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Ford’s 1.0L EcoBoost wins second consecutive Engine of the Year Award

Ford has taken top honors in the International Engine of the Year voting for the second year in the row. As was the case last year, Ford’s 1.0-liter EcoBoost earned the the American automaker the accolade, achieving the highest-ever accumulated score in the 15 year history of the award.

The award is voted on by 87 automotive journalists from 35 countries around the world based on drivability, performance, economy, refinement and the successful application of advanced engine technology. This is only the third time an automaker has managed back-to-back victories. Voters were impressed by the EcoBoost engine’s power output – 123 horsepower between 1,400 and 4,500 rpm, 148 pound-feet of torque from 1,400 to 4,000 rpm. It is also surprisingly compact in size; Ford has demonstrated that the package is small enough to fit in the overhead bin of a passenger airplane.

The 1.0-litre EcoBoost will be offered in the Ford EcoSport when it goes on sale in India later this summer. Apart from this, it is offered in the European Fiesta, B-MAX, Focus, C-MAX and Grand C-MAX, and Ford plans to put the engine in the Transit Connect, Transit Courier, Tourneo Connect, Tourneo Courier and Mondeo and EcoSport soon. It’s no wonder that Ford is planning on increasing production of the EcoBoost engine at its factory in Cologne, Germany to almost 1000 engines a day from mid-August to meet demand.

The other category winners are listed below:

New Engine
Ford three-cylinder turbo (Focus)

Green Engine
General Motors 1.4-liter range extender (Chevrolet Volt, Opel Ampera)

Performance Engine
Ferrari 4.5-liter V8 (458 Italia)

Sub 1.0-Liter
Ford three-cylinder turbo (Focus)

1.0-Liter to 1.4-Liter
Volkswagen 1.4-liter TSI Twincharger (Polo, Beetle, Golf, etc.)

1.4-Liter to 1.8-Liter
BMW-PSA 1.6-liter turbo gasoline (Mini Cooper S, Peugeot 207, etc.)

1.8-Liter to 2.0-Liter
BMW 2.0-liter twin-turbo four gasoline (125i, 320i, Z4 20i, etc.)

2.0-Liter to 2.5-Liter
Audi 2.5-liter five-cylinder turbo (TT RS, RS3 Sportback)

2.5-Liter to 3.0-Liter
BMW 3.0-liter bi-turbo six-cylinder (1 Series M Coupe, 335is, Z4 35is)

3.0-Liter to 4.0-Liter
BMW M 4.0-liter V8 (BMW M3)

Above 4.0-Liter
Ferrari 4.5-liter V8 (458 Italia)

Image courtesy: Ford

June 6, 2013
Leaked : Nokia EOS 41-MP PureView Hardware Photos

The reliable leakers over at WPDang have trudged up some interesting shots of the hotly anticipated Nokia EOS, a Lumia-looking device, similar in size to the Lumia 920, with an enormous camera sensor and lens combination, like the PureView 808.

Like the PureView 808, this model appears to have quite a hump on the back of the phone to accommodate the 41MP sensor, which is believed to be identical to the one found in the original. There will be undoubtedly be improvements made to the lens system, however, and you can expect the inclusion of optical image stabilization and a host of other algorithmic optimizations as well.

The front of the device appears nearly identical in size and shape to other Lumia devices, but is not squared off like the recently-announced Lumia 928 and 925. It will apparently feature a 4.5-inch 1280×768 pixel AMOLED display, like the Lumia 928, along with wireless charging support and a full-sized Xenon flash.

The PureView 808 creates near-lossless photos, even when zooming, by using a technique called oversampling, or pixel binning, which combines the data captured by multiple pixels into one sharper, less grainy pixel. This works to create photos of sharable 5MP size from a much larger sensor. It seems the handset will also support wireless charging, and there are whispers even about variable aperture on the camera.

The veracity of these photos is not completely verifiable, but they look about as real as any leak can be.

The Nokia EOS release date is said to be July 9th and if true the official unveiling should happen very soon.

[Mobile Syrup, WPDang]

June 5, 2013
HTC One Mini Leaked shots emerge : 4.3 inch 720p and Ultrapixel camera

The HTC One Mini has been doing rounds through the rumor pages for many days now, the M4 codename device has finally shown off its aluminum accents in black color at Estonian site forte.delfi.ee. Equipped with a downsized 4.3 inch 720p display and Dual core processor the HTC One Mini retains the Blinkfeed UI, the Ultrapixel camera and the 2 GB RAM. The Ultrapixel camera is still 4 MP and the storage is a moderate 16 GB.

HTC has seen huge success with the HTC One where the company recently crossed the 5 Million sales mark for the handset. Even with delayed deliveries people have really appreciated the HTC One, and the next logical step for the company seems to be, to follow in Samsung’s footsteps and launch Mini versions of its flagship. This way the HTC One mini will give the feel of the full fledged device including the great camera and Beats audio, along with build quality and features (read:blinkfeed) for a considerably cheaper price.

The website claims that the phone will be available in August for €400, but it seems too late for our liking. Now if we could get some more information on the HTC One with a 5.9 inch screen.

[via] [source]

June 5, 2013
Samsung Galaxy S4 Active Is Now Official

The Samsung Galaxy S4 Active is now official after what seems to be months rumours.

