It shouldn't come as a surprise that the 2010 Bentley Continental GTC Speed is a nice automobile, as the Bentley name doesn't get slapped to just any old thing. But just how much nice are you getting for the price of a large home in Lansing, Michigan? Is this Bentley that much better than drastically cheaper luxury convertibles, and is the GTC Speed's extra performance chutzpah worth the extra $14,200 on top of the regular Continental convertible?

In Bentley-speak, GTC refers to the convertible version of the Continental GT coupe. The Speed bit signifies that this Bentley is "Born of the same heart as the GTC, but with a different soul. Darker. Sportier. Tauter." Makes it sound like Catwoman. But while the Speed may have bigger wheels, bigger brakes, a more powerful version of the twin-turbocharged 6.0-liter W12 and improved handling dynamics, don't assume that it's some sort of hard-core BMW M-style sports machine. Instead, the GTC Speed retains every drop of Bentley civility — it even ups the ante — while doing a more adept job of helping 5,600 pounds of stately British motor car contend with the laws of physics.

Overall, we'd have to say the 2010 GTC Speed is worth the extra cash over the "regular old" GTC. You're already paying more than $250 large, so 14 additional Clevelands aren't going to break the bank. As for whether it's worth, say, $137,000 more than a Jaguar XKR convertible? Read on and decide for yourself.

Performance

The "W" in the Continental's 6.0-liter W12 isn't an errant keystroke. Rather than placing two banks of six cylinders in a V formation (hence V12), every Bentley Continental utilizes a pair of narrow-angle V6 engines joined together with four banks of three cylinders each, placed in a W formation. It's the same basic design philosophy utilized in other Volkswagen Group products, including the W16-powered Bugatti Veyron.

Bentley's W12 also benefits from twin turbochargers, and the GTC Speed gets a tweaked version good for 600 horsepower and 553 pound-feet of torque (versus 552 and 479). The boost wasn't simply turned up to "11" in order to achieve this power bump; rather, all engine internals were reengineered to reduce mass, including the pistons, the connecting rods and even the timing chain.

It all adds up to a colossus of power that motivates this all-wheel-drive convertible from zero to 60 mph in 4.6 seconds, even though the 5,562-pound GTC Speed weighs as much as a Chevy Tahoe. Just imagine what this thing could do if Bentley sent it to fat camp. The same comment could be made about the astounding carbon-ceramic braking system (a $16,500 option), which includes discs that are larger than the steering wheel and stop the Speed from 60 mph in 105 feet. That's about the same as an Audi R8.

In the real world, this translates into a car that handles its outsized proportions remarkably well. The rear-biased all-wheel drive and adjustable suspension settings allow for more enthusiastic driving than you'd ever think possible. However, the GTC Speed never inspires you to treat it as anything other than an incredibly fast touring car.

The steering is on the light side and not as communicative as that of an Aston Martin DBS, let alone a Ferrari California or some other Italian exotic. The GTC Speed never lets you forget that you're piloting an enormous craft, and substantial bumps will reveal some cowl shake and a less-than-ironclad structure. But if you limit yourself to sun-washed stretches of coast you'll find that few conveyances match the GTC Speed for top-down motoring.

Comfort

Lower the beautifully lined soft top, erect the folding wind deflector over the backseat, raise the windows and marvel at how little noise and air infiltrate the Bentley's cabin. At 75 mph, you'll find your hair fussed no more than if the air-conditioning were turned to max. Because wind noise is so limited, you'll find yourself noticing road noise more than in other convertibles. With the top up, you'll be hard-pressed to find a quieter soft-top convertible.

The adjustable self-leveling air suspension constantly monitors ride height and damping depending on road conditions to provide the best ride possible. There are four driver-selectable programs that vary firmness for sportier driving, but the difference between them is minimal and none provide the sort of jarring, track-ready ride experienced in more dedicated sport-tuned adjustable suspensions (Porsches, for example). While the adjustable suspension improves handling, it doesn't do so at the expense of ride comfort.

Given the Continental's imposing dimensions, it's no surprise that it has one of the most spacious convertible interiors. Still, taller drivers will need to scoot their seat forward in order to accommodate folks in the otherwise comfortable backseat. Those in front likely won't mind much, as their beautifully shaped seats provide adjustable thigh extension, multilevel heating and an optional massage function. There's no seat cooling, perhaps because that would've required punching air holes in the buttery-soft leather.

