NASCAR and INDYCAR Are Coming to NHMS

NASCAR and INDYCAR zoomed through historical Boston Common today, revving up race fans for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series LENOX Industrial Tools 301 on July 17 and the IZOD IndyCar Series MoveThatBlock.com INDY® 225 on Aug 14., at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Juan Pablo Montoya and IZOD IndyCar Series reigning champion Dario Franchitti shook the windows on Beacon Street in Boston, Mass., by racing their cars through Boston Common during the heat of lunch hour.

After a strong seventh place finish at Pocono Raceway this weekend, Juan Pablo Montoya, drove into Boston behind the wheel of his No. 42 Earnhardt-Ganassi with Felix Sabates Target Chevrolet. No stranger to speed; Montoya boasts two pole positions at New Hampshire Motor Speedway and also won his only Indianapolis 500 in May of 2000. Montoya shared his excitement on returning to NHMS this season. 

“New Hampshire is a really cool place to race,” said Montoya.  “It’s one of my best tracks. You can run a lot of different grooves, which makes for a great race. It is the type of race track where in the first part of the race it’s smooth, half-way through its not as easy, and with 100-laps to go if you want a position you are probably going to have to move a car out of the way.”

Dario Franchitti, driver of the No. 10 Target Chip Ganassi Racing Honda is considered to be one of the best racecar drivers in the world. Franchitti boasts three IZOD IndyCar Series championships and two Indianapolis 500’s. He drove a partial season in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in 2008 for Chip Ganassi Racing. After winning the first Firestone Twin 275s at Texas Motor Speedway this weekend, he currently sits second in the championship point standings. Franchitti is excited for some fast racing at “The Magic Mile.”

“I really am looking forward to racing at New Hampshire this year,” said Franchitti. “I am really happy the series added three short tracks to the schedule, New Hampshire being one of them. My teammate Scott Dixon did a tire test at the track last year, at one point he called me to say ‘man you should see how fast we are going.’ I reckon we will be pushing at least 4G’s in the corners when we race.”

The two racing superstars were joined by Randy Bernard the CEO of INDYCAR and Jerry Gappens the New Hampshire Motor Speedway executive vice president and general manager. Both took part in the Paul Revere-style event where horses were traded for the hundreds of horsepower that a NASCAR stockcar and an IIndy car produce.

“In his day, Paul Revere was the fastest messenger in America,” said Gappens. “Now drivers like Juan Pablo Montoya and Dario Franchitti are the speediest. We are extremely glad to be here at Boston Common which has such a rich tradition in the city, to showcase the rich tradition that these forms of racing have at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.” 

“I am thrilled to be bringing INDYCAR back up to New Hampshire in August,” said Bernard. “We haven’t been there for 13 years and I am looking forward to coming back to NHMS with a vengeance. We have the fastest most versatile racecars and drivers in the world and I really feel like with both of these and the right competition, entertainment and value we will give the fans a great experience.”

The day ended with another Boston tradition, lunch at Cheers, home of the Bull and Finch Pub, where exterior shots were used for the hit television show Cheers.

Don’t miss your chance to see Juan Pablo Montoya at the LENOX Industrial Tools 301 on July 17 or Dario Franchitti at TheMoveThatBlock.com INDY® 225 on Aug 14. . Purchase your tickets now by calling “The Magic Mile” ticket hotline at (603) 783-4931

Mini E study reveals second car key to avoiding range anxiety

The secret to avoiding range anxiety while driving the Mini E may have less to do with how or where you drive, but in deciding which car to take in the first place.

BMW and the University of California, Davis, released a study of 120 families who leased the Mini E in California, New York, and New Jersey from June 2009 to June 2010. A majority of drivers reported that the Mini E met their daily driving needs, but they also said a second gas-powered car was key to avoiding the EV's shortcomings.

