on when you placed your order, and your chosen delivery method.

Apple has been experiencing some delays with getting the iPad Mini into its customer’s hands, with the Wi-Fi-only tablet selling out as an online pre-order, and then again when it hit retail stores last weekend. Despite this, Apple shifted three million iPad Mini and fourth generation iPad tablets over those three days.

While still a considerable amount of iPad tablets sold, this was a little lower than some analysts hoped for, and this could have been due to the cellular model not being available on launch day. An analyst for Merrill Lynch called the 4G LTE iPad Mini “more important than people think,” reminding us that the cellular versions of the full-size iPad make up 45-percent of sales.

If you’ve pre-ordered an iPad Mini, has its delivery date been updated yet?

Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk: “Model S variants to arrive next year”

With the Tesla Model S barely out the factory door and keys only in the hands of a few hundred customers, company CEO Elon Musk is already preparing the automotive world for new variations sometime next year.

There’s no denying Tesla Motor’s Model S is red hot at the moment. It’s the automotive equivalent to Justin Bieber (he is still cool, right?), at least for EV fans and automotive journalists that is. When the Model S isn’t busy collecting awards, the sleek electric sports sedan is busy turning heads at one of Tesla’s many Apple-like shops across the country. Needless to say, there is a remarkable amount of hype surrounding the California start-up and one of the major sources of that hype is the company’s enigmatic CEO Elon Musk.

As reported by AutoblogGreen, during a recent third quarter financial results call, Musk hinted at the future production of Model S variants due sometime next year, stating: “There are a few other variants of the Model S that we’ll come out next year that I think are going to be pretty exciting.”

In addition to this teasing, yet vague proclamation, Musk reportedly discussed Tesla’s ongoing efforts with the company’s next vehicle, the all-electric crossover known as the Model X, as well as the fact that work has begun on the company’s third-generation and yet–to-be-named vehicle it hopes to launch before the end of the decade.

Of course all of this is simply talk, and we have no way of knowing what is actually in the works for the California-based automaker, but it does give us ample opportunity to speculate and dissect what this all means.

For starters, it’s more than likely Mr. Musk is simply referring to a better handling and performance package, which was mentioned a few months back. Another possibility could be the introduction of an all-wheel-drive system in addition to the current rear-wheel-drive layout found in the Model S. Finally, there is talk of adding an open-air model as well as one with battery packs larger than the current 85 kWh variety found in the Performance Model S.

Aside from speculation, Musk revealed that in response to customer demand, Tesla will make other options available to customers upon ordering their vehicles, in addition to others that could be retroactively fitted.

Whatever the case may be, one thing is clear: We’ll be seeing much more from the Model S in the near future.

What types of additions would you like to see, if any, in the Model S? Be sure to let us know in the comments section below.

Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

Tesla Model S named Automobile Magazine’s 2013 Car of the Year

In what will undoubtedly please EV enthusiasts, Automobile Magazine has named the Tesla Model S its 2013 Car of the Year.

The electric car has received a positive image boost, and perhaps more mainstream validation, as Automobile Magazine has named the Tesla Model S its “2013 Car of the Year.”

For those unfamiliar with Tesla Motors ambitious EV, the Model S is an all-electric luxury sport sedan and the California start-up’s second battery-powered vehicle after the well-received Tesla Roadster.

Okay, so it’s powered by electrons. But what makes the Model S worthy of such an accolade? “It’s the performance that won us over,” Automobile Editor-in-Chief Jean Jennings said in the magazine’s January 2013 issue. “The crazy speed builds silently and then pulls back the edges of your face. It had all of us endangering our licenses.”

Indeed, Tesla’s green speed-machine is capable of rocketing from zero to 60 miles per hour in a mere 4.2 seconds when outfitted with an 85 kilowatt-hour battery – this, despite weighing more than 4500 pounds. “It’s alarming to jam the accelerator of such a big car and have it surge forward so quickly and so quietly,” said copy editor Rusty Blackwell.

Of course, a lot of cars are fast, very fast, and while it’s no doubt impressive that the Model S can scamper down a straight line with ease, it’s not the only reason the folks at Automobile were smitten with it, citing the vehicle’s excellent handling dynamics, ability to soak up road noise, and nuanced steering. “All that speed, along with powerful braking, superflat handling, and sharp steering, gives you the sense that you’re invincible,” reads Jennings’s evaluation of the vehicle on a test track.

