Apple May Surprise Us Yet

If you follow tech news, even if not as avidly as I do, you may have noticed Apple hasn’t received much buzz lately. Other companies like Samsung and HTC have already taken the wraps off their new flagship smartphones.  For Apple fans the infuriating question that arises is, what about Apple?! Well, they actually had some exciting news of their own this April.  And we anticipate many new and exciting announcements in the months ahead.

New Service Options

Will T-Mobile attract many iPhone buyers?

Credit: http://cdn.cultofmac.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/t-mobile_iphone5.jpg

The iPhone 5 is finally available on T-Mobile’s 4G LTE network, going on sale April 12. T-Mobile is really touting the new “uncarrier” pricing and plans. The pricing story is a different affair over competitors. First, the starting price of the phone is $99.99 down payment, plus $20 a month for 24 months. This totals out to $580 before adding a data plan. T-Mobile is now officially a fully contract-free carrier, so you’re not locked to a plan for two years.

The plans are the cheapest in the business. All the plans are “unlimited” with one little catch. The two lower-tier plans are throttled, which means you only get a fixed amount of high-speed data. Afterwards, you can use as much data as you want without overages, but only on slower 2G network speeds. However, calling and texting are always truly unlimited.

The first plan is $50 a month for 500 MB of high-speed data. Add $10 more per month and you get 2 GB of high-speed data. The truly unlimited plan is only $70 a month. All plans include personal hotspot tethering. You need to add $30 a month extra for any plan if another person wants to join the plan. Afterwards, it’s $10 a month per extra person. Comparably, Sprint’s truly unlimited plan is a whopping $110 a month for one customer. T-Mobile’s low pricing alone might intrigue customers.

The one downside to T-Mobile is limited LTE coverage. So far, only seven cities support T-Mobile’s LTE, including San Jose, Baltimore, Houston, Las Vegas, Kansas City, Phoenix, and Washington, D.C. The carrier plans to add more markets by the summer and the end of 2013.

New Products on the Way

Apple is still going strong!

Credit: http://cdn3.sbnation.com/entry_photo_images/8074491/2012-09-12timcook-iphone5-24_large_verge_medium_landscape.jpg

Admittedly, Apple has had a very quiet first quarter, but the recent April 23 Q2 Earnings Call show us sales are still going strong. They sold 37.4 million iPhones and more than half as many iPads, with 19.5 million in the first quarter. Mac sales, however, dropped last quarter, with only 3.95 million sold, versus 4 million year-over-year. Disappointingly, profit levels have dropped 18%, quite a hit over how Apple has been doing in the recent past.

Will the “iWatch” be Apple’s next big innovation?

Credit: http://s1.ibtimes.com/sites/www.ibtimes.com/files/styles/v2_article_large/public/2013/02/20/apple-iwatch-concept-0.jpg

Another point Tim Cook made was that Apple is ready to launch fresh products in the fall, continuing into 2014. There’s a lot to look forward to in the future, including an iWatch or a revolutionary new Apple TV. This demotes the ubiquitous summer launch rumor everyone had been anticipating with the upcoming iPhone 5S. Many rumors are floating around, with signs that point to delays in iPhone production, due to the fingerprint sensor coating. But don’t worry about holdups because this probably means Apple is taking their time in making the product just right.

What to expect at WWDC

WWDC is Apple’s biggest conference of the year. What will they deliver this year?

Credit: http://cdn-static.zdnet.com/i/r/story/70/00/014465/wwdc2013-620×422.png?hash=ZmMwLwNjZT&upscale=1

Finally, Apple already sent out tickets for its annual Worldwide Developer’s Conference. When WWDC tickets went live April 25, they managed to sell out in under two minutes, versus under two hours last year. This is partly because Apple announced the on-sale date of the tickets a day in advance. Even if you did want to go, you would have to be a registered Apple developer, which is $99 a year alone, and you’ll have to pony up $1600.

Jony Ive is expected to introduce a new take on iOS, which is becoming long in the tooth

Credit: http://images.cyberimg.com/iphone/2013/01/16/news_pic_1358338540013.png (top)

http://i.i.com.com/cnwk.1d/i/tim2/2013/05/01/apple-exec-jony-ive_270x341.jpg (bottom)

What will Apple likely announce at the conference? The much-anticipated iOS 7 is highly likely to be revealed. There’s so much talk around this version because Jony Ive, the industrial designer at Apple, is now the iOS software chief as well. He replaces Scott Forstall, who was fired due to the Apple Maps fiasco. Ive is expected to give iOS a fresh new look, making it a worthy contender to other operating systems. He’s likely to drop the skeuomorphic design of the UI, long used in iOS, by imitating real objects less (such as removing the leather theme associated with the calendar app). The design is also slated to be “very flat”, giving iOS a contemporary look.

