Many new cars come with automatic braking as an option, but for the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), this isn’t enough.
According to a report in The Detroit News, the NTSB is pressuring the U.S. Government to make automatic braking a federal mandate. Its argument is safety features like airbags and seat belts come standard, so more advanced safety like collision warning and automatic braking — which, they argue, can prevent injuries and fatalities— should come standard as well.
Collision warning systems use various combinations of radars, cameras and proximity sensors to warn a driver if they are too close to an object, with auto-braking taking it a step further by actually bringing the car to a stop if necessary. Generally, these features are available on high-end cars, though, they’re trickling down to the mainstream on models from Subaru, Chrysler and others.
In the European Union, cars must come equipped with these safety features in order to receive the highest crash test scores–- something the NTSB wants incorporated in U.S. crash testing. For this to happen, the National Traffic Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA) would need to develop standards to test the performance of these active safety systems.
The NTSB wants NHTSA to mandate collision warnings first, with automatic braking mandated once clear standards are in place.
Automakers are opposed to the mandating of these active safety systems because they feel like the addition of these systems should be the consumers choice. In addition, automakers claim the inclusion of active safety systems would increase the cost.
It should also be noted that automakers generally make most of their profits on charging extra for options and packages consumers want. This is why a company like Porsche, which has notoriously expensive options for its cars, made $23,000 on average for every car they sold in 2013.
This is a tricky debate because on one hand a reduction in collisions is inarguably a good thing, but on the other hand maybe humans need to be more proactive in preventing them. Perhaps a combination of better driver training in America and wider availability of active safety is the answer.
BlackBerry is considering equipping an upcoming smartphone with Google’s Android software for the first time, an acknowledgement that its revamped line of devices has failed to win mass appeal, according to four sources familiar with the matter.
The move would be an about-face for the Waterloo, Ontario-based company, which had shunned Android in a bet that its BlackBerry 10 line of phones would be able to claw back market share lost to Apple’s iPhone and a slew of devices powered by Android.
The sources, who asked not to be named as they have not been authorised to discuss the matter publicly, said the move to use Android is part of BlackBerry’s strategy to pivot to focus on software and device management. BlackBerry, which once dominated smartphone sales, now has a market share of less than 1 per cent.
It is not clear whether a move to use Android would spell the end of the company’s BlackBerry 10 line of devices that were initially launched to much fanfare in early 2013. After positive early reviews, the late-to-launch BlackBerry devices haven’t competed well with Android or Apple, mainly due to a lack of big name apps.
“We don’t comment on rumors and speculation, but we remain committed to the BlackBerry 10 operating system, which provides security and productivity benefits that are unmatched,” said the company in an email.
A Google spokeswoman declined to comment.
BlackBerry Chief Executive John Chen is banking on the company’s new device management system, BES12, that allows corporate and government clients to not only manage BlackBerry devices on their internal networks, but also devices powered by Android, Apple’s iOS platform and Microsoft Corp’s Windows operating system.
One of the hurdles it faces in that transformation is convincing big customers that its device management software works across many different platforms.
Two sources said that by launching an Android-based device of its own, BlackBerry would be sending a signal to skeptics that it is confident that the BES12 system can not only manage, but also secure smartphones and tablets powered by rival operating systems.
BlackBerry will probably use Android on an upcoming slider device that is likely to be released this autumn, two sources said. The slider will combine a touch screen with a physical keyboard that users can use if they prefer.
BlackBerry briefly showed off the slider device on stage at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona in March, but it has provided little detail on it since then.
By making an Android device that boasts a large touchscreen and a physical keyboard, BlackBerry hopes to snag a niche in the touchscreen-dominated Android market. The device may attract those still using older BlackBerry keyboard handhelds but who want access to the larger app options Android offers.
HARDWARE CONUNDRUM
Two sources said that if BlackBerry moves forward on a plan to launch an Android device, it could come with some of the patented features in its BlackBerry 10 operating system.
In March, BlackBerry announced that it planned to deliver its patented security, productivity and communication tools to any mobile device running iOS, Android or Windows.