And then there’s the inside. The Model S might be packing a lot of impressive tech, battery and all, but it’s the car’s command center cabin that proved equally drool-worthy. Having already sat inside the Model S ourselves over the course of the year, we are more than aware of the tech-laden wonderland that is the Model S’ cockpit. Instead of dials, buttons, and knobs, virtually everything inside the Model S is operated via its gigantic, 17-inch iPad-like center touchscreen. Want to open the panoramic sunroof? Swipe the screen. Climate controls? Same deal. Drivers can even surf the Web and access their email while on the go.

Interestingly, Tesla’s status as a start-up was taken into consideration before the final decision was made, according to Automobile’s senior editor Joe Lorio. “What if we give the car this honor, and a year from now the company disappears in a ball of flakiness?” he said “Are we going to feel foolish?”

Ultimately, though, the Model S was given the award based on its merits as a standalone vehicle and not the politics or position it may or may not see itself in down the road. “The car is here now, and we think it’s a significant milestone,” Lorio explained.

The Model S is available in three different battery sizes: 40 kWh, 60 kWh, and 85 kWh. Pricing for the 40kWh Model S starts at $57,000, $67,00 for one outfitted with a 60 kWh battery, and $77,000 for an 85 kWh model like the one tested by Automobile. (All prices exclude a $7,500 federal tax credit). Estimated range for the base Model S sits at 160 miles on a single charge, 230 miles for the 60 kWH, and 300 miles for the 85kWh.

The Tesla Model S went into production this summer, with 250 deliveries having taken place as of October. According to Tesla, roughly 13,000 people have placed $5,000 deposits towards a Model S. The company expects to sell about 3,200 units by the end of 2012.

We have reached out to Tesla for comment on its latest award, and will update this space with the company’s response.

Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

At $229 the 32GB Nexus 7 from RadioShack is a steal

The Nexus 7 deals keep getting better and better since Google announced the pricedrop of the 16GB model and introduced the 32GB version. Now, for a limited time, RadioShack is offering the 32GB Nexus 7 for the incredibly sounding $229.

To take advantage of the deal, use the coupon code “RMN20″. It’ll grant you a $20 discount for products costing $125 and up. And to make the deal even better, there’s free ground shipping (for US only).

So, if you’re a US resident and are still hesitant which compact tablet to go for, this discounted Nexus 7 might have just convinced you to go the Google way.

Source : blog[dot]gsmarena[dot]com

Microsoft said to be working on a 7-inch Xbox Surface tablet

After announcing the 10-inch Surface tablets based on Windows 8 and Windows RT, Microsoft is now reportedly working on a 7-inch model. Except, this one is more purpose-built, with the purpose being gaming.

According to The Verge, Microsoft is said to be working on a 7-inch Xbox Surface tablet designed for gaming. The device is said to include an ARM processor with high-bandwidth RAM but the specifications could be altered for an unannounced Intel SoC. This device will neither be running on Windows 8 nor Windows RT, but rather a custom Windows kernel, similar to the current Xbox console.

It is being said that the Xbox Surface will be manufactured in the same factory as the Surface and is being developed in Microsoft’s offices in Silicon Valley. This is not the ‘Xbox 720′ or the next generation of Xbox console that we have heard about before and will be a different product altogether.

While the presence of the Xbox name makes it sound interesting at first, at the end of the day, this device will be like any other 7-inch tablet out there. The success of this device will be decided by the kind of games Microsoft will have at launch. Meanwhile, Apple and Google already have a massive lead in this department, to the point where they even make the recently launched PS Vita seem irrelevant.

Source : blog[dot]gsmarena[dot]com

Nikon unveils D5200 DSLR, borrows from pricier D7000

It's been a busy year for Nikon's DSLR range, with the Japanese camera company today announcing its fifth model since January. The new D5200 shooter is an improved version of the D5100 and incorporates several features found on Nikon's more advanced D7000 device.

Nikon unveiled the latest addition to its DSLR range on Tuesday. The D5200 is an improved version of the D5100 that it released 18 months ago, though the earlier model will continue to roll off the production line – for the time being, at least.

