Detroit Auto Show debuting its first lawn tractor

The new Ford Fusion. The 2012 BMW 3 Series. The Lexus LF-LC. The Craftsman CTX-series. lawn tractor? Indeed, as odd as it sounds, you can count the latter among the many debuts scheduled for the 2012 Detroit Auto Show when the doors open to the public.

Craftsman's new premium tractors go on sale in February and will range in price from $3,000 to $6,500, with two yard tractor and two garden tractor models available.

Autoblog, Detroit Auto Show debuting its first lawn tractor

AMD Radeon HD 7990 and 7950 details leaked

With the paper launch of the Radeon HD 7970 last week, we are starting to get more leaked information about the other models hitting the market under the new “Tahiti” platform. In the information leaked by xtreview, The HD 7950 will have 1792 stream processors, 28 GCN compute units, which is down 256 stream processors from the HD 7970. It will utilize a 384-bit memory bus and 3GB GDDR5 just like the HD 7970. The HD 7950 looks to utilize 112 texture units and 32 full color ROPs. It has support for a maximum of 6 displays. What is still unknown at this time is the core clock speed, memory clock speed and price point.


2DayBlog.com, AMD Radeon HD 7990 and 7950 details leaked

Verizon scraps plan for $2 billing fee

. Verizon Wireless on Friday announced that it is canceling plans to charge a $2 convenience fee to customers making one-time bill payments online or over the phone. The carrier announced earlier this week that the new fee would allow it to continue providing subscribers with the option to make one-time payments using its web-based and telephone payment systems. Following a rash of negative press and customer complaints, Verizon confirmed that it will scrap plans to introduce the new fee next month. "At Verizon, we take great care to listen to our customers, Verizon Wireless CEO Dan Mead said in a statement.

Boy Genius Report, Verizon scraps plan for $2 billing fee

Chinese vendors form alliance to battle Apple and other patent predators

. Handset makers in China have formed an alliance to prepare for possible patent battles with Apple, Microsoft and Nokia. Coolpad, Konka, TCL, ZTE and Lenovo were among the companies named in a report by DigiTimes on Friday. The number of lawsuits filed in China is expected to increase as Microsoft, Nokia and Apple try to increase market share there, the report says. Nokia has already filed patent infringement suits against several Chinese phone makers and Microsoft has gone after Huawei to try to secure a patent licensing deal. Huawei responded to Microsoft's threats in early November and explained that it has 65,000 patents worldwide.

Boy Genius Report, Chinese vendors form alliance to battle Apple and other patent predators

Easyscreen Adds a Pop of Color to iPad 2 Screen Protection

Earlier this week I was reading tweets from bratty kids cursing their parents and wishing them dead because they didn't get a car for Christmas or got the wrong color iPad 2.  Instead of cursing about the iPad 2, add an Easyscreen Screen Protector from MediaDevil.  Not only can you cover up the offending colored bezel with a color more to your liking, you'll add a 3-layer anti-glare protective layer that prevents scratches and fingerprints.  Adhesive is only used under the colored border, so there will be no air bubbles on the screen.  With ten colors (white, black, silver, red, blue, pink, green, orange, yellow, and purple) to select fro

The Gadgeteer, Easyscreen Adds a Pop of Color to iPad 2 Screen Protection

UK police face the sack over Facebook misdemenours

The long arm of the law is not always right, as some 150 English and Welsh police were disciplined due to their unbecoming personas over on Facebook over the course of the past four years, with at least a couple of them facing the sack, while another seven have already resigned due to their foolishness with their social network profile. These figures and background data were made available to the Press Association newswire after a pre-planned festive-season Freedom of Information Act request.

Ubergizmo, UK police face the sack over Facebook misdemenours

Mangusta Legacy Concept just as badass as the original

The world would be a much happier place with a little more De Tomaso Mangusta. The Pantera predecessor featured sexy Italian styling, Ford V8 power and properly scary handling. Only 401 units were built between 1967 and 1971, making the gull-wing machine a proper unicorn for any collector of Italian absurdities. One designer and illustrator has taken it upon himself to envision what a modern interpretation of the Mangusta might look like. The result is the Mangusta Legacy.

Autoblog, Mangusta Legacy Concept just as badass as the original

ITG xpPhone 2 running on Windows 7 released in China

Sometime back in October, we reported on ITG's xpPhone 2, a device manufactured by a company that seems to believe that mobile chipsets and mobile platforms are not the way to go, as evidenced by their choice of hardware and software. Well if you're willing to give them a chance, it seems that the company has managed to surpass their goal of a release in 2012 and has since launched the device in China. For those who might have forgotten, the xpPhone 2 is an Intel Atom Z530 powered smartphone that is clocked at 1.6GHz. It features 2GB of RAM, 112GB of storage packed into an SSD, a 4.3" display with Microsoft's Windows 7 running the show.

