Saturday, February 28, 2015

The BMW i8 supercar is officially the best car in the UK right now


The BMW i8 has been named the UK car of the year for 2015, making a double for the German automaker who also won last year with the BMW i3.

If you want one, get saving — it costs over $150,000 and there's a nine-month waiting list.
The BMW i8 has been named the UK car of the year for 2015, making a double for the German automaker who also won last year...

The i8 is a super technological hybrid car, combining an eye for the environment with the performances of a super car. It accelerates from 0 to 62 mph in just 4.4 seconds while consuming fuel like an economy car. The emissions are among the lowest in its range.

The UK Car of the Year Awards are judged every year by 27 motor journalists. There are 12 different categories. The BMW i8 won the overall title and also performance car of the year.

This is the second year that the title is awarded.

Britain has become Europe’s biggest market for i8 sales, with 450 registrations so far.

According to Craig Thomas, one of the judges of the award, "the BMW i8 is helping to redefine what a sports car is, in a world attempting to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels. The pairing of a three-cylinder engine and electric motor gives mind-boggling headline economy and emissions figures, while it makes few compromises in the driving department.”

They were clearly overjoyed at BMW, with the UK CEO Graeme Grieve commenting: “The BMW i8 is the culmination of many years of investment, hard work and commitment to creating the world's most progressive sports car. With our first two BMW i vehicles – the i3 and i8 – being named consecutive UK Car of the Year winners, our technology strategy is being recognised as truly game changing for the car industry.”

Here is a list of the winners for each category, while at the bottom you can find more shots of this jewel.

Best City Car Renault Twingo

Best Supermini Skoda Fabia

Best Small Hatch Citroën C4 Cactus

Best Family Car Ford Mondeo

Best Executive Car Mercedes-Benz C-Class

Best Luxury Car Rolls-Royce Ghost

Best Estate Car Volkswagen Passat

Best MPV BMW 2 Series Active Tourer

Best SUV Porsche Macan

Best Coupé Jaguar F-TYPE

Best Open Top Car Porsche Boxster GTS

Best Performance Car BMW i8

Lupita Nyong'o's stolen Oscar dress recovered


Authorities say they have recovered Lupita Nyong'o's stolen pearl-covered dress estimated to be worth $150,000.

At a news conference Friday evening, officials displayed the dress and said they were continuing to investigate who stole it.
Authorities say they have recovered Lupita Nyong'o's stolen pearl-covered dress estimated to be worth $150,000....

"We believe this dress is the dress that was stolen from the London Hotel," said Lt. Michael White, a spokesman for the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

The Sheriff’s Department received a call about 3 p.m. from TMZ saying the celebrity news website had received an anonymous call from someone who said the dress was left at the London West Hollywood hotel, where it was reported stolen two days ago, sheriff’s spokeswoman Nicole Nishida said.

The caller took the dress to the garment district in downtown L.A. and discovered the pearls were fake, Nishida said. Instead of keeping the dress, the caller returned to the hotel and left the dress in a second-floor bathroom that is under renovation, Nishida added.Whether the pearls are real is irrelevant, White said.

"It doesn't change anything in our investigation," he said. Still, until investigators find out otherwise, the assumption is the pearls are real, White added.

Detectives must talk to Nyong'o and anybody with knowledge about the dress to confirm it is the same dress she wore to the Academy Awards on Sunday.

"The dress appears to be intact, but some of the smaller pearls are falling off," White said.

Sheriff’s officials were notified Wednesday that the dress was stolen from a room at the hotel, said Lt. William Nash of the sheriff’s West Hollywood station.

Whoever took the dress faces charges of burglary and grand theft, White said. However, there are no suspects at this time, he said.

The dress was a white Francisco Costa for Calvin Klein gown decorated with 6,000 pearls.

Nyong'o told Yahoo Style that she helped design the dress.

“It was so much fun to create this dress,” she said. “We talked about it being fluid and liquid. I wanted it to be an homage to the sea.”

As for the pearls, she added on the red carpet Sunday: “At the end of the night, we’ll see how many I’ve kept on. But they’re sewn on quite tightly.”

AEG report warns rival Inglewood NFL stadium presents terrorist threat


In a bold move to undercut an NFL stadium at Hollywood Park, the sports and entertainment firm AEG commissioned a study by former Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge that found the Inglewood project would be a tempting target for terrorists and should not be built.
In a bold move to undercut an NFL stadium at Hollywood Park, the sports and entertainment firm AEG commissioned a study by...

AEG has been pursuing its own NFL stadium next to Staples Center for several years and is in direct competition with Inglewood, whose plan was approved Tuesday by that city's government.

In a 14-page report, Ridge suggests that because the Inglewood stadium proposed by St. Louis Rams owner Stan Kroenke would lie within three to four miles of Los Angeles International Airport and beneath the flight path of airliners, terrorists might try to shoot down a plane or crash one into the stadium, scenarios Ridge described as "a terrorist event 'twofer.' "

Ridge said the Inglewood stadium, part of a planned retail, office and residential development at the now-defunct Hollywood Park, would have "a significant risk profile with the potential to produce consequences that will not only the impact the airport and region, but global interests."

In contrast to Ridge's warnings, city officials as well as aviation experts have said a stadium at the Hollywood Park site is not a safety concern. The Federal Aviation Administration, in environmental impact reports, has twice given its blessing to proposed stadiums in Inglewood.

The NFL has several stadiums — including Santa Clara and East Rutherford, N.J. — in close proximity to major airports. No stadium in the U.S. has been the subject of a terrorist attack.

The league, which is aware of the report, did not offer an opinion on the Inglewood site.

"We feel that the best approach is to look at these things with an independent eye," said Eric Grubman, NFL senior vice president and the league's point man on the L.A. market. "You should assume the NFL has its own experts hired and at work to assess any potential NFL site, in any city, regarding these matters. And it is that advice that we will rely on."

Marc Ganis, a consultant who has worked on projects involving more than two-thirds of NFL teams, reviewed the document and said it "does not have any definitive data that would argue against going forward."

It is not known how widely AEG distributed the report. The Times obtained it from a public relations firm representing Ridge, who was not made available for comment Friday, although he previously discussed the report at length with The Times.

In the December document, Ridge invoked al-Qaeda, included pictures of two terrorist bomb-makers and mentioned the 2013 shooting of a Transportation Security Administration officer at LAX.

The former Pennsylvania governor, now a security consultant, said in the report that if NFL, state and local leaders proceed with the Inglewood plan, they "must be willing to accept the significant risk and the possible consequences …. This should give both public and private leaders in the area some pause."

his week, the Inglewood City Council voted unanimously to move forward with the stadium project that is part of a 298-acre mixed-used development. While developers, which include Kroenke, pledge to start construction by December on a stadium that could cost a record $1.86 billion, no NFL team has yet filed for relocation.

In addition to the stadium, the proposed sports and entertainment district on the Hollywood Park site in Inglewood would compete with restaurants and hotels at AEG's LA Live.

Asked about the report, AEG said "we have been working diligently and in good faith … to advance NFL discussions while also exploring plans for other development alternatives around the LA Live campus." AEG's deal with L.A. for the downtown stadium dubbed Farmers Field, already extended once, expires April 17.

Huawei ad mistakenly reveals new Android Wear smartwatch


It looks like Huawei has let the cat out of the bag with an advertisement placed at Barcelona's El Prat airport. The ad, first spotted by Android Central, makes it all but certain that the Chinese phonemaker will announce an Android Wear-powered smartwatch at Mobile World Congress next week.
It looks like Huawei has let the cat out of the bag with an advertisement placed at Barcelona's El Prat airport. The ad, first ...

The device appears to be a slick, metal watch with a circular face like the Moto 360. It's simply called the "Huawei Watch." According to the ad, the watch has "classic design and impeccable craftsmanship." There will be at least three different color and band options: silver with a matching silver metal bracelet, gold with a brown leather band, and a more casual black model.

We'll likely hear much more about the Huawei Watch come tomorrow, March 1st, when things kick off at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain.

Friday, February 27, 2015

Lenovo promises less bloatware on its new computers

Lenovo says the next batch of Windows 10 computers will come with a minimum of bloatware, as the company looks to "become the leader in providing cleaner, safer PCs." The announcement comes on the heels of the disastrous Superfish adware, which came pre-installed on a number of Lenovo machines and broke fundamental SSL protections, exposing users to man-in-the-middle attacks.
Lenovo says the next batch of Windows 10 computers will come with a minimum of bloatware, as the company looks to...
Lenovo has been widely criticized for its pre-installed software practices in the wake of the news, and this is the first indication that the company may be changing its ways.