Will Lynx be the next cat after all?

Credit: http://www.macobserver.com/imgs/teaser_images/20121106osx109lynx.jpg

Also, the next version of OS X, the desktop operating system, will be announced here. Specifically, OS X 10.9 is expected, which will be the successor to 10.8 Mountain Lion. We don’t quite know what 10.9 will be codenamed, but much of the speculation suggests Lynx will be the next cat designation. This operating system, along with iOS 7, will probably release in the fall timeframe because developers need some time to optimize their apps and take advantage of new frameworks and APIs. Some reports say refreshed Mac notebooks might make a return appearance this WWDC, with new Intel Haswell processors and further spec bumps.

Look for a Great Year Ahead

What does Apple have in store for us this year?

Credit: http://applenapps.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/apple_2013.jpg

As we can see, there is a lot to be thrilled about in Apple’s future. T-Mobile may after all be the carrier that many people are motivated to switch to on iPhones. Sales of iOS devices are still going strong, which proves they their novelty remains strong. The next version of iOS, iOS 7, will likely be a big hit at WWDC, along with OS X 10.9, and possibly new MacBook Pros and Airs. I think this will be a great year ahead for Apple.

UPDATE 5/13/13: T-Mobile has now raised the starting price of the iPhone 5 to $149.99 downpayment on their website. It’s still $20 a month for 24 months, so the total pricing adds up to $630 now versus $580.

Awaiting the iPhone 5S: Notable Rumors

To kick off 2013, we see plenty of interesting rumors ahead of the expected iPhone 5S release. Some rumors are more likely to happen, while others are probably just idle speculation.  Let’s take a look at some of the more notable rumors

.

http://blogs-images.forbes.com/jasonevangelho/files/2013/01/iphone5.jpeg

Rumors about summer releases for the next iPhone (codenamed iPhone 6,1) and iOS 7 showed up in recent developer logs. Clearly, this is likely considering iPhone and iOS have been on a yearly release cycle for Apple. We are more sure about the features on iPhone 5S than iOS 7, but without any official confirmation we’ll just  have to wait and see. In fact, iOS 7 is expected to be a major improvement, keeping in mind that Apple’s Industrial Design leader, Jonathan Ive, is now focused on iOS software. He replaces Scott Forstall, who used to be the iOS chief.

http://www.neogalaxia.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/iOS-7-Logo.jpg

Another rumor points to multiple screen sizes and colors. Right off the bat, I would eliminate the multiple screen sizes as highly unlikely.  For one Apple just added a 4-inch screen in 2012, for the iPhone 5. The bigger reason they would not do something like this is because the developers would have to work hard to optimize apps for multiple screen sizes, which makes developing apps a more difficult task.

As for the colors, analyst Brian White says that the reason this could happen is because the iPod touch was like a “testing ground” for colors and that Apple could eventually proceed with this move over to the next iPhone. Inventory will be the only drawback, as we won’t know how many people will be interested in a certain color. Don’t get your hopes up too high for this one, but I think we’re likely to see multiple colors.

http://www.techglued.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/483214_508638189168837_763354128_n.jpg

Another interesting rumor I am reluctant to believe, is about Apple making a cheaper, low-cost iPhone made of plastic. First of all, I am not sure why Apple would do this, considering they set out to make top-level, quality products. All they will probably do is offer cheaper iPhone 5 and 4S, after the iPhone 5S is announced. This is the higher probability path, considering what Apple has done in the past.

This next rumor is probably among the most technologically exciting of the bunch. Apparently, the next-generation handset will feature a fingerprint sensor underneath the existing home button. This could potentially give Apple an edge on the competition, as other competing phones already have too many buttons, so would find it harder to implement this feature. This new sensor could possibly be integrated with unlocking the phone for security, or even for use with applications such as Passbook, to enhance the experience

In any event, there’s a lot to be excited about this year with the iPhone. The iPhone 5S will probably shape up to be a very competitive upgrade in the already very popular smartphone line. I, for one, can’t wait to find out which of the rumors are true. Let me know what you think in the comments!

The Small and High-Tech 2012 Lexus CT200h

Recently, a family friend of mine bought a Lexus CT200h, with the F-Sport package and gave me a ride in it.  It is a very nice car, although it may seem basic.  I will tell you my impressions about the technology and the ride.

http://photos.ecarlist.com/mW/J3/5q/3E/Ab/q6/WD/GN/sJ/zq/YA_640.jpg

This car is a great tech experience.  You have the Remote Touch navigation system, which is great because the mouse-like controller has haptic feedback built-in, similar to the Wii remote, so when you navigate onscreen buttons, you feel them through the controller.  Trust me, you’ll get the real feel for it only when you try it on your own.  Great technology, although not quite the best that you can find in other Lexus models.  For example, the Remote Touch navigation system is a generation behind other Lexus head units because the 2012 CT200h lacks Enform app integration.  What Enform is in other Lexus cars is a master app you can download onto your smartphone, to power a basket of apps on the car’s head unit.  Starting from the 2013 model year, the CT does include Enform.

