Why everyone loses but the lawyers in Toyota's unintended acceleration settlement

The Toyota settlement recently submitted to US District Judge James Selna for approval will cost the company anywhere from $1 billion to $1.4 billion. All to settle the class-action suit brought against it for economic losses stemming from claims of unintended acceleration. This suit only addresses the perceived loss-of-value that Toyota owners and lessees feel they have suffered, alleging their cars were the victims of unintended depreciation even if they did not directly suffer from the alleged cases of unintended/sudden acceleration.

Autoblog , Why everyone loses but the lawyers in Toyota's unintended acceleration settlement, Why everyone loses but the lawyers in Toyota's unintended acceleration settlement

Acase Arachne premium leather case for iPad mini

Did Santa forget to bring you a nice case for the new iPad mini you got for Christmas.  If you like leather folio cases, you need to investigate the Arachne case from Acase.  The Arachne is made of 100% leather and has a frame to hold the iPad mini securely in place.  The case folds into a stand that can be used for viewing or for typing on the on-screen keyboard.  It even has magnets to sleep/wake the iPad mini.

The Gadgeteer , Acase Arachne premium leather case for iPad mini, Acase Arachne premium leather case for iPad mini

How the demise of Lincoln's Town Car has kick-started a limo revolution

The deaths of the Ford Crown Victoria and the Lincoln Town Car have meant overhauls of three high-profile American fleets: police, taxi and livery car. Just as police fleets are more open to considering other options and a Nissan van is the new face of the NYC taxi, livery car companies are looking at replacements for the Town Car beyond The Blue Oval.

Autoblog , How the demise of Lincoln's Town Car has kick-started a limo revolution, How the demise of Lincoln's Town Car has kick-started a limo revolution

NEC Introduces LaVie X, World's Thinnest Notebook

When it comes to laptops and notebooks, the trend nowadays is going thinner and slimmer. Streamlined laptops and notebooks are possible because of new technology that allowed these devices to become ever so thinner than before. And for the thinnest of them all, NEC is introducing its new LaVie X notebook. The NEC LaVie X Notebook is considered as the thinnest notebook in the world yet. This ultrabook comes only at an incredible 12.8mm thick. Its main features include a 15.6-inch LCD widescreen display, an Intel Core i7 CPU, 4GB RAM, 256GB SSD, HD camera as well as WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity.

Gadget.com , NEC Introduces LaVie X, World's Thinnest Notebook, NEC Introduces LaVie X, World's Thinnest Notebook

Goes Both Ways: Free-trade pact sees South Korean brands losing share at home

France has been vocal, but not alone, in noting the rise of the South Korean automakers in Europe. The signing of a free-trade pact in 2011 between South Korea and the EU, along with the especially value-conscious buyers in a crisis-stricken Europe, has seen market share increases measuring in the double digits for Hyundai and Kia – analysts expect 14-percent growth for the two in 2012.

Autoblog , Goes Both Ways: Free-trade pact sees South Korean brands losing share at home, Goes Both Ways: Free-trade pact sees South Korean brands losing share at home

Tomb Raider Will Feature Multiplayer Modes

Following up on a rumor that we reported yesterday, it looks as though GAME is kicking itself over leaking a huge surprise that was scheduled to be announced in the next issue of Official Xbox Magazine, or OXM. The new Tomb Raider title will have a number of multiplayer modes when it's released on March 5th. The confirmation comes from Crystal Dynamics Global Brand Director Karl Stewart as he decided to drop the multiplayer bomb on Twitter today:.
“OK, so after all the speculation..yes it's true.

Ubergizmo , Tomb Raider Will Feature Multiplayer Modes, Tomb Raider Will Feature Multiplayer Modes

2012 Honda NC700X

Honda Builds The Crossover Of Bikes. Here in the land of Harleys and highways that stretch to infinity, Americans don't care much for sensible motorcycles. Unlike the majority of global bike buyers, North Americans tend to choose escape over utility, performance over practicality – that's simply how it's been done in the land of the free, at least until a funny thing happened on the way to the global recession.
As bank balances thinned and fuel prices crept skyward, sales of puffed up sportbikes and cartoonishly endowed cruisers plummeted.