The company, which a while ago opened its popular BlackBerry Messaging app to those using rival operating systems, has said it plans to offer more in-house features on rival devices, including BlackBerry Hub and the predictive text capabilities of its virtual keyboard.
Chen in March said the company was still committed to its own devices business.
Since that time however, BlackBerry has cut headcount in its hardware unit even further. The company, which at a 2011 peak employed 17,500 people and in February was down to 6,225, said last month that it was making further cuts on the device side, without providing any numbers
Microsoft is notorious for leaving Office for Mac users languishing for years between app updates. Now, five years after the last Mac edition, the company is officially releasing Office for Mac 2016 to subscribers of Office 365, and promises that the Mac will be less neglected in the future.
“We’re working at a pace of monthly updates,” said Han-yi Shaw, the engineering lead on Office for Mac. “The days of waiting years for new software — those days are over.”
Shaw says that Microsoft will be able to maintain frequent updates because Office for Mac and Office for iPad share a common codebase, so the two will be built out simultaneously. Yet the new Office for Mac suite — already seen in the Office for Mac preview available for public beta testing since March 5 — is far more like the Office suite you’d find on a PC, Shaw says.
For instance, like the PC, Office for Mac 2016 has the coloured “ribbon” of tabs and menus sitting atop Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook and OneNote (now making its Mac debut). In the past, Shaw noted, Mac users would have tabs and menus for the same functions as their PC counterparts placed in different locations.
Microsoft brought the two suites of apps into parity, in terms of looks and feature set, to make things easier for those who work across Macs, PCs, mobile devices and the Web, he said. “If you’ve used Office on any device. you’ll be able to dive in and use Office and any other device now,” Shaw said. “It wasn’t that way in the past.”
Powerpoint, an app included in Office for Mac 2016. Microsoft
There are, however, a few Mac-specific tweaks. For example, Office for Mac 2016 supports Apple’s multi-touch trackpad gestures, and OS X’s full-screen app view. Mac users will also be able to change the colour of each app’s ribbon to grey, if they like a more subdued look. And while the Office apps natively tie into Microsoft’s OneDrive cloud storage service (1TB of data is included in the Office 365 subscription), Mac users can also pull files from services like Dropbox and Box, as long as those cloud services have been set up for access from OS X’s Finder windows.
Office for Mac 2016 is available for download now to Office 365 subscribers. Month-to-month access to Office 365 (which offers access to Office apps on PCs, Android, iOS and the Web, too) starts at $6 per month for individuals and $US10 per month for families and businesses. Microsoft will offer free and subsidised subscriptions for students and teachers at office.com/student
Update: Apple Watch is being upgraded to WatchOS 2 this fall, so this revised review takes its changes into account.
The Apple Watch is ticking away on my wrist right now, and while it's no longer called the iWatch, it really is "my watch" and Apple's most personal gadget yet.
The iPhone 5-and-up-compatible smartwatch comes in 38 flavors, with different case materials, colors, sizes and interchangeable Apple Watch bands. None are inexpensive.
It starts at $349 (£299, AU$499) and peaks at an exorbitant $17,000 (£13,500, AU$24,000), meaning it's for impatient early adopters and boutique store regulars. Apple's vague sales numbers hint at just that.
But every iPhone owners who desperately wants a smartwatch should have this one on their wish list. By then, software update Watch OS 2 launches to open up its Engine, Digital Crown, microphone and even more to developers. Apps should be better suited to function on your wrist by year's end.
The Apple Watch update also features Wi-Fi connectivity, new watch faces with different customizable options, better Siri capabilities, email replies and even Transit directions courtesy of iOS 9.
Is it worth that tough-to-swallow Apple Watch price right now? Well, beaming apps like Messages, Mail and every iPhone notification to an always-on-hand gadget is certainly a convenience.
I no longer retrieve my seemingly always-hiding iPhone 6 every time someone texts me, yet I can ping it whenever I really can't find it, usually buried beneath the couch cushions. It has easiest to use Find My iPhone app yet.
Apple is supposed to be building upon this novel idea with a proposed Find My Watch feature, which is the reserve of this handy retrieval system, and an Android Wear-like "smart leashing" detector to deploy a light tap on the wrist when the wearer wanders too far from his or her phone.
