2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT, Wrangler launches

November 19, 2015

In anticipation for the 2015 Los Angeles Auto Show, Jeep had revealed its 2016 model of the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT and a new Jeep Wrangler Backcountry. The show was originally slated to begin on November 18 2015.

Jeep is following the lead of many other car makers who have built special editions of their car models. Some of these cars are Rolls Royce’s Phantom Drophead Coupe Nighthawk, Nissan’s Juke Midnight and Cadillac’s CTS Midnight. The Fiat-Chrysler owned company released really sleek and beautifully designed cars.

The car sports darker stealth-like finishes both inside and outside and it is available in three colors—velvet red, bullet silver and granite crystal.

Each model of the car features satin black 20-inch wheels, frill surround, front and rear badging. The roof, seven slot front grille bezels, rear spoiler and B and C pillars are all furnished with gloss black finishing.

The Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT is one car that comes with a lot of substance, top creativity and unseen fashion. The upgraded Cherokee SRT still features the original Grand Cherokee’s powertrain.

The car copies the same 475 horsepower, 470 pounds per foot torque 6.4 liter V8 engine that runs under the hood of the original Grand Cherokee.

This new car may share some similarities with the original Grand Cherokee, but it cost much more than the original Grand Cherokee; priced at $5,000.

The new Jeep Wrangler is a special edition that has been named the ‘Backcountry’. It comes with a winter theme that is buried in five colors.

This Backcountry has distinguished itself with its 17-inch black rims, black hardtop, Rubicon rock nails and Backcountry decals that are on the front and rear corner panels. The car comes with a nine-speaker sound system, black slush mats and piano black trimmings on the vents and handles.

These new cars are top market bangers, so customers can be expecting to get them soon. Information reaching us is that the 2016 Jeep Wrangler Backcountry will be arriving by the end of this month while customers will have to eagerly await the arrival of the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT in the first quarter of 2016.

Toyota Innova 2016 launches on November 23

Emmanuel

November 18, 2015

Veteran vehicle manufacturer, Toyota, is set to launch the new-generation Innova 2016 on November 23, 2015.

The Indonesian subsidiary of the company has started issuing invitations for the launch event of the all new vehicle, which will replace existing models across the world.

This will be the second generation of Innova and it is coming nearly 11 years after the introduction of the nameplate in Indonesia, the first market for the MPV.

Although pricing of the new vehicle hasn’t been announced, dealerships in Indonesia have started accepting bookings for it in three main variants – G, V and Q.

Compared to the old model, extensive changes have been made on the exterior, interior and powertrains of the Innova 2016.

The new vehicle features LED projector headlamps. Its front fascia has a big hexagonal grille with two thick chrome slats on the top that blend into the headlamps.

The rear of the MPV has newly designed tail lamps, while the changes on side are new quarter glass and alloy wheels.

Toyota’s 2016 Innova shares a strong ladder-frame platform with the 2016 Toyota Fortuner and Hilux Revo. It measures 4,735 mm in length, 1,830 mm in width, 1,795 mm in height and 2,750 mm in wheelbase.

The vehicle is powered by a GD 2.4-litre diesel engine that develops 147bhp and 359Nm of torque, and is mated to a manual gearbox.

The diesel engine for the first time is also available with automatic transmission which will have a slightly lesser torque of 342.2Nm than its manual gearbox counterpart, but the power remains the same.

The vehicle’s in-line four-cylinder 2000cc VVT-i petrol engine will develop 137bhp and 183Nm of torque, and will be available with manual and automatic transmissions.

All the variants of the new Innova are equipped with Anti lock brake system (ABS) with EBD, dual SRS airbag and knee airbag, while the Q variant boasts of side airbags and curtain shield airbag.

A touchscreen entertainment system and alloy wheels are standard across all variants of the vehicle.

Microsoft Reveals two New PowerPoint 2016 Features

Jia Khan

November 18, 2015

Microsoft has revealed that the latest version of PowerPoint 2016 Office suite will possess two new creative features, named Designer and Morph, to handle the presentations in a more professional way.

These features will enable the Office 365 users to polish their slides and add eye-catching motion effects to their slide shows.

The first feature, Designer, was created to give an extra command over the presentation rather than sticking to the control system.

Microsoft’s Chris Maloney said that the purpose of creating Designer is to reduce the number of clicks for a particular task and exclude the complexities of advanced controls.

Maloney also explained that Designer will reduce up to 150 essential clicks for a presentation task, ultimately saving the user from stress. Designer will also enable the users to create extraordinary presentations even with a little knowledge of PowerPoint.

