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The tech media is still very preoccupied with Facebook’s latest privacy debacle, another one in a long line of similar situations with little consequences for the social network. It looks like this will be no different. While a few have, publicly, decided to close their Facebook accounts recently, there are plenty coming in to fil… (read more)

Rumor has it that a new firmware for the PS3 will be coming soon. System Software version 3.40 had reportely been released to developers since late last week.
 
 
 
 

Finalmente y tras varios años de perdidas, General Motors ha vuelto a dar benificios. En concreto, desde el año 2007, GM no ha dado ningún beneficio hasta este primer trimestre de 2010. En concreto, el gigante del automóvil ha ingresado 865 millones de dólares.

Durante el año 2009, registraron 6.000 millones de dólares en perdidas. También debemos mencionar que parte de estos ingresos son debidos a la venta de Saab (123 millones de dólares concretamente).

Parece ser que General Motors se recupera más rápido de lo previsto y podria ofrecer un gran crecimiento económico durante el resto de trimestres de lo que queda de este año.

Related posts:

1. General Motors perdió dinero por cada Saab vendido
2. General Motors da 652 millones de euros a Opel y Vauxhall en concepto de ayudas
3. General Motors venderá Saab a Spyker

Change The Oil In Your automobile. A great video tutorial showing you the basics of car maintenance; that of changing your car’s oil. This simple guide will increase the lifetime value of the automobile. Learn how to carry out the perfect oil change.

Please follow this steps and than check the video guide:

Step 1: Setup

Find level place to work. Let engine run to warm up the oil. Drive car slowly onto the wheel ramps.

Step 2: Brake Wheels

Set parking brake and brace the back wheels.

Step 3: Get Down

Get under car and locate the oil drain plug on oil pan.

Step 4: Position Container & Drain

Lay down old newspapers to protect ground, then position container so it will catch the oil. Then unscrew the oil plug and let it drain into the container. It could take upto one hour to let drain completely. When oild no longer drains, replace the oil plug.

Step 5: Remove Old Oil Filter

Always replace oil filter when changing the oil. Use oil fliter wrench to unscrew. Be careful!! Oil filter contains hot oil. So use the gloves and handle with care.

Step 6: Replace New Oil Filter

Coat the rim of the new filter with new oil. Screw into place, but don’t over tighten.

Step 7: Fill Her Up

Find oil fill cap near engine, then remove. Place funnel into hole. Pour into the proper type and amount, as listed in your car Owner’s Manual. Then check oil by re-inserting and removig the dipstick.

Step 8: Clean Up

Replace the fill cap, carefully dispose of the old oil filter, clean up any excess drippings on the engine or the ground. Don’t forget to dispose of your old oil at the local recycling facility.

(by VideoJug)

Learn how to jack the rear of the car to change its oil as an expert mechanic demonstrates his oil changing technique in this free car maintenance video.

General Motors has announced that the Chevrolet Volt will be capable of utilizing special Google-sourced GPS software from an Android cell phone, which will also work in conjunction with GM’s OnStar service. Together, Volt owners will be able to pinpoint the location of their vehicle on their Android, as well as access turn-by-turn navigation directions.

GM had previously announced that Volt owners will be able to utilize special software from their Android phones, but now they have released details about the ability to pinpoint their vehicle’s location, and relate it to their current location should they be outside of their vehicle.

Google’s Android phone will now feature an extra navigation tab for the Volt mobile app program which when accessed will show the location of their Volt on a Google Map, as well as the user’s current location relative to the car. Once the two locations are established, users can get voice-guided directions back to their Volt via the Google Maps program on the Android mobile phone.

Users can also use a voice command to choose a location that they wish to drive to once returning to the Volt, relay it to the car, and have the the directions ready for the driver once the Volt is started.

(More after video)

GM says that the new advanced features will not be available at launch, but will come later for the 2.0 planned upgrade for the Volt mobile app.