Function

In grand British tradition, the Continental GTC Speed is ergonomically challenged, although it's actually the Germans' fault this time. The antiquated electronics interface sourced from parent company Volkswagen features an LCD screen mostly controlled by two flawed interfaces: the adjacent buttons that line up with screen icons (which you'll want to press directly, but can't) and a large control knob with limited function that you'll wish would do more (like BMW's iDrive).

The navigation system is almost unusable due to its dial-up processing speed, ancient graphics and cumbersome controls. On the upside, the iPod interface is quite good and substantially better than the useless one that sullied earlier Continentals. It shouldn't be optional, as even a Scion tC (which costs about as much as the GTC Speed's optional carbon-ceramic brakes) has one standard.

As convertibles go, the GTC Speed's top-up visibility is good thanks to the large rear side windows. Backing up can be a bit hairy, but the back-up camera assists with this process. Cargo space is excellent for a drop top, with trunk capacity remaining the same whether the top is raised or lowered. A large suitcase and a set of golf clubs will fit, but you'll have to remove your woods.

Interior storage is decent for this sort of car, with large side pockets, but the cupholders are awkwardly located underneath the twin center armrests, which some may find to be mounted too high. If you have a child seat, put it in one of your more spacious cars, since the limited rear-seat space and the effort required to install it isn't worth the hassle.

Design/Fit and Finish

In our test car, supple diamond-quilted leather seats in Burnt Oak brown were accented with optional Magnolia tan border stitching. The doors and dash had leather trim to match. Burr Walnut veneer is in ample supply on the twin-cowl dash. The color scheme in your Bentley's cabin will likely differ from ours (there are almost infinite options, including two-tone), but the quality remains the same.

The control knobs and gearshifter are accented with a finely textured metal trim that certainly adds a few pounds to the curb weight. The multilayered soft top features a microfiber liner available in a variety of different colors (ours was Beluga). It's all put together with the impressive craftsmanship and precision we would expect from this high-end Audi/Volkswagen division.

The exterior is an attractive blend of modern influences and classic Bentley design cues, including quad headlights, a radiatorlike grille and broad rear fenders. It's stately and attractive, yet it doesn't draw involuntary gawks from passersby, which could be a good thing or a bad thing, depending on your priorities.

Who Should Buy This Vehicle

Available in 13, 15 and 17-inch models, there’s sure to be a model of the MacBook Pro well suited to your needs. Hardware wise, all three models of the MacBook Pro are configured similarly. Deciding which laptop is for you will depend on whether you’re looking more for an ultraportable laptop or a desktop replacement class laptop.

TopTenREVIEWS recently looked at the 15-inch version of the MacBook Pro. With the exception of screen size, the 13, 15 and 17-inch MacBook Pro boast the same impressive tech specs with a few minor differences. You’ll find a brief summary of the 17-inch MacBook Pro here. Be sure to check out our review of the 15-inch MacBook Pro for a more in-depth analysis of its features and performance.

17-inch MacBook Pro

A laptop with 17-inch display usually equates to a powerful desktop replacement. The 17-inch MacBook Pro is no exception. With a new 17-inch MacBook Pro you’ll feel good unplugging the cable octopus under your desk and throwing out the buzzing, electricity-hungry tower that’s been exhibiting less than stellar performance.

Standout Features

• 17-inch LED backlit display
• 2.5GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor
• 4GB 667MHz RAM
• 320GB hard drive at 7200 RPMs
• Superior connectivity

Features

Mac’s laptops have always looked good. The minimalist philosophy behind the chassis design effectively informed the do-everything utility of the iBook and PowerBook series. The current lineup of PowerBooks conforms tastefully to the Apple aesthetic. The chassis of the 17-inch MacBook Pro look as if it were artfully crafted from a single piece of aluminum. Compared to Windows-based laptops, the MacBook Pro rejects unsightly, ports, buttons and logos in favor of a cohesiveness in form and color that creates an impression of professionalism and functionality.

The integrated webcam, full-size keyboard, and multi-touch track pad ensure that working on the 17-inch MacBook Pro will be comfortable without shelling out extra cash for peripherals. For graphic intensive work or work that requires two monitors, the 17-inch MacBook Pro is equipped with a DVI port. The 17-inch MacBook Pro is Bluetooth ready, so you’ll be able to access the internet with 802.11g wi-fi or gigabit Ethernet. Despite the regrettable absence of a flash card reader, versatility is the middle name of the 17-inch MacBook Pro.

