Monthly Archives: June 2015

Beaches and bush: Australian roadtrip in the Holden Calais-V Sportwagon

Beaches and bush: Australian roadtrip in the Holden Calais-V Sportwagon

Cars, , , , , ,

Behind the wheel of a Holden Calais-V Sportwagon, the road twists through deep green foliage, and I think this would be a perfect time to test the car’s handling. But no, I keep it under 50 kilometers per hour because a sign warns about kangaroos bounding across the road.

If it isn’t clear from the previous, I’m driving in Australia, taking the top end of the Holden Commodore model line on a drive from Sydney to Melbourne.

Australia’s native automaker, Holden’s history goes back more than a century, as long as any of the other big, global automakers. However, GM absorbed Holden in 1931, making the division its face in Australia and some Asian markets. Some models branded as Chevrolets in the US, such as the Spark and Captiva, show up in Australia with the Holden badge, while Holden’s Commodore has come to the US in various forms, most recently the Chevrolet SS.
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https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/reviews/2015-holden-commodore-calais-v-preview/

Forget the specs, the 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata is the embodiment of driving joy

Forget the specs, the 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata is the embodiment of driving joy

Cars, , , , , ,

In a word, the 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata is “playful.” My 24 hour stint behind the wheel of the all-new fourth-generation roadster revealed that Mazda is less concerned with all out performance and more focused on delivering a unique and engaging driving experience. Despite the roadster’s weekend racing pedigree, Mazda approaches the new Miata as a road car first and builds its experience around delivering the sensation of speed.

You might notice, for example, that the MX-5’s ride is a bit more compliant than your average sport compact’s “track tuned” suspension. The softer setup lets the suspension to absorb mid-corner bumps with grace and allows a bit of body roll when cornering. That roll gives the driver the sensation of carving corners at any speed and helps the driver to feel how hard they’re pushing the car around a bend. This feel helps make the roadster more predictable, which builds confidence and encourages more speed.
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https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/reviews/2016-mazda-mx-5-miata-review/

ASUS debuts Zen AiO all-in-one with USB 3.1, RealSense 3D camera

ASUS debuts Zen AiO all-in-one with USB 3.1, RealSense 3D camera

Computers & IT, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

ASUS has just announced its first all-in-one desktop PC to be included in their Zen line of premium products: the 23.8-inch Zen AiO (Z240IC), boasting both USB 3.1 connectivity and Intel’s RealSense 3D camera technology. There is also a 21.5-inch model Zen AiO (Z220IC), which leaves out the RealSense. Both models feature a design that’s right out of Apple’s iMac design book, with an aluminum unibody that tapers down to only 6mm thick on the edges, and a display behind edge-to-edge glass.

Meanwhile, inside the “Icicle Gold” colored aluminum shell, specs will top out with an Intel Core i7 processor with up to 32GB of DDR4 RAM, SSD storage, and a Nvidia GeForce GTX 960M graphics card featuring 4GB of dedicated video memory. Each side of the computer has three speakers, with a combined 8-watt stereo channel.
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https://www.slashgear.com/asus-debuts-zen-aio-all-in-one-with-usb-3-1-realsense-3d-camera-01386088/

Asus ZenPad 10 Z300CL aims to entertain

Asus ZenPad 10 Z300CL aims to entertain

Tablets, , , , ,

Asus has pulled the wraps off several new tablets this week. Earlier we talked about the 7 and 8-inch ZenPad tablets that have customizable covers. If you want a tablet with a larger screen, Asus has the ZenPad 10 featuring a 10.1-inch display. The tablet has a large screen with thinner bezels that some other tablets of its size giving it a 72% screen to body ratio.

The tablet is 7.9mm thick making it very portable and it has a polished metallic band that frames the edge of the screen. The rear of the tablet has a leather pattern and Asus fits the tablet with its VisualMaster suite combining software and hardware to optimize the display.
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https://www.slashgear.com/virginia-opens-roads-to-self-driving-cars-01386129/

Windows 10 available July 29: Microsoft

Windows 10 available July 29: Microsoft

Wearables, , , , , , , , , ,

The summer news that Windows users have been eagerly waiting for is finally here: Microsoft has announced that its newest operating system, Windows 10, will be available to all on Wednesday, July 29. As has been discussed before, the new OS will be free for existing Windows 7 and 8 users (unless, of course, they’re running pirated versions). Also, this launch is to be only for the PC and tablet versions of Windows 10, while a timeframe for the smartphone release hasn’t been mentioned yet.