But while the statement is certainly a step in the right direction, it still leaves the door open for a lot of potentially unwanted software.
Lenovo's Windows 10 computers will still ship with security software like McAfee as well as software associated with a particular hardware device and the frustratingly vague "Lenovo software." More importantly, the company is promising extensive documentation on all pre-installed software, which will help catch any future adware before it takes hold.

Apple Watch event announced for March 9th

Apple has just announced its highly anticipated Apple Watch event; it's happening on March 9th. The company today invited media to a gathering taking place at San Francisco's Yerba Buena Center for the Arts.
Apple has just announced its highly anticipated Apple Watch event; it's happening on March 9th. The company today invited...
It's here we're expecting to hear final pricing and availability details on the company's first wearable, and it's also a safe bet we'll get another demonstration of its features. The event's tagline is "Spring forward," an obvious reference to time — and a watch.

We know that the Apple Watch will start at $350 for the aluminum Sport model, but the company has remained silent on pricing details around both the regular version and its ultra-luxurious Apple Watch Edition. CEO Tim Cook previously revealed that the device will ship at some point in April. The Apple Watch represents Apple's first landmark product introduction since Steve Jobs unveiled the original iPad in 2010.

Recent rumors have also hinted at a brand new MacBook Air design and a revised take on Beats Music's streaming service. There's no telling if Apple will also share these announcements (or others) on stage in San Francisco; the company may well devote the entire presentation to its most important product in years.

Samsung Galaxy S6 Wireless Charging Confirmed


Ahead of the expected launch of the Samsung Galaxy S6 and the Samsung S6 Edge on Sunday, third-party accessory makers are getting their stories lined up and are jostling for recognition in the hectic run-up. It also means that the peripheral announcements can tell us more about Samsung’s hardware.
Ahead of the expected launch of the Samsung Galaxy S6 and the Samsung S6 Edge on Sunday, third-party accessory makers...

We’ve looked at battery issues in the Samsung Galaxy S6 here on Forbes, noting that a weak point of the design is the smaller battery capacity in the hardware. Having experience wireless charging in a number of devices, I argued that the inclusion of wireless charging would be a good compromise to offset the smaller battery. There were indications from the supply chain that Samsung was looking to fit wireless charging into the Galaxy S6 range, and Samsung’s own blog posts heavily hinted that it would ooh to accommodate all the wireless charging standards in ‘new hardware’ during 2015.

Now the accessory manufacturers are revealing their hands, and thanks to one wireless charging accessory manufacturer, we now know that wireless charging in the Samsung Galaxy S6 will support the Qi standard as a minimum.

Netherlands-based company Zens is a “market leader in the field of wireless charging” with a wide range of accessories, and its press release today confirms the South Korean plans:

    …is proudly presenting the fact that all of its wireless charging solutions can be used with the new Samsung Galaxy S6. Zens’ solutions introduce comfort and user-friendliness into both the working and living environment. Now that the all new Samsung Galaxy S6 will support wireless charging ‘out of the box’, every user can enjoy wireless charging from day one. As all Zens’ products are Qi certified and feature a multi-coil solution, they will work flawlessly with the new Samsung flagship.

Wireless charging is a transformational technology, and while it does require consumers to purchase a charging pad (or hope that any carrier bundle includes one!), the benefits in terms of the mobile rule of ABC (Always Be Charging) is huge. It’s fast and easy, and while it might not seem a huge step up from a cable, now that I have used it, it is on my ‘must have’ list of requirements in ‘the perfect smartphone’.

With competing standards and no major handset manufacturer stepping up to equip the flagship handsets with the technology (neither the Lumia handsets of Windows Phone or the Nexus handset count), wireless charging has struggled to become mainstream. It’s use in the Galaxy S6 family, along with a potential unifying approach that can work with any charging plate no matter the standard used, can only help wireless charging.

It’s also heartening to see that Samsung has been working with the accessory industry to ensure there is second- and third-line opportunities for additional sales as the new Galaxy is launched, and not a few weeks after once everyone has publicly seen the handset.

Stay with the Forbes Tech Team for coverage, news, and analysis from MWC, including the launch of the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge.

Lakers able to take win over Utah Jazz, 100-97, in stride


Nick Young understood why so many people were annoyed with the behavior of the Lakers.

It's just that Young preferred to take the middle ground regarding Sunday night's celebration after the victory over Boston that so disgusted Lakers Coach Byron Scott and Kobe Bryant.
Nick Young understood why so many people were annoyed with the behavior of the Lakers....

Young didn't play during the Lakers' stirring 100-97 over the Utah Jazz on Wednesday night at EnergySolutions Arena because of a swollen left knee.

And the Lakers didn't celebrate despite winning back-to-back games for the first time since Dec. 12-14, with rookie Jordan Clarkson scoring a career-high 22 points, Wayne Ellington producing his first double-double with 15 points and a career-high 10 rebounds and Robert Sacre's game-icing free throws.

The Lakers were excited to pull this one out despite Jordan Hill's inexplicable foul on Derrick Favors in the final seconds that led to a three-point play that Scott said "probably was why I have a headache." However, they knew better than to celebrate.

"You could see that one [Boston] game we shouldn't be doing that [celebration]," Clarkson said. "Coach got on us a little bit after that. But it's a good feeling."

Young understood why Scott said the celebration showed a lack of "professionalism."

"I see where they are coming from," Young said. "But also at the same time, I still get excited to win. We're doing something right. Even though we've only won [15] games, it's still a win to me. I can't pose, can't do nothing when you lose. So when you finally get that one win, you've got to really enjoy it."

It was until Bryant went on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" on Monday night did the celebration come to light and only after Bryant made faces as a way of showing his displeasure.

The celebration went viral Tuesday and the sports world was taking shots at the Lakers. Young said he hasn't heard from Bryant.

"I think Kobe in particular made everybody look at it different," Young said. "We finally won a game. We were out there celebrating. We don't get wins every day here. When we do get one, we get happy winning. "

Young said they have celebrated after past victories and nothing was ever said until Tuesday.

"So that was the thing I was a little disappointed about," Young said. "But it's all right, though."

Well, except for the comments made on ESPN.

"If ESPN or people on Twitter had said something the night it happened or even the next day.… I think they waited until they seen Kobe and then it went from there," Young said. "I think ESPN is a phony. Phony ESPN."

A 98-94 Lakers lead with 9.3 seconds left looked safe — until Hill fouled Favors on a layup with 2.2 seconds left. Favors made the free throw to slice the Lakers' lead to 98-97.

But Sacre made two free throws with 1.2 seconds to get Hill off the hook.

"It was a mistake by me," Hill said. "But Rob came in with the huge free throw and we got the win."

Thursday, February 26, 2015

Josh Hamilton meets with MLB


Los Angeles Angels outfielder Josh Hamilton was scheduled to meet Wednesday with MLB officials in New York about a disciplinary issue, the team confirmed.
Los Angeles Angels outfielder Josh Hamilton was scheduled to meet Wednesday with MLB officials in New York about a discipl...

The Los Angeles Times earlier reported the meeting between Hamilton and the league.

"I can say that Josh is going to meet with league officials in New York," Angels general manager Jerry Dipoto told the newspaper. "At this point I have no other information to offer."

Hamilton's agent Michael Moye did not return a call seeking comment. MLB spokesman Pat Courtney declined to comment.

Hamilton, who underwent shoulder surgery earlier this month and is expected to be out until at least May, has not been with the team at spring training in Arizona. The Angels have permitted Hamilton to stay at a friend's house in Houston while he rehabs from the surgery, even though players typically stay with their teams in those situations.

Hamilton was suspended from baseball from February 2004 to June 2006 for issues related to cocaine and alcohol addiction. One of the conditions of his reinstatement was that he undergo drug testing three times a week. He had alcohol relapses in 2009 and 2012, bouncing back in between to make back-to-back trips to the World Series with the Rangers and win the 2010 American League MVP award.

He also took off the 2003 season, citing personal reasons. He did not play professional baseball from July 2002 to July 2006.

Hamilton signed a five-year, $125 million deal with the Angels prior to the 2013 season.

