General Mobile DSTL1, Clunky Hardware

The General Mobile DSTL1 ($450, unlocked; price as of November 16, 2009) has some nice features, like dual-SIM card support, but I found that the device's awkward design and unresponsive touchscreen dulled the sense of feature-richness and the ease of use that the Android OS can give a mobile device.

The biggest selling point of the DSTL1 phone is that it can support two separate wireless phone numbers. You simply insert two SIM cards into the two slots below the battery. There's also a slot to accommodate a microSD storage card with a capacity of up to 16GB. The phone itself has 4GB of internal memory.

The DSTL1 runs Android 1.5 OS (not the newer Android 2.0) and carries a 624MHz processor inside. General Mobile went to Sharp Electronics for the 3-inch 240-by-400-pixel touchscreen display and to Sony for the 5-megapixel camera. The DSTL1 has an FM radio on board and offers Bluetooth 2.0 and Wi-Fi support.

Sony Bravia KDL-40 W5100 HDTV

This TV performed exceptionally well in PC World Labs image-quality tests, earning four-star scores (out of five) across the board, and placing second among our test group. No matter what we threw at it--an upconverted DVD, a 720p baseball game, or The Dark Knight's cityscapes in all of their Imax-to-Blu-ray glory--the Bravia 40W5100 gave us great picture quality.

The Sony Bravia KDL-40W5100 produces a very good picture--one of the best we've seen as of this review. This 40-inch HDTV, which has an estimated street price of $1100 (as of 9/22/09), also provides the most complete collection of Internet-based entertainment features we've encountered in a television. Its selection of DLNA and USB options is among the best (and the most unusual) around. The audio output disappoints, however, and some important settings are difficult to find.


We had a few complaints, of course. I found a scene from the Phantom of the Opera DVD (in Chapter 12) a bit contrasty, with inadequate gradation between light and dark objects. We noticed some digital artifacts, making some images appear less crisp on screen. Colors occasionally seemed dull compared with the hues of some other sets we tested. One judge praised the set for its colors, which managed to be deep and fully saturated without being garish.

The built-in speakers are sufficient if you're watching a talk show, but not what you want for music or action movies. Even with the volume down at 60 percent, I could hear some distortion in quiet passages--and when the content was loud, I detected a lot of it. And yet, when the audio purposely gets loud, as it does in our test sample from Chapter 2 of the Phantom of the Opera Blu-ray, the speakers don't have enough dynamic range for any real effect. The virtual surround sound didn't sound much deeper than standard two-track stereo. Real surround sound, of course, requires a separate receiver, a subwoofer, and at least five well-placed satellite speakers.

The ethernet-equipped KDL-40W5100 has the most comprehensive selection of Internet entertainment options I've yet seen in a television. Offerings include Amazon Video On Demand, Blip.TV, Bravia Internet Widgets (which are based on Yahoo Widgets and include weather, news, finance, and Twitter widgets), CBS (mostly just clips with a few full episodes), Sports Illustrated, YouTube, how-to videos, and far more options than I can list. Netflix on-demand movie streaming is promised for sometime in the fall.

Unfortunately, Sony's YouTube player has a user interface that leaves a lot to be desired. The text-entry screen (needed for searches) is just horrible; imagine sending a text message via the world's worst cell phone, which you're controlling by remote. And while I've always insisted that YouTube on an HDTV should appear in a small frame because of its low resolution, Sony defaults to putting it in too small a frame--you can barely watch it. You can increase the frame by pressing the remote's Select button (the one in the middle of the circle of arrows), then the Up button, but nothing on the screen tells you how to do that.

The KDL-40W5100's ethernet connection also allows it to play music, videos, and photos off of any DLNA server on your home network, including PCs with Windows Media Player 11 or 12 installed. Slideshow options include background music and some of the strangest transition effects I've ever seen. You can, for instance, look at your photos in a virtual museum, with "walls" that move as you "walk" from one framed picture to the next. You can also plug a flash drive into the TV's USB port and play media off of that, using the same tools. When you play media off a USB drive, the 40W5100 plays music only from.mp3 files, but over the network it can also play any format that your DLNA server supports, such as .wma.

Among other features is TV Guide On Screen, which lists shows coming up in about the next 24 hours. But that convenience comes at a price: If you turn on the TV Guide option, the KDL-40W5100 will use an astonishingly high 13.5 watts, even when the set is turned off.

Without TV Guide On Screen, this Energy Star 3.0 compliant HDTV uses less than a tenth of a watt in standby mode; if any other sets use less, our equipment can't measure the difference. According to PC World's Lab tests, the set consumes about 113 watts when in use, which is somewhat high for a 40-inch set; most rivals manage to use less than 105 watts.

This TV is for the most part easy to use, although some features and settings are maddeningly difficult to find--such as the YouTube screen size mentioned above. A wizard helps you set it up the first time, making sure to configure your TV for a home instead of a store and scanning for channels. You control other settings in the crossbar-style menu (similar to the one found on the PlayStation 3 and other recent Sony media products). If you've never encountered this style of menu, it can take some getting used to. One crossbar problem: When you select an item you want to change, you see only one option at a time and have to scroll to see the others. On the other hand, the menu includes useful and clear explanations. Changing inputs (such as going from a TV channel to your DVD player) is simple, as the KDL-40W5100's menu system grays-out and skips inputs with nothing plugged into them.

Long and thin, the remote control seems designed for people who tend to change channels with the numerical keypad rather than with the channel up/down buttons. The number buttons are placed right where your thumb can easily press them, while the four-way directional pad and the volume and channel controls are difficult to reach. The remote is neither backlit nor programmable.

In the end, the Sony Bravia KDL-40W5100 is a very good HDTV and an excellent Internet viewing device.

Samsung SyncMaster 2233SW LCD Monitor

Text on both black and white backgrounds looked crisp and easy to read, even at small font sizes. We also saw nuanced color, particularly in photographs, and our test portrait showed realistic skin tones and shading without any distracting contrast.

Measuring less than 22 inches, the Samsung SyncMaster 2233SW certainly won't replace your big-screen HDTV. But in our subjective tests, this $200 (as of 10/28/09), 21.5-inch LCD monitor showed impressive image quality.



The 2233SW fared well in our motion tests, too, showing little jarring or flutter. It performed admirably when displaying a video, exhibiting no noticeable jitter. When viewed from each side, the 2233SW displayed a consistent image; the screen did not fade or gray out when we looked at it from either the left or the right.