The new consumer-level DSLR shooter pulls a number of features from Nikon’s pricier D7000 camera, including its 39-point autofocus system (up from the 11 points found on the D5100) and 2016-pixel RGB metering sensor.

Buyers of the new camera might want to consider investing in some beefy SDHC/SDXC cards and hefty external hard drive, with its new super-sized 24.1-megapixel APS-C sensor guaranteeing snap-happy photographers rapid memory usage with the large picture files the camera will be serving up.

The frames-per-second rate of the D5200 shows a slight improvement over the D5100, increasing from four shots to five thanks to its new Expeed 3 processor.

For camera operation, Nikon is promising that the device’s newly designed graphical user interface will be “easier and more intuitive” to operate than previous versions, with ‘classic’ or ‘graphic’ options to choose from.

Anyone wanting to make use of its 1080p movie capabilities can now shoot at rates of up to 60 fps, and will also be able to utilize its new built-in stereo microphone for improved sound over the older D5100.

Owners of iOS and Android devices who want to receive pictures wirelessly from the camera can do so with the optional WU-1a adapter, which also allows remote shutter control.

As with the older model, the new mid-range camera incorporates a 921k-dot TFT LCD screen that flips out, twists and turns, making it more likely you’ll get the picture you’re after when shooting at arms’ length over the top of people’s heads.

For those who prefer a dash of color with their camera bodies instead of the usual black, the Japanese camera giant is offering the D5200 in two other flavors – bronze and red.

Pricing for the new device hasn’t yet been confirmed, though it’s expected to arrive in stores in December.

Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

Pearltrees releases version 1.0, premium accounts included

We caught up with Pearltrees' chief evangelist, Oliver Starr, after the company announced its 1.0 release and a new subscription-based business model.

Visualizing the scope of what we share from around the Web is a challenge, but given the popularity of tactile devices like iPhones and iPads it seems a valuable one to undertake. Interacting with website content is becoming more and more expected, and developers are taking note. Pearltrees, a startup we wrote about to announce its $6.7 million in funding early this year, just may be at the forefront of haptically curating information, and the company says it has the metrics to prove it.

We caught up with Pearltrees yesterday when the company celebrated the app’s 1.0 milestone. Pearltrees explains that 1.0 signifies the cohesiveness of its product across its three supported platforms: Web, iPhone, and iPad. It also marks, in some respects, the true launch of the site, despite having officially having launched in 2008. Oliver Starr, chief evangelist for Pearltrees, explains to me that Pearltrees started out as a Web app, but was developed for devices like iPhone in mind. The Web app was just an intermediary platform, since at the time Apple’s mobile wouldn’t be able to support the tech required to develop Pearltrees for the iPhone. In fact, the iPhone app wasn’t launched until July of this year.

Pearltrees was founded on the principles that Tim Burners-Lee, the godfather and founder of the Web, had in mind when developing what we know as the Internet. First, anyone should be able to view any piece of information published on the Web — the leading thought of Web 1.0. The second is that anybody should be able to publish any piece of information, which happened with the rise of blogging, wikis, and Twitter. Finally, and most importantly, the third criterion was that anyone could organize collections of this information.

Pearltrees visually aggregates bookmarks of websites, photos, and anything found online into visual “pearls.” Collectively the pearls make up a tree of information, clearly where the app gets its name. Users can save their latest interests from around the Web individually, but multiple users sharing the same interest can collaboratively curate a single pearl as well. It sort of feels like a visual, graphic Wikipedia without the user-contributed text. For instance, one of Starr’s favorite pearls has over 150 members and curates TED Talks. As he took me through it, the pearl was admittedly expertly curated and there didn’t appear to be any irrelevant information to be found.

The moderation of community pearls is left up to the devices of its members. Despite this, Starr tells me he’s only had to administratively ban approximately fifty accounts, including spam bots. It’s an astoundingly small number considering the 700,000 active users, two million unique visitors per month, and about 30 million pearls. And Starr knows a thing or about community moderation. “Being a veteran of moderating tech comments, I can tell you that’s not the norm.” Starr was Michael Arrington’s first employee at TechCrunch and responsible not only for creating “MobileCrunch,” but also worked as the tech blog’s first community moderator.