When asked to agree or disagree with the statement, "To overcome any limitations of my Mini E, I used my second car," 94 percent of drivers agreed, strongly agreed, or very strongly agreed. That means a 100-mile battery range of a two-seater EV is fine as long as you have a second car as backup. But that finding could foreshadow problems with some carmaker's EV strategy. BMW and Audi are targeting city dwellers as the ideal targets for small electric cars, even though it's harder to own multiple cars in urban environments.

According to the study (PDF), the average vehicle in the U.S. is driven 12,800 miles per year, but Mini Es averaged only 8,639 miles driven during the year-long lease. The survey didn't include information on mileage of second vehicles, it can be assumed gas vehicles made up the difference. That may help explain why BMW says that range anxiety isn't an issue for experienced Mini E drivers--they're taking the EV only for short trips that they know will work for the car's 100-mile mile battery range.

"We found that households adapted their driving around the capabilities of the vehicle and even explored ways to maximize the use of the Mini E," said Tom Turrentine, director for the UC Davis Plug-in Hybrid and Electric Vehicle Research Center.

But finding workarounds doesn't mean the drivers didn't wish the Mini E's range weren't longer. Of the drivers filling out the Mini E's end-of-lease survey, 81 percent of drivers said there were destinations they wanted to take the EV, but couldn't due to range. The destinations included infrequent trips, such as visits to second homes, shopping, or family visits, but 21 percent of drivers reported that they couldn't use the Mini E for work.

Despite the shortcomings, all drivers reported that the Mini E was fun to drive practical for daily use. While only 12 percent of drivers said they wouldn't consider buying an EV or plug-in hybrid vehicle in the next five years, 23 percent said they planned to purchase a plug-in hybrid, and 65 percent said they planned to buy an EV

Motorola XOOM Android Tablet (Verizon Wireless)

* Next-generation tablet with 10.1-inch display, Android 3.0 platform, and Verizon Wireless mobile broadband connectivity
* Powered by NVIDIA Tegra 2 dual-core mobile processor; support for Adobe Flash for viewing web sites, movies, games, and more
* Front-facing 2-megapixel camera and microphone for video chats; rear 5-megapixel camera for high-res stills and HD 720p video
* 32 GB internal memory; Wireless-N Wi-Fi with Mobile Hotspot capabilities; HDMI output; microSD expansion (with software upgrade)
* Up to 10 hours of video playback/Wi-Fi web browsing and up to 336 hours (14 days) of standby time; released in February, 2011


Amazon.com Product Description

Redefining the tablet by providing more ways to have fun, connect with friends and stay productive on the go, the Motorola XOOM for Verizon Wireless boasts a dual core processor with each core running at 1 GHz, 10.1-inch widescreen HD display, and 3G connectivity (which can be upgraded to 4G in coming months). Winner of the Best of Show award at the 2011 Consumer Electronics Show (CES), the XOOM also offers support for Adobe Flash Player--enabling you to view the web without compromise.

It runs Google's Android 3.0 Honeycomb operating system, which offers a multi-touch, holographic user interface that improves on Android favorites such as widgets, multi-tasking, browsing, notifications and customization. It also offers the latest Google Mobile innovations, including Google Maps 5.0 with 3D interaction, access to over 3 million Google eBooks and Google Talk with video and voice chat.

The Motorola XOOM features a front-facing 2-megapixel camera for video chats over Wi-Fi or 3G/4G LTE via Google Talk, as well as a rear-facing 5-megapixel camera that captures video in 720p HD. The 10.1-inch display delivers console-like gaming performance on its 1280 x 800-pixel display, and it features a built-in gyroscope, barometer, e-compass, accelerometer, and adaptive lighting for new types of applications.

Other features include a 32 GB internal memory, memory expansion via optional microSD cards (with future software upgrade), Wireless-N Wi-Fi networking with Mobile Hotspot capabilities, Bluetooth for hands-free devices and stereo music streaming, access to personal and corporate e-mail, HD 1080p video playback, HDMI output for connecting to a compatible HDTV or monitor, and a 3250 mAh battery for up to 10 hours of Wi-Fi internet browsing.

