Google Glasses will hit stores this year

Google Glass brand ambassador ( it’s safe to call him that now since he has been spotted wearing these at all times, even at the Oscars Vanity Fair party) Sergey Brin, took to the stage for a TED talk in California and spoke about his pet project.

  

New York Times quotes the Google co-founder, as saying on smartphones, “I feel like it’s kind of emasculating. You are just rubbing this featureless piece of glass. There isn’t anything to feel.”

Smartphones are just making people anti-social, said Brin. According to this blog post on Ted, Brin feels that smartphones don’t offer the best form of interaction. “Is this the way you’re meant to interact with other people?”

Glass frees the eyes as well as the hands when it comes to connecting to the Internet on the go, according to Brin. In this AFP report, Brin says, “That is why we put the display up high, out of the line of sight. If I wore a ball cap, the display would be on the brim and not where you are looking. And sound goes through bones in the cranium, which is a little freaky at first, but you get used to it.”

Brin also hinted at the Ted Talk that the Glasses would be out this year and probably for less than $1500, which is the current price at which Google is handing them out.

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Asus’ 7-inch MeMO Pad tablet with Jelly Bean out in India for Rs 9,999

Asus has launched its Asus MeMO Pad, a 7-inch tablet, in India which is priced at a modest Rs 9,999. The multi-touch device which runs Android 4.1 version aka Jelly Bean has a screen resolution of 1024×600 pixels at 169 pixels per inch.

Other specifications include 1GB RAM and 8GB internal memory. It has 1GHz processor VIA WM8950 CPU and a Mali-400 GPU (Graphics). The tablet comes with a microSD card which has maximum limit of 32 GB.

It has a 1 megapixel front-facing camera that can record videos at 720p resolution at up to 30 frames per second. The device comes in three colours — Sugar White, Titanium Grey and Cherry Pink.

It comes bundled with the Asus Webstorage app with free 5GB cloud storage for life. The Asus MeMO pad will be available in stores from next week.

Video:

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LG’s Optimus G comes to India for Rs 34,500

LG’s much-awaited smartphone, the Optimus G in now out in India at a price of Rs 34,500. The smartphone runs Android 4.1.2 (Jelly Bean) OS.

Review
 
Key features of the device are:

•The smartphone has a 4.7-inch screen with a 1280×768 resolution with True HD and IPS.
• A 13-megapixel auto focus camera.

• The G smartphone is powered by Qualcomm’s quad-core processor clocked at 1.5Ghz and has a 2GB RAM along with 32GB built-in space. The smartphone does not have a Micro-SD card.

• LG also added new video-related features. The G can dim the video in a translucent layer, allowing users to send text messages or write emails while watching the show in the background. It also allows users to zoom into a scene while playing the video using a two-finger pinch.

Now that the Optimus G is finally here, will the Nexus 4 also hit the Indian market soon? Let’s hope so.

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Video Game Easter Eggs That Took Years to Find

Sarcastic Announcer (Wave Race Blue Storm, GameCube)

 

Right off the bat here's one that took nine years to find.

The jet ski racing game Wave Race: Blue Storm for the Nintendo Gamecube already had a secret password entry screen (accessed by pressing START+Z+X on the options menu) unlocking everything from dolphin riding to secret time attack competitions. The secret that no one managed to unlock, however, is the alternate voice track where the race announcer is replaced by a droll, bored dude who sarcastically derides your every move. Yes, this is real:

The cheat was based on messing around in the audio options and, sadly, the only three people who play with the audio options screen are the guy who programmed it, the guy testing it, and the guy who doesn't exist.

 By entering a higher Scrabble score version of the Konami Code (L R L R UU DD AZX) after holding Z to change the sound displays waveform into a vertical rising fog, which isn't technobabble crossed with bad poetry but an actual description, you unlock the sarcastic announcer taking the piss out of you. This was presumably a placeholder track laid down before they could get the final one, but compared to the normal Captain Obvious Wave Race announcer ("YOU'RE IN FIRST PLACE") it's actually a huge improvement.

Chris Houlihan Room (A Link to the Past, Super Nintendo)

 

In 1991, a guy named Chris Houlihan won a Nintendo Power competition to have his name included in an official Nintendo game, the absolute closest Nintendo Power could get to bringing someone to orgasm. That might sound like good fun if you were born in the 90s, if you didn't know that Nintendo of America's localization team hates fun. That's why we've got 40 different DS games ending in "Z" but it takes two years to convert one Professor Layton.