In the hardware department, the 17-inch MacBook Pro stacks up to the Windows based competition easily. 4GB of RAM backs up the dual-core processing power of a 2.5GHz Intel Core 2 Duo. 320GB of hard drive space will adequately harbor all your multimedia files. If 320GB just doesn’t cut it for your oversized media library, you’ll need an external hard drive— the 17-inch MacBook Pro doesn’t offer larger hard drives.

The 17-inch LED backlit display is powered by GeForce’s 8400M video card. Images will look brighter, video will exhibit zero lag, and you can even do some gaming on the 17-inch MacBook Pro.

To see a full review of the MacBook Pro, take a look at our review of the 15-inch MacBook Pro.

Establishing an unprecedented, absolutely innovative car concept, BMW is ¬setting fascinating new highlights in the upper midrange segment. As the world’s first model in a brand-new segment, the BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo combines essential features of a prestige saloon, a modern Sports Activity Vehicle, and a classic Gran Turismo.

Not that long ago, Yahoo was working overtime to keep itself from being sold. These days, Yahoo seems to fancy itself a potential buyer instead.

Yahoo signaled its deal-making aspirations at a conference on Wednesday, where its chief technology officer, Ari Balogh, appeared over a video link. Mr. Balogh, who is also Yahoo’s executive vice president for products, said that lower valuations made it a good time to be shopping for add-ons.

“I can guarantee you there will be some acquisitions, and we will do some stuff in-house,” he said, according to Reuters, which hosted the conference.

While others continue to focus on the fate of Yahoo’s search business — chatter about some kind of search deal with Microsoft never seems to die — Mr. Balogh’s comments suggest that Yahoo is eager to build out other parts of its Internet business.

Naturally, Mr. Balogh didn’t tip his hand and name specific targets. But he gave some clues, indicating that Yahoo needed to push deeper into the next wave of social networking products. He also said the company was under-represented in the area of smartphone applications.

Nearly three years ago, Yahoo reportedly offered nearly $1 billion for Facebook, but there was no deal. Since then, Facebook’s popularity has exploded.

Yahoo’s efforts to create a social-networking sensation on its own have come up short. Remember Yahoo Mash? It never took off.

Yahoo has been a somewhat active acquirer in recent years, but its largest deals focused on advertising network companies, like Right Media and Blue Lithium, or minority stakes in overseas Web companies, like Gmarket or Alibaba.com.

What might Yahoo buy in the social-networking arena? PaidContent.org considers the question and suggests Bebo, which is owned by the AOL unit of Time Warner and may or may not be for sale, or hi5, a venture-backed social network that recently had a round of layoffs.

More likely, perhaps, is a deal for a smaller venture with a lower profile.

“We’re getting the pulse of companies you might not know about,” Mr. Balogh said Wednesday, “as well as interacting much more aggressively with companies you do.”

Source:nytimes.com

Introduction

Thanks to a long line of uninspiring products over the past couple decades, Pontiac -- ostensibly GM's "driving excitement" division -- acquired a rather unfortunate reputation as fodder for rental-car fleets. But that's been changing as of late, thanks to a concerted effort by GM to reassert the brand's high-performance heritage. The 2009 Pontiac G8 is at the core of Pontiac's recent resurgence. This powerful yet refined rear-wheel-drive performance sedan is unlike anything Pontiac has offered in recent memory -- and we mean that as a sincere compliment.

The Pontiac G8 is a mechanical twin of the Commodore sedan from Holden, GM's Australian subsidiary. That's a good thing, as the Commodore has garnered accolades Down Under for providing affordable full-size functionality in a swift and agile package. Thankfully, Pontiac stylists resisted the urge to outfit the American version with the brand's traditional assortment of scoops, vents and spoilers, and the car looks muscular and purposeful from most angles.

The G8's mechanical merits are impressive, from its range of energetic engines to its impressive combination of sharp handling and supple composure over broken pavement. The new 2009 GXP model raises the performance bar even higher with a 402-horsepower version of the iconic Corvette's 6.2-liter V8. One of our few complaints about the G8 has been the lack of a manual transmission, so we're pleased to report that you can get one on the GXP (though still not on lesser G8 models). In any guise, the G8's BMW-like MacPherson front strut layout and multilink rear suspension yields a sophisticated driving character that's more typical of European sport sedans than large domestic rear-drivers.