You manage the on-screen controls via push buttons located on the right part of the bezel. Moving through the menus seemed a little confusing at first, but pressing random buttons eventually helped with the maneuvering. The monitor includes controls for adjusting color; the choices include cool, normal, warm, and custom. These controls will likely appeal to graphic designers and to other users who want to fine-tune an image, but with the 2233SW's color accuracy, such tweaks might not be all that necessary.

The display has a shiny, piano-black finish. It tilts only with a very strong push--and that's all it offers in terms of adjustments. Ports are another shortcoming: It has just DVI and RGB-in ports, leaving off HDMI.

The Samsung SyncMaster 2233SW is certainly a good deal, especially considering its solid image quality across the board in our tests, but it lacks extras. If you're shopping for a well-priced LCD monitor that delivers sharp text and bright colors--and little else--this would be a good choice.

HP's Speedy Media Smart EX495

The EX495 ships with one 1.5TB drive instead of the two 750GB units that the EX487 features--which means there's no possibility of data redundancy unless you add another drive. The EX495 is otherwise physically identical to the EX487, with four bays (three open) for internal storage expansion, as well as four USB ports and an eSATA port for external storage and printers. It's also one of the more attractive-looking units on the market.

With the addition of more processing power (2.5GHz versus 2.0GHz), HP's MediaSmart EX495 not only bested its EX487 stablemate that we reviewed earlier this year, but proved to be the fastest network-attached storage box we've ever tested. Move over, Synology DS209+ II! The EX495 was particularly fast during virus scans and at finding files thanks to the indexing feature of its Windows Home Server operating system.


The EX495 offers a nice array of services, including backup and restore of network PCs; backup of the unit itself; and photo, music, iTunes, and video serving and sharing--but none of the more esoteric features such as the video surveillance that Synology and others have implemented.

Toshiba Satellite U505-S2940

The glossy screen can make for tricky viewing in some lighting conditions, but the machine's powerful brightness, contrast, and color controls offset such issues. Overall, it's a good-looking and easy-to-read screen at it's native resolution of 1280 by 800 pixels. The default color settings were excellent to begin with, but with a few necessary adjustments, videophiles can get the right color balance. For external video output, the U505 has both a VGA port and an HDMI video-audio output for hi-def graphics.

Toshiba's latest addition to the Satellite laptop line, the U505 S2940, isn't just a good-looking notebook, it also has some excellent design features that will please anyone needing a portable for general computing and entertainment. Coming in under $1000 (our review unit sells for $949 as of 9/1/09), the U505 offers just enough juice for multitasking without feeling cramped. On the other hand, at 5.6 pounds, it's a bit heavier than other notebooks with a 13.3-inch screen.


With a balanced selection of ports, the U505 isn't just an office companion; it's also a good media system. While the U505 series comes sans Blu-ray, it's still a capable and convenient entertainer. In our testing, we did have to further adjust the video and audio settings to optimize home theater performance, but, once set, it performed well. Computing screens were razor-sharp on HDTVs, and DVDs had good video quality with acceptable black levels.

Samsung NP-Q320 Laptop

Problem number one is the backlit LED screen. Given its 1366-by-768-pixel resolution and at 13.4-inch-diagonal size, you'd expect such a screen to save power and perhaps improve color or contrast. But the NP-Q320's screen doesn't show colors or contrast ratio very well. Images look slightly washed out at maximum brightness, and blacks are not quite black enough. And unfortunately, as you lower the brightness level, the contrast gets worse. The poor range of vertical viewing angles leads me to believe that the NP-Q320 uses a six-bit TN (twisted nematic) panel--a regrettably common component in budget-conscious laptops.

For many people, the pricing sweet spot for the perfect laptop is between $800 and $1000. Full-fledged yet svelte, Samsung's NP-Q320 all-purpose notebook ($949 as of September 10, 2009) has the muscle to serve as your primary work/school/home computer. The laptop is compact and light enough (4.8 pounds) not to break your back, it has a 13.4-inch screen that you don't need to squint at, and it's powerful enough to run most major applications well. Still, this nice all-purpose laptop suffers from a couple of minor usability problems.



The keyboard is easy to type on, and the trackpad is responsive and accurate, with left and right buttons that permit accurate no-look pressing. Some keys (such as Alt and Ctrl) are a bit narrow, evidently to make room for a seemingly unnecessary menu key to the right of the spacebar. Still, for its size, I found this notebook comfortable to work on.

HP Pavilion Elite m9600t Value Desktop PC

To its credit, HP packed some of the best parts it could fit into the m9600t at that sub-$1500 price. For starters, the system carries a 2.66GHz Intel Core i7 920 processor, a top-of-the-line component for a value PC. The m9600t also includes a substantial 6GB of DDR3 memory, which the preinstalled 64-bit Windows Vista Home Premium operating system can use fully. Its 750GB of storage (on a single hard drive) is sizable, too, though less-expensive systems with similar performance specifications have jumped into the 1TB range.

Although the HP Pavilion Elite m9600t offers components and performance that are the envy of lesser value PCs, it can't compete against similarly configured machines. Several rivals beat it in performance; and even worse, some models crush the $1460 (as of 8/23/09) m9600t in price, to the tune of nearly $500. That's not just a one-two punch--that's an uppercut to the jaw.


The m9600t's WorldBench 6 score of 124 put it in a virtual tie with the $999 Dell XPS 435 (125), the $1300 Gateway FX6800-11 (124), the $1049 Acer Veriton M670G (124), and the $999 Velocity Micro Edge Z5 (126). As you can see, every one of those systems is cheaper than the m9600t. And the Micro Express MicroFlex 95B (closer to the m9600t's price at $1499) trounced all of them, producing a category-leading WorldBench 6 result of 148.

HP Touch Smart 600

hmmm not bAd...??

HP TouchSmart 600 All-in-One PC Review


With Windows 7, Microsoft has built support for multitouch gestures directly into the operating system. And though using your fingers to tap, flick, and pinch your way around probably won't replace the humble mouse anytime soon, HP has almost three years of experience in producing multitouch-capable all-in-one PCs. It shows.

