Monthly Archives: June 2015

Shelby GT350 5.2L Flat-Plane V8 makes 526hp and 429 lb-ft of torque

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After playing coy about exactly how much power the new flat-plane crank V8 engine under the hood of the Shelby GT350 Mustang would make for a long time, Ford has finally gone official with the power numbers. Previously Ford had teased that the V8 would make over 100 hp per liter, but that’s all we knew and fans of the Mustang have been waiting to hear the official numbers.

The wait is over with Ford announcing that the 5.2L V8 in the GT350 makes 526hp and 429 lb-ft of torque. The most impressive part about the GT350 is that the engine makes that much power and torque without resorting to a supercharger. Only a few model years ago when the 4.6L V8 was under the hood of the V8 if you wanted this much power you needed a big supercharger.
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Lenovo Z41, Z51, Ideapad 100: laptops for diverse users

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Lenovo just held its Lenovo Tech World, its first ever global event in Beijing, and there it unveiled three new laptops to fill up its shelves. Realizing that there is really no one size fits all when it comes to diverse laptop users, Lenovo revealed two sets to try to appeal to two broad groups. The Ideapad 100, which comes in 14 and 15 inch sizes, caters to those who mostly consume content, with a bit of office productivity on the side, while the Z41 and Z51 would sing to those who create them.
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https://www.slashgear.com/lenovo-z41-z51-ideapad-100-laptops-for-diverse-users-27385357/

Dell

Dell’s new Inspiron computers cover all sizes and forms

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One size doesn’t fit all when it comes to computers, which is whyDell is outing not just one, not two, and not even just three products at Computex. Spanning laptops, 2-in-1 convertibles, all-in-one desktops, and other computers of different shapes and sizes, Dell is announcing a new line of Inspiron PCs to cater to every need and every want. Going beyond just size and form, Dell’s new computers offer multiple choices of processors and configurations, letting consumers customize their purchase even further to fit their work and their lifestyle.

Dell’s new Inpsiron 5000 series laptops offer more space than your conventional 13.3 inch laptop, which isn’t surprising since it comes in 14, 15, and 17 inch models. The 15 and 17 inch ones come with a Full HD 1080p screen while HD displays are available on the 14 inch and a 15 inch variant.
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https://www.slashgear.com/dells-new-inspiron-computers-cover-all-sizes-and-forms-03386462/

ASUS EeeBook E403SA promises 12 hours of video streaming per charge

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ASUS has unveiled its new EeeBook E403SA notebook that is designed to be a thin and lightweight performer. The notebook has an aluminum design that looks a lot like something Apple would make. One of the biggest features for the notebook is long battery life; ASUS claims that the EeeBook can last for 13 hours per charge when streaming video full time.

ASUS also fits the machine with its ASUS Splendid Technology to enhance images with deeper and richer colors. The notebook is 0.7″ thick and tips the scales at a bit over three pounds. The screen is a 14-inch unit and the processor under the hood is an Intel Pentium unit. The processor is mated with 2GB of RAM and a 32GB EMMC hard drive. ASUS will ship the EeeBook E403SA in Q3 for a price of $299.
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https://www.slashgear.com/asus-eeebook-e403sa-promises-12-hours-of-video-streaming-per-charge-01386079/

Samsung-Galaxy-Tab-S2

Galaxy Tab S2 seen at TENAA, FCC, could win thinnest title

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When it comes to Samsung’s products, much of the mobile world’s attention may have been lavished on its flagship, mostly because that’s both the most recent and so far the most notable. It has been quite a while since the Korean manufacturer put out anything that can be considered “innovative” when it comes to the tablet category. That, however, may soon change with the coming of the Galaxy Tab S2, which might be very well be successful in claiming the title of the world’s thinnest slate.

