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Cruise, the self-driving car start-up, majority owned by General Motors, has unveiled its first vehicle designed to be driverless.

The electric-powered Cruise Origin was developed by Honda, which also has a stake in the company.

The launch of the vehicle, which has no steering wheel or pedals, had been delayed from last year.

Cruise said it was designed for shared ownership: "It's not a product you buy, it's an experience you share."

Chief executive Dan Ammann wants drivers to move away from individual ownership to a sharing model, to help reduce emissions, accidents and congestion.
Speaking at the launch in San Francisco, he said the Cruise Origin was not a concept vehicle: "It is self-driven. It is all electric. It is shared."

Fatal Tesla crash sparks investigation
Russian car with no driver at wheel tours Vegas
Concept cars of the future shown off in Vegas
He did not say when the vehicle would go into production nor how many the company planned to build. It has not been approved to drive on roads, and it will require extensive testing before this is granted.

"Our work is far from done," Mr Ammann said on Tuesday.

Image copyrightREUTERS
Image caption
The vehicle has no steering wheel or pedals
This is not Cruise's first foray into driverless cars. For years it has been testing modified Chevrolet Bolt electric cars with test drivers at the wheel.


General Motors had aimed to launch a commercial, self-driving vehicle service in San Francisco last year but delayed the plan saying the vehicles needed more testing.

The Cruise Origin faced unexpected technical challenges due to difficulties in identifying whether objects were in motion.


Image Copyright @Cruise@CRUISE
Report
Honda took a 5.7% stake in Cruise for $2.75 billion (£2.1bn) in 2018. As part of that deal General Motors announced plans to develop a self-driving vehicle in October 2018. Japan's SoftBank's Vision Fund has also invested in the company.

By removing the steering wheel, the rearview mirror, the pedals, and more, we’re left with something simple: space. pic.twitter.com/K3tS0QxuSC

— Cruise (@Cruise) January 22, 2020

Other car makers are in a race to launch self-driving cars using the latest artificial intelligence (AI) technologies although they are being held back by safety concerns and regulations. A number of fatalities involving autonomous vehicles have led to greater government intervention and calls for more development.

German car maker Volkswagen has been struggling with the development of self-driving cars and has complained about the ''huge complexities that we are facing".

Cruise, the self-driving car start-up, majority owned by General Motors, has unveiled its first vehicle designed to be driverless.

The electric-powered Cruise Origin was developed by Honda, which also has a stake in the company.

The launch of the vehicle, which has no steering wheel or pedals, had been delayed from last year.

Cruise said it was designed for shared ownership: "It's not a product you buy, it's an experience you share."

Chief executive Dan Ammann wants drivers to move away from individual ownership to a sharing model, to help reduce emissions, accidents and congestion.
Speaking at the launch in San Francisco, he said the Cruise Origin was not a concept vehicle: "It is self-driven. It is all electric. It is shared."

Fatal Tesla crash sparks investigation
Russian car with no driver at wheel tours Vegas
Concept cars of the future shown off in Vegas
He did not say when the vehicle would go into production nor how many the company planned to build. It has not been approved to drive on roads, and it will require extensive testing before this is granted.

"Our work is far from done," Mr Ammann said on Tuesday.

Image copyrightREUTERS
Image caption
The vehicle has no steering wheel or pedals
This is not Cruise's first foray into driverless cars. For years it has been testing modified Chevrolet Bolt electric cars with test drivers at the wheel.


General Motors had aimed to launch a commercial, self-driving vehicle service in San Francisco last year but delayed the plan saying the vehicles needed more testing.

The Cruise Origin faced unexpected technical challenges due to difficulties in identifying whether objects were in motion.


Image Copyright @Cruise@CRUISE
Report
Honda took a 5.7% stake in Cruise for $2.75 billion (£2.1bn) in 2018. As part of that deal General Motors announced plans to develop a self-driving vehicle in October 2018. Japan's SoftBank's Vision Fund has also invested in the company.

By removing the steering wheel, the rearview mirror, the pedals, and more, we’re left with something simple: space. pic.twitter.com/K3tS0QxuSC

— Cruise (@Cruise) January 22, 2020

Other car makers are in a race to launch self-driving cars using the latest artificial intelligence (AI) technologies although they are being held back by safety concerns and regulations. A number of fatalities involving autonomous vehicles have led to greater government intervention and calls for more development.