Aesthetically, the new TouchSmart 600 retains the familiar and elegant TouchSmart design, including ambient lighting that casts a soothing colored glow. Its 23-inch display puts it between HP's existing 22-inch TouchSmart IQ500t and 25.5-inch TouchSmart IQ816 in terms of size. Like the latter, the TouchSmart 600 supports a resolution of 1920 by 1080 (1080p)--perfect for watching high-definition movies and TV via its built-in Blu-ray slot drive and HDTV tuner. You can also stream shows wirelessly over 802.11n, and suck in photos with the integrated multicard reader. A remote control is included, as well.

But as with the earlier models, on the TouchSmart 600 it's HP's custom software that really shines. Version 3.0 is a significant upgrade, offering touch-friendly versions of Hulu, Netflix, Twitter, and other applications that have oversize buttons and that understand gestures such as swiping and pinching. The Collage app lets you use two hands to shuffle, resize, and rotate photos, in a way that's reminiscent of Microsoft's high-end Surface table PC. And the HP apps now multitask, letting you hop back and forth by sliding them around with a fingertip. The interface is responsive, and is the benchmark for upcoming Windows 7 all-in-one PCs from Acer, Asus, Dell, Gateway, and MSI.

Gateway FX6800-09

Gateway FX6800-09 Power Desktop PC

wanna Buy this one???

A 2.66GHz Intel Core i7 920 processor is the heart and soul of this $1650 (as of August 23, 2009) system. Though the Core i7 920 is the entry-level version of Intel's latest CPU design, it gives the FX6800-09 a healthy power boost. Our test machine also included 6GB of DDR3-1333 memory, and a 1TB Seagate hard drive--an above-average amount of storage, but half of the $1599 Polywell Poly 790GX3 power PC's 2TB allotment.

The FX6800-09 earned a creditable score of 126 on our WorldBench 6 test suite--a negligible 6 points ahead of the 790GX3, but just 10 points behind pricier rivals such as the $1999 Dell Studio XPS, the $3784 Lenovo ThinkStation S20, and the $3399 Polywell Poly X5800i (all of which came in at 136).

The FX6800-09's nVidia GeForce GTX280 graphics card is fast but relies on a single GPU. In our gaming tests, it delivered frame rates of 75 frames per second in Enemy Territory: Quake Wars, and 81 fps in Unreal Tournament 3 (both 2560 by 1600 resolution, high quality)--impressive, but far short of the results turned in by Power PCs equipped with ATI's dual-GPU video cards.

World's Largest Rubber Band Ball

 World's Largest Rubber Band Ball
Steve Milton of Eugene, Oregon, created this 4594-pound rubber band ball by using more than 175,000 rubber bands. It was certified as the world's largest by Guinness World Records officials during a weigh-in Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2006, in Chicago.

World's Tallest Chocolate Skyscraper

World's Tallest Chocolate Skyscraper
Pastry chef Alain Roby got into Guiness World Records by making the world's tallest chocolate skyscraper: a 20-foot, 8-inch tall skyscraper made with a dark chocolate infrastructure and white chocolate windows. This 6.6 meter tall chocolate sculpture located in a toy shop in Manhattan, New York, is made entirely of more than 1,000 kg of chocolate. Modeled after Rockefeller Center, Empire State Building and Chrysler Building in the United States, its construction took Alain Roby more than 30 hours to complete. Guinness officials present at the scene have confirmed it as the world's tallest sculpture made from chocolate. This sets a new Guinness Record.

World's Longest Eyebrow

World's Longest Eyebrow
Leonard Traenkenschuh of Port Townsend, Washington, has a 3 and a half inches eyebrow hair (and still growing!): Leonard has two – count 'em, two – hairs past that length. His longest strand is 3½ inches. “I didn't set out to grow a hair to set a record,” says the man who has lived in Port Townsend since 1980 and works at the hospital transcribing medical records. “This just happened.” Leonard, 56, has never been a particularly hairy person. He does not have a beard and does not have thick sideburns or a mustache. “I just have fertile brows,” he says.

1,016 Piercings in One Sitting

1,016 Piercings in One Sitting
Robison, a Marseilles resident who graduated from Ottawa Township High School, originally planned to get 1,000 piercings, 400 more than the 600 that Kam Ma of Britain got in one sitting in 2002. But apparently the British record holder heard about what Robison was planning, because last week he broke his own record by getting pierced 1,015 times in one sitting.
That prompted Robison to increase the number of piercings he planned to get up to 1,200. But after experiencing the pain of hours of piercings all over his back and arms, he decided to settle for the world record and not go any further.
Before Saturday, Robison had 26 piercings on his body. After the record was set Saturday, 1,015 of his new piercings were removed, leaving one in his body — the record breaker.

World's Longest Diary

World's Longest Diary
For twenty years, Robert Shields of Dayton, Washington, has kept a written record of absolutely everything that has happened to him, day and night. For no less than four hours each day, Shields holes himself up in the small office in his home, turns on his stereo, and types. His diary, at 35 million words, is believed to be the world's longest.

Shields did this from 1972 until 1996, when he was disabled by a stroke. Shown above is a page from the diary, showing what he did every 5 minutes interval!

Most t-shirts worn at one time: 121

Most t-shirts worn at one time: 121
David Alexander wore 121 t-shirts to break the world's record of most t-shirts worn at one time! Alexander, who weighs 210 pounds shirtless, tipped the scale at 285 pounds in full garb.

Sharp spent roughly two hours wrestling the tees - which ranged in size from small to 8XL - over his friend's head and arms, calling out each number as they progressed, per Guinness rules. In 93 degree heat, Alexander sweat through the first 36 shirts. The duo had wondered why the previous record holder had stopped at 107. By 60, they understood: The necks grew tight, the shoulders constricting, and the sleeves so long that Alexander couldn't bend his elbows. It took 30 minutes and four guys with scissors to cut Alexander out of the cloth. All was documented on videotape, which the duo plans to send to Guinness to earn the official title.

Typing to One Million

Typing to One Million
Les Stewart from Mudjimba, Australia, holds the world's record of typing all numbers from one to one million in words (not numbers). He began in 1982 and finished with the entry "one million" on November 25, 1998.

Seven manual typewriters, 1000 ink ribbons, 19,890 pages, 16 years and seven months later, he finished with the lines "nine hundred and ninety-nine thousand, nine hundred and ninety-nine. ---one million."

