What is supposedly the world’s last “HD DVD” release is now available exclusively at DVAspecial. The title in question is P2, a 2007 horror film which performed poorly at the box office, the title is available for $26.99.
Interestingly, Brad Kugler the CEO of DVA claims to have inked a deal with an unknown studio for more HD DVD releases. It remains unclear if Mr. Kugler is referring to new titles or those previously released.
The 1986 World Cup winner announced he will be head coach on November 19 when his countrymen visit Hampden Park, where he scored his first international goal.
Maradona will travel to England next week to meet two Argies challenging for the Premier League title - Manchester United striker Carlos Tevez and Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano.
And on tuesday the Argentinian FA will rubber-stamp their choice of a controversial but all-time great player for their top job.
Maradona, 48 today, said: "I really never expected this, although I always dreamed of having the chance.
"I will travel to England on Saturday to see Tevez and Mascherano.
"And in Scotland I will make my debut.
"We're going to play the game against Scotland with the best team we've got."
Lionel Messi, 21, will be one of the few stars to miss that match as Argentina have agreed with Barcelona that the whizkid will not play every friendly.
Sergio Batista, who guided the Argentina Under-20s to Olympic glory, is tipped to be Maradona's sidekick.
And he is likely to have a technical director in Carlos Bilardo, the boss of Argentina's 1986 and 1990 World Cup teams.
Maradona's coaching experience is limited to two months with Deportivo Mandiyu in 1994 and four months at Racing Club the following year.
But Argie football chiefs hope his iconic status with both players and fans will transform a national team who have won just one of their seven World Cup qualifiers.
Audi is bringing the whole four-door coupe thing to the premium C-segment market with the Audi A5 Sportback. From the official preview sketches released above, the Audi A5 Sportback is essentially a four-door version of the Audi A5, which technically should be the Audi A4, but these days nearly everyone knows you can apparently create totally new cars just by reshaping the roofline, heh. The other A5 variant to be released in the near future is a cabriolet, which should be largely based on the 2-door coupe’s design but with the roof chopped off.
source: paultan.org
Left: Artist’s rendering, Top-right: Mag-X thumbnails
We finally have some pretty solid but unofficial details on the upcoming compact 3-row MPV that Toyota and Daihatsu have been working on, scheduled to be launched next year. This is also the same vehicle that will be the base of the new Perodua MPV to be launched in Q3 of 2009, just in time for Hari Raya.
The Toyota version has a front end and headlamps that are very similiar to the current generation Toyota Vios. In classic Toyota style in knowing exactly how some Japanese love individuality and customization, the Japanese version will also get an alternate front end that is more sporty and aggressive. The Perodua version will naturally have its own front end, with a new grille, bumper and headlamps.
Toyota also has an existing compact 3-row MPV called the Toyota Sienta so it would be fair to compare this new MPV to the Sienta, and also the Passo/Boon/Myvi. And why not throw in the new Honda Freed into the mix. Let’s have a look:
| Dimensions | New MPV | Sienta | Wish | Freed | Myvi F/L |
| Length | 4180mm | 4100mm | 4650mm | 4215mm | 3750mm |
| Width | 1695mm | 1695mm | 1745mm | 1695mm | 1665mm |
| Height | 1620mm | 1670mm | 1600mm | 1715mm | 1550mm |
| Wheelbase | 2750mm | 2700mm | 2750mm | 2740mm | 2440mm |
From the table above we can see that the new MPV is wider as well as longer in both length and wheelbase compared to the Sienta and the Myvi. A 2750mm wheelbase is impressive - that’s as long as the Subaru Exiga, which is quite a big vehicle!
It’s also quite obvious from even photos that the new Perodua MPV will be between the Sienta and the Myvi in terms of height as the Sienta is quite tall, but this new MPV loses some of that height for a sleeker profile that is generally more acceptable outside of Japan. After all, Indonesia is expected to be a production center for the car in ASEAN.