Its predecessor, the Galaxy Tab S, was quite grand. Back then, it was the slimmest of Samsung’s tablet roster, at only 6.6 mm thin. Bulk of the emphasis was put on the Super AMOLED display, which boasted of a resolution of 2560×1600 pixels, a rarity in mid-2014.
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Nextbook Flexx Windows tablets offer 11.6 and 10.1-inch sizes

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E Fun has unveiled some new tablets for mobile users that are looking for a tablet that has lightweight portability with a removable keyboard for easy typing. The new machines are the Nextbook Flexx 11 and the Flexx 10 and both are 2-in-1 tablets with keyboards that can be removed when not needed. With the keyboard attached, they are notebook-like in their performance.

Both of these new convertible tablets are heading to Walmart and the big feature of the tablets is an affordable price more than anything else. The Flexx 11 will retail for $227 and the Flexx 10 will retail for $178. Both of the tablets will come with Windows 8 pre-installed and will be eligible for free Windows 10 upgrades starting on July 29.
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https://www.slashgear.com/nextbook-flexx-windows-tablets-offer-11-6-and-10-1-inch-sizes-03386523/

Amazon-Fire-Tablet-Family-large

Amazon announces Fire HD Kids Edition in the UK

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It’s been a while since we’ve last seen a mobile device that caters to the very young so it’s mildly surprising to see Amazon make such an announcement in the middle of the year. The Fire HD Kids Edition is advertised to be a tablet designed with kids in mind from the ground up, though it’s actually a Fire HD 6 just flooded with kid-friendly apps and features. As such, kids will be treated to a “real” Amazon-flavored Android tablet, which means parents can probably use them as well when the little ones are asleep.

Amazon says that kids want a real tablet and not a dumbed down toy, though it’s debatable if these kids will actually be able to tell the difference. Regardless, the Fire HD 6 Kids Edition is a pretty decent mid-range slate. The “HD” refers to the 1280×800 pixel resolution while the “6” in the base model is for the 6-inch display.
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Pebble points finger at Apple in app delay issues

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If you’re a Pebble user, you’re likely aware that the smartwatch company has a bit of an app delay happening in regards to its iOS offerings, and users are starting to get rowdy about it. The Pebble Time app for the iPhone has been delayed, and the company issued a statement about it today, putting the blame on Apple for delaying the review process. Says the company, the app’s in-review status “pains us as much it does backers with watches ready to set up”, and now it is encouraging its customers to contact Apple themselves to try to get the ball rolling.

The reason for the delay hasn’t been given, and Pebble hasn’t released whether it has received any communication from Apple on the issue. The company did, however, write out a timeline of the events and posted a screenshot to complement it. In it we see that the Pebble Time Watch app was approved by Apple on May 18.
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Aston Martin CEO says future will include hybrid model

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Andy Palmer, CEO of Aston Martin, says the future of the British luxury car maker will likely include the release of a hybrid model. This wasn’t a confirmation that something is already in the works, but rather an acknowledgement that hybrids and electric vehicles are the eventuality of all cars, and at some point it will be Aston Martin’s turn. The exec shared his thoughts with Autocar last month at the 2015 Nürburgring 24 Hour endurance race in Germany.

Palmer explained that as time goes on, cars can only be downsized and made more efficient by so much, so hybrids are inevitable. “I’d rather put a hybrid in there than an in-line four-cylinder,” he added. When it comes to a great sports car, he believes “Power, Beauty, [and] Soul” doesn’t have to exclusively mean a gasoline engine. “It just needs to be really powerful, really beautiful and set your heart on fire.”
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google_car_prototype_december_2014-1728x800_c

Google reports self-driving car accident #12

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Google has revealed that one of its self-driving cars has been involved in a vehicular accident, though it was not the fault of the autonomous car — rather, a person-driven vehicle rear ended one of Google’s self driving cars while it was stopped at a red light. Concerns about the safety of driverless cars has been around for a long time — far longer than current self-driving car efforts —- and some view incidents like this with a knee-jerk reaction. Still, of the driverless car incidents that have been reported, very few are the fault of the car itself.