The G8 also impresses inside, especially considering the plasticky depths to which Pontiac interiors had previously sunk. There are still too many hard surfaces, but the center stack -- save for a couple cheesy Atari-grade digital readouts at the top -- is more than a little reminiscent of Audi's industry-leading efforts. Passenger room is plentiful, particularly in back, where all but the largest riders will have space to spare. The rear center seat isn't so hospitable, however, as the wide center tunnel necessitated by the G8's rear-drive layout essentially eliminates legroom there.

At the G8's moderate price point, the Dodge Charger/Chrysler 300 twins are the only other roomy, rear-wheel-drive, full-size performance sedans available. The Chrysler siblings are certainly competent, but the G8's sporting character sets it apart. We're not fans of the G8's lackluster fuel economy, but then, the Charger/300 duo aren't likely to win any efficiency awards from the EPA either. Bottom line: If you want a large sedan with American attitude and Continental manners, the 2009 Pontiac G8 is in a class of its own.

For Pricing information, see our Pricing page.

Body Styles, Trim Levels, and Options

The 2009 Pontiac G8 is a performance-oriented large sedan available in base, GT or GXP trim. Base models come with 18-inch alloy wheels, a rear spoiler, four-way power front sport seats, a tilt/telescoping steering wheel and a seven-speaker CD sound system with XM Satellite Radio and an auxiliary audio jack. G8 GTs add a 6.0-liter V8 engine, summer performance tires, a limited-slip rear differential, dual-zone automatic climate control, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and a premium 11-speaker Blaupunkt sound system with a six-CD/MP3 changer. The tarmac-terrorizing GXP version boasts a Corvette-sourced V8 as well as a unique front fascia, an upgraded sport-tuned suspension and 19-inch wheels.

Much of the GT's equipment can be had on the base model via the Comfort and Sound Package. A Premium Package is also available, featuring leather upholstery and six-way power heated front seats. A sunroof can be selected as a stand-alone option. A Sport Package available for the GT adds 19-inch alloy wheels with summer tires and a sport steering wheel.

For more Style information, see our Compare Styles page.

Powertrains and Performance

The base Pontiac G8 is equipped with a 3.6-liter V6 that produces 256 hp and 248 pound-feet of torque. It sends its power to the rear wheels through a five-speed automatic transmission with manual shift control. The GT has a 6.0-liter V8 packing 361 hp and 385 lb-ft of torque that's mated to a six-speed automatic. The GXP's 6.2-liter V8 puts out a prodigious 402 hp and 402 lb-ft of torque and utilizes either the GT's six-speed automatic or a six-speed manual transmission.

In track testing, the G8 GT roared to 60 mph in 5.3 seconds en route to a blistering 13.7-second quarter-mile. The GXP promises to be quicker still -- Pontiac expects it will shave at least half a second off the GT's 0-60 sprint. V6-powered base models should require roughly 7 seconds. Thanks to a cylinder deactivation feature, the GT V8's fuel economy is close to the V6's; the EPA gives the V6 a 17 mpg city/25 mpg highway rating and the V8 a 15/24 mpg rating. The GXP will likely be slightly less efficient than its GT stablemate. In short, the G8 is fleet-footed in any form -- and you'll pay for it at the pump.

For more Performance Data, see our Specifications page.

Safety

All G8 models are equipped with front seat airbags, full-length side curtain airbags, antilock disc brakes with brake assist, stability control and traction control. OnStar is also standard equipment.

For more Safety information, see our Safety page.

Interior Design and Special Features

Modern Pontiac interiors have hardly been renowned for their design or quality, but the 2009 Pontiac G8's interior is unquestionably a significant step forward. The center stack is pleasing to the eye, and while many surfaces are hard to the touch, they generally feel solidly constructed. Passenger room is befitting a large car, with generous accommodations fore and aft. The rear seats don't fold down, however, though a ski pass-through helps somewhat. The ample trunk offers 17.5 cubic feet of cargo volume.

On the downside, a navigation system is unavailable despite the G8's navigation-sized LCD information screen. The dot-matrix digital readouts for battery life and oil pressure are also unfortunate, as is the lack of a redline indicator for the tachometer. There's still room for improvement but the G8's interior is far superior to Pontiac's previous offerings.

For more Interior Features information, see our Specifications page.

Driving Impressions

Those who buy a V8-powered G8 because they want a four-door modern-day muscle car will not be disappointed. If you turn off traction control, the GT or GXP will lay thick stripes of rubber in your favorite parking lot until the cows come home -- or until you run out of tires. What buyers may not expect is the tight handling that comes with the package, particularly in the case of the GXP, which rides on GM's sport-biased FE3 suspension.