Microsoft put out an introductory trailer with the announcement, which has the slogan “Because it’s still the desktop you love, only better,” and then highlighting some of the main features of the OS. Along with touting “familiar things,” like the classic Start menu, Windows 10 will also introduce digital personal assistant Cortana to desktop PCs, with notifications being displayed there as well as on Windows smartphones.
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https://www.slashgear.com/

Konami apologizes for “mobile first” miscommunication

Konami apologizes for “mobile first” miscommunication

Wearables, , , , , ,

Although unsurprisingly hailed by mobile gamers as the way of the future, Konami president Hideki Hayakawa’s statements about a “mobile first” mission for the company caused no small amount of fans to panic. Considering the company’s biggest franchises, Silent Hill and Metal Gear, are console titles, that shock and even anger is equally understandable. Now Konami is coming out to clarify those statements and apologize for the confusion. Apparently, Konami has a different interpretation of the term “mobile first” which, for the company, just means “mobile too”.

A few weeks ago, Konami’s then new president made some rather bold, though not entirely unexpected, statements regarding the future direction for the game publisher. Konami has seen better days and its key game IPs are in danger of descending into obscurity. Stoking the flames of anxiety even more, Hayakawa issued the “mobile first” statement that has sent the Internet and gamers into a frenzy of speculation.
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https://www.slashgear.com/konami-apologizes-for-mobile-first-miscommunication-01386045/

ASUS ZenPad tablets flaunt “customizable” covers

ASUS ZenPad tablets flaunt “customizable” covers

Tablets, , , , , , , , ,

ASUS is once again getting into the Android tablet scene, but this time it’s bringing something different to the table. While many OEMs put out official accessories like covers and cases, ASUS is taking things a small step further. Touting these tablets as the first tablet with interchangeable and customizable covers, ASUS’ accessories not only add style to the new ZenPad tablets, they actually also add functionality, like one that has a built-in battery pack and another that adds 5.1-channel surround sound to the tablet.

Just as the ZenFone have become ASUS’ premium smartphone line, the ZenPad are poised to be the same for slabs. Coming in a variety of somewhat confusing models and variations, these tablets are marketed to offer the best in display and audio experience, though performance will actually vary depending on the Intel processor inside.
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https://www.slashgear.com/asus-zenpad-tablets-flaunt-customizable-covers-01386055/

ASUS ZenFone Selfie comes with 13MP shooters

ASUS ZenFone Selfie comes with 13MP shooters

Phones, , , , , , , , , , , , ,

This is a selfie generation, or at least that’s what device makers are trying to both justify and actually promote. From digital cameras to smartphones, you are sure to find some semblance of a selfie-friendly feature, either covertly or overtly mentioned. ASUS isn’t about to break the mold here, but while its ZenFone flagship is a, more or less, “serious” smartphone, it’s now announcing a more selfie-oriented version. Dubbed, what else, the ZenFone Selfie, this mid-ranger is designed with features, both hardware and software, to cater to all your self photography needs.

To make it clear, this is no ZenFone 2. Though a decent mid-range handset, the ZenFone Selfie is, surprisingly, powered by a Snapdragon 615, Qualcomm’s mid level 64-bit mobile chip. Like with other ZenFones, there are various configurations available, one with 2 GB of RAM and another with 3 GB. Storage can also be 16 or 32 GB. All models, however, do have a large-ish 5.5-inch Full HD screen.
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https://www.slashgear.com/asus-zenfone-selfie-comes-with-13mp-shooters-01386062/

ASUS ZenWatch 2 takes a bite from Apple’s design book

ASUS ZenWatch 2 takes a bite from Apple’s design book

Wearables, , , , , , , , ,

It wasn’t long ago when ASUS unveiled its first take on the nascent smartwatch market, but at Computex in Taiwan, it’s already showing off Part Two. Named nothing else but the ZenWatch 2, this smart timepiece is not only promises to be better than its predecessor in terms of smart features, it also comes with more design choices and changes, including two sizes, three stainless steel color cases, 18 different strap materials, a metal watch crown to give that authentic watch feeling, and a magnetic charger.

Those last two might evoke images of the Apple Watch, and indeed, that metallic crown design has been touted by Cupertino to be one of the design hall marks of its own timepiece. And that magnetic charger? Yep, another Apple standard feature, though other smartwatches have also started to implement the benefits of that technology.
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https://www.slashgear.com/asus-zenwatch-2-takes-a-bite-from-apples-design-book-01386071/