Something also very interesting is the fact that it is equal to the Wish in terms of wheelbase but significantly shorter and also narrower. Another key difference between this new MPV and the Toyota Sienta is the fact that the Sienta has sliding doors for the rear doors while this car uses conventional swing doors.
The primary engine for the Japanese market will be the 1.5 liter 3SZ-VE producing 109 PS at 6,000rpm and 141Nm of torque, but a 1.3 liter version could be available for the ASEAN market since the Avanza 1.3 was accepted quite well here.
The Japanese market interior will feature a dashboard with a centrally-mounted speedo and also a dash-mounted shifter (CVT for FWD, 4-speed auto for 4WD). ASEAN versions could see this shift lever moved to the area between the seats instead as we’ve seen this happen before with the Myvi (Passo) and the Nautica (Terios).
The second and third row can be folded down for a flat loading area. The loading area is 1330mm wide at the rear-most area but when you fold down the rear seats, this width reduces to 1045mm because of the rear wheel arches protruding into the cabin. The loading area height is 858mm.
So, there you have it. There’s no telling at the moment which market will get the new Toyota compact MPV first, but it’s either between one of the ASEAN countries (Indonesia in particular), or Japan. One possible unveiling schedule could see a more “sophisticated” (dash-mounted shifter, option for DVD player, etc) Japan version unveiled first, then a low cost ASEAN version, and finally the Perodua version in Q3 2009.
Look after the jump for one more side profile shot of the new Toyota/Daihatsu/Perodua 3-row compact MPV.
source: paultan.org
The Proton MPV has been spotted yet again - this time not just one but two of them traveling at the same time on the PLUS Highway.
The wait is over, Gears of War 2 has arrived. Ever since the original was released, fans have clamored for this sequel. Developed exclusively for the Xbox 360 by Epic Games, Gears of War 2, which has already garnered several awards, picks up six months after the events of the blockbuster original Gears of War. Players are thrown back into the role of Marcus Fenix, leading the battle for humankind's survival against the Locust Horde. With innovative third-person tactical action gameplay and unsurpassed high-definition graphics, Gears of War 2 is a must-have game for the Xbox 360. 
The high price of a high powered version of what is still essentially a Japanese C-segment sedan may be a deterrent to those who are considering the Lancer Evolution X and find that its price comes too close to cars like the BMW 325i Sports especially in Malaysia. The BMW, while alot less powerful, still offers an interior that is so much more premium and ultimately to alot of people the nicer car to be in when you aren’t pushing it. It seems that the Evo’s interior isn’t much different from the Lancer’s - plasticky!
Mitsubishi attempts to solve this in Japan at least with the GSR Premium Edition, which slots in at the top of the line above the standard GSR and the stripped out RS. The Premium Edition adds 18 inch BBS alloy wheels, fog lamps, leather Recaro buckets, side and curtain airbags, and a Rockford Fostage 9-speaker premium audio system. It’s the seats that give the interior ambiance a whole different feel - the design and the leather gives it a much more premium feel compared to the standard GSR and the even emptier RS which comes with fabric non-bucket seats.
Look after the jump for a few more shots of the Evo X GSR Premium.
source: paultan.org
The same group of lightly taped up Satria Neos and a heavily camouflaged Proton MPV were spotted on the MRR2 near Batu Caves heading towards Kuala Selangor by Andrew Wong, who quickly whipped out his camera phone to record a video of the MPV passing by his car. The frames captured from the video manages to reveal in low resolution detail how the front end of the MPV looks like, and we get to see bits of the headlamps sticking out of the camouflage too.
According to Andrew, the way the Proton MPV was going through the traffic was pretty swift, which hopefully indicates it has a decent power to weight ratio. However the video shows that the MPV didn’t have many people loaded - the second row seemed empty and there was no one in the front passenger seat either.
source: paultan.org
The little Alfa Romeo 147 was one of the most fun cars I’ve test driven. There was just something about the way Alfa Romeo made its inline-4 engine sound so good, the way the Selespeed automated manual transmission managed the throttle blipping on downshifts and how it slammed the clutch when you want the quickest upshifts possible. But it is getting a little long in the tooth now, being first introduced in the year 2000 and facelifted in late 2004 for a sleeker look.