“The Galaxy S4 Active is the newest addition to the Galaxy series and is purposefully designed for active users who love the outdoors,” JK Shin, CEO and President of IT & Mobile Communications Division at Samsung said. “Samsung has taken the innovative features of the Galaxy S4 and added breakthrough protective design elements to create a device that thrives in an active environment and is built for a lifestyle of travel and exploration.”

Specifications for the Galaxy S4 Active include a 5-inch 1080p Super LCD display, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 quad-core processor clocked at 1.9GHz, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage, and an 8-megapixel camera. That’s down from the 13-megapixel shooter found on the standard Galaxy S4, but Samsung says that this camera is optimized to take pictures underwater thanks to a new “Aqua Mode”.

A microSD card slot is also included for expandable storage up to 64GB, and just like the Galaxy S4, the Active features a large 2,600mAh battery. Android 4.2.2 will run on the phone out of the box. That added protection against the elements brings a little bulk to the phone, though. Samsung says the Active is 9.1mm thick and weighs 151g. That’s a slight jump from the Galaxy S4’s 7.9mm thickness and 130g weight.

In terms of the Samsung Galaxy S4 Active release date all we know is that it will go on sale sometime this summer in select markets.

June 5, 2013
M&M launch the new Verito Vibe in India Starting Rs. 5.63 Lakh.
Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd. has launched the new Verito Vibe in India starting at a price of Rs. 5.63 lakh (ex-showroom Mumbai). The Vibe has been launched in three variants D2 (Rs 5.63 lakh), D4 (Rs 5.89 lakh) and D6 (Rs 6.49 lakh) in seven color options for all variants.

Set to compete with Liva and Maruti Suzuki Swift, the Verito Vibe has an ARAI claimed fuel efficiency of 20.8 km/litre and comes with a 3 year/100,000 km warranty. The Verito Vibe has the same 1.5-litre, 65PS dCi diesel unit that is found in the Verito and will also have a massive 330 lit boot space.

Interior

The launch of our much awaited compact car, the Verito Vibe, is another proud moment in our automotive journey. For the Mahindra Group, the launch of the Vibe is a milestone by itself as the team deployed alternative thinking to deliver a high level of technology and performance at a competitive price. I am confident that the Vibe will create an impact in the compact car segment and find favour with the evolving Indian customer-

Pawan Goenka, President – Automotive & Farm Equipment Sectors, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd

Main specifications include:
- 1.5 litre dCi Diesel Engine
- fuel efficiency of 20.8 KMPL
- Adjustable Front & Rear Head Rests (for ALL 3 rear passengers)
- 2 DIN Music System with CD Player, MP3, USB, AUX
- Electric HVAC with ergonomic controls
- Instrument Panel with Multi-information display
- Electric ORVM.
- Power windows for front & rear seats
- Power Steering
- Seats with under-thigh support in bright two-tone upholstery
- Cross-member in the rear
- Side – impact beams
- ABS with EBD
- Driver Airbag
[toggle title=”Press Release”]Mumbai June 5, 2013: Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. (M&M), a part of the US $16.2 billion Mahindra Group, today unveiled its eagerly awaited sub 4 metre, compact car, the Verito Vibe. Designed and developed in-house by Mahindra, the Verito Vibe marks Mahindra’s entry into the high volume compact car market. The Verito Vibe redefines the compact car segment in terms of its spaciousness, reliability and unique crossover style for the Indian consumer.
Powered by Renault’s renowned 1.5 litre dCi diesel engine known for its durability and delivering mileage of 20.8 KMPL*(ARAI certified), the Verito Vibe also comes fitted with a state-of-the-art Driver Information System, which gives customers real time updates on mileage, temperature, distance to empty and more, making the Vibe a very dependable compact family car.
Speaking on the launch of the Verito Vibe, Dr Pawan Goenka, President – Automotive & Farm Equipment Sectors, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd stated, “The launch of our much awaited compact car, the Verito Vibe, is another proud moment in our automotive journey. For the Mahindra Group, the launch of the Vibe is a milestone by itself as the team deployed alternative thinking to deliver a high level of technology and performance at a competitive price. I am confident that the Vibe will create an impact in the compact car segment and find favour with the evolving Indian customer”.
Pravin Shah, Chief Executive, Automotive Division, Mahindra & Mahindra said, “The Verito Vibe packs in the aspirations of the Indian car lover and offers high standards in every aspect of style, space, safety and engine performance. Developed on the global and proven quality platform of the tried and tested Verito, the Vibe is well suited for Indian road conditions All this and much more makes the Vibe nothing less than a category creator”.
The Verito Vibe will be available in seven colours including the newly developed Aqua Rush and will be available in select Mahindra showrooms in major cities across the country. Priced at an attractive Rs 5.63 (ex-showroom Mumbai) the New Verito Vibe will be available in three distinct and attractive variants namely – D2, D4, D6. The new Verito Vibe will be available in Diesel engine only. The price range for the Vibe will be from Rs. 5.63 lacs (ex-showroom Mumbai) for the base D2 model, to Rs. 6.49 lac (ex showroom Mumbai) for the fully loaded top end D6 model.
The Verito Vibe is a wide bodied compact car that offers comfortable seating for three adults in the rear seat. Three adjustable rear headrests make the Vibe the only product in the premium compact car segment to offer these features for the middle passenger in the rear seat. It has a large boot capacity of 330 litres.
Designed to cater to the aspirational requirements of customers, the Verito Vibe comes equipped with safety features like ABS with EBD, Driver Air Bag, Engine Immobilizer, Side Impact Beams, Adjustable Head Rests for all seats etc. Adding to this its reliability and robustness of design
Copyright © 2013 Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. All rights reserved. 3
means the Verito Vibe sets itself apart from other compact cars in its class. The Verito Vibe boasts of sophisticated curves and masculine body lines. The vehicle has been designed with first-in-class LED light streaming tail lamps on the C-pillar. Its uniquely positioned rear chrome appliqué and muffler cutter adds to the style of the vehicle.
Moreover, the New Verito Vibe comes replete with new fog lamps, roof rails, side cladding, rear chrome appliqué, blackened headlamps and a rear spoiler, all of which makes the car stand out amongst its peers.
The New Verito Vibe has been designed with a three-box body style with a boot separate from passenger compartment, similar to sedans. The unique styling, superior interior space and the large boot size make the Verito Vibe an ideal sub 4 meter car that’s perfect to drive to far off destinations with a lot of luggage.
About the New Verito Vibe
DISTINCTIVE STYLING ELEMENTS
? First-in-class LED Light Streaming Tail Lamps on the C-pillar
? Ski racks that blend in with the tail lamps giving the vehicle a sporty crossover look.
? Uniquely-positioned Rear Chrome Appliqué & Muffler Cutter adds to the style of the vehicle.
? Sporty Carbon-finish Front Grille, Blackened Headlamps & Fog Lamps
? Trendy New Champagne-coloured Alloy Wheels
? Bold Wheel Arches
? ‘Skirted’/Blackened rear bumper
CLASS-LEADING CABIN & BOOT SPACE
? Three adults can sit comfortably with ample leg, shoulder and head room as against the cramped rear seat space offered in other hatches and compact sedans.
? One of the largest boots in the sub 4 m category.
MOST RELIABLE POWER TRAIN & FUEL EFFICIENT ENGINES AVAILABLE IN INDIA
? Reliable 1.5 litre dCi Diesel Engine
? Proven fuel efficiency of 20.8 KMPL
? Low running costs
Copyright © 2013 Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. All rights reserved. 4
EXCELLENT RIDE & HANDLING
? Modern suspension that absorbs potholes and gives a smooth ride
? Responsive steering that inspires confidence
? Verito well known for its handling abilities & high speed cornering / lane changing.
COMFORT, CONVENIENCE & FUNCTIONALITY
? Adjustable Front & Rear Head Rests (for ALL 3 rear passengers)
? Sturdy & Thoughtfully-designed Grab Handles
? Quadra-tone Front Fascia with –
o 2 DIN Music System with CD Player, MP3, USB, AUX
o Electric HVAC with ergonomic controls
o Multi-directional Circular AC Vents
o Front Dash Parcel Shelf with Chrome Accent
o Instrument Panel with Multi-information display
? Electric ORVM.
? Power windows for front & rear seats
? Power Steering
? Comfortable Seats with under-thigh support in bright two-tone upholstery
? Easy Ingress & Egress
SAFETY FEATURES
? Cross-member for extra protection in the rear
? Side – impact beams
? ABS with EBD
? Driver Airbag[/toggle]
June 5, 2013
“Smaller” Windows 8 Tablets To Get Office 2013 For Free

