Category: News

Depth of field is a key principle to photography, a combination of factors and physics that determine how much any given photo is in focus. For this week’s Shooting Challenge, I want to to break the laws of DoF. More »

Top Gear America Spotted Filming in Los Angeles

Guess who got caught filming in Los Angeles? Top Gear America, which will make its debut this fall on The History Channel. Along with Tanner Foust, the American Top Gear crew had a Porsche 911, Ford Mustang, Hyundai Genesis Coupe and a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution.

Top Gear America will debut this fall on The History Channel hosted by Tanner Foust, Adam Ferrara and Rutledge Wood.

Top Gear America Spotted Filming in Los Angeles:

– By: Omar Rana

Source: Kilometer Magazine (via Jalopnik)

Beijing Auto Show: Maserati GranCabrio 2010

First Look Maserati GranCabrio 2010 at Beijing Auto Show Asia

Beijing Auto Show: Buick Invicta by Inside Line

Buick has dusted off one of its classic nameplates — Invicta — for a new concept luxury vehicle that will be formally unveiled in mid-April at the Beijing auto show.

General Motors says the Invicta was jointly developed at corporate design centers in China and North America — a pattern that could mark the future design direction of the Buick brand, which is expected to share more models between those two markets.

GM says the Invicta showcar continues the thread of the futuristic styling theme introduced last year on the Buick Riviera concept that was displayed at the Shanghai show.

It borrows such signature Buick design cues as the chrome waterfall grille, portholes and “sweepspear” curving line that runs along the vehicle’s flanks.

The Invicta name — Latin for “unconquerable” or “unvanquished” — was used briefly by Buick from 1959-’63 on an uplevel version of the big LeSabre, and was supplanted by the Wildcat.

The Invicta brand also appeared on a series of British cars from 1925-’50, and more recently on a limited-edition British sports car called the S1.
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Japan’s solar sail-powered “space yacht” is all set to launch on May 18.  Ikaros (Interplanetary Kite-Craft Accelerated by Radiation of the Sun) will be the first spacecraft of its kind to attempt to reach deep space.

The craft’s 46-foot sails, outfitted with ultra-thin solar cells, will be steered by mission control from the ground, tweaking the angles to ensure enough of the sun’s rays are hitting the craft to keep it powering on into space.  Other solar-sailed crafts have gone into space, but none have made it beyond orbit.  One reason could be that it’s not a cheap mission.  The JAXA space program has already spent $16 million on this project.

Ikaros will be launched into space by a rocket along with Japan’s first Venus-bound satellite before they separate and Ikaros goes fuel-free for the rest of its journey.

The Planetary Society also has a solar-powered space flight planned for sometime this year.  It will interesting to see how the two fair.

via Popular Science

Idol Radec comes from design trio Scott Barclay, David Hickman, and Nick Thomas. For Fall/Winter 2010, the label looks to a more defined masculine collection that embraces both the outdoors and urban settings. The cold can be battled in style with sherpa lined wool coats, parkas, waistline cut jackets, vests, and large knit sweaters. For a more business or casual look, Idol Radec also has sharp blazers, full suits, khakis, button tops, and more.

Continue reading for more images.

Another design trio managed to hit the nail on the head once again, as the team of Scott Barclay, David Hickman, and Nick Thomas managed to produce an amazing collection for their company Idol Radec. Moving into their third season of production Idol Radec has created their best yet. This Spring collection is the perfect blend of leisure and business, with just the right amount of trendy. Designed for the American man, Idol Radec is definitely for the man who enjoys a J. Crew or Ralph Lauren look, but doesn’t want to be a name brand sell out. This is also a good collection for the skinnier silhouetted male who isn’t juiced up on steroids, like the frat “bros” that some other main stream brands may market to. Since the company is so young their website is on the way, but they do include links to their Myspace page as well.

Killzone 3, Gears of War 3, Mass Effect 3, inFamous 2, LBP 2, Twisted Metal. Need I say more?
 
 
 
 

            U.S. officials at the United Nations and State Department say President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and an Iranian delegation have filed paperwork at the U.S. Embassy in Bern, Switzerland for visas to visit the United States next week.

           The irony is Ahmadinejad wants to attend the Non-Proliferation Treaty review conference hosted by the United Nations, when the U.S. is discussing with members of the Security Council another round of sanctions for Tehran’s nuclear program.

            State Department spokesman PJ Crowley says the applications were filed this morning, and it is expected the visas will be granted.

            “You know, any foreign official who’s coming to the U.N. for official business is normally granted a visa,” Crowley told reporters.

            “Our focus is, should he come, we want to see him play a constructive role in the upcoming NPT (Non-Proliferation Treaty)… review conference,” said Crowley.

            Assuming Ahmadinejad visits New York, don’t expect a one-on-one with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

          “The secretary will have a number of bilaterals when she’s in New York early next week,” the State Department spokesman told reporters. “The Iranian president or foreign minister is not on the schedule.”

Most Beautiful Cars in the world

PhoneDog is hiring, and we want YOU as a part of our News Department!  If you’re passionate about wireless technology and have a penchant for writing, keep reading for more information on how to apply!