Pearltrees has access to unprecendented information about its users through its interest graph, called TreeRank. It can group pearls into similar interests and display them to you. Should you search for “Wolves,” the app would then display all pearls relevant to your search query. But since the algorithm scrapes your interests, it knows exactly what Pearltrees’ users interests are and similar things you’d want to see. It’s a powerful feature that, and one you’d think a marketer’s dream.

Despite this goldmine of user information, the company refuses to sell out. “We’ve kept true to the spirit of the company and the product, which is that we wouldn’t leverage what our users do through marketing,” says Starrs.

Instead, Pearltrees is taking the more difficult and less traveled route to making money by selling services. Luckily, the for-pay feature was one requested by the users. Now users can pay $4.99 per month or $49.99 for one year to make pearls private. But this model serves a dual purpose: It implicitly improves Pearltrees’ platform as a repository of valuable curated content. Putting a price on something will increase its value, and while that can be difficult to prove, it’s been done before — sites like Quora, Wikipedia, and even Evernote have showed us this.

By default all pearls are public, so anyone can see your pearls. With Pearltrees’ mantra to be host to a library of valuable content, Starrs explains that the pearls that users want to hide are typically content that Pearltrees wants you to pay to hide anyway. If it’s a pearl containing embarrassing content or even something not worth sharing, then it’s likely not content that would be helpful to other users should they find that pearl. So users should help pay for the hosting costs if it’s not going to contribute to the benefit of Pearltrees as a whole.

It’s a big bet, but one that the site is confident it can take. Pearltrees 1.0 is available now via the Web and for iOS devices. 

Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

Certain Apple Stores will replace your third gen iPad with a fourth gen model if bought within last 30 days

Yesterday, Apple announced the new iPad mini but along with that also introduced a fourth generation iPad, just eight months after the third generation model was announced earlier this year. And it’s not a small update, either. The fourth generation model comes with a faster A6X processor that doubles the CPU and GPU power, faster wireless connectivity and the new Lighting port.

Naturally, if you bought the third generation model recently, you’d be feeling a bit jelly. But if you happened to have purchased that model in the past 30 days, you just might be in luck.

According to CNET, some of the Apple Stores will replace your third generation model with a fourth generation one if you purchased it in the last 30-days. Unfortunately, this is not a company-wide policy so not every store is doing this right now but Apple Stores are generally very good when it comes to customer service so you should definitely go try your luck.

Source : blog[dot]gsmarena[dot]com

Next Corvette will debut at the Detroit auto show on January 13

The Corvette gets its first redesign in nearly 10 years for the 2014 model year.

Chevrolet will unveil the next generation of its most iconic car, the Corvette, at the Detroit auto show on January 13, 2013. This new ‘Vette will be the seventh generation of the car, and enthusiasts are already referring to it as the C7.

The timing seems right. The current generation Corvette C6 has been in production for nearly 10 years and, while it’s still a great car, the competition is moving on. Camouflaged test mules have been spotted in recent months, and Chevy suspended public tours at its Bowling Green, Kentucky plant so it could retool for the C7.

Those who are in love with the current Corvette needn’t worry, because the C7 appears to be more evolution than revolution. Chevy is not revealing anything other than the car’s Crossed Flags logo (which was redesigned to go with the new car) until January, but spy photos indicate a car with the same basic proportions as the current Corvette.

The long hood, short rear deck, and fastback remain, so the C7 should be easy to recognize as a Corvette. Some of the C6’s curves may be blunted a bit to bring the car in line with Chevy’s current design language, and the C7 may ditch round taillights for square ones to match the Camaro and Malibu.

The biggest change will probably be under the hood. The C7 will be powered by a small block V8, as Corvettes have been since time immemorial, but it will be a brand new engine. Chevy is calling this redesigned V8 the Gen V; it reportedly displaces 5.5 liters (the C6 has a 6.2-liter engine) and features new-to-‘Vette technologies such as direct injection and variable valve timing.

All will be revealed when the C7 makes its debut on January 13. Before its official auto show unveiling, Chevy will have a small launch party for the ‘Vette in downtown Detroit. Ticket sales will benefit the National Corvette Museum.

Like most carmakers these days, Chevy will try to build suspension with teasers. One13thirteen.com has a countdown clock and a series of videos that will be released in the weeks leading up to January 13, 2013.

Production of the Corvette C6 is already winding down. The C7 will begin production in the third quarter of 2013 as a 2014 model.