All's not perfect in the G8's world, of course. The V6 is noisy and harsh in almost all driving conditions and gets progressively worse the harder you push the accelerator. Also, the upgraded six-speed automatic on G8 GT models often transmits a firm kick during upshifts that's absent with the base five-speed unit. Brake feel isn't optimal either, as the long-travel pedal feels a bit soft for performance-driving purposes. But overall, the G8 should go a long way toward helping Pontiac reclaim its storied past. Driving excitement is once again alive and well.

Source:edmunds.com

Manufacturer's flagship device will be available to pre-order for a SIM free price of £499 from the Nokia online shop later today

Bellevue, WA -- T-Mobile USA, Inc. today announced the newest T-Mobile® Sidekick LX™, featuring 3G for faster data speeds and enhanced mobile access to popular social media sites. The Sidekick LX, which is available for pre-order starting today via a Web-only pre-sale for existing T-Mobile customers at www.sidekick.com, also provides improved video capabilities as well as GPS-enabled Live Search. In addition to the new features, the Sidekick LX boasts its iconic swivel design in two new colors — orchid and carbon — and features the sharpest screen and thinnest profile ever delivered on a Sidekick®.

“Our Sidekick customers are going to be blown away by the new features this device is offering, which is why it’s so exciting to give them the exclusive opportunity to get it before anyone else,” said Denny Marie Post, chief marketing officer, T-Mobile USA, Inc. “Today’s Sidekick customers are avid communicators, with three out of four accessing social networking sites on their device at least once per week. The real-time notifications, tied with 3G speeds and GPS, will provide customers with the best experience of any Sidekick before, and we expect it will exceed their expectations.”

The “Communities” section of the Sidekick will provide one-click access to the most popular social networking sites, bringing Facebook, MySpace and Twitter directly to the customer via customized applications that update automatically and put notifications directly on the Sidekick home screen. GPS-enabled Live Search lets Sidekick LX customers map their current location and search for a nearby coffee shop or café, share favorite spots with friends via integration with Sidekick’s messaging capabilities, or view additional search tabs to quickly check real time traffic, gas prices or movie showtimes.

The new Sidekick LX also delivers an improved multimedia experience with a 3.2 megapixel camera and enhanced video capabilities that make it easy for users to record and share pictures and videos on popular social networking sites. Support for audio and video streaming lets users view and listen to their favorite online content from sites like YouTube. And with the sharpest screen to-date for a Sidekick, watching streaming videos on the Sidekick LX is easy on the eyes.

This next-generation T-Mobile Sidekick LX maintains the popular features that define the Sidekick family including the intuitive user interface — now with a built-in self-help application, the iconic swivel screen and a full QWERTY keyboard. The new LX will catch eyes from across the room with energetic mood lights running horizontally across the top of the screen so customers can be made aware of messages as they come in. The new device also provides personalization options including the ability to record your own ringtone or receive and save them via e-mail.

T-Mobile Sidekick LX features include:

* Integrated social networking application bundle includes Facebook, MySpace and Twitter

* High-speed Web browsing with 3G support

* Built-in GPS support with Live Search

* 3.2-megapixel camera with autofocus and an LED flash

* Ability to record, play and share videos o Share recorded videos via e-mail and upload videos to social networking sites o Watch videos on YouTube via the web browser or on MySpace * Carbon or orchid finish

* Music player with streaming audio and streaming RTSP video

* 3.2-inch F-WVGA screen with high-definition LCD technology with 854x480 resolution

* Support for personal e-mail, SMS, MMS, instant messaging (IM) o Clients include AOL® Instant Messenger, Windows Live and Yahoo!® Messenger * Iconic swivel design and full QWERTY keyboard (manufactured by Sharp)

* Intuitive user interface with Quick Find to search across all applications

* Network Address Book

* Included 1GB microSD™ memory card

* Bluetooth® 2.0 with A2DP supports stereo Bluetooth and Bluetooth file transfer to other Bluetooth devices including photo printers

* Dimensions: 5.1 x 2.4 x 0.6 inches; 5.7 ounces

* Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE worldphone (850/900/1800/1900 MHz)

* Dual-band UMTS/HSDPA (AWS Band IV & Band I)

* 1250 mAh Lithium Ion battery

* Battery: 3G — 3 hours talk time, 6 days standby; 2G — 5.5 hours talk time, 8 days standby

* Software and services provided by Danger, a Microsoft subsidiary.