Samsung wants to put 128GB of fast storage in your next phone

It's no longer hard to get a hefty 128GB of storage in a smartphone, but that doesn't mean you'll enjoy it. What's the point of all that extra space if your phone chugs handling huge games and 4K videos?
It's no longer hard to get a hefty 128GB of storage in a smartphone, but that doesn't mean you'll enjoy it. What's the...
Samsung has clearly anticipated this problem, though -- it just outed the first 128GB flash memory chip based on the speedy Universal Flash Storage standard. The part uses tricks like command queuing and a serial interface to give you the kind of breakneck performance you'd expect from a solid-state drive in a PC, not a device that fits in your pocket. It's about 2.7 times faster at random data reads than the flash you see in many high-end phones, while its sequential speeds are "up to SSD levels." And that's while using 50 percent less power -- you won't have to take a hit to battery life.

Samsung hasn't named customers for the UFS chip, which is also available in 32GB and 64GB forms. With that said, it doesn't take a genius to see where it might go. It won't be at all shocking if this storage ends up in high-end Samsung phones (whether it's the Galaxy S6 or something else), and it wouldn't be a stretch to see interest from other top-tier companies that use Samsung's flash, like Apple. Whoever's on deck, you're likely to see more (and better) 128GB options the next time you go phone shopping.

Nissan Xterra discontinued after 2015


Another great big subtraction in the choice of proper off-roaders comes with news from Edmunds that the Nissan Xterra will meet its maker after the 2015 model year. Sales of the body-on-frame SUV introduced in 1999 declined seven percent last year compared to 2013, a total of just 16,505 getting off dealer lots. That's about 1,800 more sales than the Toyota FJ Cruiser achieved for the year, another rugged trail runner recently dispatched into the ether. Meanwhile, the king-of-the-hill Jeep Wrangler almost matched those annual sales number each month in 2014; it moved 19,235 in May alone.
Another great big subtraction in the choice of proper off-roaders comes with news from Edmunds that the Nissan Xterra...

Nissan hasn't exactly cared about the Xterra for years; Edmunds reported in 2013 that Nissan was "mulling the Xterra's future" and would take a year to decide if it was going to keep going. But it has been clear for years that the company wasn't too interested in its hardcore off-roader in spite of its "enthusiastic fan base inside and outside the company." The last visible refresh came in 2009, when it was 4Wheeler magazine's SUV of the Year, the next minor feature updates not arriving until 2014. And the Nissan-backed off-road triathlon series the Xterra was named for died in 2006.

That's why there's no business case for throwing money at re-engineering the Xterra's safety and emissions specs, especially in a world gone crazy for subcompact crossovers. We contacted Nissan for comment on the report and asked if another Nissan vehicle, like the Rogue, would be positioned as a near-replacement, as has been speculated before. Product communications director Dan Bedore told us, "Nissan has made no announcement as to the future status of Xterra. For proprietary reasons, we do not discuss future product plans or comment on media speculation about future plans."

Right now we can hear the Jeep Wrangler at the top of the mountain screaming, "Nobody wants a piece of this? Really?!" So come on, General Motors - it's up to you now.

Wednesday, February 25, 2015

Sony Xperia Z4 Tablet apparently leaks ahead of MWC

The talk of late has been whether Sony will stay in the mobile business at all, but whatever the outcome there it's clear that the company will still have several products in the pipeline.
The talk of late has been whether Sony will stay in the mobile business at all, but whatever the outcome there it's clear...

Chances are we'll see a few of those at Mobile World Congress next week in Barcelona, and we may have gotten an early glimpse of one already.

An image and sparse details of the Xperia Z4 Tablet were accidentally posted to Sony's Xperia Lounge app before getting pulled, according to Xperia Blog. The slim tablet appears to maintain Sony's mobile design language, and has what the company describes as a "stunning 2K display," "the latest ultra-fast processor," and "industry-leading battery performance."

There aren't any other details for now, but we'll be sure to bring you the news from Barcelona next week.

Vettel better off at Ferrari - Webber


Mark Webber believes Sebastian Vettel will be better off at Ferrari after struggling through a tricky season at Red Bull last year.
Mark Webber believes Sebastian Vettel will be better off at Ferrari after struggling through a tricky season at Red Bull...

Webber and Vettel were team-mates at Red Bull between 2009 and 2013 during a period of utter domination for the German. However, Vettel struggled to get to grips with last year's Red Bull and was comprehensively beaten by Webber's replacement Daniel Ricciardo.

"Seb's not a silly guy and he realised that he needed fresh motivation and a new change and I think the decision was made very early, probably before the season even started to be honest," Webber told the Herald Sun.

"The line is not 'they won't miss Vettel', the line is that when he wants to do something else and be in a different environment, then he is better off going somewhere he might feel he will get more out of himself.

"That's definitely a question for the team halfway through the season, whether they are missing some of that experience.

"They are lacking a little bit of continuity at Red Bull now -- there are a few people who have left the team. So that will be interesting to see how technically good the car is over the course of a full season, not just at the start.

"They will be a solid outfit and to match last year will be another good achievement for Daniel. He will want more -- he will want to fight for the championship and Lewis and Nico will be the hardest nuts to crack."

Speaking about Vettel's decision to join Ferrari last week, new team boss Maurizio Arrivabene said the deal was not finalised until after Vettel had announced his decision to leave Red Bull.

"In the case of Vettel we [Arrivabene and new Ferrari chairman Sergio Marchionne] were both aware when we were told officially that Fernando was leaving the team - I'm talking more or less about Sochi - the name of Vettel was going around and the situation was unclear," Arrivabene explained.

"I put a phone call in to a person I know and that he knows very well - it's Sabine Kehm, the manager of Michael [Schumacher]. Sabine called Sebastian. Sebastian had some doubt, he was asking 'what about Ferrari, I don't know the team'. Sabine described the atmosphere that she found at the time of Michael and said it's a great team, it's like a family and Seb was listening.

"The phone call which made the difference after this phone call was from Sergio Marchionne. Without that phone call Sebastian would probably not be here with us. This is the truth."

Apple ordered to pay $530m for iTunes patents


Jury in Texas orders Apple to pay hundreds of millions to Smartflash for infringing three patents relating to its software for iTunes.
Jury in Texas orders Apple to pay hundreds of millions to Smartflash for infringing three patents relating to its...

Apple has been ordered to pay more than $530m after a federal jury in Texas found its iTunes software infringed three patents owned by a patent licensing company called Smartflash.

Although Smartflash had been asking for $852m in damages, the verdict handed down on Tuesday night was still a blow to Apple.

The jury, which deliberated for eight hours, determined Apple had not only used Smartflash’s patents without permission, but did so wilfully.

The patents concerned digital rights management, data storage and payment systems.

Apple, which said it would appeal, said the outcome was another reason that reform was needed in the patent system to curb litigation by companies that do not make products themselves.

“Smartflash makes no products, has no employees, creates no jobs, has no US presence, and is exploiting our patent system to seek royalties for technology Apple invented,” said Apple’s Kristin Huguet. “We refused to pay off this company for the ideas our employees spent years innovating, and unfortunately we have been left with no choice but to take this fight up through the court system.”

‘Very happy’

Smartflash sued Apple in May 2013, alleging its iTunes software infringed its patents related to accessing and storing downloaded songs, videos and games.

“Smartflash is very happy with the jury’s verdict, which recognises Apple’s longstanding wilful infringement,” said Brad Caldwell, a lawyer for Smartflash.

The trial was held in Tyler, Texas, which over the past decade has become a focus for patent litigation. Smartflash’s registered office is also located in Tyler.

It was also in Tyler federal court that a jury in 2012 ordered Apple to pay $368m to VirnetX for patent infringement. A federal appeals court later rejected that damages figure, saying it was wrongly calculated.

Apple tried to avoid a trial by having the lawsuit thrown out. However, US district judge Rodney Gilstrap, who presided over the case, ruled earlier this month that Smartflash’s technology was not too basic to deserve the patents.

Apple had asked the jury to find Smartflash’s patents invalid because previously patented inventions covered the same technology.

Smartflash’s suit said that about 2000, the co-inventor of its patents, Patrick Racz, had met with executives of what is now European SIM card maker Gemalto, including Augustin Farrugia, who is now a senior director at Apple.

Smartflash has also filed patent infringement lawsuits against Samsung, HTC and Google.