When asked why he has undertaken this time consuming and repetitious task, Les says that he has little else to do now that he has been classed as an invalid, and can no longer work. Besides that, Les enjoystyping and used to be a police typing instructor before his sickness which meant his withdrawal from the force. Typing an average three pages a day with one finger since April 1982, Les said his secret was to type for 20 minutes on the hour, every hour

World's Longest Fingernails

World's Longest Fingernails
wenty seven years ago, Lee Redmond's life was too busy for beauty treatments, so she decided to cut corners and stop filing her nails. Now, 33 inches later, the Salt Lake City woman holds the world's record for longest fingernails: Astonishingly, she claims it does not hamper her efforts to cook, clean and look after her husband. But the extraordinarily long fingernails are a sight so bizarre, many feel they have to look away - and even Mrs Redmond admits her unsightly nails terrify children.

Eye-Popping Record

Eye-Popping Record
Claudio Pinto can pop both of his eyes 4 cm (about 1 and a half inch) or 95% out of their sockets. He's now aiming (poppin'?) for a world record.

Mr Pinto has undergone various tests and doctors say they have never seen or heard of a person who can pop the eyes as much as him. Mr Pinto, from Belo Horizonte, said: "It is a pretty easy way to make money. "I can pop my eyes out four centimetres each, it is a gift from God, I feel blessed."

Top 10: Weirdest Guinness World Records

Number 1
Largest Navel Fluff Collection

Some people will collect just about anything. Most collections can be regarded as reasonable, endearing even. But Australia native Graham Barker opened up a whole new can of worms. In 1984, he looked down at his navel and marveled at the lint protruding from it. He pulled it out and saved it.

Before long, harvesting his bellybutton for fluff became a habit. In 15 years, he amassed 0.54 ounces of lint. He's aware that people think he's yards off his rocker but continues doing it as he enjoys being able to collect something no one else has.



Number 2
Longest Kiss
How much time would you be willing to spend kissing your girl? One, maybe two hours? More? I guess love and lust factor in somewhere. In Israel, there is a Tel Aviv couple that smooched continuously for 30 hours and 45 minutes in April 1999. They didn't even take one single break. It's not their lips I was concerned with; it was their bladders. For the accomplishment, Karmit Tzubera and Dror Orpaz were most notably compensated with a trip around the world.


Number 3
Loudest Burp
Had my mother let me practice at the dinner table as a child, I could be the one holding this record. Instead, it's British subject Paul Hunn who can perform a burp reaching 118.1 decibels; an intensity some compared to a pneumatic drill or an airplane taking off.

Unfortunately for him, he doesn't indulge himself whenever it strikes his fancy. According to this record holder, the greatest belches occur after eating spicy foods and sucking in a lot of air. I certainly will be practicing this at the next family feast.



Number 4
Smallest Nightclub
Those zany Brits will never cease to amaze me with their madcap innovations. August 1998 saw the introduction of the smallest nightclub in the world, measuring 8 feet long, 4 feet wide and 8 feet high. It has everything other clubs have: DJ, smoke machine, extensive sound system, and even a doorman. The Minuscule of Sound blares music from the '70s, '80s and '90s, and is on every globetrotting clubber's list. The club, which only has enough room for 14 people, began life as an anti-corporate statement, but has since evolved into a full-fledged club-going experience.

United States: Top 10 Hotels for Honeymoons

1. St. Regis, Aspen

Why We Love It: Location, location, location!  Nestled at the base of Aspen Mountain, this premier destination resort offers easy access to year-round activities.  Whether it’s hitting the slopes in the winter or playing a round of golf in the summer, the St. Regis is in the heart of it all.

Why You’ll Love It: The staff here ensures that you will experience only the finest amenities and service.  Since you’ll probably be spending a good amount of time in your room, you’ll appreciate the plush bed with Frette luxury linens, as well as a flat screen TV, DVD player, and wireless internet.  You’ll encounter the royal treatment throughout the hotel and during the winter, “ski butlers” wipe down and store your equipment when you return from the slopes.  You’ll feel warm and cozy, sitting around the fireplace while sipping a drink from the Whiskey Rocks bar.  When you’re ready for some relaxation, soak in the outdoor hot tub or get a massage at the Remede Spa.  

Why You Might Leave Your Room: During the winter, swish down the ski slopes or relax in the hot tub.  For you summer travelers, there are plenty of great sightseeing spots, as well as golf courses, hiking trails, and water sports.  After a long day of skiing, you’ll find it worthwhile to make a trip to the 15,000 square-foot Remede Spa, where you can get any number of theraputic treatments or lounge in the sauna and unique vapor caves.  For all you foodies, the resort also offers cooking classes, complete with recipes to take home.

2. Park Hyatt Chicago, Chicago

Why We Love It: Conveniently located in the heart of Chicago’s famed "Magnificent Mile," the Park Hyatt is just steps from celebrated museums, world-class retailers, and stimulating nightlife. The world-famous Water Tower monument (the only structure to survive the great Chicago fire) is located right in front of the hotel, and the Hyatt sits adjacent to a shopaholic’s dream team -- Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdale’s and Saks Fifth Avenue.

Why You’ll Love It: Chicago’s most famous resident, Oprah Winfrey, likes to say, “love is in the details.” If so, the Hyatt oozes love. All rooms have Eames chairs, oversized bathtubs and double sinks, walk-in showers with two heads, flat-screen TVs (in the bathroom as well!), and window seats offering spectacular lake and city views in most rooms.

Why You Might Leave Your Room: The 7,000-square-foot health club and full-service Tiffani Kim Institute spa might lure you away from your posh digs, as might the award-winning NoMI restaurant, which reigns high above the "Magnificent Mile." Chicago itself has just about everything you could think to of, from sunset dining cruises to famed Navy Pier to museums, theaters, comedy clubs, zoos, and more.

3. Four Seasons Hotel, Las Vegas

Why We Love It: It’s all about luxury and refinement at the Four Seasons. Having no gaming in the hotel itself keeps this haute spot a tranquil oasis within short distance of all the fun and excitement of Vegas you could crave. And who wouldn’t love a spritz of Evian at the pool? Some of us were just born to be pampered!

Why You’ll Love It: Floor-to-ceiling windows in luxuriously appointed rooms offer fab views of the desert and mountains. Some suites even have 180-degree views of the Strip and of the dessert and mountains – pick your poison! The outdoor pool with its two whirlpools and lushly landscaped pool deck offers lounge-worthy chaises and arbors for shade, and there’s always an attendant nearby to refresh you with an Evian spritz, fresh fruit, and water. If you happen to forget your swimsuit, don’t fret, there are even disposable swimsuits available for your swimming and sunning pleasure.