Autoblog , 2012 Honda NC700X, 2012 Honda NC700X

Samsung Galaxy S2 Plus To Get NFC Chip (Rumor)

It seems that there are expectations in the industry that the yet unannounced Samsung Galaxy S2 Plus will be on the receiving end of two different models, that is, the GT-i9105 and the GT-i9105P, with the latter all set to arrive with an NFC chip. This might be the "Plus" version of the original S2 i9100, but you will find that the i9105 is not going to be superior in any way due to the lack of superior specifications. The processor will be a dual-core 1GHz processor, while carrying 8GB of internal memory.

Ubergizmo , Samsung Galaxy S2 Plus To Get NFC Chip (Rumor), Samsung Galaxy S2 Plus To Get NFC Chip (Rumor)

Jay Leno's Garage gets agrarian with Lamborghini tractor

Stepping away from the trendy and arcane, the next guest in Jay Leno's Garage is a 1968-69 Lamborghini R485 tractor. In case there's anyone who doesn't know, the same Ferruccio Lamborghini ultimately responsible for giving us the Aventador started off making tractors in his native Italy after World War II. The specs are a long way from anything we'd expect from the company's road-going products. The vineyard and orchard tractor has a 5.0-liter, four-cylinder engine that produces 85 horsepower and 350 foot-pounds of torque, a two-foot clutch and 12 forward gears that get it from 0.3 miles per hour to 14 mph.



Autoblog , Jay Leno's Garage gets agrarian with Lamborghini tractor, Jay Leno's Garage gets agrarian with Lamborghini tractor

Winbot to Debut at CES 2013

When it comes to window cleaning, Ecovacs Robotics has wiped out the competition and moved up to a distinctly higher plane of robotic cleaning. Executive General Manager, Nick Savadian said, "While others are still trying to clean floors, we've move on to windows and I'm very pleased to say we do windows really well too." Winbot, the first successful robotic device exclusively created for cleaning inside and outside windows, will debut on Jan.

Trendy Gadget , Winbot to Debut at CES 2013, Winbot to Debut at CES 2013

Why Tesla will need more loans to make it through 2013

It's fun to bet against Elon Musk and Tesla – that's the best reason we can find for so many people doing it even though the man, his company and his cars are still here and still very popular. The latest name inscribed in the column labeled "Skeptical of Tesla" is John Shinal at Market Watch who, in year-end commentary on Tesla's financials, says that the "carmaker's financials are reminiscent of a dot-com's." He does not mean that in the good way.

Autoblog , Why Tesla will need more loans to make it through 2013, Why Tesla will need more loans to make it through 2013

iPod Touch Design Patent Awarded

Apple is a company that is huge on patents, so it is interesting to hear that a design patent for the hugely successful iPod touch has been awarded to Apple, and it has been a long time in coming, if you could say so. After all, we are talking about a patent that was filed by the folks over at Cupertino way back in August of 2011, taking more than a year for it to receive the nod of approval from the good people over at the USPTO.

Ubergizmo , iPod Touch Design Patent Awarded, iPod Touch Design Patent Awarded

Pebble Watch Gets FCC Approval

The Pebble watch, a Kickstarter funded project, has finally made its way over to the FCC, which means that it is well on its way to be released to the mass market very, very soon. Most consumer electronics devices that arrive at the FCC tend to follow this similar path, so we are making this rather safe assumption. Well, you can say that the Pebble watch did encounter its fair share of delays along the way, with a release being scheduled in September earlier this year.

Ubergizmo , Pebble Watch Gets FCC Approval, Pebble Watch Gets FCC Approval

eBay Find of the Day: Your choice of new, unregistered mid-2000s supercars

If you didn't quite find what you were hoping to see under the tree this year, maybe it's about time you buy yourself something nice. Something like an unregistered 2005 Porsche Carrera GT. The car has never been titled and has just 83 miles on the odometer. With one owner since new, the Carrera GT is likely to be as nice an example as you're likely to find outside of a museum. Porsche only built 340 of these machines back in 2005, and with a 610 horsepower V10 kicking at your spine, you can lap Santa's sleigh next year.