German car maker Volkswagen has been struggling with the development of self-driving cars and has complained about the ''huge complexities that we are facing".

- Jerry Isaac Mallo, a 25-year-old fabricator, breaks record as he made Nigeria's first carbon fibre sports car named Bennie Purrie

- Unlike cars made from aluminium and galvanized sheet, the fibre material of the sport car breaks like bottles, thereby does not cave in during accidents

- With four radiators, the car's cooling system is top notch, providing needed comfort no matter the temperature Nigerians are always pushing the boundary for great success.



The story of 25-year-old fabricator, Jerry Isaac Mallo, is a thing of wonder. The CEO of Bennie Technologies LTD, the young Nigerian made a huge statement in the automobile industry on Thursday, November 28, as he unveiled his sports car named Bennie Purrie.

During the launch at the Transcorp Hilton in Abuja, the 25-year-old said that the sport car is just one of the many marvelous products he will be putting out, Channels TV reports.

Yesterday, we unveiled Bennie Purrie. This is just the beginning.#madeInNigeria#NigerianYouth#BennieAutomobile#madeInJos pic.twitter.com/YN154UPu3f

— Jerry Mallo (@jerry_mallo) November 29, 2019

In an interview on Friday, November 29, with he TV station, he said that his inspiration to create sport cars was borne out of the fact Nigeria and Africa are big markets for luxury vehicles.

 “In Europe, we learnt that making the car is just half of the challenge, and selling it is the other half; Africa is usually is the target place to sell these vehicles, so I feel there’s a big market for it here,” he said.

Though the whole materials he used were sourced from the continent, he lamented that sports cars are rarely made in Africa. He also said that having a lot of hand-skilled individuals in Nigeria without help challenged him to create a platform for them to show what they could do.
Mallo, however, said that the present government of Plateau state under the ruling of Simon Lalong has been supportive, adding that he was the chief guest at the launching of the sports car.

Plateau ingenuity and innovation on the rise as Governor Lalong's support for young entrepreneurs yield more results. Gov. Lalong unveiled the BENNIE PURRIE, a sports car manufactured by Jerry Mallo of Bennie Agro & Automobile Technology Ltd. pic.twitter.com/bLv7VB3IiV

— Government of Plateau State (@PlStateGovt) November 28, 2019

What makes his innovation, Bennie Purrie, special, according to the fabricator, is that it is from fibres that break like bottles on impact.
That is unlike aluminum or galvanized sheet where people are mashed in during accidents. With four radiators, the car’s cooling system gives comfort regardless of whatever temperature.

Oboi back in Secondary This guy, Jerry Mallo of @bennieagro was telling us he was going to start building his own sports cars by 2025. As at last year this guy has built so many tractors and all. Then Oga vexed and did 2025 it in 2019!!! Man congrats!! #madeinjos #jostothewold pic.twitter.com/Wh7R6JDGP8

— N.I. (@NiftyNI22) November 29, 2019

- Jerry Isaac Mallo, a 25-year-old fabricator, breaks record as he made Nigeria's first carbon fibre sports car named Bennie Purrie

- Unlike cars made from aluminium and galvanized sheet, the fibre material of the sport car breaks like bottles, thereby does not cave in during accidents

- With four radiators, the car's cooling system is top notch, providing needed comfort no matter the temperature Nigerians are always pushing the boundary for great success.



The story of 25-year-old fabricator, Jerry Isaac Mallo, is a thing of wonder. The CEO of Bennie Technologies LTD, the young Nigerian made a huge statement in the automobile industry on Thursday, November 28, as he unveiled his sports car named Bennie Purrie.

During the launch at the Transcorp Hilton in Abuja, the 25-year-old said that the sport car is just one of the many marvelous products he will be putting out, Channels TV reports.

Yesterday, we unveiled Bennie Purrie. This is just the beginning.#madeInNigeria#NigerianYouth#BennieAutomobile#madeInJos pic.twitter.com/YN154UPu3f

— Jerry Mallo (@jerry_mallo) November 29, 2019

In an interview on Friday, November 29, with he TV station, he said that his inspiration to create sport cars was borne out of the fact Nigeria and Africa are big markets for luxury vehicles.

