Apple OS X Mountain Lion 10.8 review

A lot has changed since early 2001. We’ve got a new president approaching the end of his first term, the US has embarked on two major wars and the words “Lady Gaga” have become much more than just gibberish. Some things, however, don’t change. In nearly each of these intervening years, Apple has issued a major update to its desktop operating system, OS X. This time last year, the company issued OS 10.7 Lion, a king-of-the-jungle moniker many thought would mark the end of Apple’s big cat naming scheme and, by extension, the OS X lineage. In February, however, the old operating system showed she still had some life left in her, when the next edition was revealed, arriving over the summer and called Mountain Lion.

Based on the name alone, you’d think 10.8 would be a modest improvement over its predecessor — not unlike the baby step between Leopard (10.5) and Snow Leopard (10.6). But Apple insists that this latest build is more than just a seasonal refresh — in all, it boasts more than 200 new features. Some are major, including things like a new Notification Center, AirPlay Mirroring and a desktop version of Messages. Others, such as full-screen mode for Notes… not so much. What seems to unite the vast majority of the 200 features, however, is a nod to iOS. So, how easily can Mac users justify that $20 download? Follow along after the break, as we put those 200 features to the test.

http://www.engadget.com

American Muscle: Ford Torino GT

Because of its relation to the Fairline model line, it could be said that the story of the Torino GT actually dates back to 1964. Drag racing was becoming increasingly popular at the time, and Ford wanted a factory offering which could hold its own on the strip.
The car they built was based on the two-door Fairlane and was known as the Fairlane Thunderbolt. This was built to comply with NHRA Super Stock regulations, and was one of the fastest and most successful factory drag cars at the time. The engine was Ford's 427cu-in V8, tuned to produce 657hp. The car was stripped down and lightweight fiberglass body components replaced heavier steel originals.

The Confederate X132 Hellcat Combat Motorcycle

The fastest big block V-twin motorcycle in the world, the Confederate X132 Hellcat Combat motorcycle is finally going into limited series production. The 172.2 mph world speed record was set by James Hoegh at the Bonneville Salts during last summer, reportedly equating the asphalt speed of 200 mph.
This stunning 2-wheeler boasts with a 2,163 cc engine which delivers a massive 160 HP, tied to a 5 speed transmission. It is, at the same time, extremely light, weighing just 500 lbs – this is in fact the reason for which the X132 is able to reach those speeds. In addition, to be able to effectively drive it to a halt, Confederate Motorcycles have also fitted it with a set of Brembo brakes at the rear and Beringer brakes at the front.

source: luxatic.com

Subsea limousine: C-Explorer 5 submarine by U-Boat Worx

U-Boat Worx, submarine manufacturers from the Netherlands, have come up with a staggering submarine which they’ve unveiled on the occasion of the 22nd Monaco Yacht Show, during this September. Dubbed the C-Explorer 5 – CE5 -, the people behind it call the device “the world’s first subsea limousine”.
The process of manufacturing has taken roughly two years, the works at the vessel having been started in 2010. Boasting with the ability to cozily accommodate four people plus the pilot and featuring a state of the art air conditioning system, the CE5 comes with a pressurized hull which enables it dive at as much as 300 meters deep with a top speed of 3 knots.
The CE5 is powered by a cluster of high capacity lithium-ion batteries which ensure it with 8 hours of operational autonomy. There is also an optional upgrade to 16 hours of autonomy. In addition, in case of emergency, the submarine can provide an additional 96 hours of emergency life support. In terms of propulsion, the horizontal and vertical movements are being handled by two pairs of 2 kW thrusters. There’s an available upgrade for these as well, buyers being able to choose two supplementary 1.2 kW thrusters.

source: luxatic.com

Toyota Supra

The fifth generation of the high performance Toyota Supra will be produced in a hybrid version. The engine is taken from the Lexus range and will develop 400HP.
 This engine will be placed up front and it will be powered through the rear wheels. A Prototype of this model should be ready for test engineers at Toyota by the end of this year. The second generation of FT-HS concept Supra will be presented at the Auto Salon in Tokyo later this year.The Toyota Supra will also be available in non-hybrid versions, they will be equipped with a V6 engine of 3.5 liters, while the hybrid unit will be equipped with a V6 2GR-propeller of 3.5 liters VSE. The V6 Unit will be taken from the Lexus GS450h and will be coupled to a hybrid drivetrain. In this configuration, the model will give around 400 HP and a production version will also be presented during 2010.