 

But the NoA Grinch-based debugging team removed the entrance to Chris' room in the North American version. Fun fact: Chris' room only appears in the North American version.

So one team put it in, and their neighbors took it right back out. The two teams continued to put it in and out like it was a video game programming orgy, except passive-aggressive and aimed at making a child cry. So basically, exactly like what a video game programmer orgy would be like. Most entrance methods require insane combinations of explosions, superspeed and sudden falls. But it was all worth it, to find ... this.

 

Well it at least would have been worth it to Houlihan if anyone had been able to find the damn thing. The room was basically unknown until the invention of the Internet, and it only became widely known around the year 2002--thereby turning the most awesome kid's present ever into a level of psychological horror unknown outside of an asylum for Japanese special effects. Instead of being the coolest kid ever in 1991, when people were playing the game, Chris Houlihan now knows that his child self is being pondered by the dark soul of the Internet.

The Everything Passwords (Metroid, NES)

 

Metroid used a password system, an amazing step forward from other NES games which expected you to restart from Level 1--a video game satanic ritual in which you sacrificed your own life until you learned how to prevent your character from losing theirs, by which point it was far too late. One secret password unlocked all of Samus' weapons and powers, and one also unlocked her armor. Guess which was discovered first.

These passwords weren't just secret: They were impossible. The password system was crackable but had a parity check to reject faked entries, a check that these special passwords fail. They were an honest-to-God, hell-yes-we-get-to-use-this-phrase-at-last, security override built into the system. Even if you reverse-engineered the entire password system (and people have, because 8-bit exploration games are apparently much more important than curing cancer), you'd never know they were there.

That's why the NARPAS SWORD easter egg (unlocked by entering NARPAS SWORD0:000000 000000) which would unlock infinite health, the Ice Beam, and more, wasn't discovered until recently. The game makers never announced the code. They weren't intended for leaks or viral promotion, coming from a crazy ancient time where

a) people got excited about half-naked 8-bit characters, and
b) games contained things that weren't determined by marketing.

Only the wrong one of those is still true. Programmers just enjoyed the idea of children wasting their youth playing the same game over and over again in hopes of seeing less skin than the average postage stamp displays, knowing they'd get the exact same amount of nudity if they just entered this secret password. Or drew nipples on their own thumbs.

Play as Master Hand (Super Smash Bros Melee, GameCube)

 

The trick to getting this Super Smash Bros Melee glitch is so ridiculously precise that our generation was basically allowed to either discover it or to create free renewable energy, and our guys chose wrong. Thanks, gamers.

This took seven years to find because it's not actually an Easter egg--it's the result of a genuine glitch in the program that allows the user to get through to the game without ever selecting a character. Nintendo's normal strategy when they can't think of a character is "use Mario," but this time they chose to make the universe itself mock any player sad enough to find the glitch.

The glitch arises only if you erase all your friends' names from your game, and also unlocks a single-person melee mode. That is exactly as depressing as it sounds: You're stuck alone in an empty Nintendo-themed pit of loneliness.

We might believe Nintendo's claim that it was accidental if it weren't for the secret boss that this same glitch unlocks. The game rewards anyone willing to delete all his friends with an impossible boss modeled on the one thing that will have sex with him.

Not just a hand, but "Master Hand."

So it's either locking the player in a "this is no longer accidental, we're trying to make you think about your life" wasteland of meta loneliness, or a masturbation joke that spits electricity at you after you've admitted you don't have any friends.

Wesker's Desk (Resident Evil 2, PlayStation)

 

We can't pinpoint how long it took gamers to find this one, and we're kind of hoping it took a really, really long time.

Every item you can pick up in Resident Evil 2, or any RE game for that matter, has only three possible outcomes: If you're lucky it's useful, if you're unlucky it wastes your time telling you it isn't, and if you're really unlucky it's a file. Anyone who'd examine a desk even twice only did it by accident.

So imagine how somebody discovered this bit of insanity: You can find the secret of Wesker's desk only by searching said desk 50 times. The first 49 times you get a message telling you nothing is there. But if you persist, and persist, long past the point any reasonable person would, you find the Easter egg.

 It's a small reward considering at that point of dedication, the game counts as your occupation, a chunk of your personality and a fairly serious mental problem. Your reward (well after you take it over to the Dark Room and develop it) is "Film D." Which is... a photoshop of Rebecca in a basketball outfit.