Ubergizmo, ITG xpPhone 2 running on Windows 7 released in China

Meizu MX goes on sale in China this Sunday

Meizu's flagship device, the Meizu MX, will be made available for purchase in China on January 1st, 2012. The phone has been highly anticipated since it was announced awhile ago as the successor to the Meizu M9, the company's previous flagship phone. In addition to going on sale in China, the phone will also be made available in Hong Kong on the same day - a first for the company. No word on whether the MX will be released in the US, but I'm pretty sure there are a number of folks who would love to get their hands on the phone.

Ubergizmo, Meizu MX goes on sale in China this Sunday

Motorola DROID 4 render shows up on Best Buy website

In the past we've had unreleased phones being used as promotional material due to the carelessness of designers or folks not receiving the memo that a phone was delayed, and well it looks like it's happened again - this time with the Motorola DROID 4. Earlier today, on Best Buy, there was a render of the upcoming Android phone being shown on its Reward Zone (the picture has now been replaced) for its “5000 Bonus Points” image. Normally this doesn't mean a thing, but since the phone has yet to be officially announced, we believe that it might have been slated for a release this month but was given a last minute delay.

Ubergizmo, Motorola DROID 4 render shows up on Best Buy website

LG to Show Off 84-Inch ‘Ultra Definition' TV at CES

LG's 84-inch prototype 4K display will join a growing number of 4K TVs at CES. Photo: LG. Apparently, a 55-inch OLED television isn't wowing enough.

Gadget Lab, LG to Show Off 84-Inch ‘Ultra Definition' TV at CES

Sprint Samsung Conquer 4G will get a $49.99 Buy One Get One free offer starting on January 8

If you're thinking of getting both yourself and someone you love a decent smartphone for a decent price, perhaps you should wait a bit. See, Sprint will have something interesting for you from January 8 to March 10. What, you ask. Well, a BOGO (Buy One Get One free) sort of thing. The Now Network will be offering you, in effect, two Samsung Conquer 4G smartphones for just $49.99 (after a $50 mail-in rebate). You'll obviously have to sign two new two-year contracts to get that price. But you should probably take the fact that this phone usually sells for $99.99 under consideration.

Unwired View, Sprint Samsung Conquer 4G will get a $49.99 Buy One Get One free offer starting on January 8

Verizon Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 software update imminent, not Ice Cream Sandwich

Verizon's Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 is about to receive another software update. Unfortunately though, it's not going to pack Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. That's probably a long way out at this point. Instead, this update will generally make your tablet's operation smoother. Many bugs have been fixed, and many things have been enhanced.

The TouchWiz UX will be updated. There will be a new SocialHub widget. Built-in photo editing will be added. The Daily app will be preinstalled. Bluetooth 3.0 compatibility is also in. The music and video players have been enhanced too. DivX support has been added.

Unwired View, Verizon Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 software update imminent, not Ice Cream Sandwich

Intel starts shipping Atom N2600, N2800 processors for netbooks

We've already seen a few benchmarks and other hints that they'd soon be shipping, and Intel has now officially announced that its new Cedar Trail Atom processors are finally available, with the first systems using them set to roll out early next year. The two chips you'll likely be seeing the most of are the Atom N2600 and N2800 — both dual-core, and both designed for use in netbooks, where they promise to allow for up to ten hours of battery life and “weeks of standby,” and offer support for 1080p video playback.

2DayBlog.com, Intel starts shipping Atom N2600, N2800 processors for netbooks

Rumor Roundup: Apple's Game-Changing TV Set

The Apple TV set-top box integrates streaming TV and movie rentals and Netflix streaming. Photo: Jon Snyder/Wired.com. It's a little too soon to start making predictions about Apple's next iPhone. And the iPad 3 seems all but figured out, if reports are to be trusted. But there are some seriously hot and plentiful speculations circulating around an area that Apple hasn't yet ventured into: TVs. Full-fledged, big-screen, living room-dominating TVs.

Multiple reports from multiple sources (supply chain, analysts, and anonymous Apple insiders, to name a few) make it appear all but definite that Apple is at least contemplating some form of TV.