Sony shows 3D laptop due in 2011

Sony plans to join the small set of companies that offers laptops that can display 3D video and games at 1080p resolution.

The company showed off prototypes of a forthcoming Vaio laptop at the IFA electronics show here Wednesday, models that come with a "3D" button and active-shutter glasses to separate what the right and left eyes see.

"3D Vaios will debut next spring," Howard Stringer, Sony's chief executive, said in a press conference touting 3D technology and Sony's commitment to it. Sony also touted other 3D products and content at the show.

The protoypes shown at IFA use "frame-sequential" technology that rapidly cycles the full screen between left-eye and right-eye views, with blank screens in between each to reduce the "crosstalk" that can reduce 3D image quality.

That means the laptop must be able to display video at 240 frames per second to keep up with a 3D rate of 60 frames per second. Sony wouldn't reveal whose graphics chip is used in the system. Sony's also cautioned that the ultimate products may be different from the prototypes it showed.

IFA, like electronics shows before it, has become a showcase for 3D technology. Many people are indifferent or even hostile about the technology so far, or at least unwilling to pay the necessary premium, but it's also making steady inroads across the electronics and computing industry.

Sony also announced at IFA that some existing Blu-ray players and PlayStation 3 will be retrofitted with new firmware making them 3D-capable. Among 3D game titles Stringer showed were Tumble, the Sly Trilogy, Mortal Kombat, Virtual Tennis 4, Killzone 3, Super Stardust HD, The Fight, Motor Storm Apocalypse, and MLB baseball.

For those who want a really big screen experience, Sony announced a 3D video projector, the WV-90. It will use the same active-shutter system as Sony's Bravia TVs, meaning that the required glasses will work across the line.

The entire press conference was displayed live on a large screen above the stage. Sony opted to use Real D's 3D technology, which today is found in many movie cinemas. Panasonic, which also tooted its 3D horn at IFA, opted instead to use an array of 54 of its own plasma TV screens. Sony, it should be noted, also sells digital cinema projectors and high-end 3D cameras, including some used to shoot the movie Avatar.

Sony, unlike some of its competitors, is a content company. Here, the company plans to tackle 3D aggressively, too.

Sony also plans to launch its own 3D TV channel, Stringer said, with content to include natural history, children's programming, science, and motion pictures, Stringer said. And Sony Pictures plans several 3D movies soon: "Resident Evil Afterlife," "The Green Hornet," another "Spider-Man" sequel, and another "Men in Black" sequel.

"Being shot in 3D doesn't automatically guarantee success," Stringer said. "What counts is how well you tell a story. A hit is a still a hit is still a hit--except in 3D it's a bigger hit."

And then there are the staples. Sony plans to release by the end of 2010 a Blu-ray disk of highlights of the World Cup soccer tournament, Stringer said.

Hands On: Able Planet's Clear Harmony Headphones

My mother always told me I'd regret procrastinatng. For months I've had Able Planet's $349 Clear Harmony headphones sitting on my desk, waiting for me to get around to trying them out. Last month, I finally opened the package. I wish I'd done it sooner.

The headphones use Able Planet's Linx Audio technology, which was originally designed for the hard of hearing; it not only reduces outside noise, it amplifies higher frequencies in the audio. Applied to headphones, the result is something that's useful for people with normal hearing as well.

Think of it as preventive aural maintenace. When the ambient noise is so drastically diminished and the audio you're listening to is selectively boosted, you don't have to turn the volume up as high to hear clearly. In a few random tests where I switched between fairly good Sony earbuds and the Clear Harmony headphones, I was surprised to discover how much I'd turned up my iPod to hear music clearly on the earbuds. Keeping things at a lower volume with the headphones meant I was subjecting my ears to less stress, and incidentally reducing power demands on the iPod.