Why You Might Leave Your Room: Dial up your concierge and have him/her arrange any of many fabulous romantic activities, from a limo ride down the Strip complete with champagne to helicopter tours over the Grand Canyon to horseback riding, rafting, mountain climbing, and more. Or, book a couples’ private spa for some soothing massages.

Ford FR Raptor XT Concept at SEMA

When revealing the 2010 F-150 SVT Raptor R, Ford announced that for the 2011 model year the company will offer the FR Raptor XT. But until then Ford presented a concept version of the car at SEMA Show.

The production version will be powered by a 500-hp (est.) 6.2-liter naturally aspirated engine mated to a Six-speed automatic transmission. There will only be 50 units built, ad each will be priced at $99,950.

GM’s new Corvette Stingray to be called ’the 50th Anniversary Corvette Stingray Concept’

Developed mainly to infuse and combine design elements from iconic Stingrays of the past to create a more cutting-edge version for the future, the 50th Anniversary Corvette Stingray Concept is an eye-catcher in every sense of the word.

According to General Motors, the Corvette Stingray Concept was a project undertaken with the sole objective of taking the brand to newer heights, all while retaining its iconic legacy. So in an effort to puts some weight behind their goal, GM left no stones unturned in developing a concept that its predecessors can be proud of. Among the features found in the Corvette Stingray Concept is a clamshell hood, scissor doors, rear-view cameras with night vision enhancement, ergonomic seats, and of course, a high-performance hybrid. In addition to that, the car also comes with a state-of-the-art inertactive touch control system that allows drivers to manipulate the cars power and efficiency depending on their liking as well as use their settings to share with other people via the cars advanced telemetrics and in-car system.

With a brand that’s as esteemed as the Stingray, it would’ve been foolish for GM to not exert any and all efforts in creating a car that can live up to the legend of the iconic brand. Fortunately, GM knows better than most of us that preserving the status held by the Stingray in the annals of automotive lore is something that should never be taken lightly, and the 50th Anniversary Corvette Stingray Concept is proof of that.

Volkswagen Scirocco Black Rocco by MR Car Design

The Volkswagen Scirocco is for sure a very sporty car, with a great design. But even the most sporty car can get even sportier with the right tuning package. MR Car Design has reveled the special edition Scirocco Black Rocco that also adds a new design package, but also improves the car’s performances.

Thanks to an ECU upgrade, a MR Car Design Stage 3 turbo kit and a new custom exhaust system the 2.0 liter engine delivers a total of 370 hp and 519 Nm of torque. The tuner also added a Stoptech high performance brake system with the Stahlbus bleeding valve and KW V3-coilovers.

Outside the car receives a new front apron, side skirts and rear valance accretion with diffuser optics and also 20 inch 1-part Emotion Wheels aluminum rims with Hankook tires.

Devon GTX at the 2009 SEMA Show

The Devon Motorworks GTX is the latest and greatest American made super car. So far we have seen the car debut at Pebble Beach and even set a lap record at Laguna Seca, however we still haven’t seen the new super car from racing driver Justin Bell. The Devon GTX is a pure driving machine; with an inherent beauty that comes from a simplistic and functional design. The GTX’s body features bold wheel arches that house some seriously wide rubber and steel while Devon’s first interior is filled with retro touches like the cueball looking shift knob that looks like it came right out of a classic muscle car. We think that Mr. Bell and his team of automotive craftsmen at Devon Motorworks are taking a step in the right direction with the GTX and will definitely be giving more exotic super cars from around the world a run for their money.

MTM upgrades the Audi R8 V10

The new and improved V10 powered Audi R8 5.2 Liter FSI delivers a maximum output of 525 HP straight from the factory, and even though the ten cylinder engine shares almost all of its architecture with the more exotic Lamborghini Gallardo LP-560, the Italina super car puts out a total of 550 HP. However owners need not worry, because for a few extra Euro they can upgrade the brains of their R8 thanks to the German tuning firm MTM no matter whether they enjoy fixed roof motoring or enjoy their four ring super car with the wind in their hair.

For only 6000 Euros MTM will tune the V10 to deliver an additional 63 HP, bringing the total up to 588 HP, well above the Lambo. The added performance brings the standard car’s 3.9 second 0 to 60 MPH time down by 0.1 seconds and increases the mid engine super car’s top speed to 201 MPH. If you have some more money to burn then you might want to spring for the free flowing stainless steel exhaust system, upgraded Brembo brakes and a shiny new set of wheels to celebrate you car’s newfound performance.

Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG orderes begin on November 16th; European prices announced

The German automaker Mercedes Benz has announced that the new SLS AMG super car will be taking domestic orders for the new Gullwing starting next Monday, on the 16th of November starting at 149,000 Euros, or 177,310 Euros including the continent’s Value Added Tax.

The SLS AMG is made up of an aluminum space frame body complete with gullwing doors, an AMG 6.2 Liter V8 mounted in the front midship position developing a maximum output of 571 HP and 480 lb-ft of torque in part thanks to the power plants dry sump lubrication system that sucks the pistons back down to Bottom Dead Center and can accelerate the SLS from 0 to 60 MPH in just 3.8 seconds. The super car is shifted via one of Mercedes Benz’s seven speed double clutch transmissions mounted at the rear of the vehicle in a transaxle configuration for ideal weight distribution of 47/53, front/rear. The SLS sits on an AMG tuned lightweight aluminum double wishbone sport suspension to reduce the unsprung mass and keeps the car’s center of gravity as low to the road surface as possible. The car’s curb weight has been kept to 1620 kilograms based on the Deutsches Institut für Normung, or German Institute of Standards. This combination of carefully chosen parts and fine tuning results in a superlative driving experience that can be enjoyed by everyone from a performance driving novice to a track day super star, thanks to this uncompromising sports car concept.

The world’s fastest S13

There are man types of automobiles represented at Boneville’s annual speed trials. So it was very fortunate that Rod Chong from Speedhunters managed to capture this ruby of a Nissan S-chassis hidden amongst mountains of salt. There are a few fast 240SXs in the world, the platform has been around for quite some time and tuners have managed to extract the most from some of the Nissan engineering department’s best work. There is one particular example that comes to mind. The first is the Japanese equivalent of a funny car, the HKS Drag 180SX, chosen for its sleek aerodynamic body the performance specialists paired it with and RB26DETT from the Nissan Skyline GT-R. It competed in Japan’s “Pro Stock” class where it won the Big End Drag Racing Series for two years in a row. The purpose built racecar ran a 7.184 @ 190.62 MPH at New Jersey’s Englishtown Raceway Park.