There are dozens of new car launches every year, but some are more exciting than others. The Corvette doesn’t operate on the same four-year product cycle as other cars, so when Chevy sees fit to build a new one, automotive enthusiasts take notice.

Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

Google and Samsung shun Intel, announce Exynos-powered Chromebook

Samsung has once again partnered with Samsung to produce a laptop running Chrome OS. The new model shuns Intel's chips, and has a very attractive price tag too.

Google has once again collaborated with Samsung to release a laptop with Chrome OS installed. The new model is simply called Chromebook, and is smaller and lighter than the Chromebook 550. It also marks a departure from Intel’s chips, as it’s based on ARM architecture instead.

The new Chromebook has an 11.6-inch screen, smaller than previous models, but with a higher (and more traditional) 1368 x 768 pixel resolution. The Atom processor has been removed and Samsung has installed its own dual-core Exynos 5 Dual chip.

This is exciting for several reasons. Samsung’s Exynos 5 Dual was the first chip to use ARM’s Cortex A15 architecture — the same as Qualcomm’s quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro — and the Chromebook marks its first appearance after being announced in August. It’s also expected to appear in Samsung ’s next generation tablets and although no clock speed is mentioned for the Chromebook, the chip can run at up to 1.7GHz.

Samsung and Google’s move to ARM is also good news for our wallets, and the Chromebook has been priced at a very competitive $249 in the US and £229 (if purchased online) in the UK.

For this you get a 16GB SSD that provides a 7-second boot up time, 2GB of RAM, a memory card reader, a pair of USB ports, an HDMI-out, Wi-Fi, a VGA camera, Bluetooth 3.0 and a battery that promises more than 6 hours of use before needing a recharge. The chassis weighs 2.5lbs, or 1.1kg, and measures 20mm thick.

As the whole point of the Chrome OS is to work in the cloud, Google will make up for the pathetic 16GB of onboard storage space by providing a complimentary 100GB chunk of Google Drive space. The small print points out that this is only valid for 2 years, after which time it’ll revert back to standard and you’ll have to pay.

So, the price is good and the spec is interesting, and to help introduce buyers to Chrome OS, Google will promote the new laptop in stores through special “Chrome Zones.” However, with the impending introduction of Windows 8 and all its associated hardware, will the Chromebook get a look in, regardless of its low price?

The new Chromebook is available as a pre-order from Best Buy, Amazon, TigerDirect.com and Newegg.com, or from PC World in the UK right now. According to the latter, it’ll be released on October 19.

Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

32GB Microsoft Surface sold out in the US, is still available in other countries

The Surface tablet pre-orders has started a fire in the US and as a result Microsoft has already sold out all its US stock of the base 32GB model (without Touch Cover). If you pre-order this version now it will only be delievered to you in three weeks, while the other two available models are still scheduled to arrive on October 26.

The RT tablet is still available in the rest of the countries where Microsoft started the pre-order yesterday.

If the success of the pre-order is anything to judge by, Microsoft is going to have a pretty successful Surface launch come October 26. However, Microsoft should do its best to bring the device to more countries if it is to mount a serious challenge to the Apple iPad.

Source : blog[dot]gsmarena[dot]com

Google Nexus 7 32GB flavor makes multiple appearances all over the web, won’t ship in the next two weeks

The 32GB flavor of the Google Nexus 7 tablet has been spotted yet again, this time on a store’s brochure. Just as before, the 32GB model is said to cost as much as the 16GB Nexus 7 currently, further solidifying the rumors of it being replaced.

But how soon, you ask? According to The Next Web, and its source we shouldn’t expect the 32GB model to launch in the next two weeks.

Still not convinced? The new 32GB flavor of the Nexus 7 has made yet another appearance at the Staples Advantage store, carrying a price tag of $248 (two dollars less than the $250 Google is asking for the 16GB model). The store has listed October 18 as availability date, but we’re inclined to believe this is just a placeholder.

Furthermore, upon checkout with his brand new 16GB Nexus 7 at an yet undisclosed Netherlands online store, Reddit user kingdaan was told that his order will be delayed by three weeks and that he’ll receive a 32GB Nexus 7 instead. I recon it’s worth the wait.