To meet the goal, almost 1200 designs have been added to the template. In order to save people from boredom, Designer checks the inserted images and inserts only the useful content related to the task.

Office corporate Vice President Kirk Koenigsbauer stated in a web post:

“The release of these features is the first step towards evolution of Power Point. Designer and Morph are smart tools that will enable users to design like professionals.”

The second innovative feature, Morph, makes transition animations easy to pull off. Two different slides are merged into each other, fading one’s elements through transitions. If there is a chart that expands to two slides, Morph will automatically shrink it to display in one slide.

Long and oddly designed presentations with bouncing texts and weird shades have always been disliked by the audience as well as the presenter. But Morph handles the slides intelligently by smoothly replacing one slide with another.

Users of Office 365 can now tune their PowerPoint to receive the latest updates and enjoy the awesome ride.

Cheki Nigeria Partners MTN on Car Tracking Service

Emmanuel

November 18, 2015

Multinational online car market platform, Cheki, has partnered with MTN, Africa’s largest telecommunication company to introduce car tracking services in Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country.

The service will be rolled out majorly to car dealers in the Northern part of the country, especially Abuja, Kaduna and its environs.

The company announced the solution at its annual Abuja Dealers’ Forum 2015 which was targeted at tackling automobile security issues in Nigeria.

Mr. Ayoola Ajagbe, the SME Account Partner of Enterprise Solution for MTN Nigeria, assured that the machine–to –machine tracking service, which entails the use of a high-tech device, ensures that customers have full control of their vehicles at all times.

He explained that the device comes with state of the art technology which allows users to set and regulate speed limits of their cars.

He said the device can trace the locations of users’ vehicles and shut them down on request if stolen- all from the comfort of the phone.

Hence the days of stolen or lost vehicles are over with the introduction of the devices, which, according to Mr. Ajagbe, played a major role in assisting security operatives in apprehending vehicle thieves.

He also mentioned that the devices have recorded a 98 per cent success rate in assisting customers with vehicle recoveries.

The MTN official affirmed that the machine has been well scrutinized and that it has been approved by the National Communications Commission (NCC).

General Manager of Cheki Nigeria, Mrs. Tomi Hodonu, expressed delight at the security solutions being offered to Nigerians.

“Cheki Nigeria is indeed very proud to be working with a highly respected brand like MTN, especially regarding issues we are very passionate about as an organization,”

she said.

She stated that the company gives the utmost attention to its customers and that it’s ever ready to ensure that they are satisfied and can do business safely and securely.

Director General of the Nigeria Automotive Design and Development Council, Engr. Aminu Jalal, added that the federal government of Nigeria and the council have plans to increase the percentage of local content in the Nigeria Automobile Industry.

Cheki operates in over 9 African countries, acting as a one stop destination for leading car dealers, importers and private sellers post their cars for sale in Nigeria and other African countries.

Fallout 4 and Black Ops III Record Big Sales

John Adebimitan

November 15, 2015

Fallout 4 and Black Ops III were recently released, and these two games have experienced tremendous success in market in just few days after launching.

It was discovered that the Black Ops III has generated revenue of over $550 million in three days, making the shooter game the biggest launch of the year in the gaming industry. The game has beaten the former record holder – Microsoft’s Halo 5.

The Black Ops launched on November 6th and by November 9th, the number of sales rose significantly, and the international acceptability was felt after the company was able to sell this game in all the parts of the world.

The Black Ops III is now the only Call of Duty game which has commanded more hours per player in the space of a week after players logged over 75 million hours in just 3 days, making it the record holder for the most engaging game.

Fallout 4 also enjoyed a measure of success, commanding lots of sales after few days of its release.

Bethesda has announced that the company shipped over 12 million copies of the game on the day the game was launched, making it the most pre-ordered game this year.

If figures are put together, Fallout 4 could be one of the most successful game of the year because the pre-order in the first 24 hours is put in excess of $750 million.

Many retailers who got their shipment have already started informing Bethesda of the interest the game is drawing and how well it can do in market. Bethesda is still rolling out more shipments of the Fallout 4 to meet the high market demand.

The Fallout 4 is now the most successful game from Bethesda after it beat the 7 million shipment and the 3.5 million sales of the Elder Scroll V: Skyrim in 48 hours. The Fallout 4 also set a record for being the most-viewed game launch.

UBTECH Alpha 2 Humanoid Family Robot launched

Emmanuel

November 13, 2015

Humanoid robotics startup UBTECH has announced that it is building the new Alpha 2 humanoid robot, the first ever robot designed for practical household service and companionship.