Apple Watch OS 1.0.1 fixed a few sensor errors and expanded the number of languages supported, and a full update is due this fall thanks to WatchOS 2 and iOS 9.
Similar conveniences are carried over to the thousands of apps. Checking into a flight thanks to a wrist-mounted QR code sure beats scrambling for my phone or paper boarding pass while moving my bags up in the security line step-by-step.
Those steps, it turns out, are being counted in the Apple Watch's fitness app. It's not the most comprehensive fitness tracker, but it lets me keep tabs on metrics like my steps walked, calories burned and heart rate. Surprise: I need to move more when I'm writing reviews.
But not having to fetch my phone for each and every vibration in my pocket is very much a luxury rather than a necessity, and not one every iPhone user needs - at least for the current asking price.
Why buy an Apple Watch?
Apple Watch is often oversimplified as an iPhone on your wrist, and almost everyone I have demoed it to has accidentally referred to it as "your phone." Even I slipped up once.
It's not an unreasonable comparison. The square-shaped smartwatch is like a mini iPhone; it lets me read emails, summon Siri and make and receive phone calls from my wrist.
The size is just right too. While many Android Wear watches look and feel chunky to most, the 42mm Apple Watch fits my wrist much more unobtrusively.
An even smaller 38mm size is also available, though most people should for opt for the bigger of the two. It offers better battery life and more useable touchscreen space (but does come at a higher cost).
What feels strange about writing this review is that there's no point in really comparing it to Android Wear at all. Nobody chooses a smartwatch first and then decides on which phone to go with it – no, if you're reading this review you're probably either doing it on the iPhone or with one close to hand, wondering if it adds enough convenience to be worth the extra cost.
But do I need this Watch? On the one hand it's been great to change my behavior, as too many times I have instinctively run to my phone, charging in another room, because it's ringing or because the default SMS chime has turned me into one of Pavlov's dogs.
How many times have I missed an important call or text? Just as important, how many times have I rushed to the phone and it was an unimportant telemarketing call or a friend replying with text that simply says "OK" to something I said three hours ago?
These missed connections and potential disappointments are less insufferable thanks to the Apple Watch and its ability to either pick up or dismiss these alerts in a tenth of a second.
Custom watch faces, like we've seen from Android Wear watches, are here (although only those that Apple makes, as it's sadly not permitting third parties to do the same thing), as well as new exclusive technology like the pressure-sensitive Force Touch touchscreen.
There are also a large number of Apple Watch apps already, including the easy-to-use Apple Pay in the US and frequently used Uber car hailing service, equivalents of which have been slow to launch on Android Wear.
What's missing?
There are plenty iPhone features that aren't carried over to the wrist. Apple Watch is not a fully-fledged iPhone replacement.
It makes calls, but it can't add new contacts. It listens to dictated texts and sends them as an audio message or transcription, but it doesn't have any sort of edit function.
It tracks basic fitness goals, but not it's GPS-enabled, doesn't track sleep and third-party workout apps require an iPhone close by. Likewise, it can name songs through the Shazam app, but it listens with the iPhone microphone, not its own.
Having to carry a phone still is a weird disappointment to a lot of people who are missing the point of a current smartwatches. "Wait, I still need my phone?" is the response I've heard from baffled people. Of course you do. The Watch isn't big enough for watching YouTube videos on its tiny display size and trying to comment on Facebook posts while pecking away on a teeny keyboard would be terrible.
Who would want to don a giant watch capable of such specs or a large enough battery to run that? You still need an iPhone with you at all times, but you'll use it less than before.
The bigger questions: can is do enough to be worth its price, and is it fashionable enough to wear everyday, by geek chic and non geeks alike? Let's examine the design first.
The Model S is both the ultimate eco-friendly luxury car and an absurdly fast sports sedan—so we love it, of course. With an aptly named “Ludicrous Mode,” the top-spec, all-wheel-drive P90D touts a 2.8-second run to 60 mph. The 90, 85D, 85, 70D, and 70 trims dial back performance and range slightly as you step down, but still offer a classy cabin and electrifying driving experience. Range anxiety is almost eliminated, thanks to generous battery capacity and an ever-growing Supercharger network.