The first images of the 147’s successor has made its way onto the internet. This Italian baby is based on the same chassis as the new Fiat Bravo and Lancia Delta. The Alfa Romeo 149 features a nice blend of curves and aggressiveness, with a front end that reminds you of the MiTo and a lovely rear end that features an integrated diffuser design. The images above show conventional door handles for the rear doors, so it means the 149 loses the 147’s “hidden” handles.
You can expect the 149 to most likely share the Bravo and Delta’s engine options, which means a range that includes a few Fiat diesels ranging from 105 PS to 190 PS (twin-turbo Multijet) and the 1.4 liter T-JET turbocharged small engine producing up to 150 PS and 230Nm of torque. It will be curious to see if there will still be a GTA version and if yes, what it will be powered by.
source : paultan.org
September marked the Xbox 360's best month of 2008, in terms of sales in the U.S — its performance in Japan hasn't been too bad either. Following a price cut that made the 360 the least expensive current generation console on the market, the company moved 347,200 units to American consumers. While it wasn't enough to supplant the Wii as the best selling console in the country, it was enough to beat the competition from Sony.
We spoke to Aaron Greenberg, group product manager for Xbox 360, just after NPD sales numbers hit to get his take. Unsurprisingly, he seemed rather pleased with the company's recent hardware successes.
"We expect to continue our price advantage over the PlayStation 3 for a long time," Greenberg told us, pointing to the $199 price tag of the company's entry level Arcade console, assuming that Sony would issue no pre-holiday price drops. "And we feel confident that we'll outsell the PS3 this holiday season in North America and in Europe. We'll do it on a global scale."
As for what those consumers are picking up, Greenberg said "We've seen lifts across all consoles, but the Arcade is doing exceptionally well."
Microsoft touted a 42% increase, month to month, on NPD hardware sales data. Greenberg made sure to point out that the August survey period consisted of a four week month, with the September period five weeks long. That, Greenberg said, illustrated "flat growth" of the PlayStation 3.
Fanning the flames of the console war of words, Greenberg harped on the Xbox 360's abnormally high attach rate, which at 8.1 games per console, outpaces the PS3 by 2:1 and the Wii by 3:1. "And that doesn't include [Xbox Live Arcade] games," he boasted.
Okay, we get it. You're swimming in cash and exclusive and high attach rates. Good job. Is Xbox Live going to work this holiday season? Because it didn't last year. How prepared are you, Microsoft man? How will Live hold up?
"Hopefully, very well," Greenberg said "We've grown our team and our infrastructure over the past year." With the New Xbox Experience, Gears of War 2 and even more Live ready titles putting a strain on the service this holiday, we'll see, Aaron. We'll see.
Mac Book Pro
Since the death of the HD DVD format and the fact that Blu-ray was the victorious winner, there have been a huge amount of rumors that the Xbox 360 is to get a Blu-ray player. The answer back then from Microsoft was that there was no truth in those rumors.
The rumors have surfaced yet again, and still the answer from Microsoft remains the same. Microsoft’s Aaron Greenberg decided to hit back at all the rumors and still insists no, Blu-ray will not be coming to the Xbox 360.
Greenberg did have a dig at Sony, saying that they do not expect people to pay for something that they do not need. Microsoft are still standing firm and say that their future is with providing online digital distribution.
he new Prada phone by LG is the highly anticipated successor to the original Prada phone, which first brought Prada together with LG, one of the most advanced technology companies in the world.
The Prada phone made history as the first full touch-screen phone to reach the market. With all the characteristics of the most digitally enhanced phones it was also a powerful aesthetic pioneer and quickly established its hold on the industry with over 1 million design-conscious users demanding handsets.
Its elegant good looks combined with a digitally sophisticated interface made it instantly appealing. The culmination of Prada research and development in the complete interior as well as exterior design and functionality of the phone and accessories was key to this success.