The audio system can be had as a premium sound system, which on its own, sounds very good.  Unlike other Lexus cars, you cannot get the excellent Mark Levinson audio system.  There’s AM, FM, and XM radio, but there’s no HD Radio in the 2012 model, as you’d get on the newer Lexus systems.  USB and aux are standard, and scrolling a library of songs from an iPhone 4S was not too much of a problem, though I’ve seen faster systems out there.  You cannot get a wide selection of driver assistance technologies found on other Lexus models.  This would include blind-spot monitoring, lane departure warning, head up display and night vision.  You’re not completely left out though because you have SmartAccess with push button start.  This allows you to lock and unlock the doors and start the engine, without taking the keys out your pocket.  It is very handy.

http://pricecarsreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/2012-Lexus-CT-200h-F-Sport-interior1.jpg

The ride in the Lexus CT200h is very smooth, quiet, and linear.  The auto start-stop system worked perfectly, shutting down and starting the engine very smoothly.  Steering was very precise.  The ride was surprisingly responsive, even though the car has only 134 horsepower.  Mileage is rated at 43 city/40 hwy/42 average.  I’m not sure if the car would behave differently on highways, as I didn’t get a chance to go there on the short drive.  Turning the car from normal mode to sport mode showed a noticeable difference in acceleration response, as well as a large jump in RPM, with more growl from the engine.  Small thing, but I like the racing-inspired pedals, which are casted in aluminum with rubberized grip surfaces.  The F-Sport package really does a nice job of tuning the suspension and handling well and certainly results in a much sportier ride.

http://www.hybridcars.com/files/2012-Lexus-CT-200h-Storage.jpg

In the end the Lexus CT200h is a very solid car.  I certainly like the technology and the drive in it.  For anybody looking for a compact, sporty hybrid that also gets good fuel economy, this is certainly one to look into.  The practicality of the hatchback body style also makes this a good car for errands or hauling small things, or maybe as a grocery getter.  Pricing seems reasonable, starting at 31K, going to around 40K or so.

Finding the Winner Among Midsize Hybrids

Recently, a good friend of mine asked what would be a good choice for his next car, and wanted to know what’s available among hybrid cars.  He said he wanted the car to deliver good mileage, have good handling and seat five comfortably.  This led me to suggest a midsize sedan hybrid.  He agreed and wanted to see a comparison of what’s available.  Now that we know what class of hybrid to look for, let’s find the best of the available choices.

Here is a comparison table comparing the available models:

Model	Toyota Camry	Hyundai Sonata	Ford Fusion
Price	26K – 35K	26K – 32K	27K – 33K
MPG (city/hwy/avg)	LE – 43/39/41 XLE – 40/38/40	35/40/37	47/47/47
Transmission	CVT	6-speed automatic	CVT
Battery Type	Nickel-metal hydride	Lithium-polymer	Lithium-ion
Horsepower	200	206	188

Camry Hybrid

http://media.il.edmunds-media.com/non-make/ot/ot_8111114_717.jpg

The first competitor, which is probably the most well-known to most people, is the Toyota Camry Hybrid.  It starts at 26K, and can climb up to about $35,000 when fully equipped.  Gas mileage is respectable, at 43 city/39 highway/41 combined MPG for the LE model.  The more well-equipped XLE falls a little short of that at 40/38/40.

Standard features include Bluetooth, USB connectivity, automatic headlights, and Smart Key.  Optionally, you can get navigation, Entune app integration, a backup camera, leather, XM Radio, a moonroof, fog lights, and a blind-spot monitor.  Interior quality is actually really good for a car in this price class.  Trunk space is better than both Sonata and Fusion.  The navigation and Bluetooth are very easy to use and set up.

The 2.5-liter inline-4 gas engine, coupled with an electric motor makes about 200 horsepower.  This uses a nickel-metal hydride battery, rather than moving to a pricier, longer-lasting lithium-ion battery.  The transmission is a CVT, which means it has infinite gear ratios, rather than a fixed selection of gears.  The Camry has great drivability and good real-world fuel economy.  It’s also nice and responsive on the roads and highways, and it feels and handles like a regular Camry.