sportscarzone.com

One of the most beautiful places in the world: DUBAI

A sparkling gem in the desert, the city of Dubai is host to more than 10 million visitors a year, and has quickly become known for its world-class dining, unparalleled shopping, prestigious sporting events and year-round recreational activities.
Dubai boasts of magnificent resorts like the Burj Al Arab, seven-star hotels, world-renowned golf courses, desert safaris, snowboarding on sand dunes and indoor skiing and of course, some of the best shopping in the world. Dubai also offers much for the family: water parks, museums, historical sites, beaches and the zoo. With the cooler weather months from October to April, Dubai makes for a leisurely, enjoyable holiday stay. Cricket matches, camel racing, major sporting events and the Dubai Summer Surprises are just a sampling of what this exciting city has to offer. The combination of all these amenities in a sheltered and luxurious setting, have made Dubai one of the top vacation destinations in the world.

Yes, it is a miracle because the Dubai Palm Islands are a set of man-made islands that are in themselves comprised of many little islands that “branch out from the stem” to form stable (so far) living areas.

As Dubai continues to set new standards for modern day development, its man-made islands are some of the more exceptional projects accomplished around the world. The Palm Islands are three sets of man-made islands, each shaped in a variation of a palm tree. The Palm project is unique from anything else Dubai had done prior to it. The Palm Jumeirah, which was the first of the three islands undertaken is the world’s largest man-made island (as of 2008). They are still patching this up but access is open to the public. Villas are up and many are already living there.

source: guide2dubai.com

Toyota FT-86

TMC seeks to develop the ultimate earth-conscious environmentally-considerate vehicle with a focus on hybrid technologies without losing sight of the appeal of cars themselves or the joy of driving.
Over the past several years, the need has been rising for motor vehicles that take into consideration global warming and other environmental issues, while there has also been concern that there have been too few new sports cars that make the heart beat faster and that the time is right for a new generation of sports cars. In response to these needs, TMC has developed the FT-86 Concept, a sports car equipped with a 2,000cc, horizontally opposed, four-cylinder, naturally-aspirated gasoline engine that evokes the joy of driving a car and the pleasure of vehicle ownership.

 As the name “Future Toyota 86 Concept” implies, the FT-86 Concept, which will be exhibited at the  Tokyo Motor Show, is a new 86 Toyota with a flash red finish. It is a compact, rear-wheel drive sports concept car that embodies speed and the excitement of driving that give cars their appeal as well as environmental performance.

 A Toyota Sports Car for a New Era when the Driver Plays the Main Role

The FT-86 Concept is 4,160mm long, 1,760mm wide, and 1,260mm high with a wheelbase of 2,570mm, giving it a compact feeling that is easy for the driver to handle while able to accommodate four occupants. In addition to being light and having a low center of gravity, the FT-86 Concept boasts the handling of a racing car as well as a 6-speed manual transmission and ADVICS brakes.

 The stylish concept captures the heart with the “functional utility” of its highly-refined body. It is the creation of Toyota Europe Design Development known as ED2, which has established body lines that take into consideration a low center of gravity and aerodynamics. The interior is distinctive, featuring an instrument panel with a gray and white base, gauges with red neon lights and digital displays, and a navigation system. In addition, a zipper that evokes an image of interior lapping with minimal covering of a highly-refined body presents a striking display.

It is necessary to create a vehicle in which the driver plays the main role in order to have as many people as possible experience the joy of driving.

The FT-86 Concept is neither an electric vehicle nor a hybrid vehicle, but is a sports model with a gasoline engine developed to convey the essential appeal of automobiles in a new era. It is a must-see concept car that expresses TMC’s desire to once again create a Toyota sports car.

source: sportscarzone.com