This makes accident #12 for Google’s self-driving cars, of which the company recently revealed that there had been 11 accidents with its autonomous vehicles over more than half a decade. Google hasn’t released records about the accident, but has made a lengthy statement on them, largely pointing toward minor scuffles and human effort.
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https://www.slashgear.com/google-reports-self-driving-car-accident-12-03386671/

Meizu m2 note has an odd mBack home button, dual SIM tray

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When you speak of Chinese smartphone OEMs, Meizu might only be at the third or fourth of the list. But that isn’t stopping it it from trying to break into the market with memorable devices. The Meizu m2 note still pretty much looks like a large iPhone 5c, now with a tinge of iPhone 6, and differs very little from the m1 note announcedjust 6 months ago. It does, however, have a few tricks up its sleeves, or under the cover in this case, that could at least make the smartphone a tad more interesting.

The first is what Meizu calls the mBack home button. Previous teasers of this “home button revolution” inspired talk of a fingerprint sensor, which didn’t come to pass. Instead, you have touch-sensitive button that behaves differently depending on how hard you press it. With a soft touch, it acts like a back button.
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https://www.slashgear.com/meizu-m2-note-has-an-odd-mback-home-button-dual-sim-tray-02386266/

“Seacrest Out” as BlackBerry kills Typo iPhone keyboard“Seacrest Out” as BlackBerry kills Typo iPhone keyboard

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BlackBerry and Typo have settled over Ryan Seacrest’s snap-on iPhone keyboard, but it’s probably not what the American Idol host hoped for. The contentious accessory promised BlackBerry Classic-style text entry for Apple’s smartphone, catering to those who wanted to jump to iOS but couldn’t resist the tactile allure of a physical ‘board. Unfortunately, BlackBerry has effectively litigated the gadget out of smartphone relevance.

According to the terms of the settlement, Typo will immediately cease selling any of its keyboards intended for smartphones with 7.9-inch screens or smaller. The block covers any future versions Typo had in the pipeline, too.
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Meizu MX4 Ubuntu smartphone Euro pricing and availability announced

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If neither Android or iOS tickle your fancy when it comes to smartphones and Windows Phone is still too mainstream for you, there are other options. In fact, Meizu has a smartphone called the MX4 that runs Ubuntu Phone OS, which will make fans of Ubuntu positively giddy. Details on the European launch of the smartphone have now surfaced and the device will land in Europe this month.

The official launch date is still a mystery, but the Meizu MX4 Ubuntu is tipped to launch in the middle of June. The launch of the MX4 Ubuntu in Europe will mark the first time that Meizu has sold devices directly to European customers.
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https://www.slashgear.com/meizu-mx4-ubuntu-smartphone-euro-pricing-and-availability-announced-02386282/

ShenQi’s Chen Xudong is new Lenovo, Motorola mobile chief

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Changes in high ranking positions aren’t always good. Unexplained changes in high ranking positions are even more suspicious. Given the suddenness of the move and the circumstances revolving around it, Lenovo’s announcement that mobile business head andMotorola Mobility chair Liu Jun is stepping down is sure to raise a few eyebrows. In his stead will be Chen Xudong who leads Lenovo’s ShenQi, another and separate smartphone unit in China that sells devices online. All of these just after Lenovo’s rather positive performance in the smartphone market.

The company’s recent earnings report revealed its smartphone shipments surpassing its PC business for the first time, which is quite telling if you’re the world’s largest PC maker. But while its smartphone business did well in isolation, it alone couldn’t boost Lenovo’s overall revenues.
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https://www.slashgear.com/shenqis-chen-xudong-is-new-lenovo-motorola-mobile-chief-02386262/

Toyota weighs Ford’s open-source CarPlay rival

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Toyota is tinkering with Ford’s open-source dashboard software, the tech that allows smartphone apps to hook up to car infotainment systems. The Japanese firm announced today that SmartDeviceLink (SDL) “is being studied” for its potential inclusion in future cars; if adopted, it would mean compatible apps could work with cars across Ford, Toyota, and Lexus’ ranges, tapping into voice control, steering wheel buttons, and whatever touchscreens are embedded.