2015 Lamborghini Huracán LP 610-4 ice drive


It’s tough to think of a car less likely to see action when the snow flies than the 2015 Lamborghini Huracán LP 610-4. Permanent all-wheel drive and optional heated seats notwithstanding, you just don’t hear about many of these V10-powered super-sports cars doing ski chalet shuttle duty.
It’s tough to think of a car less likely to see action when the snow flies than the 2015 Lamborghini Huracán LP 610-4.

Yet there’s something noble about making the counterintuitive choice -- selecting, if not the wrong tool for the job, then at least the less obvious one. So it’s fortunate that, when we returned to Arjeplog, Sweden recently, there was a small fleet of 2015 Lamborghini Huracán LP 610-4s waiting for us. What a coincidence!

Unlike last year’s quest to a different frozen near-Arctic Swedish lake to test the Volkswagen Golf R, the weather was suboptimal this time around: Temps hovering just above freezing ensured that the super-slick lake surface was covered with ugly puddles of slush, creating a fairly reasonable facsimile of Detroit’s winter roads--though there were fewer potholes to contend with.

Lamborghini claimed it had no tricks up its sleeve. The Huracáns we were to test were retail-ready models, same as the ones produced at a rate of 12 per day at the company’s Sant’Agata Bolognese factory. (Traditional family values seem to prevail there: despite a lengthy wait list, workers take the weekend off.)

The testers came equipped with Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 tires, not the ultra-aggressive studded snows that are fun on ice but illegal on nearly all U.S. roads. Also production-spec was the alphabet soup of onboard safety and performance systems: LDS, ESC, 4WD, ABS, and something called the LPI -- more on that in a moment. It’s all there to tame what might otherwise be an unwieldy beast, and give the 602-hp bull some of the sure-footed nimbleness of, say, a mountain goat.

Not that you’d ever know it from our first moments behind the wheel. Things got off to a slow, steady and slightly sideways start on the 1,000-foot circle track, until we tried driving with traction control off. We looped the car. We tried again. We looped again. It was more humiliating than anything else; there are few consequences to wiping out on an obstacle-free frozen lake.

But our lack of confidence was a killer. One of Lamborghini’s taglines for the Huracán is “instinctive technology,” and after some time in the car it actually seems like something more than a buzzy slogan: You get the impression that it can sense fear. Or more accurately in our case, embarrassment.

Test driver Marco Passerini, a roughly 20-year Lamborghini veteran, soothed us with his calm demeanor and sage advice, building back our confidence through a slalom course. Watching pro drivers spin out on the deteriorating track helped us loosen up, too. When you calm down and begin to enjoy yourself, the car seems to respond in kind and it becomes easy and rewarding to set up for effortless oversteer. Tap the brakes ahead of the corner, turn the wheel, wait for the predictable rotation -- then firmly, confidently give it throttle, throttle and more throttle. The engine roars. It’s a good, organic sound. You’ll like it.

At these speeds -- between, say, 25 mph and 55 mph -- shifting isn't much of a consideration; you'll spend most of your time in second or third gear. You can lazily, or not-so-lazily, slide through corners sideways in “sport” mode, or switch to “corsa” if you’re gunning for maximum speed -- this track-oriented drive mode sends more torque to the front wheels to help drag you out of corners. Switch ESC off if you desire, but leave the comfortable “strada” mode for highway driving; it’s not every day that you get to slide across a frozen lake.

Differences between modes, each selectable through the Huracán’s ANIMA system (that stands for "Adaptive Network Intelligent Management"), were readily apparent in these extreme low-traction conditions. Which is better is a matter of opinion. Passerini was said to prefer the feel of the rear-biased sport; Mario Fasanetto, another driver who began his Lamborghini career as a tech in the 1990s, leaned toward Corsa. That’s the joy of selectable drive modes. You can have it your way; both are Italian-test-driver-approved.

“I am very happy for you,” Passerini said sincerely (we think), shaking our hand after a fairly solid run on a 1.4-mile circuit. “This improvement was after a short time driving. Give it one, two more hours…” If only.

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Apple aims to bring order to the Genius Bar with new 'Concierge' system

Apple is overhauling the way customers make appointments to get their Mac or iPhone looked at. The new initiative is named "Concierge" claims a report from 9to5Mac, and will use algorithms to rank technical issues by importance, with a new text message system letting customers know exactly when an assistant is ready to help them. As 9to5Mac puts it: "Apple Stores will operate essentially like restaurants that provide diners with pagers and wait times instead of holding empty tables while people are waiting."
Apple is overhauling the way customers make appointments to get their Mac or iPhone looked at. The new initiative is...

Under the current system, customers are seen on a first-come, first-served basis, but this means appointments can be delayed without warning if individuals run over their allotted time. Using Concierge, customers will have their technical issues logged on an iPad, with the new algorithm sorting these by priority and issuing customers with an initial appointment time via text. Individuals can then leave the store if they want, with an automated text reminding them later when to head back for their appointment. A third text will then let them know exactly when their designated technician is free and where they're located in the store. The system is set to launch in the US in the week beginning March 9th, and will hopefully reduce both crowding and wait time in Apple's stores.

The new initiative is being spearheaded by Angela Ahrendts, the former Burberry CEO who joined Apple in April 2014 to head up the "direction, expansion, and operation" of the company's retail presence. As well as growing the company's market in China, Ahrendts is reportedly working with Jony Ive to redesign Apple Stores in preparation for the Apple Watch.

Inglewood, Calif., city council to vote on plan for NFL stadium


The Inglewood, Calif., city council is set to vote Tuesday on plans to approve construction of an 80,000-seat NFL stadium, which could fast track the possibility of a team relocating to the Los Angeles area, reports the Associated Press.
The Inglewood, Calif., city council is set to vote Tuesday on plans to approve construction of an 80,000-seat NFL...

The council could decide to adopt a new redevelopment plan without a public vote on the proposal. Such a plan could also forego talks about possible noise, traffic and air pollution in the area and start construction on the site in the immediate future.

A vote was made possible when Los Angeles County officials verified that there were enough petition signatures to put the issue on the ballot for April or June elections.

St. Louis Rams owner Stan Kroenke has already bought significant acreage in Inglewood across from Hollywood Park, which could include a 6,000-seat performance venue as well as retail, office, hotel and residential space.

No team will move to Los Angeles for next season, and any team that plans to do so in the future must get three-quarters vote approval from the 32 NFL owners.

While there are numerous stadium plans for a team’s possible move to Los Angeles, officials from St. Louis and the state of Missouri are fighting to keep the Rams. Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon reached agreement two weeks ago with several companies for a proposed 90-acre site for a new riverfront stadium that would be built using about 40% in public funds.

The Oakland Raiders and the San Diego Chargers have announced plans to share a $1.7 billion stadium stadium in suburban Carson if they can’t secure funding to get stadiums built in their respective cities.

Both the Inglewood and Carson stadium projects would be built using private financing.

San Diego mayor Kevin Faulconer and Chargers owner Dean Spanos met last weekend to push through with new stadium plans in hopes of replacing five-decade old Qualcomm Stadium.

Jack Nicholson has just about had it with the Lakers


Jack Nicholson has finally had enough. The most loyal of the famous Lakers fans is starting to lose his devotion to the purple and yellow. In an interview with TMZ, Nicholson said he's going to fewer games, watching more on television, and said he's willing to sell his season tickets (game by game) at face value.
Jack Nicholson has finally had enough. The most loyal of the famous Lakers fans is starting to lose his devotion...

Of course, Jack's 77, so getting out to games is probably getting to be more and more of a chore, and he did say he's "always" willing to sell his tickets for face value. The New York Post found them going for a little over $6,200 a piece. Nicholson has been a staple at Staples for decades, chatting up players and always part of the celebrity fan montage networks show during the games in Hollywood.

The Lakers are 14-41 with the third-worst point differential in the league.

No word on whether Andy Garcia is still hanging around.

Google launches YouTube Kids on Android and iOS


It’s been rumored for a while, but now it’s official: Google has launched YouTube Kids.

The company says it’s been working with parents over the past year to create a more family-friendly version of YouTube . The new app is designed to be simpler for children featuring a brighter and bigger interface.
The company says it’s been working with parents over the past year to create a more family-friendly version of YouTube

As you might expect, the selection of videos on the platform is limited for what Google considers “appropriate for the whole family.” Parents and children can browse four channel and playlist categories: Shows, Music, Learning and Explore.