Aside from announcing that Outlook 2013 will be coming to Windows RT 8.1 later this year, Microsoft has revealed at Computex 2013 that all new “small” x86 tablets running Windows 8 will come with basic Office 2013 apps for free.

So far, there are few details regarding what products will be eligible for the bundle, what version of Office will be included and whether it will be a time-limited deal, but we do know that Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote will form the free package.

Only x86 Windows 8 tablets will qualify for the bundle, as they are the only devices able to run the full version of Windows 8. The ARM processors used to power Windows RT devices, such as the Microsoft Surface RT, can’t run x86 applications and will miss out.

This follows with what we’ve seen in recent tablet launches, such as the 8-inch Acer Iconia W3, which comes with a free copy of Office 2013 installed out of the box. Expect more information about Windows 8 and the inclusion of these Office 2013 apps at BUILD 2013, Microsoft’s developer event scheduled for later this month.

Microsoft is also adding a version of its Outlook email and calendar app to Windows RT — the version of Windows 8 that runs on ARM-based chips from Qualcomm and Nvidia. Prior devices, such as Surface RT, came with only Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote, along with a custom e-mail and calendar program.

“We’re always listening to our customers and one piece of feedback was that people want the power of Outlook on all their Windows PCs and tablets,” Microsoft said in a statement.

June 5, 2013
Lenovo Launches 6 New Phones, Including K900 With World’s First Intel Atom Z2580 Processor.

Lenovo today launched 6 new smartphones in India.

The flagship device will be the K900, which is the world’s first smartphone based on the latest Intel Atom Z2580 processor, clocked at 2GHz and which utilizes Intel’s Hyper-Threading technology to boost performance.

Features of the new smartphone include a 5.5″ IPS display with 1080p full high-definition resolution with 400+ pixels-per-inch, a 13MP camera with Sony Exmor BSi sensor, an 88-degree viewing angle front camera and a graphics media accelerator.

The Lenovo K900 has been priced at Rs. 32,999/- and will be available across India from July 13.

The P780 has been launched with a massive 4,000 mAh battery. A 5-inch IPS display, a 8MP camera, and a 1.2 GHz quad-core processor. It has been priced at Rs 22,529/-.