Sonata Hybrid

http://static.cargurus.com/images/site/2011/12/27/21/57/2012_hyundai_sonata_hybrid-pic-6305914856332290190.png

The Hyundai Sonata, which was a brand-new model for 2011, is a relatively new competitor in the midsize hybrid sector.  It’s also Hyundai’s first hybrid.  It is competitively priced, with a base MSRP of 26K and 32K when equipped nicely.  Mileage isn’t quite up there with the competition, at 35/40/37, despite the fact that it uses advanced lithium-polymer batteries, the same type used in smartphones and laptops.

All the usual tech is standard including USB/iPod connectivity, Bluetooth, Keyless Access, auto headlights, fog lights, and XM Radio.  You can optionally get navigation, backup camera, a moonroof, and leather seating.  Two added convenience features include available heated second row seats and an available panoramic roof.  New for 2012, Hyundai offers their Blue Link telematics system, which allows you to get roadside help, find gas stations and other POIs, get restaurant ratings, monitor your vehicle from afar, and more.

The Sonata uses a 2.4-liter gas engine and electric motor, combined at a total output of 206 horsepower.  Hyundai chooses to gear up with a 6-speed automatic, for cost savings.  Compared to Camry, Sonata isn’t as responsive, and the fuel economy is not up to class, compared to its other rivals.  Also, it feels and drives too much like a hybrid, and it’s a little rough with auto start-stop.

Fusion Hybrid

http://media.il.edmunds-media.com/ford/fusion-hybrid/2013/ns/2013_ford_fusion-hybrid_f34_ns_100212_717.jpg

Finally, there’s a new Ford Fusion Hybrid, which is the fuel economy champ in this competition, delivering mpg of 47/47/47.  It starts at $27,000, and can be optioned fully to 33K.  One downside is that you don’t have any keyless technologies or push-button start.  You do, however, get an available class-exclusive self-parking system.  I must say, without doubt, the Fusion is the most stylish ride in the competition.

Standard features include auto headlights, SYNC AppLink, USB, Bluetooth, leather, XM Radio, and blind-spot tech.  You can option navigation, a backup camera, fog lights, and a moonroof.  One downside is that the trunk space is very cramped, due to the fact that the the lithium-ion battery takes up a good amount of space, however, Ford SYNC is still one of the most excellent in-car voice command systems.  The MyFord Touch navigation system used to get a lot of criticism, and now it has improved for this car, but I still think it needs more processing power behind it to react faster to touch inputs.

Powering the Fusion Hybrid is a 2-liter 4-cylinder engine with an electric motor, producing 188 horsepower.  It uses a CVT, like the Camry.  Lithium-ion batteries allow you to drive at higher speeds under electric power than with Ni-MH batteries, but you need to have a light foot to do that.  Auto-start stop is imperceptibly smooth, but the braking isn’t the best.  The steering doesn’t give much feedback, and the ride is smooth, even on the roughest pavement.

The Winner

While all three cars are worthy contenders, I would choose the Camry Hybrid because of its great drivability and very nice interior packaging.  This is one of the more practical vehicles because it’s got more trunk space than its competitors.  Also, it’s a very responsive, great-handling car, and Toyotas have been known for their good reliability and value.  And Toyota has the most experience with hybrids.  I can’t wait to see the car my friend gets.

Building an RC Car Dirt Track

     Recently, a friend gave me a four wheel drive 1:12 hobbyist RC car that he had built many years ago.  The car was designed for dirt tracks, and came with a complex multichannel remote control and a timed charger.  It drove quite well and gave the operator had very good control of the car.   To get the most out of out the car, we decided to build a dirt track outdoors, to race RC cars on.  The track turned out pretty well, although the plan to race cars on it has not worked out yet.  My friends car ran into problems, and my other RC cars were not best-suited for a “dirt” track and the performance was sluggish.

The plan is to build another new 1:12 RC car from a kit and race that on the track.  I’ll provide details on the experience of building the car in another post.  Here I’ll describe how we built the track.

     First, let’s start off discussing the materials needed to create this track.  We needed a grass cutter in order to clear the grass out of the way.  We initially had a gas-powered cutter, but it wouldn’t start.  We went out to Home Depot to buy an electric version, so that we would not have to deal with the same issues.  That worked just fine, and we were able to clear the grass out of the way.After clearing out the grass, we were able to use the dirt surface for the track.  The soil had more gravel, i.e. small stones, in some places and was not all fine dirt, which is not ideal.  But fortunately most of the track did not have much gravel. We had to make it level, so that the cars would run well.  We had  initially thought about using asphalt shingles for the track surface, but we thought it would be hard to cut out on the turn sections of the track.  So we decided on a dirt track and only had to find a way to build a barrier along the track, to keep the cars from going off the track.  After visiting the hardware store to look for solutions, we found the cheapest option was to use plastic chicken wire netting for the side barriers.