 “In Europe, we learnt that making the car is just half of the challenge, and selling it is the other half; Africa is usually is the target place to sell these vehicles, so I feel there’s a big market for it here,” he said.

Though the whole materials he used were sourced from the continent, he lamented that sports cars are rarely made in Africa. He also said that having a lot of hand-skilled individuals in Nigeria without help challenged him to create a platform for them to show what they could do.
Mallo, however, said that the present government of Plateau state under the ruling of Simon Lalong has been supportive, adding that he was the chief guest at the launching of the sports car.

Plateau ingenuity and innovation on the rise as Governor Lalong's support for young entrepreneurs yield more results. Gov. Lalong unveiled the BENNIE PURRIE, a sports car manufactured by Jerry Mallo of Bennie Agro & Automobile Technology Ltd. pic.twitter.com/bLv7VB3IiV

— Government of Plateau State (@PlStateGovt) November 28, 2019

What makes his innovation, Bennie Purrie, special, according to the fabricator, is that it is from fibres that break like bottles on impact.
That is unlike aluminum or galvanized sheet where people are mashed in during accidents. With four radiators, the car’s cooling system gives comfort regardless of whatever temperature.

Oboi back in Secondary This guy, Jerry Mallo of @bennieagro was telling us he was going to start building his own sports cars by 2025. As at last year this guy has built so many tractors and all. Then Oga vexed and did 2025 it in 2019!!! Man congrats!! #madeinjos #jostothewold pic.twitter.com/Wh7R6JDGP8

— N.I. (@NiftyNI22) November 29, 2019

         The company has announced a range of measures to "regain the trust" of customers 

Apple has apologised after facing criticism for admitting it deliberately slows down some ageing iPhone models.
The company now says it will replace batteries for less and will issue software in 2018 so customers can monitor their phone's battery health.
Some customers had long suspected the company slowed older iPhones to encourage customers to upgrade.
Apple admitted slowing some phones with ageing batteries but said it was to "prolong the life" of the devices.
In a statement posted on its website, the firm said it would reduce the price of an out-of-warranty battery replacement from $79 to $29 in the US for anyone with an iPhone 6 or later. In the UK the prices will drop from £79 to £25.

    Is Apple getting sloppy?
    The biggest tech stories of 2017
    Apple's secret tax bolthole revealed


It said it was pushing ahead with measures to "address customers' concerns, to recognise their loyalty and to regain the trust of anyone who may have doubted Apple's intentions".
"At Apple, our customers' trust means everything to us. We will never stop working to earn and maintain it. We are able to do the work we love only because of your faith and support - and we will never forget that or take it for granted," it said.
The firm has had eight separate lawsuits in the US filed against it over the matter, and had also been facing additional legal action in Israel and France.
Apple acknowledged earlier this month that it does deliberately slow down some models of the iPhone as they age.

       Apple says it will issue a software update to give users more information about battery health 
It said it had made changes to the iOS operating system to manage ageing lithium-ion batteries in some devices, because the batteries' performance diminishes over time.
"Lithium-ion batteries become less capable of supplying peak current demands when in cold conditions, [when they] have a low battery charge or as they age over time, which can result in the device unexpectedly shutting down to protect its electronic components," the company said.
It also emerged on Thursday that the tech giant's chief executive Tim Cook had been ordered by the firm to only use private jets for both business and personal transport for security reasons.
In November, Apple was forced to release an update to fix a security issue with its Mac operating system that made it possible to gain entry to a device and administrative powers without a password.

         The company has announced a range of measures to "regain the trust" of customers 

Apple has apologised after facing criticism for admitting it deliberately slows down some ageing iPhone models.
The company now says it will replace batteries for less and will issue software in 2018 so customers can monitor their phone's battery health.
Some customers had long suspected the company slowed older iPhones to encourage customers to upgrade.
Apple admitted slowing some phones with ageing batteries but said it was to "prolong the life" of the devices.
In a statement posted on its website, the firm said it would reduce the price of an out-of-warranty battery replacement from $79 to $29 in the US for anyone with an iPhone 6 or later. In the UK the prices will drop from £79 to £25.