Autoblog , eBay Find of the Day: Your choice of new, unregistered mid-2000s supercars, eBay Find of the Day: Your choice of new, unregistered mid-2000s supercars

MSI S20 Ultrabook Up For $1100

Are you in the market at the moment for a spanking new Ultrabook. If you have answered in the affirmative, then you might be interested to pick up something that is slightly different from the usual suspects that are Lenovo, Dell, Samsung and Toshiba. Ever considered what MSI is able to conjure up. Well, assuming you have $1100 thereabouts to spare, you might want to make a pit stop for the MSI S20 Ultrabook that does seem to resemble a somewhat chunky tablet at first glance, that is, until you slide out the keyboard from under the display.

Ubergizmo , MSI S20 Ultrabook Up For $1100, MSI S20 Ultrabook Up For $1100

Consumer Reports best value awards dominated by Toyota

Each year, Consumer Reports compiles a list of the vehicles it expects to be the best and worst when it comes to holding their original resale value, and the list of best values for 2012 is, not surprisingly, dominated by Toyota products. Overall, the best value for 2012 is the Toyota Prius, while the worst car for the money is the BMW 750Li, according to the magazine. The Prius knocked the Honda Fit from the top spot, which was the best value four years running, and it did so despite costing $10,000 more as tested. As CR points out, a higher price does not equate to less value just as a lower price does not guarantee a higher value.

Autoblog , Consumer Reports best value awards dominated by Toyota, Consumer Reports best value awards dominated by Toyota

Let a cloud support and charge your tablet

This Wellness Cloud is a bit different from other pillow stands for tablets.  It has a billowy shape that was inspired by clouds.  It has memory foam padding in the front to support your wrists and forearms.

The Gadgeteer , Let a cloud support and charge your tablet, Let a cloud support and charge your tablet

Google Offers Free Calls Within US And Canada Through 2013

The day of Christmas itself might be over for everyone, but this does not mean that goodwill should no longer be extended to folks around you. The good people over at Google must be looking forward to the loot that Santa has in store for them next year by being nice to millions of people living in the US and Canada, as Google has just announced that they will continue to allow you to perform free domestic calls through the year of 2013 within the US and the Great White North, making it a snap to connect with friends and family scattered all over.

Ubergizmo , Google Offers Free Calls Within US And Canada Through 2013, Google Offers Free Calls Within US And Canada Through 2013

TableTop Translator iPad App

The Internet has allowed people from different parts of the world to easily connect to each other. Now, it is more than possible to have a chat with someone who lives on the other part of the globe than ever before. But still, there are some limitations and obstacles that face people even when having a face to face conversation with someone. The language barrier is just but one of them.

Gadget.com , TableTop Translator iPad App, TableTop Translator iPad App

Toshiba 20 Megapixel Image Sensor Targets Point-And-Shoot Cameras

Just when you thought that the megapixel wars are over, here we are with word that Toshiba's spanking new TCM5115CL 20-megapixel image sensor is being prepared to roll out to the masses, with it being the highest-resolution ever image sensor constructed that will target point-and-shoot cameras. Hmmm, perhaps it is the dawn of a new megapixel war, and who are we to argue with the industry movers and shakers. Just when you thought that there was no longer any more point to cramming in additional pixels onto small image sensors, here we are with Toshiba's version, where this new 1x2.3-inch image sensor will pack in 25% more pixels than usual.

Ubergizmo , Toshiba 20 Megapixel Image Sensor Targets Point-And-Shoot Cameras, Toshiba 20 Megapixel Image Sensor Targets Point-And-Shoot Cameras

Facebook Stories App To Meet New Years Eve Head On

Facebook, the world's most popular social network, has just announced that they will be doing the general public a great service when the clock strikes 12 this December 31st, as we bid goodbye to this year, and usher in 2013 – so much for the world ending on December 21st, eh. Well, Facebook's upcoming feature via the 'Stories' application will enable users to send a personalized special greeting to select friends at the stroke of midnight on New Years Eve. Touted to be a 'Midnight Message Delivery' system, it is said to guarantee a holiday greeting to friends who are on your "nice" list.