This particular Nissan 240SX is the property of the McMeekin Brothers Race Team and they have quite a bit of experience going fast in their red and white striped S13. The car has done over 235 MPH with a screaming Oldsmobile Aurora Indy V8 and a less stellar 156.7 MPH with a Ford Flathead V8. These cars are more accustomed to seeing Nissan’s turbocharged four cylinder SR20DET swapped in as opposed to domestic V8s. But the McMeekin Brothers are running in the XO/GALT class, a category for naturally aspirated vintage engines, so at first glance what looks to be and L-28 from an old Datsun turns out to be a classic Buick Straight 8, figures for these blue oval boys.

This year the McMeekin Brothers only ran 158 MPH on the long stretch of salt, only 8 MPH short of setting a record. Nevertheless with a one time 235 MPH top speed run, this Nissan 240SX is most definitely the world’s fastest S13.

Find of the day: $695.000 Chevrolet Newmad

Commissioned by Dave Hall of Phoenix, Arizona, this very special automobile underwent total bottom-up construction taking over 22,000 man-hours to build. The foundation is a totally custom chassis featuring 2000 Corvette suspension, 500 cubic inch aluminum big block engine and 4L80 E transmission. The body is channeled and lengthened. Most of the sheet metal is hand fabricated along with all chrome trim. All glass is custom "one-off". The interior is of selected leathers fashioned by Paul Reichlin, done in-house.

Commissioned by Dave Hall of Phoenix, Arizona, this very special automobile underwent total bottom-up construction taking over 22,000 man-hours to build. The foundation is a totally custom chassis featuring 2000 Corvette suspension, 500 cubic inch aluminum big block engine and 4L80 E transmission. The body is channeled and lengthened. Most of the sheet metal is hand fabricated along with all chrome trim. All glass is custom "one-off". The interior is of selected leathers fashioned by Paul Reichlin, done in-house. The NewMad has been awarded hundreds of accolades and continues to be one of America’s best and well-known custom cars. SAR custom designed engine compartment. Chris Ito designed and Sar fabricated taillights and body panels, SAR designed and fabricated chassis, the top is chopped 3/4" and pancaked 1 1/2". High output sound system, wheels and steering wheel designed by Chris Ito and fabricated by Budnik.

Information: Preservation of key design elements that distinguish the 1955 Nomad from other similar era cars was our primary design objective. These elements included the front fender/side chrome detail, canted ‘B’ and ‘C’ pillars, tailgate chrome strips, rear wheel well openings and horizontal roof ribs. It was determined from the beginning that these design elements would be retained in one shape or form in the final product.

The critical eye will note that the slab sided body, thick roof section, short front fenders and bulbous hood give the original car a „boxy. appearance. Hence the term „shoebox chevy. became synonymous with the tri-five chevy built between 1955 and 1957. To this end a secondary design objective was established to eliminate the „box. from „shoebox..

Of course all of these design elements are what give the Nomad character or what we like to refer to as it.s soul. Without these it would be just another „shoebox..

A melding of these objectives created an integrated design theme that enhances and „contemporizes. the original cars styling. The end result is a reborn .55 Nomad that is. Contemporary. in design, yet maintains the .Classic. styling elements of the original car.

We call our Contemporary Classic, “NewMad”.

BODY:
- Dimensions: Channeled 3” Roof sectioned 1 ½” Pillars chopped ¾” Wheel Base lengthened 3”

- Front Fenders: Wheel openings re-contoured & moved forward 2.5” Fenders extended 2.5” Modified head & parking lamp openings Custom fabricated parking lenses

- Cowl ’64 Mercury Marauder modified ’64 Mercury electric wipers recessed

- Hood Lengthened 3” Hand formed & peaked sheetmetal w/custom inner structure Dodge Stealth hinges w/60# gas struts Custom latch w/internal release

- Firewall Custom hand formed sheetmetal w/custom inner structure Double wall construction for wiring, plumbing & components Hidden brake master cylinder

- Engine Compartment Hand formed inner fender wells Hand formed radiator support Custom air intake w/K&N filters

- Doors Vent windows removed Flush fit to inside trim detail Bear-claw latches added Power windows & locks Custom lower body detail w/recessed trim Radiused corners

- Front Bumper Hand formed custom fabricated Flush fit to body Peaked Center to match grille opening and hood Integrated hand formed body color valance panel Smooth face with hidden fasteners

- Quarter Panels Taillights angled forward Re-shaped wheel openings Custom lower body detail w/recessed trim Hand formed inner fender panels Hidden gas filler behind left tail lamp assembly Hidden battery switch/terminals behind right tail lamp assembly

- Roof Roof skin sectioned 1.5”, shortened 5” A-pillar hand formed, laid back & flushed w/windshield B-pillar hand formed, laid forward and narrowed C-pillar hand formed, laid forward & flushed w/quarter glass Drip rails removed Re-contoured roof ribs swept back to match B & C pillars

- Rocker Panels Hand fabricated w/reverse reveal removed Lengthened 3” Boxed & smoothed

- Lift Gate Hand formed tube frame Custom hinge w/power lift & remote control

- Tail Gate Re-contoured sheet metal, shortened 1” Radiused corners Custom latch, hidden hinges

- Floor Custom hand formed to allow 3” body channel

- Grille Re-contoured opening w/peaked center Custom cast and chromed grill bar and emblem Custom laser cut grille insert mesh

- Rear bumper Hand formed custom fabricated Flush fit to body Custom license & exhaust openings Integrated hand formed body color valance panel Smooth faced hidden w/hidden fasteners

- Glass Windshield – ’64 Mercury, Chopped 1.25”, narrowed 5”, flush fit Door – Custom single piece, hardtop style finish Quarter – Custom one piece, flush fit Lift gate – Custom frame-less one piece

- Trim Window – hand formed, solid brass, chrome plated Belt-line - hand formed, solid brass, chrome plated Lower body – Frenched, polished aluminum insert Grill – hand formed, solid brass, chrome plated Stock headlight bezels modified to flow w/ belt line trim Park light bezel – hand formed, solid brass, chrome plated Custom cast and chrome plated ‘NewMad’ emblems Custom fabricated flush exterior door handles integrated w/ side trim Custom side mirror stanchions integrated w/side trim