* Shortly following launch, T-Mobile plans to make available Exchange Active Sync support via the Sidekick Download Catalog so customers can stay virtually connected to work.

The Sidekick LX is available for purchase to existing T-Mobile customers beginning April 17, through a Web-only pre-sale at www.sidekick.com. The new device will be available for all on May 13 at select T-Mobile retail stores and online at www.t-mobile.com. For more information on the T-Mobile Sidekick LX and the special pre-sale, please visit www.sidekick.com.

Source:http://www.mobiletechnews.com

Asus' Eee PC Seashell has only just been given its UK price of £379, but What Laptop have already got their greedy mitts on a sample, and it's fair to say that they are impressed.

The Eee PC Seashell weighs in at just over 1kg, has a 10 inch screen and a capacious 160Gig hard drive, but it is the 'Seashell' design that most catches our fellow Future Publishing site's expert eye.

"The most amazing thing about the Seashell 1008HA is the design, taking its moniker from the rounded, clamshell like style," says What Laptop's hands-on review. "Measuring just 27mm at its deepest point, and getting considerably thinner towards the front of the chassis, you'll hardly noticethe1008HA Seashell in your bag, further helped by a weight of just over 1kg.

"The 10-inch screen is a joy to use. It features an average resolution of 1024 x 600 pixels, but images appear perfectly crisp, and the colour reproduction is flawless. That said, the glossy Super-TFT coating can make it difficult to see in the brightest conditions, with reflections proving problematic."

Any port in a storm

Although the reviewer is less impressed with the two USB ports and the lack of a TV-out, the summation suggests that this is a netbook that you can be a little excited about.

"Overall, the Eee PC Seashell 1008HA is a compelling proposition. Its biggest fault is a lack of ports, but the quality, comfort and excellent mobility make it a great choice for those seeking a mid-range netbook," the review concludes.

The Asus Eee PC Seashell 1008HA will go onsale in the coming month in the UK.

Source:www.techradar.com

Though they share the same name, the T-Mobile Sidekick LX 2009 should not be confused with the original T-Mobile Sidekick LX, which it will eventually replace. The Sidekick LX 2009 is a stand-out with its slimmer design and gorgeous, high-resolution display, but more than that, it brings a host of new features to take the messaging handheld to the next level with the addition of 3G, Flash video support, GPS, and Facebook and Twitter integration. The GPS wasn't the most accurate and we still would have liked to seen the inclusion of Wi-Fi, but other than that, our complaints were minor.

While it's definitely still more for the high school and college crowd, the Sidekick LX 2009 has grown up to be more than just a device for sending text and instant messages. Plus, its thinness gives it an edge over the similarly featured Helio Ocean 2, while the integration of social networking sites makes it more attractive than the AT&T Quickfire. Current Sidekick owners will get first dibs on the new device. Online presales start now for a price of $199 with a two-year contract. For everyone else, the T-Mobile Sidekick LX 2009 will be available in stores nationwide and online on May 13 for $249.99 with a two-year contract.

Design
Manufactured by Sharp, the T-Mobile Sidekick LX 2009 keeps the same overall look as the rest of the Sidekick family but holds the title of being the thinnest Sidekick to date. The handheld measures 5.1 inches wide by 2.4 inches high by 0.6 inch thick and weighs 5.7 ounces, but don't equate slim for flimsy. According to T-Mobile, it has put the device through rigorous testing and found that it's four times more durable than previous versions. Also, the Sidekick LX is still tall compared to other cell phones and smartphones, so while thinner, it's not the most petite handset.

The T-Mobile Sidekick LX 2009 is the thinnest Sidekick to date.

The Sidekick LX definitely feels solid in hand though; plus, it features a soft-touch finish to give it a nonslippery texture instead of slick, plasticky feel. Sharp also added small grooves on the back of the device where you can rest your index fingers when holding it. Doesn't seem like much of an addition, but it's a nice little touch that makes for a better ergonomic experience.

The smartphone is available in two colors: carbon or orchid. However, if you're not a fan of the colors, you will be able to create custom shells for the Sidekick LX, much like the T-Mobile Sidekick 2008, and T-Mobile's even added the option of laser etching the case. Custom shells will be available starting this summer.

In addition to being the thinnest Sidekick, the Sidekick LX 2009 also boasts the largest and sharpest screen to date. Based on Sharp's Aquos technology, the WVGA display measures 3.2 inches with an 854x480-pixel resolution. We were extremely pleased with the sharpness and brightness of the display. Images and Web pages looked smooth and colors jumped off the high-resolution screen.