Source : blog[dot]gsmarena[dot]com

GoPro unveils Hero3 rugged camera – three editions available, the top one shoots at up to 4K resolution

It’s been about a year since the GoPro HD Hero2 came out and it’s time for it to retire – the new model, Hero3, is smaller, lighter and faster. It comes in three different editions called White, Silver and Black.

All three editions come with Wi-Fi built-in (so you don’t need a the Wi-Fi BacPack) and are compatible with the Wi-Fi Remote (which is included in the Black edition package).

The top of the line model is the Hero3 Black, which has a 12MP sensor and can shoot up to 4K video. There are two versions of 4K – 3840×2160 (TV’s Ultra High Definition) that can be recorded at 15fps and 4096×2160 (a movie-making standard) at 12fps.

Of course, those aren’t suitable for high-speed action, so you can shoot 2.7K (2716×1524) at 30fps, 1080p at up to 60fps, 720p at up to 120 fps and all the way fown to WVGA at 240fps.

The Black edition is priced at $399 and comes with a waterproof Wi-Fi remote which can control up to 50 cameras at once. It’s $99 if bought separately, but you can use the smartphone control app instead.

At the low end is the White model, which still stacks up well against the HD Hero2. It has a 5MP sensor and can shoot video at up to 1080p@30fps. This one is priced at $200.

In between is the Silver model – it’s capped at 1080p@30fps but its sensor is 11MP and costs $300.

Head over to GoPro’s web site for more info. Note that at the moment it has some issues and the link to the silver model points to a non-existent page (this should be the right one).

The cameras are currently on pre-order with an estimated shipping date October 22 (next Monday).

Source : blog[dot]gsmarena[dot]com

Google to launch Nexus 7 variant for only $99 before years end

Google is supposedly readying a version of their Nexus 7 tablet for only $99.

This is coupled with news of another Nexus 7 model which is expected to retail for the Nexus 7′s current price of $199.

Both versions will supposedly be thinner than the current model, and feature TN panel display technology made by HannStar Display.

Incidentally, HannStar has reportedly become part of Apple’s supply chain for the iPad, though the Taiwanese-based panel manufacturer has yet to confirm that it’s working with either tech giant.

Both new Nexus 7 models are expected to hit stores before the end of 2012, and if the rumors are true, we expect a $99 Nexus tablet to make a great stocking stuffer.

Source : blog[dot]gsmarena[dot]com

Move over iPhone 5, reservation holder places Tesla Model S on eBay hoping for a huge profit

A Tesla Model S recently showed up on eBay with a seller looking to turn a quick buck on the electrifying luxury sedan.

The iPhone 5 isn’t the only new high-tech toy to pop up on eBay for exorbitant prices, as one industrious individual has taken to the online auction site in order to sell their soon-to-be-delivered all-electric luxury sedan.

The seller, a reservation holder based in Portland, Maine, placed his Tesla Model S Signature Series on eBay for a staggering $145,000 with an entry bid requirement of $138,500. The vehicle is scheduled to arrive on October 14.

So did anyone actually place a bid? Nope. And we can’t say we’re all that surprised. While a few enterprising folks are likely to sell the iPhone 5 for some ridiculous, inflated price, this seller’s Tesla didn’t fare so well, garnering zero bids.

As a quick recap, the near top-of-the-line Model S  ordered directly from Tesla starts at about $95,400 (excluding a $7,500 federal tax credit). In addition to being your neighborhood’s electric car cock of the walk, that $100,000 will nab you a Model S Signature Series with an 85 kWh battery, zero to 60 mpg in 5.6 seconds, and an estimated range of 300 miles. You’ll also get the second most powerful version (the Model S Signature Performance takes that crown with 362 horsepower, 32 pound feet of torque, and a top speed of 125 mph).

“This may be the only chance in the next few years to acquire one of these amazing, limited edition, game changing vehicles,” the seller wrote on his auction post. But rather than turn to eBay, simply placing a $5,000 deposit will reserve you a spot in line for a Model S. Of course that will require a degree of patience as there is currently a 6-12 month waiting list.

Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

Sony: There will be no PlayStation 3 price drop for any model in 2012

Sony explains why neither there's no PlayStation 3 price drop for the new or old slim models this year.

No PlayStation 3 model is getting a price cut this holiday season. Not the new ultra slim models. Not the old slim models.