2015 Tesla Model S 70D
The car of the century, now updated with more power and AWD.
ineup to provide four distinct Model S, er, models warrants an award grander than the 10Best Cars recognition we bestowed upon the S earlier this year: our nomination for “Car of the 21st Century” honors. Combining the aforementioned virtues with significant new features and a modest increase in price makes the Tesla Model S 70Dreviewed here the new ultimate in four-door sedan engineering and technology. It’s worth noting that the 70D replaces the Model S 60 that picked up our 10Best accolade as the entry-level version. “D” signifies dual-motor all-wheel drive; the only RWD Model S available now is the 85.
The 70D Rundown
As with the rest of its Model S lineup mates, the 70D has mostly aluminum body and chassis construction, a battery pack built into the floor, comfortable seating for five (or up to seven with the optional jump seats), and attractive interior and exterior design. The huge, 17-inch touch screen providing navigation, entertainment, and car information and control functionality still smiles congenially from the center of the dash.
The big news here is a pair of 257-hp (Tesla’s before-the-transmission rating, the post-gearbox rating is 329 combined horsepower) AC motors driving all four wheels and a base price of $76,200 before federal tax credits. A 70-kWh battery provides an EPA-rated 240-mile driving range; your results will vary. Compared with the Signature Performance (P85) rear-driver we tested more than two years ago, the new 70D is 177 pounds lighter and delivers slightly poorer accelerating, braking, and cornering performance. That said, it consumed less energy, achieved a higher top speed, and is a bit quieter during acceleration and cruising. A major plus is the extra confidence in adverse weather conditions provided by the 70D’s all-wheel drive. (It improves in nearly all areas save for weight versus the now-defunct, rear-drive Model S 60 we tested.)
Nearly 10 percent of our test car’s $83,950 bottom line was attributable to optional embellishments: 19-inch wheels and tires ($2500), nicer seats ($2500), metallic paint ($1000), special wood interior trim ($750), and a cold-weather package ($1000).
Crunching the Numbers
Comparing this 70D to Mercedes-Benz’s shot at world’s-best-sedan honors—the S550 S-class—is revealing. In rear-drive form, the Mercedes has a slight edge in acceleration and braking. The Tesla ties in cornering grip and wins in top speed. The S550 provides more passenger room but with a less hospitable center-rear seating position and only about 45 percent of the Model S’s cargo space, which is divided between front and rear trunks. The greatest difference between these epic rivals is price: The base S550 costs $95,325 and crowds $100K with 4MATIC all-wheel drive, versus $83,950 (again, before state and federal rebates) for the Model S 70D tested here. Of course, the money you’ll likely need to invest upgrading your home and/or office wiring for the fastest battery charging narrows the Tesla’s dollar advantage.
Nearly everyone who taps the accelerator in any Tesla Model S to enjoy the amusement-park surge becomes an instant electric-car convert. In raw numbers, this is the ability to jump from 30 to 50 mph in two seconds flat, and from 50 to 70 in 3.1 seconds with neither hesitation nor a gearchange (the 449-hp RWD Mercedes S550 achieves these tasks in 2.9 and 3.4 seconds). Then the reality sets in. To fully embrace any electric car, some lifestyle rearranging is necessary. Spur-of-the-moment trips are unwise. The next plug-in opportunity is always at the forefront of your consciousness. Speeding up when you’re running late may force an unplanned stop for a jolt of juice.
We noted a couple of unusual anomalies during testing. One was an odd momentary shudder at the rear axle when the 70D was shifted from park to drive. This was quite noticeable from outside the car, although barely detectable at the driver’s seat.
And while two-direction acceleration runs have been standard operating procedure at Car and Driverfor ages, Teslas respond with utmost hesitation to such sustained draw of their electrical energy reserves. After the first full run from rest to a velocity of more than 100 mph, the driver’s kW meter displays a dashed line, indicating that a lengthy cool-down period is needed before the return run. (To achieve the test results reported here, we gave the car adequate opportunity to cool). Our suspicion is that this is a protective measure aimed at limiting the temperature rise in the motor, controller, and battery systems.