Of course, you can simply search for content you’re looking for as well, and it supports voice search, in case your kid can’t spell or type.  Some example content includes DIY arts and crafts, math lessons and children’s shows. And apparently, a lot of train videos.

The app also features a number of parental controls, including:

    A timer that lets you limit your kids’ screen time
    Sound settings to turn off background music and sound effects to keep things quieter
    The ability to turn off search to limit videos to just those on the home screen
    A dedicated feedback section to allow parents to provide opinions on the app and its content


The app was originally rumored to be Android-only at launch, but it will also be be arriving on iOS today, as well children’s tablets Kurio and nabi in the future. You can head on over to the Google Play Store or the iOS App Store to give the new apps a try.

Monday, February 23, 2015

Will the launch of the Apple Watch spark the next app goldrush?


Even before having used an Apple Watch, Daniel Breslan is pretty sure how people will use his app, Departure Board, on one. “When you’re waiting in a station cafe, pub, lounge, you have you own personal departure board and you do not have to move to keep checking the screens on the platform,” he explains. His new app, which is in the final stages of testing, is a simple concept: it finds the nearest rail station to you, and tells you the destination and time of the next 20 trains - though on a watchface, you’ll probably only see three or four without scrolling.
Even before having used an Apple Watch, Daniel Breslan is pretty sure how people will use his app, Departure Board, on one....

Breslan is one of the many iPhone app developers who are hoping for a new bonanza when the Apple Watch hits the stores, and shortly afterwards the streets, in April. When Apple introduced the iPhone App Store in July 2008, it created an explosion of sales; even though Apple wasn’t first with an app store (Nokia and Palm had notably preceded it), the rapid growth of the smartphone market and the visibility of the iPhone guaranteed eager buyers – and, for some developers, sudden wealth.

Now the impending arrival of the Apple Watch has driven a whole new round of app development, of which Breslan’s is only one. It’s effective on an iPhone (I’ve been testing it since January) but Breslan sees its potential being even greater on a smartwatch, because you wouldn’t have to unlock your phone and navigate to the app to get the information.

As a user of the Pebble smartwatch, which still holds the record for the biggest Kickstarter at over $10m in 2012 and has so far sold a million, Breslan reckons that “the ideal use case for apps on a watch are small utilities that facilitate your daily life”. He uses his Pebble to control podcast playback, read messages, screen calls, check train times “and time my Aeropress brews”. All, he points out, are “little tasks that I can complete without having to pull out and hold my phone.” He thinks the Apple Watch will magnify those benefits through its extra experience in interface design.

David Smith, another iPhone developer based in Herndon, Virginia who has written recipe and audiobook apps, reckons that by shifting interactions from your phone to your wrist, the Apple Watch will “create a much more fluid daily experience, with dozens of micro-interactions rather than the longer ones we have today”.

For what, though? “Sending a text message, checking your next appointment, adding a reminder [to a list], suddenly [creating] a much lower barrier to action,” Smith says. “I think I’ll grow to rely on my watch for keeping me on track throughout my day.”

Marco Wittmann picks up his BMW M4 DTM Champion Edition


Marco Wittmann was at BMW Welt in Munich on Friday to pick up his BMW M4 DTM Champion Edition. BMW M GmbH designed this edition …

Marco Wittmann was at BMW Welt in Munich on Friday to pick up his BMW M4 DTM Champion Edition. BMW M GmbH designed this edition of the BMW M4 Coupé in honour of the 2014 DTM champion. In a tribute to the Ice-Watch BMW M4 DTM, the Champion Edition is offered exclusively in Alpine White.
Marco Wittmann was at BMW Welt in Munich on Friday to pick up his BMW M4 DTM Champion Edition. BMW M GmbH designed...

The model was modified at the BMW Individual factory. The matte-black bonnet and boot lid with the eye-catching stripe design display close links with the victorious BMW M4 DTM. Added to the mix are an M kidney grille with orange surround, an M logo rearwards of the front wheel arches, the number 23 on the doors and the flag along with “WIT” and “DTM Champion 2014” lettering on the rear side windows.

The same carbon fiber roof as used on the production model and black character lines down the side underline the relationship between the production car and the racing car. The BMW M4 DTM Champion Edition is also fitted with 19-inch light-alloy wheels, a black front splitter, a black side skirt blade, carbon front flaps, carbon mirror caps, a rear spoiler and a carbon diffuser insert from the M Performance Parts range. The Champion Edition underlines its exclusivity once again when you step inside. The door sill plates bear Marco Wittmann’s autograph, while carbon interior trim strips – likewise signed by the 24-year-old from Fürth, Germany – feature “DTM Champion 2014” lettering and the car’s serial number.

Only a limited number of this edition are available: in keeping with Wittmann’s number from last season, only 23 of this exclusive premium sports car have been made. Each model is numbered consecutively. The cars were ordered by BMW M customers all over the world, and were out of stock within no time at all. Anyone who bought this special edition is also entitled to a training session on the Nürburgring-Nordschleife (DE), at which Wittmann will be on hand to offer the BMW M customers valuable advice on how to keep the car perfectly under control.

Marco, does it bring back memories of your title win when you look at the BMW M4 DTM Champion Edition?

Marco Wittmann: “It is very special for me to be able to drive every day in a road-going version of the BMW M4 Coupé in the same design as my DTM car. The car is like a collector’s item for me. I will definitely drive it, but only in the summer and to special occasions. After all, the BMW M4 DTM Champion Edition is the icing on the cake at the end of an outstanding 2014 season. The car looks fantastic. The colours and stripes radiate a dynamic that suits me perfectly. It was a great feeling to drive the first few metres in the car. It goes without saying that moments like that bring back memories of crossing the finish line at the Lausitzring. That was the greatest success of my career so far. I will never forget that day.”

Could you ever have dreamt that somebody would one day build a car in your honour?

Wittmann: “No, I would never have thought it possible. It is a huge honour that BMW M GmbH dedicated a car to me. Particularly as there are only 23 models of this premium sports car available, in keeping with my start number last season. It is hard for me to imagine that only 23 people in the world have the pleasure of owning this car. And I am one of them. That is crazy, and something I am extremely proud of.”

Apple poaching Samsung experts in chips, batteries, more


With its latest recruiting efforts, Apple is allegedly targeting "experts in next-generation technology" from rival Samsung, offering raises and competitive benefits to lure talent to California.
With its latest recruiting efforts, Apple is allegedly targeting "experts in next-generation technology" from rival Samsung....

Specifically Apple is said to be hiring experts in chip design, as well as batteries, according to the Korea Times. Citing an unnamed Samsung official, it was said that the workers were offered "greater independence" in new roles at Apple, in addition to higher pay.

Apple's apparent interest in battery experts could be tied to recent rumors that the company is working on an electric car that it could release years down the road. The iPhone maker has been confirmed to have hired other battery experts from A123 Systems, thanks to a lawsuit that has accused Apple of unfairly poaching that company's employees.

The Samsung official quoted in Monday's report suggested that many of the company's employees already speak English, so there would be no language barriers to them working in America. The report was first highlighted by G for Games.

Samsung and Apple are fierce rivals, but the two also partner closely on a number of components that power Apple's most popular devices. It's rumored that Samsung will build the 14-nanometer "A9" chips expected to power Apple's 2015 iPhone and iPad refreshes.

Prior to the launch of the iPhone 6, Samsung manufactured all of Apple's low-power ARM processors at its factory in Austin. But starting with the A8 CPU in the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, TSMC was said to have taken over the bulk of responsibility, though exactly how much is in doubt.