    Is Apple getting sloppy?
    The biggest tech stories of 2017
    Apple's secret tax bolthole revealed


It said it was pushing ahead with measures to "address customers' concerns, to recognise their loyalty and to regain the trust of anyone who may have doubted Apple's intentions".
"At Apple, our customers' trust means everything to us. We will never stop working to earn and maintain it. We are able to do the work we love only because of your faith and support - and we will never forget that or take it for granted," it said.
The firm has had eight separate lawsuits in the US filed against it over the matter, and had also been facing additional legal action in Israel and France.
Apple acknowledged earlier this month that it does deliberately slow down some models of the iPhone as they age.

       Apple says it will issue a software update to give users more information about battery health 
It said it had made changes to the iOS operating system to manage ageing lithium-ion batteries in some devices, because the batteries' performance diminishes over time.
"Lithium-ion batteries become less capable of supplying peak current demands when in cold conditions, [when they] have a low battery charge or as they age over time, which can result in the device unexpectedly shutting down to protect its electronic components," the company said.
It also emerged on Thursday that the tech giant's chief executive Tim Cook had been ordered by the firm to only use private jets for both business and personal transport for security reasons.
In November, Apple was forced to release an update to fix a security issue with its Mac operating system that made it possible to gain entry to a device and administrative powers without a password.

• Analyze your market. How many people in your area might use a pet sitting service, and how many pet sitters are already in business in your area?
• Define your company. What will you do, specifically? If you'll need to think about how and what you can actually do more. What are the key benefits of your company, and what needs will it satisfy?
• Build a better mousetrap. What will make your company better than the competition? On-call pet pickup? Individual service? A name within the community, maybe with animal charities or shelters that gives you some credentials? What makes your business special?
• Develop a marketing campaign. How will you get the word out, and entice people to call you? Marketing yourself effectively is key to making your business successful, if your a pet sitter or an accountant! Given two identical companies, one with average marketing, and one with excellent marketing, the one with excellent marketing will virtually always win.
• Don't forget sales! Marketing is what makes people aware of your company. Sales is what brings them in the door. Don't neglect that part.
• Define your workflow. How will you fill your day with pet sitting, and how will you handle the inevitable emergency job, or the 2-hour-late pickup? How will you hire? What is the threshold for new employees?
• Develop a backup plan to cover all sits should you have an emergency that prevents you from taking care of the animals.
• What do you need to get started? Leashes? Cages? A big yard? Lots of kibbles and bits? You may not need a lot of cash to get started, but you will need some to gather supplies and pay for sales and marketing efforts.
• Where will you get funding? This might be from your savings, or an interested friend. It could be from the local shelter, or from your Uncle Moneybags.
• Show them the numbers. Before you take any funding—even from yourself—know what you will do with it, and how much is enough.
• Put your best foot forward. Describe your qualifications, and include anything that might be relevant to people trusting you with their pets. You might be a dog whisperer, or voted person most likely to herd cats. Make that known!

• Analyze your market. How many people in your area might use a pet sitting service, and how many pet sitters are already in business in your area?
• Define your company. What will you do, specifically? If you'll need to think about how and what you can actually do more. What are the key benefits of your company, and what needs will it satisfy?
• Build a better mousetrap. What will make your company better than the competition? On-call pet pickup? Individual service? A name within the community, maybe with animal charities or shelters that gives you some credentials? What makes your business special?
• Develop a marketing campaign. How will you get the word out, and entice people to call you? Marketing yourself effectively is key to making your business successful, if your a pet sitter or an accountant! Given two identical companies, one with average marketing, and one with excellent marketing, the one with excellent marketing will virtually always win.
• Don't forget sales! Marketing is what makes people aware of your company. Sales is what brings them in the door. Don't neglect that part.
• Define your workflow. How will you fill your day with pet sitting, and how will you handle the inevitable emergency job, or the 2-hour-late pickup? How will you hire? What is the threshold for new employees?
• Develop a backup plan to cover all sits should you have an emergency that prevents you from taking care of the animals.
• What do you need to get started? Leashes? Cages? A big yard? Lots of kibbles and bits? You may not need a lot of cash to get started, but you will need some to gather supplies and pay for sales and marketing efforts.
• Where will you get funding? This might be from your savings, or an interested friend. It could be from the local shelter, or from your Uncle Moneybags.
• Show them the numbers. Before you take any funding—even from yourself—know what you will do with it, and how much is enough.
• Put your best foot forward. Describe your qualifications, and include anything that might be relevant to people trusting you with their pets. You might be a dog whisperer, or voted person most likely to herd cats. Make that known!