Ford itself uses SDL as the basis of its AppLink system. By hooking a smartphone up to SYNC-equipped cars, apps like Pandora, Spotify, and Glympse can be displayed on the dashboard and controlled via the vehicle’s own interfaces.
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https://www.slashgear.com/toyota-weighs-fords-open-source-carplay-rival-03386543/

Huawei

Huawei’s $250 P8 lite wants to kill subsidies: Hands-on

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Huawei isn’t first to think it can coax America off its smartphone subsidy addiction, but the new P8 lite is more than an also-ran in unlocked devices. Launching today as the pared-back – and thus more affordable – sibling to the Huawei P8, the P8 lite carries a $249.99 price tag but hits that with no need for carrier financing or any sort of minimum contract: just slot in the AT&T or T-Mobile USA SIM card of your choice. With a tag like that, though, you know Huawei had to trim some of the tech.

So, you get a 5-inch display, but it’s running at 1280 x 720 resolution rather than the 1080p or Quad HD we’re seeing in recent high-end phones. The processor is an octa-core, too, but it’s Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 615 (the 1.5GHz MSM8939, to be exact) rather than something from the top-tier 8xx series.
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https://www.slashgear.com/huaweis-250-p8-lite-wants-to-kill-subsidies-hands-on-03386445/

Magic Leap opens its augmented reality platform to developers

Magic Leap opens its augmented reality platform to developers

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Magic Leap’s vision for the future of augmented reality is mind-blowing. However, the mysterious startup, which Google backed with a hefty cash investment, knows this won’t be possible without support from third-party developers. That’s why it plans to open upits AR platform to content creators, including those who make games, films and more.

Today’s announcement took place at MIT’s EmTech Digital conference, where CEO Rony Abovitz and other members of Magic Leap’s team took the stage to reveal their intentions. The SDK is expected to support both the Unreal and Unity gaming engines, which signals a good start. If you’re a developer interested in gaining access to these tools, you can register now via the company’s website.
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https://www.engadget.com/2015/06/02/magic-leap-augmented-reality-platform/

Blizzard's 'Heroes of the Storm' officially launches today

Blizzard’s ‘Heroes of the Storm’ officially launches today

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You’re entirely forgiven if you thought that Blizzard’s take on the MOBA genre (or multiplayer online battle arena if you aren’t into the whole brevity thing), Heroes of the Storm was already released. What, with the massive beta and equally sizable ad campaign that’s taken over late-night TV recently that’s perfectly understandable.

However, the official release is actually today, and with it comes a commemorative in-game portrait and experience-point boosts for those playing for this first week and the first three weeks, respectively. In case you haven’t given it a go yet and are curious what it looks like when Starcraft characters duke it out with those from Warcraft, there’s really not much stopping you from at least giving it a try. The game is free to download and play, after all. And who knows, if you dig it you could be the next hero of the dorm.
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https://www.engadget.com/2015/06/02/heroes-of-the-storm-out-today/

The Apple Watch as a fitness device (as written by a runner)

The Apple Watch as a fitness device (as written by a runner)

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I was supposed to review the Apple Watch. That was the plan, but then, when Engadget had its first chance to test the device, I was on vacation. Specifically, I was in France, where I ran the Paris Marathon, my sixth 26.2-mile race in five years. As it happens, our Editor-in-Chief Michael wrote a fair, thorough review on his own, and he cut a fine figure in that stop-motion walkthrough video, too. If there’s one thing he didn’t go into detail on, though, it was the Apple Watch’s performance as a fitness device. Some background there: Michael is one of those naturally skinny people with a stupidly fast metabolism who doesn’t need to work out to stay trim. Which is a good thing, because he hates working out. That’s why, when I finally had the chance to try out the Apple Watch myself (a $649 stainless steel model), I chose to focus on its abilities as a fitness gadget — a fitting decision, considering my running habit was what kept me from reviewing the watch in the first place.
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https://www.engadget.com/2015/06/02/the-apple-watch-as-a-fitness-device/