Here are the things that you need to know:

• We want individuals who can offer engaging, thoughtful content.
• You must be well-versed in how to utilize periods, commas, and how to spell correctly.  Needless to say, that kind of stuff is essential.
• You must be reliable, responsible, and trustworthy.  The position will require regular research and fact checking, and we’ll be checking your work from time to time as well.  Plagiarism is not acceptable.
• Previous writing/blogging experience is highly desired, but not required.
• A great attitude is essential for the position.

Note: This is not a paid gig at this time, but an opportunity for people who want to break into the online journalism field and/or have a passion for the wireless industry.

Here’s what you need to include in your e-mail:

• Submit three posts in the PhoneDog writing style.  We’re not going to publish them to the website, but we want to get an idea of your writing style and “voice” (i.e. how well you can do this whole tech thing).
• List your top three favorite gadgets/phones (not included in your sample posts), and why you enjoy them.
• Tell us how much time per week you can commit to writing for the website – what days, time blocks, etc.
• Send us any questions that you may have about the position.
• Tell us where you’re located.
• Tell us your age (note: must be 13 or older for consideration).
• Include your contact information and the best time/way to reach you.

A few additional details:

• DO NOT send attachments.  If you do, we’ll ignore the e-mail.
• Check your work prior to sending it.  If u type like thes, your work isn’t going to be considered.
• Don’t send writing from other websites that you’ve worked with in the past.
• PhoneDog is written in English – please make sure your e-mail is too.
• Due to the large volume of e-mails that we receive, we won’t be responding to everyone.  If we’re interested, we’ll get in touch.  If you don’t hear back, it doesn’t mean that you’re a bad writer – we’re just looking for different writing styles.

Send your e-mail to [email protected].  Good luck!

It seems like it’s almost been two weeks since the last Toyota recall, meaning… yep, it’s time to announce another Toyota recall. This time, the car giant has issued a voluntary safety recall on around 50,000 early-2003 Model-Year Toyota Sequoia SUVs to upgrade program logic in its Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) system.

According to Toyota:

The VSC system can help control a loss of traction in turns as a result of front or rear tire slippage during cornering. In vehicles without the upgrade, the VSC system could, in limited situations, activate at low speed (approximately 9 mph) for a few seconds after acceleration from a stopped position and, as a result, the vehicle may not accelerate as quickly as the driver expects. There have been no reported injuries or accidents as a result of this condition.

Toyota says they actually identified this problem during the production run of the 2003 Sequoias and claims that they have “been responding to individual owner concerns by replacing the Skid Control Engine Control Unit (ECU) in Sequoias impacted by this condition.”

While the number of vehicles covered under the recall totals 50,000 Big T says that around half of these Sequoias have already been serviced under warranty.

In late May, Toyota will begin mailing letters to all 2003 Model-Year Sequoia owners included in the recall, including owners of vehicles that have been previously serviced.

If you are the owner of one of these vehicles and had previously paid to replace the Skid Control ECU for this specific condition, you should mail a copy of your repair order, to the following address for reimbursement consideration: Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc., Toyota Customer Experience, WC 10, 19001 South Western Avenue, Torrance, CA 90509.

Detailed information and answers to questions are available to customers at www.toyota.com/recall and at the Toyota Customer Experience Center at 1-800-331-4331

Official Recall Announcement [Toyota.com]

Zagato TZ3, Texas Mile, Project Runningblade

Zagato TZ3 Project Runningblade by Alfa Romeo – Zagato presents Alfa Romeo with a gift… the Zagato TZ3.

A speed record is set at the Texas Mile, and a speed record attempt of a different kind … with Project Runningblade

El Nokia N8 ya es oficial y con él empezaremos a entrever si Symbian 3 puede ser una baza para que la compañía finlandesa dispute el mercado de los “super usuarios del móvil” o esa plaza la delegan finalmente en Meego (anteriormente Maemo) y Symbian queda como el sistema operativo para su gama media. Precio y características hardware del Nokia N8 resultan muy competitivas sobre el papel, aunque nos queda “la prueba del algodón” que Nokia lleva demasiado tiempo sin superar: la experiencia de usuario que son capaces de ofrecer.

Quem passar pela concessionária da Hyundai Caoa no bairro da Berrine em São Paulo (Av. Morumbi, 7554), contará com uma atração especial esta semana. Clientes e visitantes poderão assinar a bola de futebol gigante da FIFA 2010, chamada Good Will Ball, e enviar uma mensagem de otimismo à seleção brasileira da Copa do Mundo. Enquanto a Good Will Ball estiver na loja, quem comprar um veículo Hyundai ganhará uma bola oficial da Copa do Mundo FIFA 2010.

A Good Will Ball ficará exposta de 25 de abril a 02 de maio na Hyundai Caoa Berrine. A atração faz parte das ações de marketing da Hyundai, patrocinadora oficial da Copa do Mundo 2010. A idéia é aproximar os torcedores da seleção brasileira na África do Sul. Mesmo quem não puder viajar ao país africano, poderá se fazer presente por meio de frases e assinaturas.