After leveling out the track, we had to hammer in redwood stakes along the sides of the track.  The stakes were needed hold up the netting.   The plastic netting was stapled onto the wood stakes with a staple gun.  We felt one drawback of having that kind of plastic net was that the cars could occasionally get stuck in it.  Turned out it was not a big problem and none of the cars got stuck on the netting.  This approach allowed us to create a track relatively easily, that is large enough for big RC cars.  If you have a lot of backyard space, you can easily build this kind of race track.

    I invited three friends of mine, and they seemed to enjoy racing on this track.  However, my cars were not great for this track.  One friend of mine brought his large car, and it surprisingly worked pretty well, even though it was rear-wheel drive.  The 4WD car started off great, but the wheel broke off and the motor burned out.  When I complete my kit car, I will give you my experience with that car on the track in a separate post.  I assume it should work pretty well because it is 4WD.  I really can’t wait to test it out.

Looking closely, you can see some of the damage from the deer.

When building a dirt track at home, I’d recommend having the right RC cars ahead of time, otherwise, you won’t have as much fun with friends.  Good tires are critical for dirt, so make sure to look at that factor when buying RC cars.  Also, it’s a good idea to get a 4WD drivetrain for dirt.  Better traction is safer on for real cars, as well as when buying RC cars.  Unfortunately, the track was destroyed by some deer in our backyard.  I’d suggest that you watch out for animals and the damage they will do to the track.

     Overall, this track was definitely a great setup.  The only thing missing was a good set of cars to race.  I’m looking forward to opening up my RC car kit and building and racing it.  More on that soon.

WWDC: Apple Comes up Front with New Hardware and Software

     On June 11, Apple held its annual worldwide developers conference, or WWDC for short.  There, three major new updates were announced.  These were updates to the MacBook line, OS X Mountain Lion, and iOS 6.  Let me briefly explain the new features and changes in each of these announcements at the event.

     The first major announcement was the new MacBook line.  Apple updated both the MacBook Air and the MacBook Pro.  Starting off with the MacBook Air, Apple added some performance upgrades with new Intel Ivy Bridge processors and up to 8 GB of RAM.  The processors can even be turbo boosted.  USB 3.0 is a new port added to the MacBook Air.  You can now get up to 512 GB of flash storage on a MacBook Air!

Perhaps the biggest headline about the new notebooks is that the MacBook Pro is getting a Retina Display.  This is a stunning high resolution display Apple has used on their iOS devices.  The MacBook Pro has the same type of performance upgrades as the MacBook Air, such as a lot of flash storage.  The MacBook Pro even gets an HDMI port, as well as two Thunderbolt I/O ports.  The thickness and weight have also reduced.  The Retina Display MacBook Pro is about a quarter thinner, at 0.71 inches thick.  Weight of the Retina Display MacBook Pro is 4.46 pounds. If you compare that to the regular 13 and 15 inch MacBook Pros, they weigh 4.5 and 5.6 pounds respectively.  The Retina Display MacBook Pro is only available as a 15 inch with a thin design, for a price of $2,199.

     The second major announcement was OS X Mountain Lion.  In this update, over 200 new features were pushed out.  Apple only discussed a few, so I will run down the features they presented at WWDC.  First, they announced new features with iCloud, such as iCloud Tabs and Documents in the Cloud.  Some features borrowed from iOS include Reminders, Notes, Messages, Notification Center, Sharing, Facebook and Twitter Integration, AirPlay Mirroring, and Game Center.  In addition, Safari has some enhancements, and Dictation was announced for Mountain Lion.  There’s even a new feature called Power Nap.  What that does is it updates your Mac software, even while your Mac is in sleep mode.  The price and release month of Mountain Lion was also announced.  The software will be available for $19.99 in July.

The final major announcement was iOS 6, the next version of the mobile operating system for iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad.  One of the biggest changes is the entirely new Maps software.  iOS 6 no longer uses Google Maps, as they have their own mapping service instead.  There’s now turn-by-turn voice directions for navigation, which is a very nice addition.  Traffic and incidents are now shown, as well.  Flyover is a really cool, new feature, which allows you to explore the world with a photo-realistic experience of buildings, etc.Siri also adds some enhancements, including sports scores, restaurant reservations, and movie reviews and purchasing.  Siri also can launch apps, post to Facebook or Twitter, and it even adds a huge selection of new languages.

Facebook is integrated into iOS 6, so you can share photos, apps, websites, and more, right from the app you are in.  You can even like songs and apps.  Shared Photo Streams is a new feature that allows you to beam photos wirelessly over to your friends, and they can even comment on your photos.  Passbook is an app that lets you store all your cards, coupons, boarding passes, etc., and it is all unified into one app.FaceTime now works over cellular networks, in addition to only Wi-Fi.  iPhone has new features, such as sending an iMessage or SMS to a person who tries to call you if you can’t talk now.  You can also remind yourself to call back later, and Do Not Disturb is a feature which allows you to block incoming calls or other notifications.  You can also schedule it to come on for a certain time of day or week.