 

As cool as Easter eggs are, that had to have been a disappointment, particularly to the person who discovered it by, what, checking every desk 50 times? It's like finding El Dorado, only to realize the City of Gold is just a landfill of Ferrero Rocher wrappers.

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Most Horrifying Lies The Food Industry is Feeding You

The Secret Ingredient: Wood

You know what's awesome? Newspaper. Or, to be precise, the lack thereof. The Internet and other electric media have all but eaten up classic print media, with the circulations of almost all papers on the wane. Say, do you ever wonder what they do with all that surplus wood pulp?

"But Cracked," you inquire, "what does this have to do with food ingredients?"

And we look at you squarely in the eye, then slowly bring our gaze upon the half-eaten bagel in your hand.
Oh, shit ...

The Horror:

What do they do with all the cellulose wood pulp? They hide it behind a bullshit name and make you eat it, that's what.

And everybody's doing it. Aunt Jemima's pancake syrup? Cellulose. Pillsbury Pastry Puffs? Cellulose. Kraft Bagel-Fuls? Fast-food cheese? Sara Lee's breakfast bowls? Cellulose, cellulose, goddamn cellulose.

It turns out that cellulose can provide texture to processed foods, so food companies have taken to happily using it as a replacement for such unnecessary and inconveniently expensive ingredients as flour and oil. As the 30 percent cheaper cellulose is edible and non-poisonous, the FDA has no interest for restricting its use -- or, for that matter, the maximum amount of it that food companies can use in a product. It is pretty much everywhere, and even organic foods are no salvation -- after all, cellulose used to be wood and can therefore be called organic, at least to an extent.

But the worst thing about cellulose is not that it's everywhere. The worst thing is that it is not food at all. Cellulose is, unlike the actual, normal food items you think you're paying for, completely indigestible by human beings, and it has no nutritional value to speak of. If a product contains enough of it, you can literally get more nutrients from licking the sweet, sweet fingerprints off its wrapper.

 Zombie Orange Juice

Quick, name the most healthy drink your nearest store has to offer. You said orange juice, didn't you? It's what everybody makes you drink when you get sick. Hell, that shit must be like medicine or something. And the labels are always about health benefits -- the cartons scream "100 percent natural!", "Not from concentrate!" and "No added sugar!"

And why not believe them? When it comes to making the stuff, orange juice isn't sausage. You take oranges, you squeeze oranges, you put the result in a carton, with or without pulp. End of story, beginning of deliciousness.
But what if we told you that "freshly squeezed" juice of yours can very well be a year old, and has been subjected to stuff that would make the Re-Animator puke?

The Horror:

Ever wonder why every carton of natural, healthy, 100 percent, not-from-concentrate orange juice manages to taste exactly the same, yet ever so slightly different depending on the brand, despite containing no additives or preservatives whatsoever?

The process indeed starts with the oranges being squeezed, but that's the first and last normal step in the process. The juice is then immediately sealed in giant holding tanks and all the oxygen is removed. That allows the liquid to keep without spoiling for up to a year. That's why they can distribute it year-round, even when oranges aren't in season.

There is just one downside to the process (from the manufacturers' point of view, that is) -- it removes all the taste from the liquid. So, now they're stuck with vats of extremely vintage watery fruit muck that tastes of paper and little else. What's a poor giant beverage company to do? Why, they re-flavor that shit with a carefully constructed mix of chemicals called a flavor pack, which are manufactured by the same fragrance companies that formulate CK One and other perfumes. Then they bottle the orange scented paper water and sell it to you.

And, thanks to a loophole in regulations, they often don't even bother mentioning the flavor pack chemicals in the list of ingredients. Hear that low moan from the kitchen? That's the Minute Maid you bought yesterday. It knows you know.

 Ammonia-Infused Hamburger

 

Any restaurant that serves hamburger goes out of its way to reassure you how pure and natural it is. Restaurant chains like McDonald's ("All our burgers are made from 100 percent beef, supplied by farms accredited by nationally recognized farm assurance schemes") and Taco Bell ("Like all U.S. beef, our 100 percent premium beef is USDA inspected, then passes our 20 quality checkpoints") happily vouch for the authenticity of their animal bits. Their testaments to the healthiness and fullness of their meat read out like they were talking about freaking filet mignon.

And aside from the rare E.coli outbreak, the meat is clean. It's how they get it clean that's unsettling.