The first few months of any new year is an awkward time to buy a new TV. Most of the new models coming in 2017 have been announced at CES, but none of them will be available until the spring, and most of 2016’s top models are selling out fast. With that in mind, we’ve compiled a list of the best 2016 TVs still available, most of them at their lowest prices ever, with a promise to update this list once the new breed arrives in March and April.

The first few months of any new year is an awkward time to buy a new TV. Most of the new models coming in 2017 have been announced at CES, but none of them will be available until the spring, and most of 2016’s top models are selling out fast. With that in mind, we’ve compiled a list of the best 2016 TVs still available, most of them at their lowest prices ever, with a promise to update this list once the new breed arrives in March and April.

The latest technology inventions in 3d printing are rapidly changing how things are being made.

It's an emerging technology that is an alternative to the traditional tooling and machining processes used in manufacturing.

At the International Manufacturing Technology Show in Chicago, a little known Arizona-based car maker created a media sensation by manufacturing a car at the show.

It was a full scale, fully functional car that was 3d printed in 44 hours and assembled in 2 days. The video below shows the car being made.

The car is called a "Strati", Italian for layers, so named by it's automotive designer Michele Anoè because the entire structure of the car is made from layers of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (A.B.S.) with reinforced carbon fiber into a single unit.


The average car has more than 20,000 parts but this latest technology reduces the number of parts to 40 including all the mechanical components.

“The goal here is to get the number of parts down, and to drop the tooling costs to almost zero.” said John B. Rogers Jr., chief executive of Local Motors, a Princeton and Harvard-educated U.S. Marine.

“Cars are ridiculously complex,“ he added, referring to the thousands of bits and pieces that are sourced, assembled and connected to make a vehicle.

"It's potentially a huge deal," said Jay Baron, president of the Center for Automotive Research, noting that the material science and technology used by Local Motors is derived from their partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Manufacturing Demonstration Facility at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Oak Ridge,Tennessee.

This technology can use a variety of metal, plastic or composite materials to manufacture anything in intricate detail.

People tend to want what they want, when they want it, where they want it, and how they want it, which makes this technology disruptive in the same way digital technologies used by companies like Amazon and Apple disrupted newspaper, book and music publishers.

Imagine if you could customize and personalize your new car online and pick it up or have it delivered to you the next day at a fraction of the cost of buying one from a dealership?

What if you could make a fender for a Porsche, or a tail light for a Honda, for a fraction of the cost of buying from a parts supplier? How revolutionary would that be for the automotive industry?

It's already happening.

Jay Leno, the former Tonight Show Host and avid car enthusiast is famous for his collection of vintage automobiles.

Related: See: "Jay Leno Restores 100-Year-Old Electric Car"

One of the challenges with collecting antique cars is replacing parts. You can't buy them because they're obsolete and having a machinist tool the part doesn't always work and often requires costly modifications until the part fits.

So Leno uses 3d printing technology to make parts for his cars. "These incredible devices allow you to make the form you need to create almost any part", says Leno.

John B. Rogers Jr. believes that in the near future a car will be made in just 60 minutes.

The company is already organizing a worldwide network of "Microfactories" where you can order and pickup your personalized, customized car.

Watch the video by click here >>> 3D Printed Car

The latest technology inventions in 3d printing are rapidly changing how things are being made.

It's an emerging technology that is an alternative to the traditional tooling and machining processes used in manufacturing.

At the International Manufacturing Technology Show in Chicago, a little known Arizona-based car maker created a media sensation by manufacturing a car at the show.

It was a full scale, fully functional car that was 3d printed in 44 hours and assembled in 2 days. The video below shows the car being made.

The car is called a "Strati", Italian for layers, so named by it's automotive designer Michele Anoè because the entire structure of the car is made from layers of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (A.B.S.) with reinforced carbon fiber into a single unit.


The average car has more than 20,000 parts but this latest technology reduces the number of parts to 40 including all the mechanical components.