The Sidekick LX 2009 boasts a large, high-resolution display.

The user interface will be familiar to Sidekick users. From the main screen, you have shortcuts to the device's main functions, including e-mail, Web browser, T-Mobile MyFaves, Communities, and media player. There's also a Quick Find feature that acts like a universal search function on the Sidekick. You can, of course, customize your background with different themes as well as change the font size.

Surrounding the display are the same navigation controls as the previous Sidekick LX. To the left, there are the Menu and Jump buttons and a directional keypad that doubles as the phone's speaker, and on the right, there is a Cancel button, Talk and End keys, an OK button, and the trackball navigator. On top of the device, there are two function buttons that perform different tasks depending on which application you are in; when you're on the home screen the left key opens your multimedia message in-box while the right key acts as the camera activation/capture button. The bottom features a 3.5mm headphone jack, volume buttons, a power on/off key, and a Mini-USB port.

Of course, two trademarks of the Sidekick are the swiveling screen and full QWERTY keyboard. To flip the display and expose the keyboard, you nudge the upper-right corner of the screen. However, the Sidekick LX 2009's swiveling action isn't quite as smooth as previous Sidekicks. First, it requires quite a hard push to open it and then it doesn't quite lock right into place. It's not a deal breaker, but something we noticed while using the device. We should also note that Sharp and T-Mobile have replaced the four LED notification lights that adorned the four corners of the Sidekick LX 2008 with a single LED that lines the bottom edge (in closed position) of the display. The trackball navigator will also light up to notify you of new messages, Twitter updates, and more.

We found the Sidekick's QWERTY keyboard easy to use.

We've always been fans of the Sidekick's spacious keyboards and the Sidekick LX 2009 is no different. The buttons aren't the biggest, but there's plenty of spacing between them so we had minimal mispresses while typing messages. If anything, the keys were a little stiffer than we like, but overall, we had a good experience. The buttons provided a nice tactile feedback, and there's a dedicated number row in addition to another set of numbers that shares space with some letter keys and highlighted in pink (blue on the carbon model).

Finally, on back of the device, you'll find the camera and flash, and behind the battery cover is the microSD expansion slot. The T-Mobile Sidekick LX comes packaged with an AC adapter, a USB cable, a 1GB microSD card, a stereo headset, a protective pouch, a recycling bag, and reference material. For more add-ons, please check our cell phone accessories, ringtones, and help page.

Features
In the past, we've been a little critical of T-Mobile for not adding enough features or enhancements to new models, but this isn't so much the case with the T-Mobile Sidekick LX 2009. To start, it's the first Sidekick to have 3G, offering faster data speeds for Web browsing, streaming media, and more. It also nicely complements the added Flash video support on the Sidekick's HTML Web browser, so you can view sites like YouTube. T-Mobile has rolled out its UMTS/HSDPA network to 130 cities and plans to expand to 100 additional cities by the end of 2009. (You can find a coverage map here). Unfortunately, if you're out of a coverage area, you're stuck with EDGE as your only connection source since the Sidekick LX does not offer integrated Wi-Fi.

The LX's voice features include quad-band world roaming, speed dial, call forwarding, three-way calling, a call log, a vibrate mode, and a speakerphone. Like T-Mobile's other handsets, there's support for myFaves, which gives you unlimited calling to five contacts, regardless of carrier (plans start at $39.99 a month). The Sidekick's address book holds up to 2,000 contacts, with room in each entry for multiple numbers, an e-mail address, IM handle, notes, and more. You can also add contacts to a Favorites list (separate from myFaves). For caller-ID purposes, you can pair an entry with a photo, a group ID, or a custom ringtone. Finally, the Sidekick offers Bluetooth 2.0 with support for stereo Bluetooth and file transfer.

More than voice, however, the Sidekick is known for its messaging capabilities. Like models before it, T-Mobile ships the LX 2009 with its own T-mail account as well as support for Yahoo, AOL, Windows Live, and POP3/IMAP4 accounts. Shortly after the smartphone's launch, T-Mobile will also make available Exchange ActiveSync support so you can hook up your Outlook inbox to the Sidekick. The carrier said it expects to offer this option in the "coming months," but did not give specifics on pricing as of press time. When ready, the client will be available through the Download Catalog. Also, while the Sidekick LX offers an always-on push e-mail solution for real-time message delivery, you can have even faster communication with contacts via the three preloaded instant messaging clients: AIM, Yahoo, and Windows Live.