The Horror:

Ammonia. You know, the harsh chemical they use in fertilizers and oven cleaners? It kills E.coli really well. So, they invented a process where they pass the hamburger through a pipe where it is doused in ammonia gas. And you probably never heard about it, other than those times that batches of meat stink of ammonia so bad that the buyer returns it.

The ammonia process is an invention of a single company called Beef Products Inc., which originally developed it as a way to use the absolute cheapest parts of the animal, instead of that silly "prime cuts" stuff the competitors were offering (and the restaurant chains swear we're still getting). Consequently, Beef Products Inc. has pretty much cornered the burger patty market in the U.S. to the point that 70 percent of all burger patties out there are made by them. Thanks, ammonia!

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Ducati Monster 659 (2013) - Reveiw, Performance, Spec, Launch Date, Video.....

  

Naked essentiality

The “less-is-more” philosophy that has made the Monster a motorcycling icon is now accessible to Learner Riders with the new Monster 659, produced exclusively for the Australian market and the Learner Approved Motorcycle Scheme (LAMs) by Ducati, Italy.

The 659 shares many of the same key features and benefits that has made the Monster 696 such a big hit for many less experienced riders including; lightweight, easy handling, low seat height and rider friendly L-Twin power delivery. Essential Ducati detailing, high quality and safety is also evident throughout the 659 design, as is the styling, renowned by the iconic naked Monster family. When you choose to ride the Monster, you are not just choosing a bike, but an entire lifestyle opening the door to the World of Ducati.



2013 Ducati Monster 659 Key Features

Concept

Less is Monster

The 'less-is-more' philosophy behind all Monsters underlines Ducati's never-ending pursuit of genuinely compact, high performance motorcycles, but these new models have succeeded in being even more 'pared down' than their predecessors.

Every single component has been redesigned and redeveloped so now more than ever, form follows function. With any details detracting from the Monster concept being eliminated, 'less-is-more' also means 'less-is-Monster'. Less weight plus more torque equals fun-filled riding.

Monster Story

In 1992 Ducati unveiled a new prototype that was to become an icon. Ducati's creation awed the crowds and the world's media of that year's Cologne International Motorcycle show. The 900 Monster was a motorcycle that created a truly new niche - dramatically styled, minimalist in stature yet bristling with innovative engineering solutions. The Monster's radical styling has also provided the inspiration for an entire after-market sector specialising in hot-rod parts for this legendary machine.

 For this reason, rarely do you see two Monsters the same. This radical and refreshing design departure also influenced other manufacturers but, as the old adage states: imitation is the highest form of flattery... The Monster is characterised by a long and successful history, by its introduction during the years of numerous cylinders and uncountable colour options, but above all by a constant technological evolution that this year brings us to the birth of the last version: the Monster 1100EVO, "The Ultimate Monster".

Monster ART

 

Called "GP Replica", the new Monster Art collection features colour schemes that are a tribute to Team Ducati 2011, personalised with the distinctive emblems and graphics that are the hallmarks "The Doctor" and the "Kentucky Kid".

Launched in 2009, the Monster Art project was initially all about Colour Therapy, a range of vivid colours that allowed everyone to express their own particular personalities perfectly.
The following year came Logomania, an extraordinary collection that paid homage to the evolution of the Ducati logo over the last fifty years.

Now, directly from the racing world, comes the GP Replica collection, which introduces two new graphic designs dedicated to the official riders of Team Ducati 2011: Valentino Rossi and Nicky Hayden.

The kit, consisting of tank cover, seat cover, mudguard and nose fairing, lets you transform the livery of your Monster into a replica of the one on the Desmosedici GP11 ridden by your favourite Ducati rider.





2013 Ducati Monster 659 Features and Benefits


Engine

 

APTC clutch

The APTC ‘wet’ clutch gives a ‘slipper’ type action that prevents destabilizing of the rear-end under aggressive down-shifting and also gives the extra benefit of a super-light feel at the lever, a great benefit in stop-start city traffic or during longer journeys. The 21-plate oil-bath clutch (11 friction and 10 steel) represents a power-enhancing weight reduction over the ‘dry’ system as well as having a quieter operation and requiring less maintenance.

Chassis
Monster Trellis - An immensely strong but light tubular steel Trellis frame with aluminium rear sub-frame is the visual and structural backbone of the Monster. Delivering unparalleled rigidity with minimal mass, the chassis design is pure Ducati in its ingenuity and simplicity. A separate, all aluminium sub-frame saves weight and adds a pleasing continuity with the aluminium footrest hangers and matte finished swingarm.