     New features in the Mail app include assigning VIPs, quickly inserting photo or video, and pulling to refresh for your inbox.  Safari adds iCloud Tabs, which lets you access tabs running on your other devices.  Offline Reading List is a new feature that allows you to save webpages and view them, even without internet access.  Safari can also go into full screen mode in landscape orientation.  Finally, Guided Access allows you to restrict access to certain parts of the screen and disable hardware buttons, too.

     In the end, I think WWDC was an eventful conference with great new updates announced there.  I certainly can’t wait to get my hands on Mountain Lion and iOS 6.  The new Maps software and new Siri functionality are definitely my favorite features of iOS 6.  I’d love to see the Retina Display on the MacBook Pro, and plan to check it out at the Apple Store.  AirPlay Mirroring is my favorite Mountain Lion feature I’m looking forward to testing out.  I think Apple has taken a big step further with these hardware and software announcements.

On the Track with Lamborghini Gallardo

     If you’re into super fast sports cars, Lamborghinis are probably very familiar to you.  In Cancun, Mexico, I got a rare chance to ride in a cool yellow Lamborghini Gallardo, driven around a race track by a race driver.  This was at a place called Exotic Rides Mexico.  There were a lot of cars to choose from, including a couple of Ferraris, but I decided to go with the Gallardo.

The Lamborghini Gallardo is a smaller car than I expected.  I look bigger than I am next to it in the pictures.  For a small car it really packs a punch.  They give you the option of driving the car yourself, but I was too young to drive myself, unfortunately.  Instead, I got to ride in the passenger seat with a professional driver at the wheel.  I was told he was a NASCAR driver, and he raced around the track like one. The driver took me three laps around the track, through many tight turns and quick straightaways.  At first the acceleration and sharp turns were making me dizzy, but I got used to it quickly and thoroughly enjoyed the ride.

     The engine was overwhelming.  I could really feel the power coming on nicely with the roaring exhaust system, that would emit a lot of noise.  A V10 engine powers this Gallardo, and it has 560 impressive horsepower and 397 foot-pounds of torque.  This Lamborghini does 0-60 in 3.7 seconds.  That is amazingly fast.  Top speed is really high even for a sports car, at 202 mph.

     On the track, this car performed amazingly well.  This car seemed to just master the tight corners without any sign of difficulty.  Steering and cornering work very well, with excellent grip on the turns.  Occasionally, there would be some tire squeal while drifting in some corners of the track.  The car shifts very nicely too, through its 6-speed automatic gearbox.  Paddles could also be used if you wanted to shift like a stick-shift.  The shifts were very smooth, going from one gear to another in rapid succession.

     In the end, this ride was really worthwhile experience.  I was exhilarated by the moves and the power of this tiny monster.  I literally had the time of my life.  This was my first time on a race track, so I got a great kick out of just being on a race track.  It was a breathtaking thrill ride I’ll never forget.  For 95 dollars, this was worth the money.  One day, I hope to go back to Exotic Rides and take this car for a spin in the driver’s seat.

Porsche’s Panamera Delivers a Smooth Quiet Ride

     The Porsche Panamera is Porsche’s second best selling car after the Cayenne, their SUV.  The Panamera is a sedan, and is comparatively long and bulky for a Porsche.  Your first impression might be to call it a four door 911.  However, it delivers a great ride as you would expect from a Porsche.

     One of our good friends got  a Panamera recently, and I was happy to ride in it and get a good look at the car.  In this blog, I will highlight some of the pros and cons from my perspective.

     The engine of the Panamera is a 3.6-liter naturally aspirated V6 that delivers 300 horsepower and 295 foot-pounds of torque.  The Panamera sprints to 60 mph in six seconds.  The engine was very smooth and silky.  The nice thing is that it wasn’t always making that grinding sound that an engine usually does.  This one has got the snap power delivery that an everyday engine needs.  I had no complaints about ride quality on the short ride I took.  Road noise was very minimal.  A V6 is good because when you have a V8 or any type of big engine, you can’t use much of its power.  This is a car where you can get the most out of when driving every day.  This Porsche has the PDK gearbox, which is a seven-speed dual-clutch automated transmission.  There are paddle shifters that work very nicely, when you want to shift your own gears.