Ubergizmo , Facebook Stories App To Meet New Years Eve Head On, Facebook Stories App To Meet New Years Eve Head On

Canon EOS 5D Mark II has been discontinued

Canon 5D MK II. The Canon EOS 5D Mark II is a pretty popular camera known for not just being a full frame camera, but also the first DSLR camera that offered up Full HD 1080p video shooting capabilities. This made the camera extremely viable for videographers who didn't want to lug around too much equipment, that and the fact that it proved to be capable of shooting an entire episode of House.

Ubergizmo , Canon EOS 5D Mark II has been discontinued, Canon EOS 5D Mark II has been discontinued

Watch a Morgan Plus 8 be hand-crafted in two minutes

The Morgan Motor Company has been building vehicles since 1909 and built its first proper car – as opposed to a three-wheeler, or cyclecar – in 1936. That was the 4x4, and although it's been joined by seven other models, it is still being made today. The Plus 8 is one of those other models, and the Telegraph sent a crew to watch it being made. An eight-cylinder version of the Plus 4 (the Plus 4 has a larger four-cylinder engine than the 4x4), it takes 30 days to produce each sample – hand-fashioning the wooden body in the image above is just one reason why.

Autoblog , Watch a Morgan Plus 8 be hand-crafted in two minutes

See also:
computerworld, Watch a Morgan Plus 8 be hand-crafted in two minutes

Verizon FIOS Hacked (Rumor)

On Saturday evening, there was a story making its rounds that a hacker claimed to have nicked information from approximately 3 million Verizon Wireless customers which was in plain-text, and this hacker allegedly posted the information for 300,000 customers online from Saturday onwards.

Ubergizmo , Verizon FIOS Hacked (Rumor), Verizon FIOS Hacked (Rumor)

SteelSeries Free Touchscreen Gaming Controls Available For Your Gaming Pleasure

Smartphone and tablet gamers by now should have gotten used to touchscreen controls, although we completely forgive you if you accidentally hit another on-screen button when you meant to hit something else. As much as we would like to think touchscreen controls are good enough when gaming, there's nothing like the feel of a controller in your hand as you perform a number of moves in-game with little to no effort.

Ubergizmo , SteelSeries Free Touchscreen Gaming Controls Available For Your Gaming Pleasure, SteelSeries Free Touchscreen Gaming Controls Available For Your Gaming Pleasure

[HEALTH] Aromatherapy trends: herbal vaporization

Ancient records show that Asian cultures have been steaming and vaporizing medicinal herbs way back before Christ (end of 8 B.C. when recalling the oldest recording known to archived data). Mainly China, Indochina, Japan and Taiwan were the first to discover the benefits of inhaling medicinal plant fumes. The volatile vapors of plants such as Laurel, Passion flower, mint, wild Chamomile and various Tea shrubs natively found in the Asian continent caught the attention of many European scientists to start conducting trials on the efficiency when such plant material is heated.










Akihabara News , [HEALTH] Aromatherapy trends: herbal vaporization, [HEALTH] Aromatherapy trends: herbal vaporization

Production Volkswagen Golf R Cabriolet revealed in video

Fans of convertibles might want to take notice of Volkswagen over the coming year or so. In addition to the diesel-powered Beetle TDI Convertible, the new Golf Cabriolet will spawn some exciting variants itself including the GTI Cabrio unveiled earlier this year in Geneva and the more powerful Golf R Cabrio, which VW first showed off in concept form at its annual GTI get-together at Lake Wörthersee to gauge public interest. We still aren't even sure if we'll be getting the standard version of the Golf Cabrio here in the US, but what isn't there to love about the idea of a small and nimble droptop with 265 horsepower.