Oscars 2015: Full List Of Winners

A light drizzle in Hollywood couldn’t dim the stars shining at the Oscars. Neil Patrick Harris hosted an unabashed love letter to the movies and proved that he’s the best host around — even stripping down to his underwear for a Birdman joke. John Legend and Common took the night with their Oscar-winning song “Glory” from Selma  and John Travolta continued to make everyone feel uncomfortable. The Grand Budapest Hotel ruled in the more artsy categories while Birdman took home the biggest awards. Here are all of the night’s winners.
A light drizzle in Hollywood couldn’t dim the stars shining at the Oscars. Neil Patrick Harris hosted an unabashed love letter

Best Picture
Birdman — Alejandro G. Inarritu, John Lesher and James W. Skotchdopole

Best Director
Alejandro Gonz?lez I??rritu — Birdman

Best Actor
Eddie Redmayne — The Theory of Everything

Best Actress
Julianne Moore — Still Alice

Best Supporting Actor
J.K. Simmons — Whiplash

Best Supporting Actress
Patricia Arquette — Boyhood

Achievement in Costume Design
Milena Canonero — The Grand Budapest Hotel

Achievement in Makeup and Hairstyling
Frances Hannon and Mark Coulier — The Grand Budapest Hotel

Best Foreign Language Film
Ida  – Pawel Pawlikowski

Best Live Action Short Film
The Phone Call — Matt Kirkby and James Lucas

Best Documentary Short Subject
Crisis Hotline: Veterans Press 1 — Ellen Goosenberg Kent and Dana Perry

Original Screenplay
Birdman – Alejandro G. I??rritu, Nicol?s Giacobone, Alexander Dinelaris, Jr. and Armando Bo

Achievement in Sound Mixing
Whiplash — Craig Mann, Ben Wilkins, Thomas Curley

Achievement in Sound Editing
American Sniper —  Alan Robert Murray Bub Asman

Achievement in Visual Effects
Interstellar — Ian Hunter, Scott Fisher, Andrew Lockley and Paul Franklin

Best Animated Short
Feast — Patrick Osborne and Kristina Reed

Best Animated Movie
Big Hero Six — Don Hall, Chris Williams and Roy Conli

Achievement in Production Design
The Grand Budapest Hotel — Adam Stockhausen and Anna Pinnock

Achievement in Cinematography
Birdman — Emannuel Lubezki

Achievement in Film Editing
Whipalsh — Tom Cross

Best Documentary Feature
Citizen Four — Laura Poitras, Mathilde Bonnefoy and Dirk Wilutzky

Best Original Song
Glory — John Stephens and Lonnie Lynn

Best Original Score
The Grand Budapest Hotel — Alexandre Desplat

Best Adapted Screenplay
The Imitation Game – Graham Moore

Sunday, February 22, 2015

Spec-tacular Eddie Redmayne and wife Hannah Bagshawe touch down at LAX Airport ahead of the Oscars


He is the man of the moment and nominated for the Best Actor gong at this evening's Oscars.

But Hollywood star Eddie Redmayne looked completely chilled out about the whole thing as he touched down at LAX Airport on Saturday with wife Hannah Bagshawe.
Hollywood star Eddie Redmayne looked completely chilled out about the whole thing as he touched down at LAX Airport...

The 33-year-old actor, who has been given a nod for his role of Stephen Hawking in the biopic The Theory of Everything, wore a stylish denim jacket and black-rimmed specs.

He was rocking an open blue shirt and khaki trousers with scuffed brown shoes while his wife was also dressed casually in jeans, a black top and dark shades with a leather jacket and black ballet shoes.

The pair were met by the paps as they made their way through the terminal and Hannah was carrying two large black bags - no doubt her glamorous outfit for her red carpet appearance with the actor.

Eddie and Hannah will be two of the hottest stars at tonight's gala and the star couldn't stop gushing about his other half during a recent interview ahead of the big event.

Talking about how she deals with life in the limelight, he said: "She is so mellow with this stuff. I think I get more, like, sort of nervous about it than she does.

"She is so beautiful and looks amazing in whatever she wears as far as I'm concerned so she's kind of chilled out about it. She's like relatively calm but I think she is very excited about the prospect of wearing quite a beautiful dress."

Eddie has tough competition in the Best Actor category tonight but he is favourite to win at the 87th Annual Academy Awards.

The star is up against hunk Bradley Cooper (American Sniper), Steve Carrell (Foxcatcher) fellow Brit Benedict Cumberbatch (The Imitation Game) and Michael Keaton (Birdman).

Eddie has been praised for his role in The Theory Of Everything in which he battles with a motor neuron disease and stars alongside the talented Felicity Jones and Stephen's wife Jane.

Google Play Music app coming to iPad


After coming to the iPhone, Google's Play Music app has finally arrived on the slightly bigger iPad tablet.
After coming to the iPhone, Google's Play Music app has finally arrived on the slightly bigger iPad tablet....

The app contains a new Material Design interface as well as visual improvements and fixes that allow faster and reliable streaming, The Next Web reported.

However, it said iOS users may not be able to subscribe to the All Access plan through the mobile apps – and will have to use an Android device or a browser.

Still, the Google Play Music for iPad lets users listen to tracks stored on their devices along with up to 20,000 of their songs stored in the cloud and even iTunes.

An unlimited plan allows a user to stream any song from the Play Music library and create custom radio stations.

Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony Reunite for Their Twins' Birthday Party


Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony reunited on Saturday for their kids' birthday party.

The 45-year-old Boy Next Door actress shared a cheerful snap featuring ex-husband Anthony, 46, and Max and Emme, who both turn 7 on Sunday.
The 45-year-old Boy Next Door actress shared a cheerful snap featuring ex-husband Anthony, 46, and Max and Emme, who...

"Party time!!! HAPPY 7th BIRTHDAY TO THE COCONUTS!! #thesetwoknowhowtoparty #twins#LOVE #familia," she wrote.

Lopez also shared a sweet party photo with her father, David Lopez, showing the pair smiling in front of green and white balloons.

The birthday bash was held at Lopez's California home and had a Minecraft theme.

Anthony and Lopez announced their split in July 2011, but they have remained on good terms. In her cover story for PEOPLE's Feb. 2 issue, Lopez opened up about their post-marriage friendship.

"Marc and I have a good rapport," she said. "We know the kids are the most important thing, and we fill in for each other where the other needs."

After their split, Lopez went on to date Casper Smart, whom she split with in June 2014 – the same month that her divorce from Anthony was finalized. Anthony, meanwhile, went on to find love again with model Shannon de Lima, whom he married in November 2014.

Lakers won't make final playoff push for Kobe Bryant


Lakers general manger Mitch Kupchak said that the team wouldn't sacrifice the future to make a final playoff push for Kobe Bryant next season.
Lakers general manger Mitch Kupchak said that the team wouldn't sacrifice the future to make a final playoff push for Kobe...

Kupchak told the Orange County Register, "To jeopardize the next five or seven years, bring in old veterans that make a lot of money, just to win one more year, because that's Kobe's last year or could be his last year, I'm not sure that fits into doing it the right way."

Bryant is out for the rest of this season after rotator-cuff surgery. It's the third straight season that has ended early due to an injury. He played 35 games this season and just six last year, meaning he's appeared in just one out of every four Lakers' games over the past two years.

Next season will be Bryant's twentieth with the Lakers. He's scheduled to make $25 million in the second year of a two-year, $48.5 million extension.

“This team primarily has been Kobe's team now for almost 18 or 20 years,” Kupchak said, “and we're much closer to the end of those 18, 20 years than we are to the middle or the beginning. So at some point we have to start a new run."

Google wins dismissal of U.S. lawsuit over Android app limits


A federal judge on Friday dismissed a lawsuit accusing Google Inc of harming smartphone buyers by forcing handset makers that use its Android operating system to make the search engine company's own applications the default option.
A federal judge on Friday dismissed a lawsuit accusing Google Inc of harming smartphone buyers by forcing handset...

Consumers claimed that Google required companies such as Samsung Electronics Co to favor Google apps such as YouTube on Android-powered phones, and restrict rival apps such as Microsoft Corp's Bing.

They said this illegally drove smartphone prices higher because rivals could not compete for the "prime screen real estate" that Google's apps enjoyed.

But in Friday's decision, U.S. District Judge Beth Labson Freeman in San Jose, California said the consumers failed to show that higher prices stemmed from Google's having illegally forced restrictive contracts on the handset makers.

She also said she could not tell how many supply chain levels there were between the handset makers who signed the alleged anticompetitive contracts, and the consumers themselves.

"Their alleged injuries - supracompetitive prices and threatened loss of innovation and consumer choice - are not the necessary means by which defendant is allegedly accomplishing its anticompetitive ends," Freeman wrote.

The judge gave the plaintiffs three weeks to amend claims under the federal Sherman antitrust law and California's unfair competition law.

Robert Lopez, a lawyer for the plaintiffs, did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Aaron Stein, a Google spokesman, declined to comment.

Google also faces antitrust issues in Europe.