- Lighting/Electrical One-off custom rear tail lamp lens/assembly One-off custom parking lamp lens/assembly HID headlamps Custom interior lighting w/fader American Auto Wire Premier fuse panel

- Paint Body – House of Kolor Majestic Blue w/Kandy Cobalt Top – House of Kolor White Pearl

INTERIOR:
- Dash Hand fabricated w/ends integrated into door panels Custom gauge & glove box openings blended to console Leather wrapped w/colored insert Instrumentation - 2001 Cobra instrumentation cluster w/150 mph speedo Custom one off Budnik leather wrapped steering wheel

- Seats Modified Lexus SC400 10 way power seats Hidden aircraft style seat belts Custom hand fabricated rear seat modules

- Door panels Hand formed composite w/integrated armrest & door pull Jaguar XJ8 door handle assembly Custom stainless sills leather wrapped w/SAR logo

- Headliner Hand formed composite material Pleated rear section to match exterior roof ribs Articulating rear left hinge cover

- Console Custom fabricated full-length w/integral front/rear armrests Corvette C-5 Trans shifter Front storage compartment w/ hidden suspension controls Integrated Porsche window switches Hidden access panel for fuse panel

- Cargo Hand formed composite tonneau cover w/chrome accent trim Hidden compartments for amp, speakers and batteries

- Materials Custom dyed two-tone Grey leather throughout Ultra-suede Grey headliner Multi-tone Sahara fine-point square weave carpeting

- Sound System Clarion DRX9255 head Clarion CDC635 six disc CD changer Rear - Sound Stream SP6 6” mid-range speaker Sound Stream SPL 60G 6.5” woofer Front – Sound Stream SP6 6” mid-range speaker w/separate tweeter / cross-overs Hand formed perforated steel speaker grilles Rubicon 550 Watt 5/3 Channel Amp Dyna-mat insulation on all interior surfaces

DRIVE TRAIN:
- Engine 496 Cu In Arias aluminum Big Block Chevy 540 HP, 565 Ft Lb Torque Brodix Oval Port Cylinder Heads w/2.190 intake & 1.880 exhaust valves SCAT crank/rods, Clevite Bearings Comp Cams roller camshaft/lifters SpeedPro Pistons/Rings Jessel Belt Drive March Performance billet surpentine belt system Meizere billet water pump Custom fabricated Hogan TPI intake manifold w/36 lb Accel injectors Arizona Speed & Marine 58mm Throttle Body BDS Custom wiring harness Make Fast Engine Control Module Accel Ignition system Oberg membrane oil filter Power Master gear reduction starter & 120 amp alternator Lokar throttle cable Setrab oil cooler w/Spal fan Custom cast aluminum induction cowl

- Transmission Hughes Performance GM4L80E automatic four speed overdrive HGM Compushift On-Board programmable controller Hughes 2500 stall speed torque converter Setrab trans cooler w/Spal fan

- Cooling System Ron Davis custom aluminum x-flow radiator Dual 16” Spal cooling fans Custom aluminum reservoir and recovery tanks

- Fuel System Custom aluminum 18 gal. Fuel tank Holley in-tank 255 liter/hr fuel pump Inner frame stainless fuel lines Hidden filler neck behind rear tail lamp

- Exhaust System Custom fabricated stainless steel headers w/8 primary tubes Custom fabricated 2.5 inch polished stainless steel exhaust system Spin Tech polished stainless steel mufflers and exhaust tips

CHASSIS:
- Frame 4”x5” custom fabricated rails w/tubular x-members & body mounts

- Suspension Front - Corvette C5 IFS control arms w/Air Ride Shock-Wave suspension Rear - Corvette C5 IRS control arms w/Air Ride Shock-Wave suspension Front/Rear Torsional sway-bars

- Differential Dutchman IRS aluminum housing Strange Engineering 9” center section w/ 3.89 posi & steel billet yoke Custom Dutchman axle w/Porsche CV joint

- Brakes Baer Racing 14” rotors Baer Racing 4 piston calipers Ford Cobra Hydro-boost power master cylinder Stainless/braided lines Lokar parking brake cable

- Steering Narrowed C4 Corvette Rack & Pinion Borgeson Polished Stainless U joints Flaming River custom tilt column

- Wheels/Tires Front – 20”x 8.5” Budnik/Ito One-off / BFG g-Force T/A 255/35ZR20 Rear – 20”x10” Budnik/Ito One-off / BFG g-Force T/A 275/35ZR20

LUXURY FEATURES: Power door locks Speciality Power windows Power lift gate Power disc brakes Power Steering Cruise Control Tilt Steering Column Tinted Glass Air Ride Suspension Vintage Air Automatic climate control Remote opening rear hatch Lexus power seats

2010 Lexus SC430

he Lexus SC430 luxury convertible is entering the 2010 model year with more standard technologies. It is now on sale at a price of $67,505.

The SC’s sleek style is enhanced by a low-profile front grille surrounded by chrome. The aggressive front bumper, projector-lens headlamps and stylish rear combination LED taillamps add to its fluid design. It comes equipped with iPod/USB Connectivity, Streaming Audio, Lexus Navigation System and Mark Levinson Premium Audio System.

The 2010 Lexus SC430 features an all-aluminum construction, and is powered by a 4.3-liter engine that produces 288 hp and 317 lb-ft of torque. It can go from 0 to 60 mph in a remarkable 5.8 seconds. The engine is mated to a six-speed Sequential-Shift automatic transmission. The sequential-shifting capability enhances performance by allowing the driver to nudge the gearshift forward or backward. It works in conjunction with the Electronically Controlled Transmission with intelligence (ECT-i), which compensates for uphills, downhills and headwinds, even adapting shift-timing to the driver’s acceleration habits.

Porsche 911 Carrera 4S by TechArt

TechArt has presented a new tuning program for the new Porsche 911 Carrera 4S. The tuner modified both the car’s dynamics and performances. Thanks to a new "Racing" flap-controlled exhaust system and new engine electronics the Carrera 4S delivers with 35 hp more, to a total of 420 hp.