The Lenovo S920 runs on Android Jelly Bean and has Dual SIM support. It has a 5.3 Inches IPS display (1280 x 720), 1.2 GHz Quad-core MTK 6589 Processor with 1GB of RAM, 8MP rear and 2MP front camera with LED flash and autofocus, 4GB Internal memory, expandable up to 32GB via microSD card and a 2250 mAh Li-Ion battery. The retail price for the S920 is Rs. 26,399/-.

The Lenovo S820 has a 4.66″ (720 x 1280 pixels, 315 ppi pixel density) IPS LCD display and runs on Android Jelly Bean. It is powered by a Quad-core 1.2 GHz MTK 6589 processor with 1GB of RAM. It features a 12MP rear and 2MP front camera with LED flash and Autofocus, 4GB Internal memory, expandable up to 32GB via microSD card and a 2000 mAh Li-Ion battery. It has been priced at Rs. 19,599/-.

Next is the Lenovo A706, which sports a 4.5-inch FWVGA IPS capacitive touchscreen display. That’s a 16:9 854 x 480 screen resolution which should bring the pixel density to an average 217ppi. Under the hood, the Lenovo A706 uses a quad-core processor that clocks at 1 GHz. While it is equipped with 1GB RAM, it only has 4GB worth of internal storage. It has been priced at Rs. 15,949/-.

Lastly, the Lenovo A390 has a 4″ (480 x 800 pixels, 233 ppi pixel density) display and is powered by a dual-core 1 GHz processor with 512MB of RAM. It too has 4GB of internal memory and a 5 MP camera. It has been priced at Rs. 8,689/-.

June 5, 2013
Google Glass XE6 Update Brings HDR Photography, Captioning

Are you among the few out there with Google Glass? Now you’ve got better pictures — and the ability to add a caption – on the way.

Google has begun rolling out a software update for the Google Glass heads-up-display computers with major changes to the way the device takes and handles photographs. Notably, the device will now take photos in rapid succession so you can choose the best photo possible.

The update brings “rapid sequence of shots”. This feature takes a burst of photos with every photograph that is taken. Those multiple images are then merged together, producing a single image that is more detailed and better exposed than the previous images Glass would take.

You can now shoot HDR images on Glass, which will help in high contrast situations. This involves taking a brighter, darker and mid-range image and combining them together to reproduce a fuller range of tones. It’s very common now on smartphones and other cameras, so it’s nice to see it come to Glass.

There’s also a new option to add a photo caption via voice as you share your photo out. Just tap and talk and a caption will appear with your social sharing to Google+.

The camera aside, there are some other small changes and improvements that are included in update XE6, such as a change to the shut down notification sound and Off-Head detection sound. Hangouts produces a ring when connecting, Google Now Sports and Birthdays cards are new and improved, off-head detection is better, and several small fixes have been applied.

[The Next Web]

June 5, 2013
HTC COO Departs After Reporting Highest Revenue In 11 Months

HTC reported that sales of their flagship HTC One hit ‘around 5 million.’ This is certainly great news for CEO Peter Chou as he previously declared that he would resign if the One was not a success. For now the all-aluminum Android is pressing forward. Earlier today the company their strongest month of revenues in almost a year. Unaudited revenues ending May 31st hit $967 million, but still down 3.3%.

That’s the good news. Unfortunately another exec has departed the company. Bloomberg is reporting that Matthew Costello, Chief Operating Officer, has decided to part ways after a 3-year stint. No other details were given, but “Costello will stay on as an executive adviser after moving to Europe.” His role will be absorbed by Fred Liu, currently president of engineering and operations, and will now oversee “operations, quality, sales operations and services.”

This marks the seventh HTC executive to fly the coop since the beginning of the year. According to The Verge, the May departure of Asia CEO Lennard Hoornik and Kouji Kodera, chief product officer, were the latest in a slew of employee losses, including Jason Gordon, vice president of global communications; Rebecca Rowland, global retail marketing manager; John Starkweather, director of digital marketing, and Eric Lin, product strategy manager.

In an interview last week with AllThingsD, Jason Mackenzie, HTC’s president of global sales, sought to put the departures into context and suggested that the media was blowing them out of proportion.

“HTC has been around for 15 years now, so it’s still a relatively young company, and still a company where it feels like a family. It feels like a mom and pop organization because many of the founders are all still there. And so it’s tough when we lose one employee; we’re like that,” he said. “But the news around this ‘mass exodus’ has really been overblown. We’re a big company today and we’ve lost a few people. Some were planned and some were not. But it’s not masses of people.”

Another interesting point in the report notes that HTC will be forming a new quality assurance division that will “handle product lifecycle matters” and “product reliability.” This division will be run by Georges Boulloy and will most likely hone in on improving device launch time.

[Mobile Syrup, The Verge]

June 5, 2013
Sony Unveils Xperia M and M Dual
Enjoying the success of dual sim phones, Sony has shown off the new Xperia M and Xperia M Dual. Both the Xperia M and the Xperia M dual carry a 4.0-inch TFT display of FWVGA resolution. The M and M dual run on a 1GHz dual-core processor along with Adreno 305 graphics, 1GB of RAM, 4GB of internal storage of which 2.8GB is user-accessible. A 32 GB microSD can expand the end-user storage.

Both phones have a 5-megapixel rear camera with auto-focus and a 0.3-megapixel front snapper along with a 1,750mAh battery and Wi-Fi, 3G with HSPA, Bluetooth 4.0 and NFC. Sony has built in NFC connectivity and dedicated sharing apps, and the company is pegging Xperia M and Xperia M dual to be phones with “magical one-touch functions”. The Xperia M runs on Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean) while the dual will come with Android 4.2.2 out of the box and both flavors will run Sony’s own Timescape skin.