“The goal here is to get the number of parts down, and to drop the tooling costs to almost zero.” said John B. Rogers Jr., chief executive of Local Motors, a Princeton and Harvard-educated U.S. Marine.

“Cars are ridiculously complex,“ he added, referring to the thousands of bits and pieces that are sourced, assembled and connected to make a vehicle.

"It's potentially a huge deal," said Jay Baron, president of the Center for Automotive Research, noting that the material science and technology used by Local Motors is derived from their partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Manufacturing Demonstration Facility at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Oak Ridge,Tennessee.

This technology can use a variety of metal, plastic or composite materials to manufacture anything in intricate detail.

People tend to want what they want, when they want it, where they want it, and how they want it, which makes this technology disruptive in the same way digital technologies used by companies like Amazon and Apple disrupted newspaper, book and music publishers.

Imagine if you could customize and personalize your new car online and pick it up or have it delivered to you the next day at a fraction of the cost of buying one from a dealership?

What if you could make a fender for a Porsche, or a tail light for a Honda, for a fraction of the cost of buying from a parts supplier? How revolutionary would that be for the automotive industry?

It's already happening.

Jay Leno, the former Tonight Show Host and avid car enthusiast is famous for his collection of vintage automobiles.

Related: See: "Jay Leno Restores 100-Year-Old Electric Car"

One of the challenges with collecting antique cars is replacing parts. You can't buy them because they're obsolete and having a machinist tool the part doesn't always work and often requires costly modifications until the part fits.

So Leno uses 3d printing technology to make parts for his cars. "These incredible devices allow you to make the form you need to create almost any part", says Leno.

John B. Rogers Jr. believes that in the near future a car will be made in just 60 minutes.

The company is already organizing a worldwide network of "Microfactories" where you can order and pickup your personalized, customized car.

Watch the video by click here >>> 3D Printed Car

A new prototype house walked around the campus of the Wysing Arts Centre in Cambridgeshire, England.

The eco-friendly house is powered by solar cells and minature windmills, and comes with a kitchen, a composting toilet, a system for collecting rain water, one bed, a wood stove for CO2 neutral heating, a rear opening that forms a stairway entrance, and six legs.

image of a waling house A collaborative effort between MIT and the Danish design collective N55, the house walks about five kilometers an hour similar to the walking speed of a human.
The legs reguire a software algorithm to calculate the movement and position of the legs to provide stability over varying terrain.

The house can turn, move forward or backwards, or change height as required and can be programmed with GPS waypoints for traveling to destinations.

A new prototype house walked around the campus of the Wysing Arts Centre in Cambridgeshire, England.

The eco-friendly house is powered by solar cells and minature windmills, and comes with a kitchen, a composting toilet, a system for collecting rain water, one bed, a wood stove for CO2 neutral heating, a rear opening that forms a stairway entrance, and six legs.

image of a waling house A collaborative effort between MIT and the Danish design collective N55, the house walks about five kilometers an hour similar to the walking speed of a human.
The legs reguire a software algorithm to calculate the movement and position of the legs to provide stability over varying terrain.

The house can turn, move forward or backwards, or change height as required and can be programmed with GPS waypoints for traveling to destinations.

Amazon Echo Dot
This is the point in the holiday shopping season when you start to feel the real drain of your bank account.

But with gifts still to buy, you don't have to shell out big bucks on something memorable.

In fact, some of the hottest products of the year clock in well under $100, from gaming consoles and VR headsets to drones. Some even double as stocking stuffers -- we're looking at you, chewable coffee.

No matter who you're shopping for, here are some of the most worthy (and affordable) buys:

Millennium Falcon drone

It's hard not to geek out over Air Hogs' Ultimate Millennium Falcon drone ($78). It's designed to look like the famous Star Wars' ship and features LED lights and fun whooshing sounds. Its four rotors for flying are hidden inside the Falcon and the remote control works up to 200 feet.

For non-Star Wars fans, the Syma X5C Explorers quadcopter ($60) is a solid option. It comes equipped with a camera, so you can take your own aerial shots.

 Zeiss ExoLens
The Zeiss ExoLens takes smartphone photos to a whole new level. A must-get for photography fans, tack the gadget onto an iPhone to take professional-grade shots.

Its zoom functionality will make it look like you're first row at every concert.