Sachs rear suspension - At the rear, a Sachs monoshock unit with progressive linkage provide a wide spectrum of both spring and damping settings.

Lightweight 3-spoke wheels - Lightweight 3-spoke aluminium alloy wheels increase agility and reduce rider effort. The 3.50x17 front wheel wears a 120/60ZR tyre while the 4.50x17 rear wheel runs 160/60ZR rubber. By resisting the temptation to over-tyre the 696 and the 659 for styling’s sake, the end result is light, predictable and confidence inspiring steering qualities at a wide range of speeds with truly outstanding stability.

Aluminium swingarm - The GP-style swingarm is chill-cast using aluminium in its most noble form. Gravity cast and heat treated, the component achieves the best mechanical characteristics as well as reduced final weight for improved handling.

  

Ergonomics - The heavily tapered and deeply sculpted fuel tank cover allows maximum comfort and control. The narrowing of the bike's ‘waist’ has the same effect as lowering the seat height, making it easier for more riders to get both feet flat on the floor.

The steering-lock is vastly improved with a useful 64 degrees of lock-to-lock steering travel. Incredible attention to detail has gone into maximising the effective steering-lock.


  Equipment


LED taillight

An LED rear light unit satisfies the minimalist, weight-saving design ethos found throughout the Monster 696 and 659. The specially designed strip of LED are enhanced by a special diffuser lens to deliver outstanding light clarity and incredible longevity.
For the Monster 1100EVO, even the license plate light uses LED technology.

Headlight

The triple-parabola headlight on the Monster utilises the latest optical technology and advanced construction techniques to provide an incredibly compact lighting package. In spite of its compact size, the headlight throws a broad and deep beam to provide excellent visibility and make night riding safer. Viewed from the side, its discrete silhouette mimics the radical shape of the fuel tank.


M659 ABS

 

 

For the first time since its debut, the Ducati Monster is available with ABS (anti-lock braking system). Unlike the majority of motorcycle ABS set-ups, this system has the advantage of ensuring a more natural braking ‘feel’ for the rider. The Monster 696 ABS is equipped with ABS, the single seat cover and the neat micro-bikini fairing.

DDA ready

The instrument display also doubles as a control panel for the activation of the Ducati Data Analyser (DDA) system, which is available as an accessory from Ducati Performance. The bike has been built ‘system-ready’ for the data acquisition kit, which consists of special DDA software and a memory key that slots into a plug under the seat. The same plug also doubles as the connection for a handy new battery charger available as an accessory from Ducati Performance.


Stopwatch

The digital display is programmed with a stopwatch function that, when enabled, can be triggered by using the high-beam flash button and each recorded time stored in a memory. After your journey or track session, the times or lap times can be recalled from the memory and scrolled through by using the instrumentation buttons on the left-hand switchgear.

Instrumentation

Visually simple digital instrumentation provides an array of data on command or, at a glance, just speed and revs. Information available at your fingertip include: scheduled maintenance warning, oil temperature, trip odometer, lap time, fuel reserve, warning light for low oil pressure, turn signals, over-rev warning, immobilizer and neutral warning light.

Adjustable levers

The new user-friendly brake and clutch with 4-point adjustable levers provide easy-to-reach control for all hand sizes.


Silencer covers

The new silencer guards feature a longer shape and provide improved heat protection

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2013 Ducati Monster 659 - Australia Specifications/Technical Details
Australia MSRP Price: See dealer for pricing in AU

Engine

TYPE
L-Twin cylinder, 2 valve per cylinder Desmodromic, air cooled

DISPLACEMENT
659cc

BORE X STROKE
88 x 54.2mm

COMPRESSION RATIO
10.2:1

POWER
38 kW @ 8250rpm

TORQUE
46.5Nm (4.8kgm) @ 7500 rpm

FUEL INJECTION
Siemens electronic fuel injection, 45mm throttle body

EXHAUST
2 aluminum mufflers
 
Transmission
GEARBOX
6 speed

PRIMARY DRIVE
Straight cut gears; Ratio 1.85:1

RATIO
1st 32/13, 2nd 30/18, 3rd 28/21, 4th 26/23, 5th 22/22, 6th 24/26

FINAL DRIVE
Chain; Front sprocket 15; Rear sprocket 45

CLUTCH
APTC wet multiplate with hydraulic control

Chassis

FRAME
Tubular steel Trellis frame

FRONT SUSPENSION
43mm upside-down forks

FRONT WHEEL
3-spoke light alloy 3.50 x 17

FRONT TYRE
Pirelli Angel ST 120/60 17"