The European Parliament in November urged antitrust authorities to break up the Mountain View, California-based company and called on the European Commission to consider proposals to unbundle search engines from other services.

Saturday, February 21, 2015

The Top 10 Hip Hop Singles Of The Week: Chris Brown, Logic, Lil Wayne


This week brought new music from Chris Brown and Tyga as the duo preps their long-in-the-works collaboration album set for release next week. Logic stopped by a radio station in L.A. and showed off his freestyle skills with a game of "Breakfast Bars" and Lil Wayne finally speaks on his relationship with Birdman.
This week brought new music from Chris Brown and Tyga as the duo preps their long-in-the-works collaboration album set for...

Lower down the list, Big Sean has two tracks that build anticipation for his own upcoming release, Kanye performs at SNL 40, and Dipset drops another loosie.

1.Chris Brown & Tyga Enlist 50 Cent For "I Bet"

After "Remember Me" leaked on the same day, Chris Brown and Tyga's 50 Cent-featuring single "I Bet" hit the web on Monday (February 16). The song was quickly pulled but offered yet another peek at what fans can expect from the duo's upcoming album set for release next week, namely another big-name feature. The track appears at #6 on the tracklist and is produced by Nic Nac.

2.Logic Plays "Breakfast Bars" On Power 106

Putting his freestyle ability to the test, Logic stopped by Power 106 Los Angeles' "The Cruz Show" and freestyled on topics given to him on the fly by the host.

3.Lil Wayne Opens Up About Birdman Relationship

After staying mostly mum on the subject outside of a huge lawsuit and some veiled Tweets, Lil Wayne finally addressed his current status at Cash Money and relationship with Birdman in a new interview.

This Week's Top 10

1. Chris Brown & Tyga feat. 50 Cent - "I Bet"

2. Watch Logic's Breakfast Bars Freestle

3. Lil Wayne Discusses Birdman Relationship

4. Big Sean feat. Kanye West & John Legend - "One Man Can Change The World"

5. Chris Brown Brings Out G-Unit In Brooklyn

6. Kanye West Performs "Jesus Walks," "Only One," "Wolves" On SNL 40

7. Dipset - "Do Something"

8. Yelawolf - "Whiskey In A Bottle"

9. Big Sean feat. Jhene Aiko - "Win Some Lose Some"

10. Uncle Murda feat. Bobby Shmurda - "Body Dance"

LG G Flex2 battery life test


The LG G Flex2 will be staying under the spotlight for a while as it is not only a curved smartphone with self-healing coating on its back, but it is also the first device to utilize the new Snapdragon 810 chip. Performance aside, what this blogpost is all about, is its battery life.
The LG G Flex2 will be staying under the spotlight for a while as it is not only a curved smartphone with self-healing coating...

The G Flex2 is powered by a non-removable 3,000 mAh battery, which is about 15% less than its predecessor. The Snapdragon 810 chipset supports fast charging by default and the provided charger can replenish 60% of the Flex2?s battery in half an hour.

We were all eager to check how the S810 hardware does in the battery department and as usual we kicked off our battery routine with the 3G call test. The LG G Flex2 packed enough juice to last almost 18 hours – 7 hours less than its predecessor, but a very good score nonetheless.

Tiger's issues are mental


World Golf Hall of Famer and 18-time major champion Jack Nicklaus joined the chorus of people who think the majority of Tiger Woods' issues are of the mental variety.
World Golf Hall of Famer and 18-time major champion Jack Nicklaus joined the chorus of people who think the majority of ...

"Tiger is struggling, I don't think there's any question about that," Nicklaus said Friday on the Golf Channel. "... I think he's struggling more between his ears than he is anyplace else.

"He's struggled with the driver most of his life, really, but he's always been able to find the golf ball and get it somewhere back around the green. ... And now he's having trouble with the short game. That is not a good combination, to drive it poorly and have a bad short game."

Nicklaus believes that Woods will regain his form but that he needs to do it his way.

"I think Tiger will turn it around," Nicklaus said. "He's too dedicated, he works too hard at it, he's got too much talent. He'll figure it out. And personally, I think he needs to figure it out himself. Because a teacher can't teach what's inside your head. You've got to be able to put that positive thought into your head yourself."

And does he think Woods, with 14 majors, will surpass Nicklaus' major championship record?

"I still do," Nicklaus said. "Why would I not think that? ... He's got a lot of golf in front of him. But it's going to be up to him, he's still got to do it. He may; he may not. Obviously chances are harder for him now than five years ago, but I still think he has time on his side."

Woods announced Thursday that he would not play his hometown event, the Honda Classic, next week and is uncertain of his return to the PGA Tour.

He also is not eligible to play in two weeks at the WGC-Cadillac Championship at Doral because he is outside the top 50 in the world rankings. Woods is currently ranked 66th.

Los Angeles Lakers' 2015 NBA Draft preview


The Lakers season is already over, for all intents and purposes, especially without Kobe Bryant, so it’s time to look forward to next season.

General manager Mitch Kupchak certainly was as he didn’t make any big moves ahead of the NBA’s trade deadline, even as every other team (or it seemed) did.

Los Angeles will likely have a top 5 pick in the 2015 NBA Draft and that will be a major bonus as the draft is stacked with a number of great talents.

Here are 5 players the Lakers could take in June’s draft:

5) Kevon Looney (UCLA)

The local star is an undersized big man with great ability to finish around the rim. He can run the floor well but will need to get stronger to succeed in the NBA.

4) Karl-Anthony Towns (Kentucky)

The athletic big man has tremendous size and upside. He’s just raw and will need some seasoning, especially with his post offense game.

3) D’Angelo Russell (Ohio State)

He’s probably the best pure scorer in the draft. With good size, he can get his shot off versus nearly any other point guard. Only real question with him is his decision making.

2) Emmanuel Mudiay (International)

He’s the only true, elite level point guard in this draft. Some have compared him to John Wall but, with the level of competition in China, it certainly isn’t a lock. Must become a better shooter.
The Lakers season is already over, for all intents and purposes, especially without Kobe Bryant, so it’s time to look forward to...

1) Jahlil Okafor (Duke)

The Duke star is clearly the biggest prize in this draft. He’s nearly a perfect, low post, offensive player. The only real issue offensively is he doesn’t shoot free throws well. Defensively, he’s a bit of a mystery.

Friday, February 20, 2015

Lakers stay with what they have


Lakers fans can rest easily. Duke star Jahlil Okafor is still a possibility.

The Lakers had little incentive to make any moves by Thursday's NBA trade deadline, and they didn't.
It shouldn't be surprising. They wanted to keep their draft picks, particularly the top-five protected one they originally owed...

It shouldn't be surprising. They wanted to keep their draft picks, particularly the top-five protected one they originally owed Phoenix for Steve Nash. The Lakers' motivation to win a lot of games between now and the end of the regular season April 15 was dimmed because of the same reason.

They would have done something if it dramatically improved their team for more than just two months, but nothing materialized because of their limited trade pieces.

Nick Young, anybody? Jordan Hill? Nash's expiring contract? There were no takers.

"It didn't really seem that anything was going to happen," Lakers Coach Byron Scott said Thursday.

The Lakers (13-40) own the league's fourth-worst record and might slip even further. They've lost their last six games, 15 of their last 16, and currently hold an 11.9% chance at landing the top draft pick at the May 19 lottery.

New York has the NBA's worst record (10-43) and a 25% chance at the top pick, followed by Minnesota (11-42, 19.9%) and Philadelphia (12-41, 15.6%).

Okafor, the freshman center at Duke, is the draft's top prospect at this point. Other high picks include Kentucky big men Karl-Anthony Towns and Willie Cauley-Stein, as well as point guard Emmanuel Mudiay, who has opted not to play in college.

The Lakers also own Houston's first-round pick as part of the Jeremy Lin trade. It figures to be a mid-to-late-20s pick by the time the regular season ends.

They need as many picks as possible in the June 25 draft. Free agency begins the following week in July.

"I think we need pieces at every position," Scott said. "That's obviously a question mark with Kobe [Bryant]. We're not going to be able to solve that problem in one year or one summer."

The Lakers have 29 games to see how rookie Jordan Clarkson holds up at point guard, the results not too bad so far — 13.4 points and 3.8 assists in 10 games as a starter.

They'll also continue to evaluate Hill for their future plans. They are leaning toward exercising a $9-million team option to re-sign the 27-year-old center, who practiced Thursday after missing five games because of a hip injury.