Logitech Harmony remote is now compatible with PS4

Logitech Harmony remote is now compatible with PS4

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Logitech announced that it’s Harmony remote control system will now be able to control your PS4. This is a welcome relief to many PS4 users as the DualShock 4 controllers are fine for gaming, but inconvenient when using the PS4 as a media hub, which many users do. Just about every PS4 feature can now be controlled from any controllers from Logitech’s Harmony Ultimate Hub system, which includes a smart keyboard, smartphone app, and conventionally shaped remote control.
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https://www.slashgear.com/logitech-harmony-remote-is-now-compatible-with-ps4-02386460/

MSI intros new cameras at Computex 2015

MSI intros new cameras at Computex 2015

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MSI has a few new cameras to show off at Computex 2015, and while it’s going easy on the details for now, we do have a look at the various devices and a general idea of what each one provides. There’s the Cubecam, to start with, which looks like a distinct competitor to Polaroid’s Cube camera. There’s also a camera that brings with it a bunch of embedded infrared LEDs, allowing for use in dim and dark settings; and, finally, there’s a high resolution IP camera with support for Android and iOS devices.
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https://www.slashgear.com/msi-intros-new-cameras-at-computex-2015-02386417/

Apple data center chlorine leak leaves 5 sick

Apple data center chlorine leak leaves 5 sick

Wearables,

Apple has had another incident, it is being reported, this one following the fire that happened in the recent past. This time around the company is said to have suffered a chlorine leak that has left five people injured at one of its data centers in Maiden, North Carolina. The incident happened on Monday at about 2:30 PM, and resulted in hazmat crews being deployed on the scene. Those who were injured were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.
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https://www.slashgear.com/apple-data-center-chlorine-leak-leaves-5-sick-02386413/

Facebook opens Paris-based AI research lab

Facebook opens Paris-based AI research lab

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Facebook has plans to open a research lab focusing on artificial intelligence in Paris, France, it has been revealed. This will give the social network access to Europe’s artificial intelligence talent, and will further Facebook’s own AI efforts spanning multiple aspects of the technology — everything from analyzing text to recognizing speech, and a whole lot of similar things between. A bunch of specialists in the field have already been hired, and there are said to be plans in place to bring in even more talent.
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https://www.slashgear.com/facebook-opens-paris-based-ai-research-lab-02386379/

Infinite Crisis has a finite crisis, closing in August

Infinite Crisis has a finite crisis, closing in August

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Late have we known you, DC’s Infinite Crisis MOBA, which turns out isn’t anywhere near “infinite” at all. The multiplayer online battle arena adaptation of DC’s comics universe arc of the same name hasn’t even been in the market for a year and now it is announcing that an anniversary ain’t going to happen at all. Infinite Crisis now has a finite deadline and Turbine and Warner Bros., who handle the development of the game, will be shutting down servers on August 14 this year.
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https://www.slashgear.com/infinite-crisis-has-a-finite-crisis-closing-in-august-02386440/

ASUS ZenFone 2 Review: A real Mid-range Smartphone Kick in the Pants

ASUS ZenFone 2 Review: A real Mid-range Smartphone Kick in the Pants

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It’s time to get a handle on ASUS’ best effort in the affordable smartphone space yet. This is the ASUS ZenFone 2, and it’s more than ready to take on the rest of the unlocked, low-cost, high value smartphone space. This device isn’t mean to take on the $600 phone market. It’s not meant to be pitted up against your Galaxies and your HTC ones. Instead, this is a warrior taking on the often forgotten “I just bought a new phone and didn’t need to tie myself down to a 2-year contract or sell a kidney” crowd.