REAR SUSPENSION
Progressive linkage with preload and rebound Sachs adjustable monoshock

REAR WHEEL
3-spoke light alloy 4.50 x 17

REAR TYRE
Pirelli Angel ST 160/60 17"

FRONT WHEEL TRAVEL
120mm (4.7in)

REAR WHEEL TRAVEL
148mm (5.8in)

FRONT BRAKE
2 x 320mm discs, 4-piston radial caliper

REAR BRAKE
245mm disc, 2-piston caliper

INSTRUMENTATION
Digital unit displaying: Speedometer, rev counter, clock, scheduled maintenance warning, oil temperature, trip fuel, air temperature, lap time, warning light for low oil pressure, fuel level, fuel reserve, neutral, turn signals, overrev, immobilizer. Ready for DDA system

Dimensions and weight

DRY WEIGHT
161kg (355lb) / 163kg (359lb) ABS version

SEAT HEIGHT
770mm (30.3in)

WHEELBASE
1450mm (57.1in)
RAKE
24°

FUEL TANK CAPACITY
15l - 3.8 gallon (US) / 13.5l - 3.6 gallon (US) ABS version

VERSIONS
Dual seat
Warranty

WARRANTY
2 years unlimited mileage
Emissions and Consumption

STANDARD
Euro 3 (Europe) - USA: follows the US Federal Regulation
 

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2013 Ducati Monster 659 - USA Specifications/Technical Details
US MSRP Price: NA
Model not available

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2013 Ducati Monster 659 - Canadian Specifications/Technical Details
Canada MSRP Price: NA
Model Not Available

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2013 Ducati Monster 659 - Europe/UK Specifications/Technical Details
European MSRP Price: NA.
UK RRP: £NA (Prices are recommended and inclusive of VAT @ 20% and delivery)
Model not available

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2013 Can-Am Hybrid Roadster

The Future Can-Am Spyder HYBRID ROADSTER

In 2007, BRP launched its first on-road vehicle. The Can-Am Spyder roadster. A true paradigm shift with its unique Y-architecture.

Our passion for innovation continues as we work toward developing a future hybrid electric vehicle (HEV). Our goal is dramatically

reduced emissions and superior fuel efficiency. We believe that the HEV engine is the way forward for the environment and will bring about another milestone on BRP’s road map toward eco-performing vehicles. The advanced concept Can-Am HEV Spyder roadster is once again testimony of BRP’s passion for innovation in the powersports industry. Shaping the future of open-air riding. Again.

  

WILL FEATURE :

• Plug-in hybrid roadster
• 600 cc internal combustion engine
• 20 kW continuous power electric motor
• Lithium-ion battery
• Similar acceleration to the Spyder 990 RS roadster


PER FORMANCE OBJECTIVES:

• Range in electric mode: 30 km (20 mi)
• Fuel efficiency: 50% improvement
• Emissions: 50% reduction
• Total range: 600 km (375 mi)
First ever hybrid Roadster from Can-Am, introduced in 2012.

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Ind vs Aus: Dhoni slams maiden double ton, India dominate

Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni struck his maiden double century to lift India to a mammoth 515/8 in their first innings at the end of the third day's play in the first cricket Test against Australia at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium here Sunday.
 
NEW DELHI: Mahendra Singh Dhoni gave an exhibition of blistering strokeplay to hit a career-best undefeated 206 while Virat Kohli cracked 107 as India rode on their captain's batting brilliance to gain control of the first cricket Test against Australia by taking a substantial 135-run first innings lead on Sunday.

Scorecard | Match In Pics 

 

Dhoni produced a stunning counter-attacking knock to notch up his maiden double hundred, his sixth Test century overall, while Kohli recorded his fourth in longer format as the hosts reached a commanding 515 for eight at close, on an eventful third day's play.

The Indian captain set the M A Chidambaram stadium ablaze with his amazing strokeplay as he smashed 22 boundaries and five sixes during his 243-ball assault much to the delight of a sizeable Sunday crowd which cheered the Indians as they went about consolidating their position in the match.

Dhoni, who was agonisingly run out for 99 against England in India last Test in Nagpur, changed the complexion of the game with his aggressive batting after the hosts lost Sachin Tendulkar (81) early in the morning session. Tendulkar, who gave glimpses of his vintage form yesterday, could add just ten runs to his tally. 