Beyond that, several players have contracts that expire at the end of June, including Carlos Boozer, Lin, Wesley Johnson, Wayne Ellington and Ronnie Price. Ed Davis probably is playing for a new contract because his player option of $1.1 million next season is low compared to the average NBA salary of almost $5.5 million.

LA Galaxy's Bruce Arena meets with Steven Gerrard, says new DP is "very eager" to arrive in MLS

Bruce Arena has coached some of the biggest names in MLS history, so when he’s gushing over the prospect of Steven Gerrard linking up with Robbie Keane for the LA Galaxy, then it should be enough for you to sit up and take notice.
Bruce Arena has coached some of the biggest names in MLS history, so when he’s gushing over the prospect of Steven Gerrard...

The impending arrival of Liverpool captain Gerrard is bound to give the MLS Cup champions a lift in the summer and the thought of him interchanging with Keane, the reigning MLS MVP, seems to be the stuff of dream-team fantasy.

Arena may have lost one icon in Landon Donovan, but the veteran coach is excited about bringing in Gerrard, who may be a different type of player, but someone who will command instant respect for his career achievements and outstanding technical ability.

After returning to Dublin from a preseason friendly with Hammarby in Stockholm, Arena flew over to Liverpool on Thursday evening to meet Gerrard for the first time ahead of Liverpool’s Europa League victory over Beskitas.

“I saw him yesterday and I was surprised to see how excited Steven is to come to Los Angeles,” said Arena at a press conference in Tallaght Stadium, where Galaxy will take on Shamrock Rovers on Saturday (11 am ET). “Obviously, he knows that he has a huge obligation to fulfill with Liverpool and to close out his career there in the right manner. They are involved in some cup competitions, and then he will be very eager to get to Los Angeles.

“I think he and Robbie [Keane] are going to be fantastic together and we’re real excited to have players of the quality of Robbie Keane and Steven Gerrard with the LA Galaxy.”

Having two world-renowned stars in his lineup would be a problem for a lot of coaches, but that prospect is one that energizes Arena. He only sees the positives in building his team around the one-time Liverpool clubmates.

Yet, there is no doubt that Keane remains the main man. Earlier in the week, the 34-year-old was quick to laugh off suggestions of handing the captain’s armband over to Gerrard and Arena had a similar response was quizzed on who might take the penalties.

“He’s [Keane] taking them until he misses his next one. He’s our captain and our penalty taker – until he tells me otherwise,” quipped Arena, who was in a jovial mood in front of the Irish media.

With their MLS season opener against Chicago Fire on March 6 fast approaching (10 pm ET, UniMas), Arena will hope to make the most of Saturday’s friendly with Shamrock Rovers, where Finnish midfielder Mika Vayrynen will be the only trialist on show.

Samsung Galaxy S6 And S6 Edge Look Like This

Samsung Galaxy S6 And S6 Edge Look Like This

The good news: in just over a week Samsung will formally unveil the Galaxy S6. The bad news: it may have nothing new to show. The nadir for Samsung has struck today after two hugely talented designers rounded up every consistent leak to create stunning renders of the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge from every angle.
The good news: in just over a week Samsung will formally unveil the Galaxy S6. The bad news: it may have nothing new to...

The duo, Ivo Maric and Jermaine Smit, had huge amounts of information to go on – including full schematics and chassis components – but putting them altogether remains no mean feat and the finished video reveals the radical new direction Samsung will take with both handsets.

The attention to detail in the video is staggering with even the handsets’ colour options from leaked Pantone numbers shown off. There is also an illustration of the phones’ expected wireless charging and the enlarged, slightly more protruding home button which will house an upgraded fingerprint sensor. Particularly impressive are the lifestyle renders at the 1 minute 30 second mark.

Inaccuracies? Nothing obvious. This is by far the most impressive handset render I’ve seen. Of course Samsung could have us all fooled and pull out something completely different at its 1 March launch, but I highly doubt it.

Furthermore the design changes are a big step in the right direction for Samsung. I’m still not convinced the Galaxy S6 will outshine the upcoming HTC One M9 in the looks department, but the S6 Edge will be a real head turner.

Then again perhaps the bigger questions about the Galaxy S6 at this stage are all internal. Namely: performance, battery life and the software experience.

The first two will be greatly influenced by Samsung’s decision to ditch Qualcomm  for its own Exynos 7420 chipset. Surprisingly the Galaxy S6 will have a smaller battery than its predecessor so Samsung’s claims about the greater efficiency of the 7420 will need to stand up.

In addition Samsung is said to be making a major U-turn when it comes to software with much of the bloatware associated with its TouchWiz Android interface being stripped away. Again the primary benefit should be greatly improved performance.

Read more – iPhone 6 Plus vs Galaxy Note 4 Review: The Biggest Phone Fight

Having suffered deeply disappointing Galaxy S5 sales, the Galaxy S6 (developed under the codename ‘Project Zero’) is Samsung’s big play at getting back on track. Based on the picture we are now able to put together I think the company is on the right track.

Apple Wants to Start Producing Cars as Soon as 2020


Apple Inc., which has been working secretly on a car, is pushing its team to begin production of an electric vehicle as early as 2020, people with knowledge of the matter said.

The timeframe -- automakers typically spend five to seven years developing a car -- underscores the project’s aggressive goals and could set the stage for a battle for customers with Tesla Motors Inc. and General Motors Co., both of which are targeting a 2017 release of an electric vehicle that can go more than 200 miles on a single charge and cost less than $40,000.
Apple Inc., which has been working secretly on a car, is pushing its team to begin production of an electric vehicle as early...

“That’s the inflection point -- the proving ground -- that brings on the electric age,” Steve LeVine, author of “The Powerhouse,” a book about the automotive battery industry, said on Bloomberg TV Thursday. “Now you have Apple coming in and this is critical mass. Was GM really going to be able to match Tesla? Apple can.”

Apple, which posted record profit of $18 billion during the past quarter, has $178 billion in cash with few avenues to spend it. The Cupertino, California-based company’s research and development costs were $6.04 billion in the past year, and Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook is facing increased pressure to return cash to shareholders. The CEO has been pushing the iPhone maker to enter new categories to further envelop users’ digital lives with Apple’s products and services.

Apple’s possible foray into cars follows a similar path it’s taken to break into other industries. The company wasn’t the first to make a digital-music player or smartphone, and only entered those markets once it had a product that redefined those categories.

Apple representatives declined to comment for this story.
Car Team

Tesla’s success in creating a startup car company has shown that the traditional barriers of entry into the auto industry aren’t as difficult to overcome as originally thought, said one person, who asked not to be identified because the matter is private. At the same time, automakers have struggled to bring technical leaps to car development, something that Silicon Valley is also seeking to accomplish. For example, Google Inc. has invested in developing an autonomous vehicle since 2010.

Apple may decide to scrap its car effort or delay it if executives are unhappy with progress, as they’ve done before with other secret projects, the people said. The car team, which already has about 200 people, began ramping up hiring within the past couple of months as the company sought out experts in technologies for batteries and robotics, said one of the people.
Battery Lawsuit

An experienced automaker typically spends five to seven years developing a new vehicle before bringing it to market, according to Dennis Virag, president of Automotive Consulting Group.

“If you’re starting from scratch, you’re probably talking more like 10 years,” Virag said. “A car is a very complex technological machine.”

A lawsuit filed this month gives a window into Apple’s efforts to create a automotive team for the project. Apple began around June an “aggressive campaign to poach” employees from A123 Systems LLC, the Waltham, Massachusetts-based battery maker said in a lawsuit against Apple filed this month.

Apple hired five people from A123 and has tried to hire battery experts from LG Chem Ltd, Samsung Electronics Co., Panasonic Corp., Toshiba Corp. and Johnson Controls Inc., according to the lawsuit.

“Apple is currently developing a large-scale battery division to compete in the very same field as A123,” the battery maker said in a separate state-court filing.

The recent hiring effort at A123 began with Mujeeb Ijaz, a former Ford Motor Co. engineer, who founded A123’s Venture Technologies division, which focused on materials research, cell product development and advanced concepts. He began at Apple in June and began hiring direct reports from A123’s venture technologies division, which he had headed.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk told Bloomberg Businessweek this month that Apple was seeking to hire away his workers, offering $250,000 signing bonuses and 60 percent salary increases.