The unique QWERTY keyboard available only with the new telephone is designed for maximum ease of use. The metallic feel makes it a pleasure to touch and type, complimenting the slick design aesthetic. The silver keyboard along with the additional on-screen, call and hang-up buttons gives fresh tactility to the original minimal concept.
Other enhanced features include 3G compatibility with video calling, 7.2Mbps HSDPA, full HTML browser, the 5 mega pixel camera with Schneider-Kreuznach certified lens, and Wi-Fi accessibility.
The new updated Perodua Myvi SE has been launched in the Malaysian market today, so let’s have a look through what’s new with this Special Edition model compared to the recently unveiled Perodua Myvi facelift.
The Perodua Myvi SE is essentially an easy way to accessorize your Perodua Myvi with all the costs of making it look different from the run of the mill Myvi factored into the hire purchase loan for you and installed straight from the factory.
What you get is a new bodykit featuring a different front bumper and a different rear bumper, a spoiler, and different 14″ alloy wheels. The new rear bumper features a diffuser-like design which looks so much better than the pre-facelift Myvi SE’s rear bumper. The taillamps are also now of a clear design and keep the LED lighting units inside while the headlamps are of a blacked out design.
On the interior you get leather upholstery on the seats as well as the steering wheel. The head unit is no longer integrated but of a 2-DIN type and comes standard with CD, MP3 and WMA capability. It can also load your music files from a USB drive, and it has Bluetooth capabilities. The instrument panel follows the facelifted Myvi’s three-gauge design but instead of being blue and white, it lights up in amber.
Interestingly the cute yellow Myvi that we saw in the spyshots is missing from the line-up of both the standard facelifted Myvi and this new Myvi SE. You do get one new colour - Tangerine Orange. Other colour options for the SE include Ivory White, Ebony Black, Glittering Siver or Pearl White. Pearl White is designated a “special metallic” colour that costs more than your normal metallic.
Basically that’s it - the enhancements are all aesthetics. The engine is still the same 1.3 liter unit producing 86 horsepower at 6,000rpm and 116Nm of torque at 3,200rpm, and the brakes are still discs at the front and drums at the rear.
NEW YORK - Research in Motion Ltd., maker of the BlackBerry, is taking on Apple Inc. with a touch-screen phone that puts a new twist on the technology.
RIM is known for its e-mail-oriented phones with large keypads. With the new model announced Wednesday, the Storm, RIM is for the first time giving up the physical keypad in favor of a large screen, just like the one on Apple's iPhone.
Cool Stuff!!!!!
SunSport revealed how the Argy striker has been left scratching his head by the lack of movement over his transfer.
Red Devils boss Alex Ferguson hinted last month it could be the end of the season before anything is finalised.
That set alarm bells ringing in the Tevez camp as chief exec David Gill had vowed something would be sorted by the end of the year.
The former West Ham man saw United shell out £30.75million on Dimitar Berbatov last month and hand the Bulgarian the No9 shirt.
But United are still very confident of holding on to Tevez and have assured his agent Kia Joorabchian a deal will still happen.
A spokesman said: “David Gill said in July we hoped to conclude a deal with Carlos before the New Year.
“That’s still our aim. The clocks haven’t even gone back yet.
Both the club and Carlos are relaxed about the situation.”
Poland's Kubica is currently third in the world championship standings behind Lewis Hamilton and Felipe Massa heading into the Japan Grand Prix, while Germany's Heidfeld is fifth.
Austria's Christian Klien will remain the team's test and reserve driver.
"We see Nick and Robert as a strong driver pairing and Christian as an experienced test driver," BMW Motorsport director Mario Theissen said in a statement.
"We are in no doubt that we will again achieve our ambitious aims with them in the team's fourth year."
The announcement ends speculation over Heidfeld's future and also slams the door on Renault's Fernando Alonso, winner of the Singapore Grand Prix, who had been linked with a move to BMW
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