I've been using the headphones in a variety of environments, such as mowing the lawn (the reason I finally put them on) and riding on trains, buses and planes. The large cans seal my ears in nicely, shutting out a lot of the ambient noise on their own; turning on the noise-cancelling circuitry -- the headphones are powered by two AA batteries -- takes care of almost everything else.

I'd recommend the Clear Harmony headphones for anyone who regularly listens to music out of the house, needs a little peace and quiet in noisy environments (even without music playing, the headphones form a nice little audio cocoon), or just values their hearing. There are, however, two caveats, aside from the high price: one is that after a few hours, they can get a little uncomfortable; the second is that they do too good a job of blocking outside sound -- wearing them while walking down the street would conceivably be a safety hazard.

Maximum Record Full HD For Camera Smartphone

Every day more and more types of smartphones manufactured by a variety of leading brands. Each offers advantages with the hardware specifications of increasing compared with previous products. Let us consider one of the things that become a liability in a smartphone at the present time, namely the camera. The camera has become an inseparable part of smartphone products. Along with the development of a wide range cangih operating system for smartphones like the iPhone, Android, and Windows 7 Phone Blackbarry which offers additional features for the capture of camera phones ". For users of iPhone and Android in the years 2010-2011 must have felt a lot of programs that can maximize the camera on the smartphone.

On the basis of the information presented above, the Samsung as one of the smartphone vendors who are really serious about producing hardware in accordance with user preferences, especially for users of Android, in 2011 began to introduce a new camera sensor is manufactured to be used on smartphones and camera point and the latest shot. Type CMOS sensor is SK3H2 to a maximum resolution of 8 megapixels and has the ability to record video with a resolution of full HD 1080p up to 30fps.

Samsung Back Side Illumination (BSI) Technology

This sensor is suitable to be embedded in the camera because it uses technology, Samsung's smartphone BSI (Back Side Illumination), produced with great capability in minimizing the use of battery power, making it suitable for smartphones for more efficient battery. Previous Samsung already produces type sensor FSI (Front Side Illumination), but Samsung is currently developing a new type of technology that is BSI with a smaller power consumption compared to FSI but the picture quality is just as good.

Now the iPhone gets a Japanese strap to call its own

It’s a reasonable bet that most people who drop a new iPhone into a steaming bowl of ramen will head straight to the store for a replacement, but not Fukuoka-based Ken Yokota. Instead of crying over spilled tonkotsu broth, he went and designed a completely new way of attaching a Japanese-style strap to the slippery hunk of metal and glass.

From that eureka moment in 2009 sprang his company, Poddities, which now sells a range of attachments and cases that make the iPhone a full-fledged member of the strap-dangling set.

The simplest add-on is the Netsuke, which uses a screw-on stainless steel base plate to bring an eyelet to the iPhone, to which you can attach your strap of choice. At ¥1,890 it’s a smart way to hook up your favorite phone charm.

Alternatively, you may prefer the Carabiner or Loop Straps – from ¥2,625 up to ¥3,990 and available in a smart range of colors from the Poddities online store.

As with the Netsuke, all the products come with a special (and rather attractive) mini screwdriver that you use to remove those two screws on the bottom edge of the iPhone and replace them with slightly longer versions that accommodate the Poddities plate.

If it sounds more complicated than it really is, that’s probably because the idea of taking a screwdriver to your phone isn’t exactly appealing. Still, installing any of the gear takes about a minute and is really about as simple as it gets. In case you’re wondering, the dock connecter remains accessible as usual.

Lastly, there’s a neat-looking case called the Osaifon, which is basically a soft leather flip cover with a twist – it has a pocket on the inside for your train pass, credit card or whatever other thin rectangular objects you like to carry around. A smart idea, although slightly expensive at ¥5,040

Poddities also does a similar line for the older iPhones out there, so check ‘em out for yourself at the link below and go grab a bowl of ramen in safety.

new - Samsung Galaxy S2 Release Date

Even though Samsung Electronics has at last unveiled the much anticipated Samsung Galaxy S2, release date of this smartphone continues to be a mystery for people. In a bid to find its release date, we decided to evaluate some speculations about Galaxy S2.