     Mileage is rated at 18 city/27 highway.  That’s not bad for a car that is fairly large in its dimensions.  Since this car has seven gears, that is probably the reason it’s got good efficiency.  Another way they’re saving fuel is by using the auto start-stop technology.  I found this system a little tedious because you would stop and then the engine has to start all over again.  This works better with a hybrid, as there is an electric motor in that situation.  You can defeat auto start-stop in the Panamera, which is nice.  Then you will not get the delay of firing the engine back up, but MPG reduces with auto start-stop turned off.

     The Panamera has a good deal of technology.  One key tech feature is the PCM navigation system.  This system is standard, as you might expect for an expensive car like the Panamera.  This is a great system, though not my favorite navigation system compared to its German competitors like BMW or Audi.  This system however has nice rendering of 3D buildings, just like the BMW or Audi systems.  The rear sonar works very nicely.  The car also had the optional rear-view camera, and it had great features because it showed the camera, along with guidelines and a sonar map.  A nice convenience is the power tailgate, which is great when you have a lot of groceries in your hand.  In our friends car, he had the heated seats, and the optional cooled seats.  They’re great for hot or cold days.  One optional feature that wasn’t optioned on his car is Porsche Entry and Drive.  This is a keyless access system that lets you lock and unlock the doors or start the car, without having to take out your keys.  Even if you don’t have Porsche Entry and Drive, you still get an interesting key that is shaped like the Panamera.   Voice command was not optioned either.  Another available option for this car was the Bose or Burmester sound systems, which get you great speakers and amplification.

     One of the drawbacks of the car in my opinion is the looks of the car.  I don’t think it looks as attractive as it could because of the bulky rear styling.  The front end has nice styling and so does the sculpting on the side of the Panamera.  Competitors like the Audi A7 and Mercedes-Benz CLS 550 have somewhat better styling in my view.

     In the end, I think the Panamera is a great drivers car, with the ability to carry passengers.   It offers a smooth and powerful drive worthy of a Porche. Two aspects I would like to see improved are the navigation interface and the styling.  Also, the lack of standard voice command is a bit of  a throwback.  Otherwise, the Panamera offers some great features in addition to the drive.  The price is around 70 thousand, and for what you’re getting, it’s a pretty good value.  Our friend’s car was the basic model with few options, so I’m sure it was worth it.

Apple’s New iPad Raises the Bar For Tablets

Apple recently introduced the new iPad.  We saw a major breakthrough with this launch.  It had many new features such as a Retina Display on a tablet and a voice dictation.  In this post, I will discuss some new features of the iPad.  I think you’ll agree these features are amazing, and make this iPad worth buying.  The new features will definitely attract a broad market of customers.

Retina Display

     The major new feature is the Retina Display.  I’ve used it and have to say it looks phenomenal.  The retina display was seen before on the iPhone and iPod touch.  It is basically a high-resolution display that has very tiny pixels, which the human eye cannot distinguish.  The resolution is 2048 x 1536, and in fact, it has one million more pixels than your HDTV.  That is 4 times more pixels than the iPad 2, and there is 44% greater color saturation.  The new iPad experience is just one you cannot get on any other tablet because of this amazing, new display technology.  Apps optimized for the Retina Display look stunning.  It’s the best display I’ve ever seen on a mobile device.

A5X Chip

The iPad needs a powerful processor to power all those pixels on the new iPad.  That is where the new A5X chip shines.  It’s got quad-core graphics, so gameplay is stunning.  Navigating this device is smooth and fluid.  Scrolling, pinching, and zooming all work well on the new iPad, thanks to the quad-core graphics.  The chip is still dual-core, like the iPad 2.  I tested out the gameplay, and it was just stunning.  The graphics have dramatically improved on this iPad.  Despite this bump in graphic performance, the new iPad still retains that 10 hour battery life the other iPads had.

iSight Camera

     The new rear-facing iSight camera has got some new tricks up its sleeve.  First of all, the quality was increased to 5 megapixels, which gives your photos sharp quality.  The new face detection feature allows the iPad to recognize up to 10 faces at a time, balancing the focus and exposure.  Video recording is now 1080p, rather than the 720p we had on the iPad 2.  The video quality really makes it a great video-shooting camera on a mobile device.  If you’re not very good with holding the iPad while recording, no worries.  There is automatic video stabilization, which uses software to help keep the video stabilized.  Quality isn’t just about megapixels.  The optics are just as crucial.  To start off, there is an increased aperture lens, so photos will look brighter and better.  There’s also an advanced hybrid IR filter, to keep out harmful IR light, so color accuracy is improved.  The photos I’ve seen look very high quality, and they’re clearly better than on iPad 2.

4G LTE

Network speeds have improved on the new iPad, thanks to the new 4G LTE wireless technology.  It replaces the 3G, which was found on previous iPads.  This is Apple’s first 4G device.  The iPad is available with 4G LTE support on either AT&T or Verizon.  The speed of 4G LTE is hard to believe.  You can surf the web, read email, watch videos, and more at blazing speed.  This is the first iPad to have a personal hotspot feature built-in.  This feature is available only on the Verizon version, and AT&T is not offering it.