Dhoni remained unbeaten on 206 and had Bhuvneshwar Kumar (16 not out) for company as India ended the day with an impressive lead of 135 runs. Australia scored 380 runs in their first innings.

Dhoni and Kumar added 109 runs for the unfinished ninth-wicket stand that took India to a dominating position after they were reduced to 406/8. It was a quick 243-ball knock by Dhoni and was studded with 22 fours and massive five sixes. 

  

Though batting great Sachin Tendulkar failed to break his two-year wait for a Test century, falling for 81 in the morning, what followed next was pure carnage by Dhoni and heir to his captaincy Virat Kohli, who made a valuable 107.

But it was Dhoni's knock that stood out as he almost single-handedly blunted the Australian bowling attack.

The Indians found the going a little tough in the pre-lunch session as the runs dried up but the second new ball ball saw the game slipping away from the Australians as both Dhoni and Kohli attacked the bowlers with an array of shots on both sides of the wicket.

The duo added 128 runs for the fifth wicket before off-spinner Nathan Lyon provided the breakthrough for the visitors with India still 56 runs short of Australia's first innings total.

Kohli paid the price for a lapse in concentration as he tried to lift a delivery from Nathan Lyon over mid-on but could not get the desired elevation and Mitchell Starc latched on to a good catch. Kohli clobbered 15 boundaries and a six during his 206-ball knock.

Dhoni then took centrestage and virtually single handedly took India to a position of strength with a superb batting display in hot and humid conditions. 





After Kohli's dismissal, India lost another three wickets in periodic intervals as Ravindra Jadeja (16), Ravichandran Ashwin (3) and Harbhajan Singh (11) were back in the pavilion.

However Bhuvneshwar Kumar (15 batting) complemented his skipper really well as they put on a record 109 runs for ninth wicket partnership against Australia.

There were times when Dhoni shielded Bhuvneshwar from the Aussie attack as he refused singles on a number of occasions.

The humidity took its toll but the skipper never gave in. Whenever the Aussies tried to keep him quiet, he responded with a typical big hit either straight or towards the deep mid-wicket range.

The 31-year-old Dhoni recorded the highest score by an Indian wicket keeper, eclipsing Budhi Kundaran previous best of 192 scored against England in 1964 at Madras Corporation Stadium.

Dhoni also surpassed 4000 Test runs during his game-changing knock.

With couple of days left in the match, India will look to increase their lead as much as possible and then try to push for victory by bundling out out the Aussies cheaply in the second innings as the track is expected to deteriorate gradually.

With rough being created by the bowler's footmarks on both sides of the track, the Indian team would expect both in-form Ashwin and senior pro Harbhajan to make best use of the conditions so that India doesn't have to bat last on this track. Even if they come out to bat, they would expect the target to be less than 50 runs which will mean that batsmen won't be under any kind of pressure.

Ideally, Dhoni would be expecting that Bhuvneshwar provides him with the same kind of support tomorrow which will enable him to take the lead closer to 200 runs.  

The launchpad of this furious assault certainly was the 128-run fifth wicket partenrship with Kohli as India went into tea at a relatively comfortable score of 371 for six.

While Australia were hoping that the second new ball will help them make some decisive inroads into the Indian lower middle-order, Dhoni thought otherwise.

The new ball was taken in the 83rd over and in the next seven overs, Dhoni-Kohli duo had smashed the Aussie bowlers to the cleaners to score 54 runs. 

Dhoni walked in after India had scored just 14 runs after an hour's play and had lost Tendulkar, who was bowled by off-spinner Nathan Lyon (3/182). Dhoni and Kohli then launched a counter-attack for their 128-run fifth-wicket stand but the scoring slowed down after Kohli was dismissed by Lyon. Kohli in his attempt to get aggressive was caught by Mitchell Starc off the bowling of Lyon.

Ravindra Jadeja (16), Ravichandran Ashwin (3) and Harbhajan Singh (11) all departed quickly and Dhoni risked running out of partners.

 

Kumar, however, proved an able ally for Dhoni. The debutant managed just 16 runs but made sure that his captain got the maximum amount of strike. Dhoni was in complete control of his brilliant innings and simply toyed with the Australian bowlers.

En route to his 206, Dhoni also crossed a few milestones, crossing the 4000-run mark in Tests. It was also the second highest individual score as an Indian captain and also the highest Test score by an Indian wicketkeeper. Dhoni is now just 28 runs short of the highest score by a wicketkeeper in the history of cricket, 232 by Zimbabwean Andy Flower.

