Porsche Panamera:Used car buying guide

A used Panamera has the feel, engineering integrity and ability of an XXL 911 but for rather less outlay. We find tempting ones for about £30k.

Wired for sound: press the Sport button, blip the throttle and check...
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Uber halts California self-driving cars test

Ride-sharing firm Uber has suspended its test of self-driving cars in San Francisco after regulators revoked the registration of the vehicles.

Passengers had recently been given the option of a booking a self-driving vehicle.
But authorities had threatened legal action if Uber did not obtain a special permit to test the cars.
Uber argues that because they came with a safety driver and are not fully autonomous, the permit was not needed.
"We're now looking at where we can redeploy these cars, but remain 100% committed to California and will be redoubling our efforts to develop workable statewide rules," Uber said.
San Francisco is Uber's second trial city for the new technology. In Pittsburgh, the company has been running its driverless trial since September and has not required special permits.
Although the cars are promoted as "self-driving", they must constantly be monitored by an actual driver who can take control any time the software should fail.
Uber says its technology is not sophisticated enough to have cars continuously drive by themselves - and therefore the permit demanded in San Francisco is not needed.
But regulators say that 20 other companies testing self-driving technology in California - including Google, Tesla and Ford - do so with the special permit which requires the firms to report any accidents to the authorities. This potentially undermines the company's reputation, as the reports are available to the public.
Just before the city's Department of Motor Vehicles threatened Uber with legal action over the missing permit, a video of an Uber self-driving vehicle running a red light in San Francisco had been uploaded to YouTube.
The trials are designed for the firm to identify flaws and glitches in the technology behind the autonomous driving.

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Ride without a helmet? BMW reveals self-balancing bike NEVER fall off

The motorcycle of the future is so safe riders can cruise without a helmet and never fall off, giving all of the thrills with none of the danger, according to BMW.

The German automaker unveiled its Motorrad Vision Next 100, a sleek, self-balancing prototype the company released as part of its 100th anniversary celebrations.

The zero-emissions bike has self-balancing wheels designed to stand upright even at a complete stop, stability that the company says will allow riders to forgo riding a helmet.

The self-balancing BMW Motorrad Vision Next 100 concept motorcycle is unveiled on the last of four international stops of the 'Iconic Impulses' event, celebrating 100 years of BMW. The zero-emissions bike has self-balancing wheels designed to stand upright even at a complete stop, stability that the company says will allow riders to forgo riding a helmet

'Its self-balancing system will help protect the rider at any time,' said Edgar Heinrich, the design director of BMW's motorcycle division. 

'Any late reaction from the driver will trigger and the vehicle will balance out.'

'In the future, motorcycle riders will be able to enjoy riding without protective gear.'

According to BMW, the 'flexframe' extends from the front to the rear wheel of the BMW Motorrad Vision Next 100. 

This means the bike can be steered without the various joints found on today's motorcycles. 

Turning the handlebar adjusts the entire frame, changing the direction of the bike.

The bike also rights itself while even stationary, remaining upright when the rider has dismounted.

The balancing systems will ensure a particularly agile and dynamic riding experience with even lighter handling.

'Motorcycling is about escaping from the everyday: the moment you straddle your bike, you are absolutely free. Your bike is The Great Escape,' said Mr Heinrich.

A 'Digital Companion' provides the situational information and active support the rider needs, while remaining in the background. 

The system is constantly active, but remains silent until required to issue an alert via the user interface or provide active assistance.

The rider a can interact with the bike through a pair of data glasses, that cover the wearer's entire field of vision.

As well as providing wind protection, the glasses show relevant data in four designated display areas.

What they see is controlled by the rider's eye movements: looking up or down changes the content that appears, and looking straight ahead switches the information off completely, leaving the rider to focus on the biking.

Looking upwards activates the rear-view function in the visor, allowing the rider to see what is going on on the road behind. 

Lowering the eyes to normal levels opens a menu from which the rider can select an option by pointing a finger. Looking further down opens the map view showing the rider's chosen route. 

The world's top maker of luxury vehicles has also premiered this year a futuristic BMW sports car with a flexible body, as well as a self-driving

Rolls-Royce and an electric Mini model.

BMW is celebrating 100 years of the brand with these forward-looking concept vehicles.  

Company representatives said riding without a helmet remains a fantasy for now, though.

Many countries mandate the protective gear and self-balancing technology is still in the developmental stage - if the latest concept vehicle becomes a reality, it likely won't be before 2030.

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Track Your Vehicle Using Your Smartphone with a small device

With Over 1.5 Million Units Sold Worldwide, This is The Most Affordable Solution to Find Your Lost Items!

Have you ever lost your car on a parking lot? It happens. You park and go shopping. When you get back, you don't have a clue where your car is. Then you start roaming around clicking on the panic button on your car keys so the alarm goes off. It can be frustrating, especially on a hot, sunny day.

No, you don't need to install an expensive GPS system to keep track of your car. That's way too expensive. You would need to pay a monthly subscription fee just to use it. Don't we have enough bills to pay already?

But is there a way to track your vehicle without spending a fortune? Yes, now there is!

A California-based startup company was able to make this a reality. They created a tiny device that works with your smartphone, and it could be exactly what you're looking for!

What is it?

It's called TrackR. It is a state-of-the-art tracking device the size of a quarter. It's changing the way we keep track of the important things in our lives. 

How does it work?

It's easy! Install the free TrackR app on your smartphone, connect the app to your device and you're ready to go! Simply attach TrackR to whatever you want to keep tabs on. The entire process of setting it up only takes 5 minutes or less.

You can attach it to your keys, briefcase, wallet, your latest tech gadgets and anything else you don't want to lose. Then use the TrackR app to locate your missing item in seconds. 