The Sony Xperia M will be available in four colour options – Black, White, Purple and Lime. While the dual will be available in Black, White and Purple colours. While no pricing information has been shared for the two phones, it is expected that the phones will go on sale in Q3 2013.

Sony Xperia M and Xperia M dual key specifications
- 4-inch display with FWVGA resolution
- 1 GHz dual-core processor
- 1GB RAM
- 4GB internal storage, expandable by up to 32GB via microSD
- 5-megapixel rear camera with auto-focus
- VGA front-facing camera
- Dual-SIM (GSM+GSM) only for Xperia M dual
- Wi-Fi, 3G, Bluetooth, aGPS, NFC
- 1,750mAh
- Android 4.1 for Xperia M, Android 4.2 for Xperia M dual
[youtube id=”x5x3aOwfYCs” width=”100%” height=”300px”]
June 5, 2013
Sandisk Announces Extreme II SSD (PR)

SanDisk announced the release of the SanDisk Extreme II, U110 and i110 SSDs which are designed for OEMs and extend SanDisk’s line-up by offering drives that match a range of applications.

These Solid State Disks use 19 nm NAND which likely is manufactured by Flash Forward, the joint venture between Toshiba and SanDisk. The drives will become available in capacities of 120, 240 and 480 GB.

Zeroing in on the Extreme II SSD, the company hails it as a faster devices that “significantly” speeds up data rates and makes both start up and shutdown faster. SanDisk aims it at gamers, too, saying it makes game loading faster and improves game play.

The Extreme II SSD offers a maximum read rate of 550MB/second and a maximum write speed of 510MB/second, making it faster than the original Extreme SSD. There’s also up to 95,000 in random read IOPS, and 78,000 in random write IOPS.

SanDisk has also incorporated their nCache technology in these drives which is a large non volatile write cache, which should improve random write performance.

SanDisk is also announcing that their SanDisk X110 SSD is now shipping in an mSATA form factor with capacities at 32GB, 64GB, 128GB and 256GB. The new mSATA SanDisk X110 SSD is now available through SanDisk for Business.

[toggle title=”Press Release”]SanDisk Extends Innovative SSD Line-up for Consumers, PC Makers
Introduces SanDisk Extreme® II SSD for Superior Computing Performance and Reliability for Gamers and Multimedia UsersNew SanDisk U110 SSD and SanDisk iSSD™ i110 integrated storage device Offer Fast, Compact Storage for PC OEMs
TAIPEI, Taiwan —
SanDisk Corporation (NASDAQ: SNDK), a global leader in flash memory storage solutions, today announced that it has further expanded its trusted and broad solid state drive (SSD) portfolio with the addition of three new models – the high-performance SanDisk Extreme II SSD for technology enthusiasts and gamers, as well as two new OEM SSDs designed to enable cutting-edge notebooks and tablets.

All of the new SSDs introduced by SanDisk today are built with the company’s advanced 19 nanometer (nm) manufacturing process technology and rely on SanDisk’s intelligent flash memory architecture. This combination enables SanDisk to create SSDs that are exceptionally responsive, reliable and energy-efficient1. SanDisk will be showcasing its full SSD line-up at the company’s booth at COMPUTEX TAIPEI on June 4-8, 2013 (booth number N0804).

“Today, we again raised the bar by bringing our latest technology innovations to a new generation of SSDs that address the most demanding computing needs,” said Kevin Conley, senior vice president and general manager of Client Storage Solutions at SanDisk. “The SanDisk Extreme II SSD, our fastest and most responsive SATA III SSD to date, is a great option for gamers, PC enthusiasts or any consumers who want to get the most from their computing experience. And, we’ve enhanced two of our most popular OEM SSDs to enable PC makers to push the boundaries of computing even further. These new SSD products reaffirm the standard set by SanDisk for performance, reliability and flexibility.”

SanDisk Extreme II SSD for Responsive and Reliable Performance

The blazing fast SanDisk Extreme II SSD significantly improves data-transfer, application launching, and boot-up and shut-down times for notebook computers and desktops1. Leveraging SanDisk’s advanced 19nm flash memory and proprietary high-performance tiered system architecture (which includes the company’s exclusive nCache™ acceleration technology2), the SanDisk Extreme II SSD brings a fast and enjoyable user experience to data-intensive multimedia applications, such as digital music and photography experiences. For gamers, the SanDisk Extreme II SSD enables quick game loading and enhances gameplay.

Exceptional Speed: The SanDisk Extreme II is faster than the original SanDisk Extreme SSD, delivering up to 550MB/sec sequential read and 510MB/sec sequential write speeds, and up to 95,000 random read IOPS and 78,000 random write IOPS.3
Trusted Reliability: As SanDisk’s fourth-generation retail SSD, the SanDisk Extreme II SSD delivers the robust reliability that SanDisk customers have come to trust. The SanDisk Extreme II SSD is qualified to deliver 80 terabytes written (TBW)4 over its lifetime. It comes with a five-year limited warranty5 with purchase.
Pricing and Availability: The new SSD is available now worldwide in 120GB, 240GB and 480GB6 capacities at $129.99, $229.99 and $439.99 MSRP7 respectively.
New SSD Models and Form Factors for OEM Customers