Earlier, after losing Tendulkar, Kohli took the attack to the Australian bowling as he completed his fourth century -- a knock which included 15 boundaries and one six.

The first session was an evenly fought contest with Australian pacers bowling tightly. Tendulkar was well set to get his 52nd Test hundred until Lyon bowled him off a flighted ball that turned sharply. The 39-year-old last scored a Test hundred two years ago in January 2011.

If Kohli was ready to wait for the loose deliveries, Dhoni was even hitting the full-pitched deliveries over the bowler's head.

With a bottom-handed grip and powerful wrists, the Jharkhand dasher generated enormous power behind each of his shots with minimal backlift as the ball flew to all corners of the ground.

Kohli completed his century when he clipped a full inswinging delivery from James Pattinson to the square leg fence. The celebration was very unlike Kohli as there was a satisfying smile and no aggressive gesture as one normally associates with the Delhi lad.

Although, Kohli was out for 107, all-rounder Jadeja hung around for a while before shouldering arms to a delivery from Pattinson that knocked his off-stump back.

At the break, Dhoni was holding fort with R Ashwin (3) giving him company.

Dhoni completed his century off 119 balls by hitting Siddle over fine leg for a boundary.

While his first 100 came off 119 balls, his second hundred was a touch faster as he took another 112 balls to reach the landmark.

Among the Australian bowlers, Pattinson was certainly the best as he got four for 89 from his 26 overs but Siddle and Starc will be disappointed on not being able to get breakthroughs despite bowling 47 overs between them.

While left-arm pacer Starc wasn't able to hit the right length consistently, Siddle atleast managed to keep things tight. Nathan Lyon (3/182 in 40 overs) predictably bowled the most number of overs but was clobbered consistently by Dhoni.

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Free Apps for Android users

Android is a powerful platform and although it might have limited functionality by default you can download and install some great applications from the Play Store that make it thousands times more useful than without applications. Main reason why platforms like Android and iOS have taken over the world is due to the amount and quality of apps available for them. In this post we are going to mention must have apps for Android users that are available for free and support all Android smartphones that are running considerably newer versions of the OS.

Any.Do (Free)

 

Any Do is a free reminder app that is available on multiple platforms. It features a really nice interface and allows users to remember things they are supposed to do so they don’t miss it. Users can prioritize tasks, set alarms, create lists and more. Any.Do also has an extension for desktop browsers that syncs tasks from user’s all devices and shows them in a list. This helps users in a way that they don’t forget anything that they set their smartphone to remind them when they are browsing the web from their computer and vice versa. It is available in the Play Store for free.

Chrome Browser (Free)

 

Google released Chrome last year and it became a dominant browser for the platform and a browser of choice for majority of Android owners. The Chrome browser features multi tab browsing, bookmarks, and more. The Chrome Browser for Android is capable of syncing bookmarks and browser history from desktop version of Chrome, which is convenient for users. The browser also works faster than the stock Android browser and also looks better. Its about time when Google finally replaces the stock Android browser with Chrome as it provides a much better experience. It is available.

Pocket (Free)

 

Pocket is a great app and is certainly one of the must have apps for Android users as it provides a clutter free environment for users to read their favorite online articles. It saves the articles and shows it to the reader in a while and simple environment without unrelated links and ads. As Pocket is available on all major platforms your bookmarked articles will be synced to all of your Pocket enabled devices and you will be able to enjoy them as you want. Pocket also allows users to read articles by saving them offline. It is available for download here.

SnapSeed (Free)

 

Most high-end Android devices feature great cameras, which provide users with images that match in quality with point and shoot cameras. The SnapSeed app adds image editing features not available to Android users by default. It enables them to crop, edit, add filters and share their photos on social networking sites. SnapSeed is available for free .

Temple Run 2 (Free)

 

Among must have apps for Android is Temple Run 2 become the fastest growing game with millions of downloads in its first week of releasing. The game builds on the original Temple Run game that was a huge success on all of the platforms it was released on. Temple Run 2 debuted on Android after a few weeks it did on iOS. The game is great and should be on everyone’s Android device. It is great to kill time and get entertained. Download it !

Flipboard (free)

Flipboard is a great reader app for Android that allows users to read articles from their favorite online sites and follow their Facebook and Twitter feeds right from one app. The Flipboard app features a gorgeous UI, which feels like you are turning a paper.

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