UBTECH is launching a crowdfunding campaign for the Alpha 2 robot, which is fully programmable and is expected to run on an open-source Operating System.

“We are looking forward to launching the Alpha 2 and fulfilling our dream of enabling every family to have its own intelligent robot,”

said James Chow, CEO of UBTECH.

“We hope our crowdfunding effort will drive both excitement and support for this new technology,”

he added.

UBTECH said the robot provides cloud services and leverages intelligent voice & perceptual systems to receive commands and execute corresponding behaviors.

Hence it is capable of simultaneous interpretation, voice search, visual interaction and providing verbal reminders.

The Alpha 2 robot will offer ultrasonic, touch and pressure sensors in order to provide a responsive, intuitive platform in the same way contemporary smartphones do.

The robot is expected to extend today’s reliable and intelligent technology to a programmable humanoid device with a smart brain and a nimble body. The robot will have unprecedented level of flexibility and efficient movement.

The Alpha 2 robot features a brain that is connected to a cloud that gives it access to a great deal of audio and visual processing power. Using this information, the Alpha 2 can perform tasks such as managing weekly calendars, and engaging in free talks.

The robot can also follow verbal instructions and take high quality photographs and post them to social media.

It can also perform home security monitory alerts, entertain children, guest and pets and report the weather.

In terms of battery life, the Alpha 2 is expected to run for approximately one hour under standard usage before running down. Then it needs to be charged via a wall plug for approximately two hours.

Participating in the Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign saves one $200 (roughly 40,000 Naira) when purchasing the robot as its expected retail price when it begins to ship on February 16 is $700 (about 140,000 Naira).

Samsung’s Virtual Reality Gadget Launched for $99

Emmanuel

November 13, 2015

Samsung’s new Gear VR – a portable virtual reality viewer which was announced in September 2014 – is now ready to start shipping at $99 (about 20,000 Naira).

Pre-orders are open in the United States on Amazon, Best Buy, and Samsung’s sites with orders ready to ship on November 20. Units of the gadget will also be available in Best Buy’s retail locations.

T-Mobile said it will also offer the Gear VR for sale online and in its stores on November 27. AT&T is supposed to join the list but the company is yet to set a specific date for its kick-off of the gadget’s sale.

According to American virtual reality technology company, Oculus, the new Gear VR is approximately 19% lighter than the previous Innovator edition. It added that its ergonomics and touchpads have been redesigned for better and more favourable experience and navigation.

The device is also compatible with Samsung phones, including Galaxy Note 5, Galaxy S6 edge+, S6, and S6 edge.

The Samsung Gear VR is essentially a plastic box with a smartphone which straps to the head. Lenses magnify the smartphone’s screen and make it appear to wrap around one’s field of vision.

Sensors inside the phone and the headset can tell when one turns one’s head, causing the images to change accordingly so that one get the sensation of being in another world.

A good mix of games and videos is expected to help the system take off.

Occulus is predicting creation of new games made specially for VRs- although some are available now while others are “coming soon.”

Gaming titles launching right away include Land’s End by Ustwo Games, Bandit Six: Salvo by Climax Studios and Dead Secret by Robot Invader.

Gear VR owners will also be able to watch the entire catalog of TV shows and movies on Netflix and turn to Oculus Video to catch more than 70 films from 20th Century Fox and Lionsgate and 9,000 videos from Vimeo.

Via the VR gadget, one can explore the terrain of alien-inhabited planets and battle enemy ships in outer space.

Users also will be able to explore more than 200,000 photos in 360-degree views.

Hyundai launches new Luxury Car Brand Genesis

Emmanuel

November 9, 2015

South Korean car manufacturer, Hyundai Motor Company, has launched a new luxury vehicle brand christened the Genesis.

The Genesis will be a stand-alone brand that would operate alongside the core Hyundai marque and the models will be named by combining the letter ‘G’ for Genesis followed by a numerical number depending upon the segment.

Hence, the top-of-the-line Hyundai Equus will now be called the G90 and the current Genesis sedan will be called the G80.

The Genesis brand will also be adorned with a new wing-type emblem that is an evolution of the logo featured on the current Genesis sedan.

Hyundai said the brand will encompass six models, including a new G70 midsize sedan, an upscale SUV and a sports coupe, with all six models launching by 2020.

“We have created this new Genesis brand with a complete focus on our customers who want smart ownership experiences that save time and effort, with practical innovations that enhance satisfaction,”

Hyundai Motor Company Vice Chairman, Euisun Chung, said.