Speaking with Engadget, Sony VP of marketing John Koller, said that the lack of a price drop at the suggested retail price level is because retailers are already running promotions that lower the price of the console significantly.

“There’s no price drop formally, but the thing that’s been happening in the market over the last year or so is that there’s been so many retail price promotions, and so many different gift card offers, and all those things, being done by all of us (Microsoft, Nintendo, and Sony), that we’ve heard from our consumer, ‘Enough with all these weird price moves. What we really want is content and games and value,’” said Koller.

That’s right: Having two models of PlayStation 3 on shelves, in more than 5 distinct hardware and game bundles, priced everywhere between $250 and over $300, is exactly the sort of clear pricing and value that customers so badly want.

If you squint real hard, you can see a layer of logic in Sony’s decision to release the brand new PlayStation 3 models at higher prices than what’s already on shelves. The company is reeling from two years of profound financial losses, the mediocre launch of a new handheld gaming system, and the cost of purchasing Ericsson’s half of its mobile phone business and trying to relaunch the line in an Apple-dominated market. Kaz Hirai, former head of SCEA and new Sony CEO, needs the PlayStation division to make some cash. Releasing a new system designed to save on production costs at a lower price won’t earn Sony that paper.

Sony desperately needs to expand the PlayStation 3’s audience, though, before the market ceases to exist. If Sony thinks that it can keep people interested in its console for another two years, no matter how full its release schedule is with games like The Last of Us and Beyond: Two Souls, it’s in for a rude awakening. The only thing that can revitalize the PlayStation 3 at his juncture is a price point below $200. If Sony doesn’t want to lower the price of the new models, why not clear out old stock at a $199 price point? Why not release the 12GB flash memory PlayStation 3 in the United States at $199? “The smaller flash drive isn’t coming to North America, and a lot of that reason is the digital consumer. We really want to make sure, out of the box, that there is an option for them to be able to download that content,” said Koller. Then release a branded hard drive expansion along with it, Sony!

This is the face of holiday sales suicide.

Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

Motorola Razr M first impressions: Maximized screen real estate at its finest

Here's our first look at the budget-friendly model of Motorola's new Droid Razr line ahead of its September 13 release date.

Motorola announced an updated line of its Razr smartphone family this week, and the first of the three to be released is the Motorola Razr M — otherwise known as its budget-friendly edition. At $100 (with a 2-year contract,) the phone stacks up competitively to other budget phones on the market such as the HTC One V. Here’s our first look at what Motorola has in store for its Razr line.

It’s funny to think that a 4.3-inch screen phone these days is considered “compact,” but that’s exactly how Motorola described the Razr M during its press conference Wednesday. The near edge-to-edge design offers more screen per square inch — which makes the advertised 4.3-inch screen bigger than it sounds. The 960 x 540 resolution display itself is truly vivid especially under the gorilla glass, and the whole device feels more expensive than your average budget phone. Thanks to its Kevlar back, the anti-scratch and added grip makes for a beautifully-designed phone that feels like it’s worth a ton more than one Benjamin.

While the Motorola Razr M comes with an internal memory of 8GB and 1GB of RAM, storage is expandable with the micro-SD slot placed right on the side of the phone. The SIM card slot is also right next to it, so no more opening the back of your phone and digging your nails in to remove either chips. The device is runs on Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, which is a bit of a disappointment, but Motorola says all the new Razr phones should be getting Jellybean by the end of the year.

The Razr M also comes with a dual-core Qualcomm MSM8960 Snapdragon S4 processor, 8 MP back camera, and a 3 MP front-facing shooter. The dual-core processor makes the Razr M run extremely fast. Switching between screens is swift, and you can program your own pages and add them as needed. To delete, simply hold and drag the app icon or page to the trash can.  

What’s new about the Razr M is a circle interface that allows you to customize shortcuts. For example, new text messages can appear on the most prominent circle while the second circle is dedicated to weather. For each city you add, you can flip the circle to navigate through the cities and get updated weather information for each location.

According to Motorola, one full charge can deliver an impressive 20 hours of battery life but we’ll see if that claim holds true. Be on a lookout for our full review shortly. In the meantime, the Motorola Razr M is available for pre-order now at Verizon with an official release date of September 13. To get the $100 price, you will have to mail in a $50 rebate through Verizon.

Source : digitaltrends[dot]com