SanDisk also today broadened its line-up of advanced SSDs for PC makers. Bringing advanced 19nm technology to SanDisk’s industry leading form factors and computing capabilities, the SSDs are designed to bring nimble performance, robust capacity and advanced power management to ultra-thin notebooks and tablets. The new SSD products and form factors include:

The SanDisk U110 SSD: The cost-effective and responsive SSD solution is available in multiple formats to accommodate a variety of computing device designs, including Half-Slim SATA, mSATA, mSATA mini, 2.5” cased and M.2.
The SanDisk iSSD™ i110 integrated storage device: The company’s smallest solid state device, the i110 iSSD delivers up to 128GB of digital storage in a compact BGA form factor. The solution is well-suited for use in incredibly thin and light mobile computing devices, and many ‘convertible’ laptops, which offer both tablet and notebook functionality. The i110 SanDisk iSSD integrated storage device is available in both 16x20mm and 12x16mm form factors.
The SanDisk X110 SSD in mSATA form factor: The recently introduced SanDisk X110 SSD is now available in the mSATA format and can be purchased in 32GB, 64GB, 128GB and 256GB capacities6.
The new mSATA version of the SanDisk X110 SSD is also now available through the company’s worldwide distribution channel, “SanDisk for Business”. SanDisk for Business offers OEM and enterprise-grade SSDs to value-added resellers (VARs), system integrators and direct market resellers (DMRs).

About SanDisk

SanDisk Corporation (NASDAQ:SNDK) is a global leader in flash memory storage solutions, from research and development, product design and manufacturing to branding and distribution for OEM and retail channels. Since 1988, SanDisk’s innovations in flash memory and storage system technologies have provided customers with new and transformational digital experiences. SanDisk’s diverse product portfolio includes flash memory cards and embedded solutions used in smart phones, tablets, digital cameras, camcorders, digital media players and other consumer electronic devices, as well as USB flash drives and solid-state drives (SSD) for the computing market. SanDisk’s products are used by consumers and enterprise customers around the world.

SanDisk is a Silicon Valley-based S&P 500 and Fortune 500 company, with more than half its sales outside the United States. For more information, visit www.sandisk.com.

© 2013 SanDisk Corporation. All rights reserved. SanDisk and SanDisk Extreme are trademarks of SanDisk Corporation, registered in the United States and other countries. SanDisk iSSD and nCache are trademarks of SanDisk Corporation. Other brand names mentioned herein are for identification purposes only and may be the trademarks of their holder(s).

1 As compared to 7200 RPM SATA 2.5” hard drive. Based on published specifications and internal benchmarking tests.

2 Up to stated speed. Based on internal testing; performance may vary depending upon drive capacity, host device, OS and application. 1 megabyte (MB) = 1 million bytes.

3 nCache™ acceleration technology is a large Non Volatile Write Cache, a unique feature in SanDisk SSDs that improves random write performance and ensures an improved user experience.

4 Approximations based on SanDisk internal metrics, that quantifies how much data can be written to a SSD in its lifespan expressed in terabytes written (TBW). Data is written using typical PC transfer size, written at a constant rate over the life of the SSD and data is retained for at least 1 year upon TBW exhaustion. Based on SanDisk internal measurements, a typical client PC user writes 4 GB/day.

5 Five year warranty in regions not recognizing limited warranty. See http://www.sandisk.com/wug.

6 1 GB = 1,000,000,000 bytes. Actual user capacity less.

7 MSRP for United States. Actual pricing may vary.

This news release contains certain forward-looking statements, including expectations for market share, market growth, product sales, industry trends, future memory technology, production capacity and technology transitions and future products that are based on our current expectations and involve numerous risks and uncertainties that may cause these forward-looking statements to be inaccurate. Risks that may cause these forward-looking statements to be inaccurate include among others: the market demand for our products may grow more slowly than our expectations or our products may not be available in the capacities that we expect or perform as expected, or the other risks detailed from time-to-time in our Securities and Exchange Commission filings and reports, including, but not limited to, our most recent quarterly report on Form 10-Q and our annual report on Form 10-K. We do not intend to update the information contained in this press release.[/toggle]

June 5, 2013
Mission Motorcycles Launches R and RS Electric Superbikes

Little known manufacturer Mission Motorcycles has announced the launch of two electric superbikes, the R and RS. This means that for about Rs. 17 Lakh (before duties) you can now ride at speeds comparable to 600cc racing bikes albeit using the power of electricity only.

Mission R

Mission Motors was founded in 2007 with the goal of building and selling high performance electric motorcycles. However, when its original design, the Mission One, didn’t achieve enough demand, the company switched to selling electric components and drivetrain development. It was during this time that the idea for the Mission R was conceived, a new entity called Mission Motorcycles was born and now the R and RS have reached the production line.

Mission RS

The motorcycle industry seems to have stagnated, where the biggest headlines are filled with the smallest of improvements. Only by combining the cleanest expression of raw power, provided by an electric powertrain, with the connectivity we’ve come to expect, can anyone truly evolve the motorcycle into the 21st century. And this is precisely our goal.

– Mark Seeger, Mission Motorcycles president

The Mission R comes with an option of 12, 15 & 17 kWh batteries good for 169, 193 and 225 kilometres respectively. It also features fully adjustable Öhlins RT suspension, Brembo monobloc calipers, and Marchesini forged aluminum wheels. The Mission R will set you back a cool $29,999 after federal tax credit (or Rs. 17 Lakh before duties for us here in India). It develops 160bhp, 120lb/ft of torque and can reach over 240 kmph.