A marca sul coreana distribuiu para cada país participante uma versão da Good Will Ball. Os países fazem um tour com a bola colhendo autógrafos de celebridades e frases de torcedores para mandar muita energia positiva para a seleção no mundial. No final da campanha todos os países participantes enviarão sua Good Will Ball para a África do Sul. A bola ficará exposta durante todo o evento, junto às bolas de outras nações.

No Brasil, a Good Will Ball foi lançada durante a primeira etapa do Circuito Paulista de Corrida de Aventura, Hyundai Adventure, que aconteceu dia 17 de abril, no Guarujá. Na ocasião, atletas e outros participantes do evento tiveram a oportunidade de assinar a bola gigante e incentivar ainda mais os jogadores da nossa seleção. Até a abertura dos jogos, a bola percorrerá algumas concessionárias e eventos da marca numa enorme onda de energia positiva.

Fonte: promarketingcomunicacao.com

Yikes. You may recall last year there was a lot of news around the announcement that a company called Global Gaming Factory (GGF) had bought The Pirate Bay and was going to turn it into an authorized service. However, a few days later, after seeing an interview with GGF’s CEO Hans Pandeya, we expressed skepticism that the deal would ever get done. Not only did Pandeya seem both clueless about pretty much every detail (while contradicting himself multiple times), he mentioned that the deal hadn’t actually been approved by his shareholders. And, as more and more details came out, it became clear that the deal was totally dead in the water. There were some insider trading charges. Shares of GGF were suspended from trading multiple times. Those brought on to do the deal were bailing out, claiming Pandeya had massive credibility problems, and that the company didn’t actually have the money to make the purchase. Indeed, the money never showed up, Pandeya had his assets frozen by the Swedish government for unpaid taxes, and everyone forgot about GGF.

Yesterday, however, Pandeya magically popped back up — now living in Boston — and apparently running a new company, called Business Marketing Services Inc.. He claimed that he was, once again, buying The Pirate Bay for $10 million, and the story sounded nearly identical to the one last year. It still involved Pandeya, and still involved a totally unworkable plan to make the site an authorized distributor of music. The whole thing was surprising — and even odder if you read that link above, is that the reporter never even mentions the failed sale from last year, or Pandeya’s connection to it. Even Billboard, who you would think would know better, reported on the “announcement” from Pandeya as if it were legit.

If anything, it looks like Pandeya is simply playing the same game again, except at an even more bizarre level. He’s now claiming that GGF actually did buy The Pirate Bay last year (it did not) and that he’s now buying it from GGF. But, of course GGF doesn’t own The Pirate Bay. The Pirate Bay folks are claiming that Pandeya’s claims are a blatant “fraud.” Greg Sandoval has all the details in the link above. Apparently “Business Marketing Services” was an OTC penny stock company that Pandeya somehow bought, which has basically no assets. It was previously owned by a pit boss at a casino and apparently was in the business of selling calendars of women in bikinis — not that it made much money from it. It’s an old trick for a company that wants to appear as a public company but can’t go public. You find some defunct company that is trading as an OTC company and “merge” with them, and suddenly you’re a “public company.” It’s quite frequently used in questionable ways, and it seems like this time is no different.

So, no, The Pirate Bay has not been sold. Pandeya is still making claims he cannot live up to. He’s trying to buy the site from his previous company — whose own stock trading was suspended for questionable activities — but that company never actually bought The Pirate Bay.

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Lamborghini Reventon (Showroom video)

This is the most exclusive, most expensive, and one of the most legendary Lamborghinis to come out of the Lamborghini Factory in Sant’ Agata Italy.

The video shows every square inch of the car, interior, exterior, engine, wheels, etc.

10 out of 20 reside in the U.S.A.

This car is selling for $2.5 Millions USD at Silicon Valley Auto Group in Northern California.

Wondering when Apple‘s next big shindig was gonna go down? Well, you can mark your calendar for June 7th, because that’s when WWDC 2010, the annual Worldwide Developers Conference, takes place. Of course, the highlight of the event will be the keynote that kicks it off, where we fully expect to see the iPhone HD make its official debut (of course, the iPhone 4 has already been unveiled in an unofficial capacity.) Hey, we are even hearing that there may be bits and pieces revealed about the next major Apple operating system. Exciting times, no?

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worldwide developers conference,
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Lindsay Lohan won’t be getting a reprieve from her heavily-rumored cashflow troubles by checking in with Dr. Drew.

The actress — who is reportedly deep in debt after being out of work for nearly a year — pooh-poohed a $1 million offer to appear on VH1’s addiction-centered reality series Celebrity Rehab, Sober House, and a possible third spinoff presently in the works.

While Lindsay’s estranged father Michael and a good portion of her former friends claim the recovering cocaine addict has suffered a relapse, LiLo reportedly passed on the reality offer because she “doesn’t think she has a problem” — and she also doesn’t want to be associated with host Dr. Drew Pinsky.

Dr. Drew’s outspoken comments about the troubled starlet has made the bespectacled specialist the target of many of Lohan’s rants on Twitter. Heather Locklear and Charlie Sheen and his soon-to-be ex-wife Brooke Mueller were also reportedly approached to appear on the show. They also declined.