Prices range from $70 - $120, depending on your smartphone model. Stronger Zeiss lenses cost $199.
Wireless headphones
Wireless headphones are one of the most anticipated gifts of the season, thanks largely to Apple's big push into the space (RIP headphone jack). While you can easily shell out hundreds for a pair, you can get Skullcandy's Grind Wireless headphones for about $75 -- and it's one of the best low-budget options you can find.

VR headsets
If the holidays get a little too intense, you can always send your family members on a virtual trip through space. Of course, it's risky to invest in products you probably haven't tried before, and heavy-duty virtual reality headsets like the Facebook (FB, Tech30)-owned Oculus Rift can cost $600 or more. But the Google (GOOG) Daydream View ($79) and Samsung (SSNLF) Gear VR ($60) are solid entry points for those curious about dipping toes into virtual worlds.
However, these budget options require Android devices, which you insert into the bottom of the casing. Check what mobile phone the gift recipient uses to make sure headsets are compatible.

Amazon Echo Dot
This is the point in the holiday shopping season when you start to feel the real drain of your bank account.

But with gifts still to buy, you don't have to shell out big bucks on something memorable.

In fact, some of the hottest products of the year clock in well under $100, from gaming consoles and VR headsets to drones. Some even double as stocking stuffers -- we're looking at you, chewable coffee.

No matter who you're shopping for, here are some of the most worthy (and affordable) buys:

Millennium Falcon drone

It's hard not to geek out over Air Hogs' Ultimate Millennium Falcon drone ($78). It's designed to look like the famous Star Wars' ship and features LED lights and fun whooshing sounds. Its four rotors for flying are hidden inside the Falcon and the remote control works up to 200 feet.

For non-Star Wars fans, the Syma X5C Explorers quadcopter ($60) is a solid option. It comes equipped with a camera, so you can take your own aerial shots.

 Zeiss ExoLens
The Zeiss ExoLens takes smartphone photos to a whole new level. A must-get for photography fans, tack the gadget onto an iPhone to take professional-grade shots.

Its zoom functionality will make it look like you're first row at every concert.

Prices range from $70 - $120, depending on your smartphone model. Stronger Zeiss lenses cost $199.
Wireless headphones
Wireless headphones are one of the most anticipated gifts of the season, thanks largely to Apple's big push into the space (RIP headphone jack). While you can easily shell out hundreds for a pair, you can get Skullcandy's Grind Wireless headphones for about $75 -- and it's one of the best low-budget options you can find.

VR headsets
If the holidays get a little too intense, you can always send your family members on a virtual trip through space. Of course, it's risky to invest in products you probably haven't tried before, and heavy-duty virtual reality headsets like the Facebook (FB, Tech30)-owned Oculus Rift can cost $600 or more. But the Google (GOOG) Daydream View ($79) and Samsung (SSNLF) Gear VR ($60) are solid entry points for those curious about dipping toes into virtual worlds.
However, these budget options require Android devices, which you insert into the bottom of the casing. Check what mobile phone the gift recipient uses to make sure headsets are compatible.

Apple won't release a new iMac or external display until the first half 2017, according to a reliable analyst. Apple will use its October event for a new MacBook and MacBook Pro.

Apple will use next week's media event to release a new 13-inch MacBook, 13-inch MacBook Pro, and 15-inch MacBook Pro, according to Ming-Chi Kuo at KGI Securities.



Likely the headliner of the event, the 15-inch MacBook Pro will feature a Retina display, Touch ID, an OLED function row above the keyboard, and upgraded internals, according to rumors. It's not clear what upgrades the 13-inch version of the MacBook Pro will see.

Kuo added some predictions for the MacBook Pro lineup:

    (1) Intel's (US) Skylake processor; (2) the same panel resolution but better display quality and energy efficiency thanks to an oxide panel; (3) a new option of 2TB SSD storage capacity; (4) adoption of a similar processor as Apple Watch to control the OLED touch bar more energy-efficiently in the new MacBook Pro models; and (5) a Type-C & MagSafe-like adapter rolled out by Apple or a third-party supplier, given positive reviews for the MagSafe charging design.
The often-reliable Apple analyst said the 13-inch MacBook will be a successor to the 12-inch Retina MacBook released in 2015 and upgraded in April 2016.