Forget expensive GPS systems or tracking services. Nobody wants to pay expensive monthly subscription fees. We understand how stressful these things can be, and this is the reason why TrackR was created. This device is your VIP when you need to take care of more important things in life.

Remember the car scenario above? If you have the TrackR, you can just hide it under your car's floor mat, in the trunk or in the glove compartment. Somewhere it won't be found if your car gets stolen.

If you forget where you parked your car, whip out your smartphone and open the TrackR app. Tap on the "find device" button on the screen and the app will tell you the exact coordinates of the last known location of the TrackR. 

How Much is it Going To Cost Me?

You're probably thinking that this device is very expensive... False! TrackR only costs $29! That's a small price to pay for peace of mind, isn't it?

Where can I buy one?

You can buy it directly from the company's website by clicking here.

NOTE: As a special summer sale, the company is now offering an incredible "Buy 4 – Get 4 FREE" deal to all new customers.

What else can I do with TrackR?

As we said before, TrackR has unlimited possibilities. The device is small and unobtrusive enough that you can attach it to your pet. Put it on their collar, and the issue of searching for them as they scamper off to nearby places will be over! Attach it to your keys and wallet, and never waste a minute rummaging the whole house for it.

TrackR even comes with a double-sided adhesive so you can stick it to your laptop or under your bike seat. Track down and punish the thieves who steal your expensive things!

Attach it To Everything That's Important To You...

Now that you've been informed about this brilliant invention, let me show you how easy it is to track your valuable items. All you need to do is to follow these 3 steps:

• Step 1: Order TrackR today to take advantage of the 50% OFF sale.
• Step 2: When you receive it, open the package and place the thin battery inside the device. Then download the free TrackR app on your smartphone and link up the unit with the app. Finally, hide TrackR in your car or attach it to the item you wish to track.
• Step 3: Relax... Use the TrackR app to find your things. It's easy!

Here's a tip: TrackR is a great gift idea because there's no monthly fee involved!

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Mercedes Equips Delivery Van With Robotic Carrier Pigeons

Mercedes-Benz is looking at mounting automated flying drones onto a new line of electric vans as part of a 500 million-euro ($562 million or roughly Rs. 3,732 crores) investment aimed at speeding delivery times for online orders.

The small pilotless aircraft would be part of a suite of on-board systems, including digital sorting equipment,that could cut both costs and delivery times in half for the final portion of a package's journey, the carmaker said Wednesday at a presentation in Stuttgart, Germany. The two drones can each fly items weighing as much as 2 kilograms (4.4 pounds) as far as 10 kilometers (6 miles), enabling service to difficult-to-reach to places.

The concept is among the Daimler unit's efforts to help corporate customers speed product transport as volumes rise because of the boom in electronic commerce. Deutsche Post's DHL division and United Parcel Service are also looking at how to ensure items are delivered on the first attempt even when the consumer isn't home. Online retailers such as Amazon.com are experimenting with handling deliveries themselves.

"The business in our sector is changing dramatically, so we're looking far beyond our core product and getting into new markets," Volker Mornhinweg, who heads Mercedes's vans business, said in a statement. "We want to make vans an intelligent, connected data center on wheels."

The investments will be spaced over five years. Mercedes didn't outline a time frame for when the drones or technologies like a robotic arm for sorting parcels inside the van might become commercially available.

Many industries are researching potential uses of drones beyond dropping the latest Internet shopping on people's doorsteps, such as railroad-track inspections, spotting criminals on the run or organ delivery for hospitals, though a regulatory structure for the aircraft is still in its infancy.

"The growth in transportation means we have to change our processes accordingly," said Stefan Maurer, head of Mercedes's future transport systems for vans.

The drones on the Mercedes concept are fixed to the van's roof above a hatch that opens to the vehicle's inside. Made of carbon fiber and aluminum, the mini-copters with four propellers measure about 55 centimeters (22 inches) across. The aircraft were developed jointly with Swiss partner Matternet, and similar models have already helped carry medicine to people in difficult terrain, Mercedes said.

When a van reaches the area where the drone is supposed to take off, a robotic arm in the cargo area moves parcels inside a special box to the hatch, which opens automatically for the drone to pick up the item. Using GPS, the aircraft flies to a landing spot set by the customer, Mercedes said.

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Best way to track your vehicle on the cheap, using your smartphone

New tracking technique adapted to all budgets.

Lost your car and can’t remember where you parked? It happens to the best of us: wandering aimlessly through parking lots, clicking the panic button on your key chain to get your headlights to illuminate. You don’t need some spendy radio transponder to keep tabs on your car. Uplinking your wheels to the great eye in the sky without breaking the bank is easier than you think.
Standalone GPS and radio triangulation units can cost hundreds. And that’s not counting the installation and (frequently hefty) activation and monthly fees associated with whatever service you do choose. For most of us, it’s overkill.
The good news is that some of life’s biggest problems seem to be disappearing because of new technology.. If you frequently forget where you parked your car, there is a tiny gadget and app that could be what you’re looking for.
What is it about?

It’s about Track, A small and discreet device in size of a coin that is revolutionizing the market.
 How does it work?

Very easy! It will take less than five minutes to put it to work. You simply have to pair it with your smartphone and download the free application which will allow you to locate it anytime. Once this is done, you simply have to put it on your key chain, in your wallet or in any object you want to locate always. In this case you just have to hide it in your car.

Now just have to open the application on your mobile and you can see on the map the position of your device. If you get to lose your car, simply select “find device” and you’ll get the coordinates of the new location.

With Trackr you’ll be able to locate your car at any time
In the following video you’ll be able to see it in action

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