ASUS knows this market exists, and they’ve tossed a real winner into the fray. ASUS is fully aware that there’s a market right here in the Android Community – one that wants an affordable smartphone, off-contract, unlocked, and maybe even ready to work with Windows PC connectivity beyond the basics.
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https://www.slashgear.com/asus-zenfone-2-review-a-real-mid-range-smartphone-kick-in-the-pants-02386242/

Uber hit with another harassment case in New Delhi

Uber hit with another harassment case in New Delhi

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Another sexual harassment case involving Uber has surfaced in New Delhi, where a driver for the ridesharing service has been arrested for allegedly kissing a rider’s hand, then attempting to kiss her on the mouth, at which point she ran away. The driver who has been accused, Vinod Kumar, reportedly has been driving with Uber since May 4, and was arrested following a preliminary probe into the claims. According to an unnamed police official, the driver “is in police custody and” is being questioned about the matter.
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https://www.slashgear.com/uber-hit-with-another-harassment-case-in-new-delhi-02386361/

Volvo On Call smart app to be accessible via Apple Watch

Volvo On Call smart app to be accessible via Apple Watch

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Volvo has announced that it will be launching a new version of its Volvo On Call smart app. The app is designed to provide owners with seamless connectivity to their wearable devices including the Apple Watch and Android Wear devices. With the connectivity to the car via the updates app, drivers will be able to control settings, unlock and lock doors, and use other Volvo services.

The app will also provide a full iPad user interface and users on Windows Phone will be able to take advantage of what the updated app offers as well. Windows Phone users will get full voice control via Cortana.
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Virginia opens roads to self-driving cars

Virginia opens roads to self-driving cars

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Self-driving cars have some new public roads to play on, with Virginia opening up over 70 miles for autonomous vehicles to test their real-world skills. Dubbed the Virginia Automated Corridors, the combination of highways, arterial roads, and urban streets together represent a microcosm of the sort of conditions self-driving cars will face once the inevitable broad-scale deployment takes place, tapping into HD maps from HERE and vehicle-to-vehicle communication tech.

While most of the major car companies, along with other big names like Google, are working on autonomous vehicle technologies, there’s a big difference between what works in the lab and what works out on the road. Factors like worn road-markings, inconsistent signage, and confusing temporary changes to the layout such as during construction could all throw a computerized car off its tracks.
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This is the Incredible Hulk Galaxy S6

This is the Incredible Hulk Galaxy S6

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What you’re about to see is not another Avengers Edition Galaxy S6 from Samsung. Instead, it’s the Samsung Galaxy S6 with a SkinIt skin on it, straight from their newest Marvel Comics collection. Much like we saw with the Spider-Man skin for the MacBook Pro, this release has a comic cover retro-fitted – or future-fitted – onto the Samsung smartphone. This device is the same Galaxy S6 you’ve seen in our full Samsung Galaxy S6 / Edge review, only now it’s far more Hulk-ified and super strange.

Unlike our review of the R2-D2 skin for the Galaxy S6 Edge, the folks at SkinIt didn’t have quite so odd a time fitting this skin to a flat phone. This phone is fairly straightforward when it comes to level glass.
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https://www.slashgear.com/this-is-the-incredible-hulk-galaxy-s6-01386175/

Harley Davidson’s e-bike plans are low on juice

Harley Davidson’s e-bike plans are low on juice

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Don’t hold your breath for Harley Davidson’s electric motorcycle, with the battery-powered LiveWire on hold until powertrain tech catches up. The eco-friendly bike was revealed to no small degree of interest a year ago, with the iconic firm taking it on a tour of the US and Europe to gage potential interest among riders. According to Harley the LiveWire is still on the roadmap, but right now neither the price nor the battery technology are ready for the mass market.
The issue is expected range, Matt Levatich, CEO of Harley Davidson, told Marketwire. After taking around 36 of the bikes around different cities, giving approximately 6,800 test rides to fans and dealers, the feedback was that riders would expect at least 100 miles of range from a single charge.
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https://www.slashgear.com/harley-davidsons-e-bike-plans-are-low-on-juice-01386168/