At launch, the following features will be available:
· Charge status display – plugged in or not and voltage (120V or 240V)

· Flexibility to “Charge Now” or schedule charge timing

· Display percentage of battery charge level, electric and total ranges

· Ability to manually set grid-friendly charge mode for off-peak times when electricity rates are lowest

· Send text or email notifications for charge reminders, interruptions and full charge

· Display miles per gallon, electric only miles, and odometer readings

· Shows miles per gallon, EV miles and miles driven for last trip and lifetime

· Remotely start the vehicle to pre-condition the interior temperature

   

Source: Leftlane

Thank God they were safe! Ashley Olsen was onboard on a United Airlines jet that needed to make an emergency landing after a fire broke out in the cockpit. E! online reports that  the jetliner made an emergency landing at Washington Dulles International Airport.

Olsen was among the 100 passengers of the Los Angeles bound plane. She was with her boyfriend, Justin Bartha, who starred as the groom in “The Hangover.” “Californication” actress Pamela Adlon was also aboard with Jarrod Spector who is the publicist for the Broadway show “Jersey Boys”, as confirmed by Entertainment Tonight.

The plane made an emergency landing at D.C.-area airport because a passenger reported smelling something burning, and saw a crew member carrying a fire extinguisher to the cockpit. Many were alarmed but instead of worrying, they took pictures of the flames in the cockpit. It was good that no one was harmed. FAA spokeswoman Holly Baker confirmed to The Washington Post that a small fire broke out in the cockpit. She said the fire was contained before the Boeing 757 carrying 105 passengers and seven crew members landed. She said no criminal action was suspected. Passenger Phil Lobel told The Associated Press that flight attendants went over emergency instructions with passengers in the exit rows. Half-dozen emergency vehicles were waiting on the tarmac when the plane touched down, he said.

The National Transportation Safety Board spokesman Keith Holloway said Monday the board has assigned three people to investigate the case. He said they will be examining the cockpit to determine the cause of the fire.

No related posts.

En Spotify anuncian dos nuevas modalidades alternativas a las actuales: de pago por un precio de 5 euros (pero sin el soporte offline y la versión para móviles que sí ofrecen en la de nueve euros) y gratis sin necesidad de invitación, con limitación en este caso de 20 horas como máximo de escucha semanales. Muchos están interpretando que esta limitación en el tiempo de consumo de Spotify se aplicará a todos los usuarios gratuitos, pero tal como están explicando en los comentarios del post anuncio, la versión “Free” (la de los usuarios que han recibido invitación) se mantiene inalterada y las 20 horas sólo aplican a la nueva modalidad “Open” que es de registro abierto a todo el mundo.

Tras las nuevas modalidades de Spotify parece que tenemos un esfuerzo importante por aumentar la base de usuarios que pagan frente a los que lo utilizan gratis con publicidad. Limitar el número de horas cuando éstas añaden ingresos por aumentar el stock de “minutos de publicidad” tiene sentido sólo si lo que se quiere empujar es que la gente se suscriba, algo que refuerzan con una nueva modalidad más asequible, a mitad de precio si sólo lo usamos en el ordenador. En todo caso creo que están dando una pista clara de la viabilidad de Spotify pasa por el pago o, al menos, un mayor porcentaje de usuarios que pase por caja.

Relacionados: Spotify y los límites de la nueva revolución musical, Spotify social con Facebook: buscando ser el interfaz entre usuario y la música.

European car sales were down 7.4 percent for the month of April, 2010, compared to the same time last year. It’s the first fall in ten months for the European car market, which has so far showed itself to be quite robust in the face of the international economic crisis. Germany’s market was hit particularly hard, with a decline of 31.7 percent, while the UK and France were up 11.5 and 1.9 percent, respectively.

Of the car companies, the largest decrease in sales was registered by Fiat, with a decline of 27.3 percent, followed by Toyota (down 20.7 percent), General Motors (19.1) and Ford (down 13 percent). Volkswagen managed to keep its losses to less 7.4 percent, while some brands were lucky enough to record gains: Renault (up 8.7 percent), BMW (up 13.1 percent) and Nissan (up 38.3 percent).