The aerodynamic kit includes a front spoiler, side skirts, a roof spoiler and three versions of rear wings, back pressure air vents, an adjustable spoiler lip, decorative trims for the exterior mirrors – made from carbon fiber painted in the requested color and 19 or 20 inch five-spoke wheels.

On the interior the tuner added leather, a three-spoke airbag sports steering wheels, aluminum pedals and trim strips.

wheel for the Porsche Cayenne

Aside from the driver’s seat, a vehicle’s steering wheel is one of the only items inside of a car that the operator will be in constant contact with throughout the automobile’s life cycle, so a small upgrade in the directional department can go a long way towards enhancing the driving experience. The German tuner Gemballa is now offering a new steering wheel for the Porsche Cayenne. The wheel is slightly smaller in diameter, measuring only 365 millimeters across and features a modern three spoke design. Customers can chose from a variety of leather wrapped finishes and colors with an optional carbon element at the owners request, all starting at around € 1,680.

Rally Innovations Nissan GT-R at the 2009 SEMA Show

The German suspension manufacturer Eibach is well known for being innovators in the field of automotive spring manufacturing, while at first these aftermarket metal coils were meant simply to lower the car’s ride height, these days springs are tuned to not only drop the vehicle but enhance its handling as well. A perfect example of a high performance machine upgraded with the help of Eibach is the Rally Innovations Nissan GT-R that was residing in the coveted corner spot of the spring maker’s booth. The Japanese super car has been slightly massaged into a machine worthy of the name Godzilla. The GT-R wears a new nose complete with a larger front opening and a few new vents to extract the hot air out from behind the radiators. Riding on a set of Work rims wrapped in sticky Falken tires and of course the obligatory Eibach suspension, this GT-R not only haas the perfect stance to intimidate Porsche 911 Turbo owners, but now it has the legs to run rings around them as well.

Eneos brings out a few high end rides at the 2009 SEMA Show

Although you may not have heard of the the Japanese petroleum group, the Nippon Oil Corporation, however you may be familiar with the name Eneos. Even though we don’t have any of their gas stations here in the U.S. you might have seen the red Eneos sticker stuck to the front of synthetic oil products in almost any automotive parts store here in the States. Aside from the lovely ladies posing for photos and signing autographs, they also had a few high end vehicles on display at their booth at the 2009 SEMA Show in Las Vegas last week.

The first item of interest was a very clean Bentley Continental wearing a subtle body kit that mimics the more powerful Super Sports model. The other cool car in the Eneos display was a triple black kitted Ferrari F-430. Starting off with a flat black finish the Ferrari rode on a set of matching matte black mesh rims that gave us a good look at the braking hardware underneath. However one of the nicest touches on the mid engine prancing horse were a pair of Scuderia inspired glossy black striped running the entire length of the vehicle.

Silver Bullet Time Attack STi at the 2009 SEMA Show

Remember the Formula One wheel that we found in the Enkei booth at the 2009 SEMA Show, well there was one other item on display that was almost as impressive as a 14 inch wide lightweight wheel that is good for turning in at 200 MPH, one of the most aggressive looking Subaru Impreza WRX STi hatchbacks that we have ever seen. Apparently the car was fully built by Design Craft Fabrication for a former motocross race who wanted to trade in his two stroke bike for an all wheel drive turbocharged flat four cylinder STi. With his initial intentions to rally the new Subaru, the exorbitant costs of campaigning a rally car turned his ambitions towards Time Attack on track ambitions.

Design Craft took every opportunity to develop new parts for the customer vehicle, like a V mount radiator and intercooler set up, a set of custom pistons from J.E. to handle the boost generated by a Garrett GT3582R turbocharger and one of the wildest body kits we have ever seen. However there is one piece of the Time Attack STi puzzle that should seem familiar to you, that is if Subaru hadn’t pulled out of World Rally Championship competition. That is because this STi is wearing a legitimate Prodrive WRC wing on the back, and as far as we know it is the only one in America.

A rare glimpse of a Ferrari F40’s engine bay at the 2009 SEMA Show

The 2009 SEMA Show in Las Vegas was a high point in this automotive journalist’s career. Aside from the multitude of of high performance tuner cars and the chance to ride shotgun in a Corvette with a racing instructor, SEMA also offers visitors the opportunity to witness the unimaginable. Lucky for us, right as we stumbled across this pristine looking Ferrari F40 the guys in the booth were worried about the fitment of the classic super car’s engine cover. This gave us a rare opportunity to get up close and personal with the twin turbocharged 2.9 Liter V8 that makes 471 HP, and because we happen to be the gear heads that we are no opportunity was wasted. Honestly, the only way that you would ever get to experience something like this is if you drove by an F40 stuck on the side of the road with an inquisitive owner or if that guy is your best friend.

Milan 2009: 2010 Ducati Multistrada 1200

Ducati has finally made their much awaited move – go against the BMW R1200GS – and they did it in their own characteristic style. Not only the new Multistrada 1200 looks one-of-a-kind, but it is also backed up by a 150hp Italian engine.

During no less than two years, we’ve seen the new Ducati Multistrada being developed, rendered and tested until finally finding out that two versions will be available – a standard version with optional ABS and a high-spec S version (how does an Ohlins electronically adjustable suspension system sound to you?). This last ramifies into two editions – Sport and Touring.

The Sport Edition can be distinguished by the presence of carbon fiber parts such as the engine covers, front air intakes, rear mudguard and spoilers.

The Touring Edition’s distinguishing features are the panniers, heated grips and a center stand. More information as we have it.

Milan 2009: 2010 Aprilia Dorsoduro Factory

Aprilia plays with the 2010 Dorsoduro Factory and we’ve just got our hands on the leaked pictures showing that. While the standard version is very aggressive already, just like the Italians like their bikes to look, the Factory adds carbon fiber parts and a black frame, achieving an overall much more aggressive result.

In what the engine is concerned, this remains the 749.9cc twin developing 92 hp at 8,750 rpm and 60lb/ft at 4,500 rpm. While these numbers are more than decent for a midsized super motard, the engine also works closely together with the “Ride by Wire” system, which is available in three modes: sport, touring and rain.

The suspension equipment now translates into a Sachs kit, which is adjustable to as much as 45mm, while the braking system maintains the same 320mm discs and now works with four-piston Brembo calipers. The sad part is that ABS doesn’t find its place in this equation, like in the case of the standard version.

Expect the Dorsoduro Factory to gather quite a crowd at Aprilia’s EICMA stand this year.