Logging 630 miles and conducting performance tests in this 70D required 14 plug connections versus three or four stops at the pump for the most fuel-thirsty luxury sedan driven the same distance. In exchange for the loss of convenience, you do reap substantial savings in operating costs. We spent less than $30 for the Tesla’s electricity versus the $100 in premium gasoline a conventional luxury sedan would have consumed driving 630 miles.
A Driving Experience to Rival the Best
In keeping with its premium-sedan aspirations, the 70D’s dynamic comportment is excellent. Except for a slightly clumpy response to expansion joints and potholes, the ride is well composed. The steering is slightly numb on-center, but heft builds rapidly and satisfyingly a few degrees of lock into any maneuver. There’s more than enough tire grip and body control to attack back roads like a 16-year-old with a fresh driver’s license. Thanks to aggressive energy-regeneration calibration, you drive the 70D mainly with the accelerator in traffic, with no more than occasional use of the brake pedal.
Because there is no combustion thrum, the Model S soundtrack has a few distinctive subroutines. Now and then you hear electric-motor whine mixed with a touch of gear noise and tire-tread whir. There’s a pleasant wind rustle over the side glass at 100 mph. Because the cabin din is subdued, polite conversation can continue well into the felonious-velocity range.
A low beltline and well-designed roof pillars yield good visibility except for a blockage created by the center rear-seat passenger’s fixed headrest. Although folding the back seat can eliminate that impediment, doing so adds to the rear-axle tire noise entering the interior via the open hatchback area.
Like every important stride forward, appreciating the Tesla Model S demands some soul searching. Are you an early adopter anxious to experience the future ahead of the crowd? Are you willing to make a few modest sacrifices to prove your concern for the environment? Do you live to embarrass Corvettes and Mustangs at stoplights? Are you convinced that Nikola Tesla was far ahead of his time in espousing AC electricity? Score high in this quiz and you’ve earned the right to sign up for a Tesla Model S 70D test drive of your own.
Boy what a ride it’s been for Samsung so far for the first half of the year! In one fell swoop, they generated enviable amounts of interest in the Android arena when they introduced the Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 edgeearlier this year. And why is that? Well, they’ve completely reconstructed their reputation when it comes down to phone designs, seeing that prior to those phones, their designs have been unflattering in contrast to what the competition produced.
Riding high on that momentum, Samsung is one of the first major players out of the gate to announce and deliver its phones for the second half of the year. Last year, the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 managed to receive universal acclaim for its superb specs sheet, all-around performance, and most importantly, its utility for being the Swiss Army knife of smartphones with its rich features set. In the world of Android phablets, Samsung’s Note line has yet to see any sort of threat – so there’s always reason to be excited about a successor.
And that, folks, is where we find ourselves with theSamsung Galaxy Note5. Even before its official announcement, we all knew that another major redesign was coming – not surprising, considering that the S6’s premium design has been widely received by consumers. While it’s almost certain that the Note5 (are we the only ones who like 'Note 5' better?) is going to be yet another solid offering, we’ve seen a shift in the space of late that points us to the direction of these value-conscious phones that pack impressive qualities without the hefty pricing attached to them. As more and more carriers phase out contract pricing, it’s only going to be more crucial for high-end phones to justify their worth, as devices in general are being bought full-priced or financed.
Perhaps, the Note5 can muscle the competition to prove that it’s one of the undisputed pound-by-pound champions?
The package contains:
Samsung Galaxy Note5
microUSB cable
Wall charger
Stereo headphones
SIM removal tool
Quick start guide
Warranty card
Design
While there are compromises to its arsenal, the Note5 is the best-designed phone in the series to date.
Straight to the point, this is the best-designed phone in the series to date! The design is undoubtedly revolutionary for Samsung, as prior phones in the series were primarily constructed out of plastic. Last year’s Note 4 was notable for its stark redesign as well, shedding the all-plastic construction with a slightly more sophisticated one that involves a metal frame surrounding the sides of the phone. With the Galaxy Note5, however, Samsung followed in form by employing the same design language they’ve raised eyebrows already with its S6 line.