Mission R

The Mission RS is a little heavier on the wallet at $60,000 (or Rs. 34 Lakh before duties) but also promises performance to match. The RS is a replica of the bike that set the electric lap record at Laguna Seca in July 2011, while winning the only TTXGP event it was ever entered in and will be limited to 40 units globally. It has the same drivetrain as the R model, but features an Öhlins FGRT fork and BST carbon fiber wheels. It will come with a battery capable of a 225 mile range.

Mission R

The bikes also come with something never seen on a production motorcycle before: an Internet-connected operating system integrating turn-by-turn navigation, an HD video camera with telemetry overlay and integration for wireless HUD. The R will go into production when all 40 of the RS have been delivered.

[Autoblog]

June 4, 2013
Qualcomm Announces New Snapdragon 400 Chip (PR)

Qualcomm’s announced the new Snapdragon 400, a low-power processor aimed at mid-range smartphones and tablets.

Quaclomm detailed the 8926 Snapdragon 400 processor, a new quad-core chip with integrated multimode 3G/4G LTE. That’s in addition to support for TD-SCDMA, 42Mbps HSPA+ and dual SIMs. Rounding out the 8926’s list of features is QuickCharge 1.0, 802.11ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, FM radio and compatibility with both Android and Windows Phone 8. The 8926 Snapdragon 400 processor is expected to be available starting in late 2013. You can expect it to launch late this year along with their new, and much more sleek, Reference Design tablet.

Additionally, the chip-maker also announced that it is working with Microsoft in order to bring Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processors to Windows RT 8.1 devices. The chips will support the new platform in addition to integrated multimode 3G/4G LTE modem. The CPU clocks at speeds of up to 2.2 GHz per core and also offer USB 3.0 and support for Windows RT 8.1 features and services. Later this year is when you should expect to see devices powered by the new chip and Microsoft Windows RT 8.1.

[toggle title=”Press Release”]Qualcomm Integrates Multimode 3G/4G LTE into Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 Processors with Quad-Core CPUs for High-Volume Smartphones in Emerging Regions

— Newest Addition to Snapdragon 400 Tier and Reference Design Counterpart Broadens Portfolio of Multimode 3G/4G LTE Processors with Premium Multimedia and Connectivity —

TAIPEI, TAIWAN – June 04, 2013 – Qualcomm Incorporated (NASDAQ: QCOM) today announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., is expanding the offering of its Qualcomm Snapdragon™ 400 processors with the introduction of its newest processor, featuring quad-core CPUs with integrated multimode 3G/4G LTE. This makes the Snapdragon 400 tier the first to offer multimode 3G/4G LTE on processors with both dual-and quad-core CPUs for high-volume smartphones. In addition to multimode 3G/4G LTE, the processor integrates key modem features that are important to China and other emerging regions, including TD-SCDMA, HSPA+ (up to 42Mbps), and multi-SIM capabilities. The new Snapdragon 400 processor (8926), along with its Qualcomm Reference Design counterpart, will be available in late 2013 and will deliver the optimal balance of multimedia features, modem technologies and performance to high-volume smartphones.

“By offering a multimode 3G/4G LTE variant to Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 tier of processors with quad-core CPUs, we are ensuring that emerging regions are equipped and prepared for the imminent transition to multimode 3G/4G LTE, in addition to being equipped for every major 2G and 3G technology,” said Cristiano Amon, executive vice president and co-president of mobile and computing products, Qualcomm Technologies. “Snapdragon 400 processors provide customers with a wide range of innovative smartphones for both the high-volume and mid-tier segments.”

Building on Qualcomm Technologies’ previous Snapdragon processors, the newest Snapdragon 400 processor will continue to support multi-SIM capabilities of Dual SIM, Dual Standby and Dual SIM, Dual Active and is optimized to deliver a smooth, graphics-rich gaming experience and provides Miracast™ support for wireless streaming of multimedia content. The platform also supports a rich set of wireless connectivity functionality including integrated Qualcomm VIVE™ 802.11ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, FM and NFC. It also offers a differentiated feature set that includes support for the latest Android and Windows Phone 8 software. In addition, it includes the QuickCharge 1.0 feature charges devices up to 40 percent faster than conventional charging methods.

Qualcomm Technologies will also be releasing a Qualcomm Reference Design (QRD) version of the Snapdragon 400 processor with integrated multimode 3G/4G LTE. The QRD program provides device manufacturers with comprehensive handset development platforms and access to third-party providers of tested and verified hardware and software components. Under the QRD program, customers can rapidly deliver differentiated smartphones to budget-conscious consumers. There have been more than 200 public QRD-based product launches to date in collaboration with more than 40 OEMs, and there are currently more than 100 designs in progress.

About Qualcomm Incorporated

Qualcomm Incorporated (NASDAQ: QCOM) is the world leader in 3G, 4G and next-generation wireless technologies. Qualcomm Incorporated includes Qualcomm’s licensing business, QTL, and the vast majority of its patent portfolio. Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Qualcomm Incorporated, operates, along with its subsidiaries, substantially all of Qualcomm’s engineering, research and development functions, and substantially all of its products and services businesses, including its semiconductor business, QCT. For more than 25 years, Qualcomm ideas and inventions have driven the evolution of digital communications, linking people everywhere more closely to information, entertainment and each other. For more information, visit Qualcomm’s website, OnQ blog, Twitter and Facebook pages.[/toggle]

June 4, 2013
Porsche 911 50 Years Edition Is Here

Porsche is celebrating 50 years of the iconic 911 with a special edition version called the 911 50 Years Edition. The 911 50 Years Edition is based on the 911 Carrera S and like the original 911, it is a coupe with a flat-six rear engine and rear wheel drive. However it makes use of the wider body reserved for the 911 Carrera 4 models. It is powered by a 395bhp 3.8-litre engine and comes with either seven-speed manual or PDK. In homage to the year of birth of the 911, only 1963 units will be produced.