After making a lot of buzz in cyberspace, Samsung Galaxy S2 (or Samsung Galaxy S II) is finally here. The latest offering from Samsung Electronics is expected to take on Apple iPhone, and that explains why people are looking forward for its release with such anticipation. Even though Samsung Galaxy S2 release date has not yet been announced officially by Samsung, it did unveil this android based smartphone on 13th February, 2011, at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona, Spain. With numerous rumors and speculations about this device flooding the tech arena, people were more than eager to find out when is the Samsung Galaxy S2 coming out. Everybody had their eyes on Mobile World Congress not just for Galaxy S2 release date, but also because Samsung was expected to announce Samsung Galaxy Tab (2nd generation) in this meet.

Samsung Galaxy S2 Release Date

With Samsung yet to come up with any official announcement, the rumors about Galaxy S2 release date continue to make waves in the tech arena. Even though we have the amazing line up of features that Galaxy S2 has to offer at our disposal, we still have to depend on rumors and speculations for its release date and cost. Those who have been keeping a track of this second generation Samsung mobile phone suggest that it will be made available somewhere during the last week of February or first week of March this year. On the other hand, some experts who are well versed with things happening in tech arena suggest that the first week of March - 4th March to be precise, is the date to look out for. As far as the Samsung Galaxy S2 cost is concerned, it is expected to be somewhere in the range of $700-$800. The rumors about this device seem to have become all the more convincing, now that it has been unveiled.

Samsung Galaxy S2 Specs

Samsung Galaxy S II is a dual-core smartphone which is armed with Android 2.3 Gingerbread OS. The 1 GHz dual core processor that it sports is bound to make sure that you don't face any issues with its speed. At 0.334 inches, Galaxy S2 is also the thinnest smartphone to enter the market. The 4.3 inch crystal clear Super AMOLED Plus screen compliments its sleek look very well. It features two cameras; the one at the rear is 8.0 MP and the one in front is 2.0 MP. In terms of storage capacity, the Galaxy S2 has two options - 16 or 32 GB flash memory, which can be expanded upto 32 GB. The multi-touch capacitive touchscreen display, proximity sensor, 3-axis accelerometer and gyroscope, multiple connectivity options and its ability to record videos in full high definition 1080p are other noteworthy features that it boasts of. Along with all this, you get access to integrated mobile apps referred to as Samsung Hubs - from where you can download music, play games, read and also resort to social networking.

A look at these amazing features makes it obvious why people are so eager to hear about Samsung Galaxy S2 release date so that they can grab it as soon as it hits the stores. It has been proved time and again that second generation products are much better than their predecessors, and Galaxy S II - the evolution of Galaxy S as Samsung puts it, is no exception. Now that Samsung is expected to announce its release date within the next few days to come, you just need to watch out for this space and we will make sure that we keep you updated as things proceed.

Update 20/04/2011: Samsung Galaxy S II Release Dates Announced

Even though Samsung Galaxy S2 release dates have been finally announced officially, the fact that it is not coming to the United States until the Q3 2011 is bound to leave many people out there depressed. As per the official sources, Samsung Galaxy S II - which is believed to be the world's thinnest smartphone, is all set to make its debut in the last week of April wherein it will be launched in South Korea and Singapore. This will be followed by a grand launch in the United Kingdom on 1st May, and in Germany and UAE on 2nd May, 2011.

In May, this Samsung smartphone will be also released in Denmark, Sweden, India, Norway and Russia. On the other hand, nations like Australia, South Africa and Switzerland will only see it somewhere in Q2 of 2011. It United States launch in Q3 2011 is expected coincide with Canada and Brazil launch. The release in different regions at different time is also important because Samsung intends to launch Galaxy S II with different configuration in different parts of the world.