We won’t deny the attractiveness of the Note5’s premium aesthetics – one that combines metal with glass once again for that ultimate fusion, though in the process, they’ve shed the utilitarian look of the Note series for one that’s more fashionably stylish. Our eyes are once again mesmerized by the dazzling show produced when light bounces off its glass surface for a shimmering effect – allowing the phone’s color to be more profound at certain angles. What's more, the metal trim bezel adds integrity to the phone’s construction. However, while we applaud its solid construction and eye-catching looks, the glass makes the phone a little fragile, prone to fingerprints, and slippery. Trust us, you’ll want to be extremely careful handling it, since minor drops can probably do a number to it.
Beyond the aesthetics, we’re astounded by how they’re able to trim out the fat even more from its body. For a phone with a ginormous 5.7-inch display, the Note5 bears a smaller footprint than its predecessor (6.03 x 3.00 x 0.30 inches versus 6.04 x 3.09 x 0.33 inches) – while also weighing less as well (171 g versus 176 g). All of this points to obvious improvements in making the handset slimmer, lighter, and somewhat easier to handle. Sure, two-handed operation is still preferred, but the curved edges around its rear help to give it a more ergonomic feel.
Although the design isn’t necessary original per se, it’s something that meshes well in giving the phone its premium qualities. The overall package is undeniably beautiful.
The Note series has always been known to be the Swiss Army knife of smartphones. That claim is still reasonable because it’s fashioned with several amenities you don’t get with most phones. In particular, it features rapid charging via its microUSB 2.0 port, built-in wireless charging, heart rate sensor, and a finger-print sensor.
The latter is worth noting because it employs the same, hassle-free operation brought on by the S6 – one that only requires us to gently rest our finger over the sensor, as opposed to the swipe down method offered by the Note 4. Without question, it’s significantly easier to operate than before, and in our experience, it seems faster too with its recognition than the S6. In addition, it’s going to come in handy when Samsung Pay officially launches.
At the same time, there’s a drastic change to the Note5’s arsenal – one that’s generating a lot of concern for some folks who are used to seeing it on previous iterations. Gone are classic staples in the series such as a removable battery, microSD card slot for storage expansion, and an IR blaster. We’re told from the Samsung folks that the latter has been omitted because they found out that customers rarely use it. To an extent, we can agree with that argument, but the other two items are just tough to overlook. Whatever the reasoning behind it, the Note5 forgoes having them in favor of a design that’s more premium, slimmer, and lighter. That’s the obvious tradeoff!
S Pen
Fortunately, the S-Pen continues to be one of the Note5’s integral features, so its availability continues to make it unique in the space. With this year’s offering, Sammy changes things up a bit in the way the S Pen is accessed. It’s still tucked away in the lower right corner of the phone, but it employs an auto-eject mechanism – one that’s spring assisted to give it a clicky pen-like feel. For us, this new way of accessing the S Pen feels unnatural, and the process adds just an extra step over last year’s implementation. And why’s that? It’s because we have to eject it with our finger, then proceed to pull it out – whereas before, it was a single step process.
We also feel that its placement would’ve been better suited in the upper right corner, since the ejection process would feel a bit more natural there. Whatever the case, it just means that we’ll need to adjust to this new particular method, which should feel a bit more natural over time. Technically speaking, this S Pen is slightly longer when its spring-assisted end is extended and it’s skinnier, but gone are the groove marks that gave the previous S Pen a grippy feel. It’s smooth all throughout the pen, which thankfully enough, doesn’t hinder its operation.
Just like before, too, the tip is sensitive to recognize varying degrees of applied pressure. Therefore, it’s able to distinguish light presses from firm ones – it’s a useful thing that truly gives this particular stylus an accurate feel. While it can be used for jotting things down quickly and drawing something, it also acts as a useful navigational tool by hovering it over the display. No one does the stylus like Samsung, that’s just the undeniable reality! We’ll talk more about its new features later on.
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