Features exclusive to the 911 50 Years Edition include ‘Fuchs’ inspired two-tone 20 inch alloys with matte black details and polished centres. The car comes in two exclusive colours, Graphite Grey and Geyser Grey, apart from black. Other changes include a bespoke vented engine cover as well as choice items from the regular 911’s options list, like SportDesign mirrors, aluminium door sill kickplates, and adaptive xenon headlights.

The interior includes colour-coded instrument dials, green digits and white needles, limited edition badging, brushed aluminium accents and retro designed upholstery on 14-way adjustable seats. A limited-slip differential with torque vectoring and specially tuned Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) are standard to complement its increased track width and to improve upon the excellent cornering dynamics of the 911.

With the seven-speed manual transmission the 911 50 Years Edition can accelerate from 0-100 kmph in 4.5 seconds and hit a top speed of 300 kmph. With the dual-clutch automatic ‘PDK’, 100 kmph comes in a quicker 4.3 seconds but goes on to 297 kmph.

June 4, 2013
E Ink Introduces 1.73″ Mobius Flexible Display For Smartwatches (PR)

Today, E Ink has announced a new business deal with Sonostar to release a new line of watches using a 1.73 inch display. E Ink offers a variety of electronic paper displays in many different sizes, some of them flexible.

The essence of this new 1.73 inch e-paper display is the new Mobius technology that is found in the new Sony 13.3 inch e-reader. The resolution will be 320×240 and will be able to display 16 levels of grey. It is said that this watch will last for a full month, before needing a recharge.

E Ink’s Director of Product Management, Giovanni Mancini, said, “The joint development between Sonostar and Transmart is the perfect example of the how E Ink can help its customers get their product to market. E Ink displays enable unique products that capture the customer’s imagination. Our business development team has the expertise to help our customers design the displays into their products in ways never before thought possible.”

Interest in wearable has exploded in recent months following reports earlier this year that Apple already had 100 people working on a much-rumored iOS-based smartwatch some have dubbed “iWatch.” Apple is said to be experimenting with wristwatch-like devices that sport curved glass.

[toggle title=”Press Release”]June 2, 2013 – Cambridge, MA — E Ink® Holdings, “E Ink” (8069.TW), a digital signage and display visionary, announces the addition of a 1.73″ flexible display to its Mobius product line of flexible electronic paper display (EPD) technology. The 1.73″ display has been specifically engineered for smartwatch and watch applications. The display is based on flexible TFT technology developed and brought to production by E Ink. The first commercial product to use this 1.73″ display is the Sonostar Smartwatch announced this week at Computex in Taipei, Taiwan.

The Sonostar smartwatch was jointly developed by E Ink’s subsidiary Transmart Co. Ltd and Sonostar. The smartwatch was chosen by the Taipei Computer Association as one of only 10 major product highlights at Computex, which will run from June 4-8 in Taipei, Taiwan.

The 1.73″ Mobius display supports a resolution of 320X240 pixels with 16 greyscale levels. The display size and characteristics make the technology ideal for the smartwatch market. Using a flexible substrate, the 1.73″ Mobius is lightweight and rugged and is conformable so the end product has a better fit for the consumer. Its low power usage and sunlight readability make this technology ideal for mobile devices. Unlike conventional displays, the 1.73″ Mobius display can be cut into different shapes.

“The joint development between Sonostar and Transmart is the perfect example of the how E Ink can help its customers get their product to market,” said Giovanni Mancini, director of product management for E Ink Holdings. “E Ink displays enable unique products that capture the customer’s imagination. Our business development team has the expertise to help our customers design the displays into their products in ways never before thought possible.”

More information on the Sonostar smartwatch can be obtained by visiting the Sonostar booth at Taipei World Trade Center Hall I (No: C0317) during Computex Taipei 2013 (June 4 to 8) or by going to www.sonostar.com/Smartwatch/. You can get more information about the Mobius 1.73″ display by visiting www.eink.com.

About E Ink Holdings
Founded in 1992 by Taiwan’s leading papermaking and printing group YFY (1907.TW), E Ink Holdings Inc. (8069.TW) is the pioneer of TFT and ePaper business in Taiwan. Its corporate philosophy aims to deliver revolutionary products, user experiences, and environmental benefits through advanced technology development. This vision has led to its continuous investments in the field of ePaper display as well as its 2008 acquisition of Hydis Technologies, manufacturer of the world’s best wide viewing angle LCDs and its 2009 acquisition of E Ink Corporation, the worldwide leader in ePaper. Listed in Taiwan’s GreTai Securities Market and the Luxembourg market, E Ink Holdings is now the world’s largest supplier of displays to the eReader market. For corporate information, please visit www.einkgroup.com; for EPD information, please visit www.eink.com / tw.eink.com; and for FFS information, please visit www.hydis.com.

All trademarks above are property of their respective owners.[/toggle]

[GoodeReader]

June 4, 2013