April European car sales

As we expected, Apple has refreshed its solitary plastic MacBook (favored by cheap-ass students), bumping it from 2.26GHz to 2.4GHz. Hard drive capacity is the same as last October’s refresh, but the real story is the extra three hours’ battery-life. More »










Apple – MacBook – Macintosh – Hardware – MacBook Air

A legend from the world of music, Ronnie James Dio, the singer who delivered heavy metal music to its listeners and the replacement for Ozzy Osbourne in Black Sabbath, leaving his memories behind and music listeners sad, died at the age of 67. His wife and manager, Wendy Dio, made the news public as she posted on Dio’s official website. No official word on the cause of death was recorded, but quite a few sources linked his death with the stomach cancer which was diagnosed earlier.

“Today my heart is broken. Many, many friends and family were able to say their private goodbyes before he peacefully passed away.”, told her wife in a statement on the website.
Ronnie James Dio acted as a replacement for Osbourne in Black Sabbath in the year 1979. The band which had been falling on the charts, was given a brand new look as the latest album, “Heaven and Hell” sold over 1 million copies. In 1981 he left the band to form Dio but later marked his return in the 1990s.
Dio born on July 10, 1942, started his career with a local band called ‘Vegas Kings’. Later joining a band called ‘Rainbow’ in 1975, his career made a jump start from where his name got known.

No related posts.

RM Auctions believes it has just sold the world’s most coveted car – a rare 1963 Ferrari 250 GTO. The marque (chassis no. 4675 GT), in unmistakable Ferrari red and with the prancing horses emblazoned on the hood, has an excellent pedigree. One of only 36 250 GTOs originally produced and one of a limited few with Series II GTO bodywork, it left the factory in April 1963 and was subsequently raced by Guido Fossati, Jean Guichet, Oddone Sigala, Vincenzo Nember and Luigi Taramazzo, rarely finishing outside the top three in its class and achieving numerous race wins…
Continue Reading The world’s most coveted automobile finds a new home

Tags: Auction,
Ferrari

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The Google I/O 2010 developer conference is upon us and there are plenty of big announcements scheduled for the two-day conference, most of which we don’t know about. One new feature that Google has now confirmed after it inadvertently got out is the Google Feed API 2.0. The Feed API enables users to embed a syndicated feed … (read more)

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has opened an investigation into a potentially leaky fuel-tank problem with the 2004 Chevrolet Corvette.

The investigation was launched on May 12 and covers an estimated 33,000 Corvettes.

There have been 30 reports from consumers alleging either leaking liquid or fuel vapor coming from a tank, NHTSA said. In 12 of the incidents, the tank was replaced or identified as the source of the leak. Corvettes have two fuel tanks.

There have been no accidents or injuries associated with the problem, General Motors spokesman Alan Adler told AW. He said GM has received notice and will comply with the investigation, which is an early step in determining whether a recall could be required. It could also result in closing the investigation.

For more

Source: Car news, reviews and auto show stories

General Motors gave a fitting send-off to now-retired vice chairman Bob Lutz on Tuesday in Detroit.

Lutz officially hung it up on April 30 after more than five decades in the auto business. He was most recently an adviser and served an extended stint as GM’s product boss. He also was briefly in charge of marketing last year after coming back from retirement following the company’s successful emergence from bankruptcy.

GM saluted the 78-year-old legend with tributes at its headquarters in the Renaissance Center in downtown Detroit and at the Warren Tech Center, the heart of its global product operation.

Lutz, wearing a suit and a yellow tie–and his GM identification badge–shared some remarks with the crowd. North American president Mark Reuss also was in attendance.

Lutz was vice chairman and president of Chrysler Corp., leaving after being passed over for the top job there, and was a ranking executive at Ford and at BMW.