Gadget Lab, Rumor Roundup: Apple's Game-Changing TV Set

China tests train that hit 500km/h

Imagine getting across the country on a train that is capable of hitting speeds of up to 500km/h – don't you think that this is going to be a treat. It would eliminate the hassle of checking in an hour earlier for domestic flights, as well as doing away with those pesky security checkpoints at airports. China is at the forefront here, where their test train managed to achieve a speed of 500km/h on a railway line in Qingdao, Shandong province.

Ubergizmo

See also:
cherryapple, China tests train that hit 500km/h

Watch the story of the flaming Lamborghini that won this year's Targa High Country

Not too long ago, we caught the dramatic finish to the Targa High Country in Australia. The last stage of the event featured one very on fire Lamborghini Gallardo piloted by Jason and John White as the duo sped to the finish line. Why didn't the team stop and put out the fire. For starters, White notes there were more fire extinguishers at the finish line than there were in the car. Additionally, the teammates beat out their closest competitor by just 10 seconds.



Autoblog, Watch the story of the flaming Lamborghini that won this year's Targa High Country

The real Porsche Design entertainment center

We think there would be considerably more car-themed furniture in the world were it not for the institution of marriage. While we would have no problem flopping the tail section of a 2005 Porsche 911 in the living room in place of an entertainment center and TV stand, something tells us that would be a hard sell to our significant others. While Porsche Design does make some beautiful pieces that we're sure our better halves wouldn't mind owning, we can't see them cottoning on to the efforts of one enterprising individual, who has taken to manufacturing custom TV stands from the rear haunches of certain Porsche models.



Autoblog, The real Porsche Design entertainment center

Tata recalling all pre-2012 Nano models over bad starter

Tata Motors has issued a recall for all Nano models manufactured between July 2009 and October 2011. The company will replace the vehicles' starter motors free of charge. And while the Indian automaker has declined to say just how many vehicles will be affected by the recall, local news reports have said as many as 145,000 Nano vehicles will receive a new starter. Tata says the recall has been underway for some time, noting it has already replaced somewhere around 50,000 starters to date.

Autoblog, Tata recalling all pre-2012 Nano models over bad starter

Though Unlisted, HTC Rezound Unlockable via HTCDev Tools

You won’t find it listed among the likes of the T-Mobile myTouch 4G and HTC View 4G, but the tools available via HTCDev.com are apparently capable of unlocking the bootloader of the HTC Rezound as well. It’s as easy as heading over to the site and following the same instructions that unlock any other listed HTC device. Since there has been no official mention of the Rezound chances are HTC did not intentionally provide these capabilities.

Android Phone, Though Unlisted, HTC Rezound Unlockable via HTCDev Tools

Galactic Princess Headphone Covers for Star Wars fans

If you're a huge fan of Princess Leia and you want to dress up like her - or at least turn your headphones into stylish Princess Leia buns you're in luck. The Star Wars character's famous hairstyle has served as an inspiration for an Etsy creator - Jacqueline LongLegs', creation - Galactic Princess Headphone Covers. Made from synthetic hair, these accessories will spice up how your headphones look and are available in three colors (auburn, blonde or red) to match the color of your own hair. The headphone covers can be attached permanently or temporarily, and will set you back $24 a pair.

Ubergizmo, Galactic Princess Headphone Covers for Star Wars fans

How (not) to wash your car with only one bucket of water

Water is a pretty amazing substance. It coats our planet, makes up the vast majority of our bodies, and – most importantly – proves to be an endless source of YouTube hijinks. You remember, of course, the cretins-in-a-carwash video, in which water's destructive powers were just hinted at. But in all seriousness, water is not to be messed with. Whether leaking into your basement, sweeping away cars in a flash flood, or unleashing hell in the form of a tsunami, water's capacity for violence and disaster is as great as anything dreamed up by man.

Enough with the preamble.



Autoblog, How (not) to wash your car with only one bucket of water

New book says Jimmy Hoffa buried beneath GM headquarters

If you're looking for the bones of Teamsters leader Jimmy Hoffa, you may need look no further than the General Motors headquarters. According to a new book by Hoffa's former driver and mob goon Marvin Elkind, Hoffa's corpse rests above the cement foundation of the Renaissance Center. Elkind co-wrote Weasel: A Double Life in the Mob with a Canadian journalist, and according to one passage, reported mob boss Anthony Giacalone told Teamsters delegates to "Say good morning to Jimmy Hoffa, boys," as he nodded to the foundation of the Renaissance Center during a conference in Detroit in 1985.