Apple won't release a new iMac or external display until the first half 2017, according to a reliable analyst. Apple will use its October event for a new MacBook and MacBook Pro.

Apple will use next week's media event to release a new 13-inch MacBook, 13-inch MacBook Pro, and 15-inch MacBook Pro, according to Ming-Chi Kuo at KGI Securities.



Likely the headliner of the event, the 15-inch MacBook Pro will feature a Retina display, Touch ID, an OLED function row above the keyboard, and upgraded internals, according to rumors. It's not clear what upgrades the 13-inch version of the MacBook Pro will see.

Kuo added some predictions for the MacBook Pro lineup:

    (1) Intel's (US) Skylake processor; (2) the same panel resolution but better display quality and energy efficiency thanks to an oxide panel; (3) a new option of 2TB SSD storage capacity; (4) adoption of a similar processor as Apple Watch to control the OLED touch bar more energy-efficiently in the new MacBook Pro models; and (5) a Type-C & MagSafe-like adapter rolled out by Apple or a third-party supplier, given positive reviews for the MagSafe charging design.
The often-reliable Apple analyst said the 13-inch MacBook will be a successor to the 12-inch Retina MacBook released in 2015 and upgraded in April 2016.

Samsung is requesting all of its retail and carrier partners to stop selling and providing Galaxy Note 7 smartphones to their customers, the company stated today. It also urged customers to power their devices down and take advantage of any remedial processes available to them.

The state of the device’s reputation took a turn from really bad to worse last week as units meant to replace recalled ones over reports of their batteries exploding also had their batteries burst.

Here is the statement in full:

    We are working with relevant regulatory bodies to investigate the recently reported cases involving the Galaxy Note7. Because consumers’ safety remains our top priority, Samsung will ask all carrier and retail partners globally to stop sales and exchanges of the Galaxy Note7 while the investigation is taking place.

    We remain committed to working diligently with appropriate regulatory authorities to take all necessary steps to resolve the situation. Consumers with either an original Galaxy Note7 or replacement Galaxy Note7 device should power down and stop using the device and take advantage of the remedies available.

The company has not issued a voluntary recall of the phone. It was criticized by the Consumer Product Safety Commission for not cooperating with international governments to issue and handle a recall properly. All four major carriers in the US and now the fifth largest, US Cellular, are offering another phone in exchange for any Galaxy Note 7 unit. The CPSC said it is investigating the explosions of at least four Note 7 outbursts in the past week. The outcome of the investigations could lead to a second recall of the product.

Yesterday, an official at a parts factory doing business with Samsung said that the chaebol stopped production of the Note. Samsung today issued a statement saying it had adjusted the production schedule of the phone.

Source: Samsung, Android and Me
Via: Android Central

Samsung is requesting all of its retail and carrier partners to stop selling and providing Galaxy Note 7 smartphones to their customers, the company stated today. It also urged customers to power their devices down and take advantage of any remedial processes available to them.

The state of the device’s reputation took a turn from really bad to worse last week as units meant to replace recalled ones over reports of their batteries exploding also had their batteries burst.

Here is the statement in full:

    We are working with relevant regulatory bodies to investigate the recently reported cases involving the Galaxy Note7. Because consumers’ safety remains our top priority, Samsung will ask all carrier and retail partners globally to stop sales and exchanges of the Galaxy Note7 while the investigation is taking place.

    We remain committed to working diligently with appropriate regulatory authorities to take all necessary steps to resolve the situation. Consumers with either an original Galaxy Note7 or replacement Galaxy Note7 device should power down and stop using the device and take advantage of the remedies available.

The company has not issued a voluntary recall of the phone. It was criticized by the Consumer Product Safety Commission for not cooperating with international governments to issue and handle a recall properly. All four major carriers in the US and now the fifth largest, US Cellular, are offering another phone in exchange for any Galaxy Note 7 unit. The CPSC said it is investigating the explosions of at least four Note 7 outbursts in the past week. The outcome of the investigations could lead to a second recall of the product.

Yesterday, an official at a parts factory doing business with Samsung said that the chaebol stopped production of the Note. Samsung today issued a statement saying it had adjusted the production schedule of the phone.

Source: Samsung, Android and Me
Via: Android Central