“The Genesis brand will fulfill these expectations, becoming a market leader through our human-centered brand strategy,”

he added.

According to Chung, these

“human-centered” brand strategy will center around four key aspects, namely, “human-focused innovation, refined and balanced performance, athletic elegance in design and a hassle-free customer experience.”

A new Prestige Design Division, headed by Luc Donckerwolke, who was previously responsible for the design of Audi , Bentley, Lamborghini, SEAT and Skoda models at the Volkswagen Group , will oversee development of new products.

Hyundai Motor Group’s chief design officer, Peter Schreyer has been appointed to lead the new division.

The Genesis brand will Initially be on sale in the Korean, Chinese, North American and Middle Eastern luxury car markets.

The brand will however expand its reach to Europe and other parts of Asia as the model range grows to full strength.

However, unlike other motor companies which established separate dealer networks when launching their luxury brands, the Genesis models will be sold in the same showrooms as the existing Hyundai cars and crossovers.

Apple Watch launches in India starting at Rs 30,900

John Adebimitan

November 7, 2015

Apple inc. finally launched the Apple Watch in India. The Smartwatch was launched in three variants – Apple Watch Sport, Apple Watch and Apple Watch Edition; it also comes in two sizes—38mm and 42mm.

The device will be available in these colours: yellow gold, rose gold, space black stainless steel, space gray, gold, silver anodized aluminum and polished silver.

The Apple Watch which is 38mm long is sold for Rs 30,900 (approximately US$468, NGN 91,730) and the one which is 42mm long is sold for Rs 34,900 each.

If the device adopts the 38mm and 42mm stainless steel case combined with the white sport band, it will be sold at Rs 48,900.

The Apple Watch was introduced around six months back, and it has become the first new product category to be launched ever since Tim Cook took over the reins of the company after Steve Jobs stepped down.

The Apple Watch is also the first new device category that Apple released after they entered the tablet market with the Apple iPad in 2010.

The Apple Watch can be personalized with watch faces gotten from the traditional analog; these are the modular face, chronograph face, jellyfish on the motion face and the animated butterflies face.

The Apple Watch which serves as a timepiece, goes beyond telling time, it also has some specialized functions like the sunrise/sunset, daily activity level and even upcoming calendar events.

Users of the Apple Watch can also swipe up from the Watch face for ‘Glances’ that will quickly show any important information like weather forecast, current location and even the current music.

Health and fitness enthusiasts can also enjoy using the Apple Watch, as the watch comes with an Activity app that gives visual snapshots of daily activities, and with three rings that measure active calories burned and how often you stand or take a break from your workout.

The Workout app also gives detailed metrics required during workout sessions for activities like walking, cycling and running.

The Apple Watch works with all ranges of the iPhone from the iPhone 5 to the latest iPhone 6s. While India has finally gotten the Apple Watch, reports are going round that its successor will be coming around mid-2016.

Google to merge Chrome and Android OS

Emmanuel

October 31, 2015

Internet giants, Google, are planning to merge its Android and Chrome Operating Systems into one unified platform.

A report from The Wall Street Journal during the week had said Google plans to fold its Chrome operating system for personal computers into its Android mobile operating system.

“Chromebooks will get a new, as yet undetermined, name, the people familiar with the matter said. Google plans to retain the Chrome name for its internet browser, which runs on both PCs and mobile devices,”

says the report.

Wall Street Journal added that the two will be united under the Android name, which will give PCs that use the operating system access to the Google Play app store.

Almost immediately after the Journal’s original report, conflicting stories began to pop up.

While most tabloids said the Chrome OS would be killed off, Business Insider said the operating system will live on as an option alongside Android and “a third project that combines the best of both.”

TechCrunch also corroborated Business Inside and disputed that Chrome OS would be killed off.

However a Google spokesperson according to The Verge has confirmed that both Chrome OS and Android will continue to exist, and that Chrome OS is not being “killed.”

It is now believed that Chrome OS and Android will combine and that Google plans to preview the combined new OS in 2016 and launch the final version in 2017.

The report to kill the Chrome OS seemed surprising as Chromebooks have been fairly successful and are a great low-cost computer option.

Sundar Pichai, Google’s Chief Executive Officer, was put in charge of both Chrome and Android two years ago, and he’s made moves to bring the two operating systems closer in that time.

This includes adding support for Android apps inside of Chrome OS. Though support is still limited, some Android apps are up and running on Chromebooks

The move marks an effort at Google to reduce the number of independent platforms it has to maintain,

However 2017 is still far away and it’s fair to assume a lot could change between now and then.

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