Autoblog, New book says Jimmy Hoffa buried beneath GM headquarters

It's not a flying fish, it's a submarine-launched UAV

VTOL may be old news already, but here's another great USP for any UAV: the ability to launch from a submerged submarine. The technology is still in development, but the Navy wants to try it from periscope depth during exercises in the Pacific Ocean next year. If all goes to plan, a Switchblade folding-wing drone will be ejected from the submarine's trash disposal unit and then carried to the surface by an SLV ('submerged launch vehicle'), which will keep it dry, point it into the wind and then hurl it heavenwards so it can go a-snooping.

Engadget

See also:
wwws, It's not a flying fish, it's a submarine-launched UAV

5 Smartphones to Look Out for in 2012, LG Android OS 4.0 Upgrades Will Begin Q2 2012 & Apple Kicks Off 12 Days of iTunes

5 Smartphones to Look Out for in 2012. While 2011 brought some truly amazing innovations to the mobile industry from 4G LTE, to dual-core processors to phones that measure in the millimeters in terms of width, 2012 is poised to trump it. Needless to say, these are exciting times. But what's on that horizon. What phones should you already be thinking about?
Gotta Be Mobile

LG Android OS 4.0 Upgrades Will Begin Q2 2012 With LG Optimus LTE and Others
LG has announced the first set of smartphones that will be graced with some Android OS 4.0 love.

Cell Phones Ca, 5 Smartphones to Look Out for in 2012, LG Android OS 4.0 Upgrades Will Begin Q2 2012 & Apple Kicks Off 12 Days of iTunes

Andy Rubin Reveals Android Activations For December 24th and 25th

We told you guys earlier today about smartphone activations jumping 353% from the previous year but many were left wondering, “Just how many of those were Android devices?” Well, I found this report from Localytics who breaks it down by country and OS but if you're looking for a specific number — our very own Andy Rubin helped further answer this burning question with a tweet he sent out only moments ago. Apparently, there were 3.7 million Android activations just on December 24th and 25th alone. Pretty impressive numbers if you ask me.


Android Phone, Andy Rubin Reveals Android Activations For December 24th and 25th

Redesigned next-generation iPhone to launch next year in fall

It was just a couple of months ago that the iPhone 4S was launched and the rumors for the next iPhone have already started crawling out of the woodwork. This newest one is courtesy BGR, who reports that they have heard from a close source that the next generation iPhone will launch in fall of 2012, which around the same time the 4S was released. They also have information about the design, which is said to be completely new.

GSM Arena, Redesigned next-generation iPhone to launch next year in fall

LG Prada Phone 3.0 Now Available In Korea – Hitting Europe In January

No, the image you see above is not in black in white — it's actually in full color. That's LG's newest smartphone, the “Prada Phone by LG.” First thing I'm sure you've noticed the device is its minimalist “Prada themed” black and white UI, a clear departure from the manufacturer's pseudo TouchWiz found on devices like the Nitro HD. Because, you know… nothing says “class” like black and white.

Android Phone, LG Prada Phone 3.0 Now Available In Korea â€" Hitting Europe In January

Is Japan's Prius Cup the world's most boring form of motorsports?

Drivers in Japan have once again taken to the track in an effort to wring maximum mileage from their Toyota hybrids. According to AutoWeek, the Prius Cup resumed this year after a two-year hiatus. Toyota officials said they have no plans to bring the hybrid competition to the U.S., but played up their promises to compete and win at Le Mans next June with a hybrid.
Dealerships fielded teams at Fuji Speedway in Oyama, Japan, for a national championship race held on December 7.

Autoblog, Is Japan's Prius Cup the world's most boring form of motorsports?

Windows Phone Marketplace now has more than 50,000 apps

In the battle of useless numbers, Windows Phone has hit another major milestone. Its integrated app store, the Marketplace, now has more than 50,000 apps in it. Not only that, but apparently it's reached this number way faster than either iOS or Android. Which means… absolutely nothing. People aren't buying Windows Phones because they all look the same and they all work the same. And they're too many identical phones.

Unwired View, Windows Phone Marketplace now has more than 50,000 apps

Samsung may just update the Galaxy S and Galaxy Tab to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich after all

If you own a Samsung Galaxy S or Galaxy Tab, this was not a great Christmas for you. That's because last week Samsung announced that those two devices would not be updated to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. Even if neither is older than 18 months. The culprit? Why, the ‘customizations' of course. Namely, Samsung's TouchWiz UI, which together with the new 4.0 bits would apparently need more than the 512 MB of RAM found in both these devices in order to run properly.

