Honda Civic

January 20th, 2012 by sie7 | No Comments | Filed in Auto

The compact’s popularity stems from its reputation for exceptional fit and finish, reliability and efficiency, which is why Honda sold 260,218 of them in 2010 alone.

Here’s an interesting bit of trivia: If the Honda Civic were a stand-alone brand, it would be the 12th-largest automaker in the United States, ahead of full-line manufacturers such as Volkswagen, Chrysler and Mazda, and ahead of all luxury brands. That’s quite a feat.

Messing with such a successful formula is risky. So it’s not surprising that the “all new” 2012 Civic looks as if it is little more than a subtle update of its predecessor. However, the changes Honda has made are so smartly and elegantly done that the result is better in every way than the outgoing model.

Ford Edge

January 19th, 2012 by sie7 | No Comments | Filed in Auto

The 2011 Ford Edge is updated with a larger grille and a new front fascia to keep it fresh. The new 285-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 engine combined with a 6-speed automatic delivers plenty of power, but I recommend going with the all-wheel-drive option, and not the standard front-wheel drive.

Ford has updated the Edge for 2011, in both looks and features, and it has done a nice job. Styling-wise, the Edge gets a bolder grille with revised headlights, giving the crossover a sportier look. Inside, the 2011 Edge is equipped with an updated instrument panel and a new steering wheel, as well as Ford’s new MyFord Touch entertainment system.

The product of so many compromises, I’m always pleasantly surprised that the Edge manages to satisfy me. I’d choose the Edge over almost any other SUV. And the brilliant Ford SYNC entertainment system is just icing on the cake.

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Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc S

January 19th, 2012 by sie7 | No Comments | Filed in Gadget

Still featuring the same iconic curved body, the Xperia Arc S has a beefier 1.4Ghz processor inside, making it 25 per cent faster than the original Arc.

The new processor means the camera will start up 25 per cent quicker than before, making it easier than ever to simply press the dedicated shutter button, snap an image then throw it onto a social network of your choice. Thanks to the increased grunt the Arc S will also be able to carry out conversion, meaning you can share your videos and pictures in the format that you prefer. Sony Ericsson have also made web browsing better, increasing page rendering speeds by 25 per cent as well.

Finally the Arc S will also feature Sony’s 2D and 3D Sweep Panorama function which have been seen cropping up on some of Sony’s latest cameras. This function will also be heading to other Xperia phones later in the year.

Reader WiFi
Next up is the Reader Wifi, the lightest 6″ eReader available, with an EInk touchscreen display, the Reader Wifi is also one of the first eReaders using an EInk screen to also feature multi-touch, allowing you to pinch-to-zoom and swipe from page to page.

Alongside the release of the Reader Wifi will be the Reader Store, Sony’s own online book store which will launch featuring over 100,000 titles to download. Combine that with the month-long battery life which Sony claims will be on offer with the Reader Wifi and you’ve got a pretty neat package.

Cameras
First up is the Sony Alpha 77 which will essentially be Sony’s new flagship Digital SLR. Featuring the new translucent mirror technology the a77 offers the fastest 12fps continuous shooting mode available on any camera in the world. Add to this the astonishing 24MP sensor and class-leading levels of customisation and you’ve got one of the most comprehensive SLRs on the market.

Last but not least is the Sony NEX-7 which will surely blow away the competition with the sheer number of cusomisations that can be carried out. Offering a more styled form factor the NEX-7 focuses on lenses and travel-friendly portability while still being able to include a 24MP sensor and an unrivalled range of lenses to take with you. Both the NEX-7 and the a77 will be available from October 2011.

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