Autoblog , Production Volkswagen Golf R Cabriolet revealed in video

See also:
itnews, Production Volkswagen Golf R Cabriolet revealed in video

‘Cut The Rope' Game Creators Launches New Mobile Game Called ‘Pudding Monsters'

Russian gaming company, ZeptoLab, is launching its next game following the huge success of its “Cut the Rope” mobile game application. ZeptoLab's latest creation is "Pudding Monsters," a new game for iOS and Android platforms. According to its creators, the new game presents players with puzzles involving gooey cyclops creatures, as seen above, and players will be required to combine the blobs in order to pass each course.

Ubergizmo , ‘Cut The Rope' Game Creators Launches New Mobile Game Called ‘Pudding Monsters', ‘Cut The Rope' Game Creators Launches New Mobile Game Called ‘Pudding Monsters'

Final Fantasy IV makes its way onto iOS devices for $15.99

Some of you guys might have heard that Final Fantasy IV would be making its way onto iOS, and sure enough it did. The game has since been released by Square Enix and has made its way onto the iTunes App Store. This is basically a retreatment of the 2008 3DS remake, and it will come with updated visuals, remastered music and sound and presumably optimized for touch screen gameplay.

Ubergizmo , Final Fantasy IV makes its way onto iOS devices for $15.99, Final Fantasy IV makes its way onto iOS devices for $15.99

Tapit raises $2.3m Series A to expand its NFC ecosystem globally

SYDNEY – December 20, 2012 – Near Field Communications (NFC) pioneer, Tapit Media Pty Ltd, has completed a $2.3m Series A round led by MPC Ventures Pty Limited, a subsidiary of Sydney based Monash Private Capital Pty Limited. Other investors in the consortium include IT entrepreneurs David Shein and David Thrum, as well as global venture capitalist Jon Medved’s ourcrowd.com. The transaction marks one of the first NFC content delivery related Series A rounds in the world and one of only a handful of Series A transactions in Australia.

Press Release Distribution , Tapit raises $2.3m Series A to expand its NFC ecosystem globally, Tapit raises $2.3m Series A to expand its NFC ecosystem globally

President Obama Is TIME's Person Of The Year, Tim Cook Is Second Runner-Up

 . Before the world, err 2012, ends, TIME magazine is announcing its Person of the Year together with a few notable runner-ups. TIME's Person of the Year, formerly known as Man of the Year, is an annual issue that features and profiles a person, group, idea or object that “has done the most to influence the events of the year.” This year, the Person of the Year award goes to U.S. President Barack Obama.

Ubergizmo , President Obama Is TIME's Person Of The Year, Tim Cook Is Second Runner-Up, President Obama Is TIME's Person Of The Year, Tim Cook Is Second Runner-Up

Boost Mobile Will Throttle Data Speeds Of Data-Hungry Customers In 2013

The world of prepaid carriers is a cutthroat one as the majority of the big carriers have their own prepaid services offering a number of benefits such as unlimited talk and data without the need to being tied down to a contract. Sprint-owned Boost Mobile has such a service, but starting near Jan. 20th, it will begin data throttling its customers. The company took to its Facebook profile earlier today to let its customers know of the change as customers who exceed 2.5 gigabytes of data each month will be slowed down to a slow, but steady 256kbps.

Ubergizmo , Boost Mobile Will Throttle Data Speeds Of Data-Hungry Customers In 2013, Boost Mobile Will Throttle Data Speeds Of Data-Hungry Customers In 2013

Huawei Ascend D2 Could Make CES 2013 Debut

When CES 2013 kicks off, you know for sure that you would be having a grand time checking out the slew of devices that are rolling out throughout the entire four days of the show. Well, smartphones will definitely be part of the show, and the Huawei Ascend D2 does seem to have some pretty strong suggestions that it will be shown off at CES 2013 that is happening in less than a month's time. So far, we do not know just which mobile carrier would be making the device available to the masses, nor how much would the Huawei Ascend D2 sell for.

Ubergizmo , Huawei Ascend D2 Could Make CES 2013 Debut, Huawei Ascend D2 Could Make CES 2013 Debut