That's why, for example, the Samsung Nexus S, which has basically identical hardware, can run ICS, and those two can't.

Unwired View, Samsung may just update the Galaxy S and Galaxy Tab to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich after all

ZTE intros Fashion TV Android smartphone

ZTE has teamed up with Fashion TV to introduce the FTV phone. This is not a new device, though: it's just a ZTE Blade (aka Orange San Francisco) with new paint jobs and exclusive Fashion TV content (wallpapers, apps – FTV news, FTV portal, FTV Clock and so on). Since it's not based on the new Blade S / San Francisco II, but on the older model (first released last year), the Fashion TV phone runs Android 2.2 Froyo, and features a 3.5 inch WVGA display, HSPA, Wi-Fi, GPS, 3.2MP camera, MicroSD card support, 512MB of RAM, and a 600MHz Qualcomm processor.


Unwired View, ZTE intros Fashion TV Android smartphone

T-Mobile Springboard spotted with Android 4.0.1 on board

For those who might have gotten their hands on the Huawei MediaPad, or the T-Mobile Springboard as it is better known in the states, it appears that thanks to a leaked screenshot, what we are looking at above is the tablet running on none other than Android 4.0.1 Ice Cream Sandwich. The tablet was originally released with Android 3.2 Honeycomb on board and costs a relatively affordable $430 (this was before the Amazon Kindle Fire) with relatively decent hardware specifications to match. The update to Android 4.0.1 doesn't really surprise us considering that a while back the company released a beta Android 4.0 update for the Honor handset.

Ubergizmo, T-Mobile Springboard spotted with Android 4.0.1 on board

2012 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque Coupe

Evoking A New Sense Of Style In The CUV Market. We see the form versus function fight played out on a daily basis in the automotive realm. Designers, engineers and accountants lock horns on every model that ever makes its way to the street in order to come up with a suitable compromise that will successfully appease their respective masters. More often than not, a vehicle's more stylish aspects are left by the wayside as aerodynamics, packaging and economics hammer automotive forms into the same uninspired mold.










Autoblog, 2012 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque Coupe

Quad Core Meizu MX (Exynos 4412?) Said to be Here May 2012

While many Android tablets are soon to be offered with quad-core configurations (including the already-available ASUS Transformer Prime), we’re still wondering if and when handsets will get over the dual-core hump. Meizu is the first to make public plans to release a quad-core device. It will be an upgraded version of their beautiful Meizu MX. Other than its quad-core specification there’s not much know about the device at this time except a launch window – May 2012.

Android Phone

See also:
gadgeter, Quad Core Meizu MX (Exynos 4412?) Said to be Here May 2012

Today's the Last Day to Take Advantage of Best Buy's After Christmas Sale

I've always said the best sales can be had AFTER Christmas day (New Years is one hot day in that department) and Best Buy believes so as well. Their after Christmas sale is set to wrap up today so it's your last chance to get in on some of these great deals. Verizon's Samsung Stratosphere and DROID Incredible 2, Sprint's LG Marquee, AT&T's Sony Ericsson Xperia Play, HTC Wildfire S and HTC Inspire 4G, and T-Mobile's LG MyTouch 4G are all on sale for the low cost of free. Head over to their site to take advantage before it's too late.

Android Phone, Today's the Last Day to Take Advantage of Best Buy's After Christmas Sale

European automakers irked over proposed noise standards

Ward's Auto reports the European Commission is pushing new measures that could burden automakers with stiff noise regulations for cars, buses and trucks. Under the proposed legislation, automakers would need to curb vehicle noise levels by two decibels two years after the legislation's wording is agreed upon by EC member countries. Another two decibel reduction would occur three years after the first installment. Trucks, meanwhile, would be forced to reduce noise by one decibel in the first wave of reductions and two decibels in the second wave.

Autoblog, European automakers irked over proposed noise standards

Spire installer brings Siri to any jailbroken iOS 5 device, legally — proxy still required

A few months of work by iOS hackers Grant Paul (aka chpwn), Steven Troughton-Smith and Ryan Petrich has culminated in the release of Spire, a new installer that will easily set up Siri on your jailbroken iOS 5 device. While Apple has kept its little helper exclusively constrained to the iPhone 4S, it now runs on iPads, iPhone 4, iPod touches and the iPhone 3GS, and while that's been done before they claim the other new trick is that it's legal, avoiding the copyright infringement inherent in previous hacks.

2DayBlog.com, Spire installer brings Siri to any jailbroken iOS 5 device, legally â€" proxy still required