During the summers, the retired Marine Corp. fighter pilot could been seen at shows judging classic cars as he chomped on a cigar.

For more

Source: Car news, reviews and auto show stories

The Opel tuning specialists at Steinmetz have unveiled a new package for the 2010 Opel Astra J. In desperate need of a refined look, the tuners hooked it up with several aerodynamic parts including a new front spoiler, blacked out grille, and rear roof spoiler that flows with the styling lines. Enhancing the exterior look are stainless steel strips in silver and anthracite to cover the door handles and sides. Giving the Opel Astra J a sportier look is the suspension lowering kit to drop the car 30 mm closer to the ground. For the wheels, Steinmetz offers two styles, a ST10 and ST7 which both measure 19×8.5 inches.

The custom Steinmetz wheels come wrapped in 235/35R19 high performance Continental or Michelin tires, and then the tuning firm started on the interior of the Opel Astra J. Inside you will find a Steinmetz developed gear display which shows the drive gear in any color the customer chooses. The tuners then added new floor mats with a stainless steel logo, and sill trims made of polished stainless steel.

[Source: Steinmetz]

Source: Fancy Tuning – the latest car tuning news

Meet the next-gen grave, or “genesis biopod,” as creator Jack Hokanson calls it. It’s a pod containing the cremated remains inside a dissolvable bag. Mere minutes after being tossed into the waves it dissolves, creating a plaything for curious sea-creatures. More »










Davy Jones – England – Video game – Games – Simulation

Michael Thornton of Alpha Protocol sure likes to get down and dirty. During his spare time, he travels around the world to exotic places and kills off people.
 
 
 
 

The legendary perception researcher Richard Gregory has passed away and science is certainly the worse off for his departure.

As a student he worked with the great Frederic Bartlett and later became one of the most influential researchers in perception. He was key in demonstrating that expectations and prior experience have a ‘top down’ influence and that perceptions are often just best guesses or hypotheses about the world.

His liberal use of visual illusions demonstrated this in an instantly graspable way, making his explanations clear and immediate, and he was the first to study the perceptual effects of having lifelong cataracts removed.

Previously it was thought that perception was largely ‘all there’ during early childhood, but the fact that people who had the operation as adults couldn’t distinguish objects from each other, for example, suggested that the developing visual system learns many assumptions essential to making sense of the world.

His book Eye and Brain has probably been read by virtually every undergraduate over the last 30 years and he co-founded the Experimental Psychology Society in the UK to promote psychological science at the highest level.

There is a fantastic interview series from The Wellcome Trust where he discusses the history of perception psychology which you can watch in full on YouTube if you want to get a handle on the breadth of his knowledge.

Gregory was also a keen promoter of science education and founded The Exploratory, the first ‘hands on’ science museum in the UK, where children and adults could get their hands dirty and see scientific principles in action.

It’s also worth saying that he was a very approachable and gentlemanly character. A previous Mind Hacks post, on the fact that he was in discussion with film director Roman Polanksi to make a 3D horror movie earlier in his career was prompted by Gregory himself after I had the pleasure of chatting to him at a science event and he mentioned the curious incident.

From what I can make out, his first publication listed on PubMed is from 1957 and his last is from 2010 – appropriately titled ‘Is it more fun to be an artist or a scientist?’.

Link to obituary for Richard Gregory from UCL.
Link to Gregory interview on the history of perception science.

With increasing numbers of people accessing the Internet on mobile devices there is a call for a quick, easy way to sort locally relevant content from the mountain of data residing on the Internet. To address this need HP is dipping its toes in the geo-tagging waters with Gloe – a concept service that allows users to find, recommend and contribute locally relevant web content on mobile devices. ..
Continue Reading HP Labs geo-tagging experiment is good to Gloe

Tags: Concept,
geo-tagging,
HP

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Please check the following YouTube video regarding a comparation between some expensive and attractive SUVs. Land Rover LR4 versus Lexus GX 460 and Mercedes GL450.