Dictation

     Dictation allows you to speak to type anything.  You can compose an email, send a text, search the web.  Instead of manually typing something out, you can just touch the microphone on the keyboard, and you can say something while the iPad listens to what you say.  After you tap done, your words are literally written on the screen of the iPad.  Dictation also works with third-party apps, so you can use it with Facebook or Twitter, for example.  I think this is a very handy feature that many people will use.  I personally use this feature more than typing because the keyboard is hard to type on.  Talking will save you some time and effort.  Sometimes, it would hear you wrong, but for the most part, it was an excellent alternative for typing, considering how hard it is to type on mobile devices.

In the end, I think this is a worthwhile update to the iPad.  If you have an iPad 1st generation or don’t have an iPad at all, this update will be a worthwhile update for you.  This sales have definitely been rising, so many people seem to love the new features on this iPad.  If you don’t want to buy the new iPad, I would definitely recommend trying one out at an Apple Retail Store.

2012 Car of the Year, the Hyundai Elantra, Gains New Models

     The Hyundai Elantra was named the North American Car of the Year at the 2012 North American International Auto Show.  A major reason is that it is a compact car that gets very good mileage, 40 mpg highway.  The price is reasonable in the compact segment.  Also, it has many nice tech options like an excellent navigation system, heated front and rear seats, iPod/USB connection, proximity key, and Bluetooth.  You also get a powertrain warranty of 10 years and 100,000 miles.  The excellent features and warranty make it a good value in the compact segment.  Since the Elantra has emerged as a great car, it’s worthwhile to see what you get with other models within the Elantra lineup.

Recently, Hyundai unveiled a coupe and hatchback version of the Elantra, their four door compact sedan.  The Elantra Coupe is a two-door model, which will compete directly against Honda’s Civic Coupe.  The Elantra GT is a five-door model that will compete directly against models like the Ford Focus hatchback.  The Elantra lineup will have three models, the sedan, coupe, and hatchback, which will be great for a variety of buyers.

Elantra Coupe

The Elantra Coupe is the two-door version of the Elantra.  It is very similar to the current Elantra Sedan because it has many of the same features.  It has the same Fluidic Sculpture design as the sedan.  The Elantra Coupe is offered in two trim levels, the GS and SE.  The rear of the Elantra Coupe features dual exhaust tips, and the SE version gets a rear spoiler and a sport-tuned suspension.  Much of the same cabin tech as the sedan is offered in the Elantra Coupe, like navigation, Bluetooth, heated seats, etc.  The coupe has a 1.8 L inline-4,  producing 148 horsepower and 131 foot pounds of torque, as seen on the sedan.  Both a 6-speed manual and an available 6-speed automatic are offered.  The Active ECO system on the automatic transmission models can help improve fuel economy by around 7%.  Fuel economy is rated at 29 city/40 hwy/33 avg for manual gearboxes and 28 city/39 hwy/32 avg for automatics.  We do not know the price of the Hyundai Elantra Coupe yet.  We will find out when it hits showrooms in spring of 2012.

Elantra GT

The next entry into the Elantra lineup is the Elantra GT.  The GT is a 5-door or hatchback Elantra, which will replace the rather dull-looking Elantra Touring.  The GT looks a lot nicer with the Fluidic Sculpture design Hyundai’s been using on many of their latest cars.  The Elantra GT has exceptional room inside and nice touches like a cooled glove box, Bluetooth, heated front leather seats, navigation, etc.  It’s got much of the same tech as the coupe and sedan.  The Active ECO technology is offered on models with the automatic transmission, just like the coupe and sedan.  Interestingly, there is a Driver Selectable Steering Mode.  This allows you to change the steering feel from comfort to normal to sport, depending on what type of driving style you want.  Just like the coupe and sedan, the GT offers the same 1.8 L inline-4, producing 148 horsepower and 131 foot pounds of torque.  You’ve also got the same gearboxes, either a 6-speed manual or an available 6-speed automatic.  Both gearboxes result in fuel economy of 28 city/39 hwy/32 avg.  This being a hatchback, it’s got plenty of cargo space.  We will have to wait to find out pricing of the Hyundai Elantra GT when it hits showrooms in summer of 2012.

In sum

I think the new Elantra models are worth checking out.  I think Hyundai has made a smart move by adding two additional models to a car of the year, because their sales will rise with new types of models.  If buyers prefer two doors, or they need more cargo space, the coupe and hatchback provide that.  I would recommend buying the coupe or hatchback if you are looking for a nice, reasonably priced compact car.