Of course, social networking sites have provided even more ways to stay in touch with friends and family, and the Sidekick LX 2009 really embraces the trend by preloading the device with several of the most popular social networking sites, including MySpace, Facebook, and Twitter. The last two apps are new additions and for the most part, act like their PC counterparts by letting you check and respond to your friends' statuses, update your own, upload photos, and more.

With Twitter, you can set up the app to check for new tweets at different time intervals (5 minutes up to one hour) and you'll receive visual and audible notifications (if that's your preference) for new updates. If you're doing something else on the phone and a new Twitter update comes through, it will even briefly display a running ticker across the top of your screen with the new tweet and then change to a little "t" in the upper-right corner of the screen as a reminder until you go into the Twitter app to check it. The last tweet will also appear on the Communities home page. While not perfect (for example, there's no way to manually update your Twitter feed, and we found that the Communities page didn't always display the newest tweet), T-Mobile did a nice job with the integration and notification system.

The Facebook app was also satisfactory, and we found that you could perform most of the basic functions of the PC version (poke, write on walls, upload photos, etc.). However, we did run into one problem. When we signed on to Facebook, the app alerted us to 46 new notifications and when we went to go look at them in our Inbox, it only displayed one onscreen. We scrolled down the non-existent list for the heck of it and that's when we discovered the other notifications. They would appear when scrolled over but then disappear after you moved to the next item; a bug perhaps? Finally, while MySpace Mobile isn't new, the Sidekick LX 2009 is the first Sidekick that allows you to upload videos to the app.

Another new feature is integrated GPS, which works with the preloaded Microsoft Live Search app to provide maps, driving directions, and business searches. You can even search for movie times and gas prices close to your current location or send your location to friends, which is really great. However, the integration of the GPS and Microsoft Live Search is a little clunky. You'd think you'd be able to find your location while using Microsoft Live Search, but you actually have to go to the main menu, tell the handheld to find your position, and then go back in the program to do anything, which just seems counterintuitive.

The Sidekick LX 2009 received a nice upgrade in the camera department with a bump from 1.3 megapixels to 3.2 megapixels.

The final area of improvement comes in the camera department. The T-Mobile Sidekick LX 2009 gets a nice boost from its predecessor's 1.3-megapixel camera to 3.2 megapixels. That said, we can't say we were very impressed with the picture quality. There's a flash and auto-focus function as well as the usual camera options, such as white balance controls, various effects, and a choice of photo quality and resolution. You can even geotag photos with the device's GPS. However, images turned out a bit fuzzy. Coloring was satisfactory, though when we used the flash, it completely blew out the shot.

However, we were a bit disappointed in picture quality; images were somewhat fuzzy.

The camera also has video-recording capabilities with two recording qualities: high and low. We recorded a couple of clips on high quality, and they came out very low in quality. Clips were extremely dark and pixelated, not to mention that the viewfinder for the camcorder was a tiny little box. We certainly wouldn't count on the Sidekick LX for capturing your most important moments.

Other entertainment options include a media player that doesn't offer any major improvements. It continues to support various formats, including MP3, WMA, WAV, AAC, AMR, and MIDI audio files and 3GP and MP4 video files. To get media onto the Sidekick, you can use the included USB cable and then drag and drop files from your PC to the Sidekick, which should show up as an external drive on your PC. The LX 2009 has 128MB RAM and 256MB ROM and its microSD expansion slot can accept up to 16GB cards. The Sidekick also comes with one preloaded game (Bob's Journey: Lake of Doom) and organizer functions (Calendar, Notes, and a To Do list) but you can always download more from the preinstalled download catalog, though the catalog seems quite bare at the moment.

Performance
We tested the quad-band (GSM 850/900/1800/1900) T-Mobile Sidekick LX 2009 in San Francisco using T-Mobile service, and call quality was good. We enjoyed clear, crisp audio on our side of the conversation with very minimal background noise. Our callers reported a slight echo, though nothing bad enough to prevent conversation. We also had no problem using an airline's voice-automated system. Unfortunately, speakerphone quality wasn't quite as positive. There was a bit of hollowness to the call, and it was hard to hear in louder environments, even with the volume at its highest level. We paired the Sidekick LX with the Logitech Mobile Traveller Bluetooth headset and the Motorola S9 Bluetooth Active Headphones.

The Sidekick LX 2009 was quite a responsive device with very little lag. The smartphone's HTML Web browser isn't the most sophisticated but it works, and T-Mobile's 3G network delivered some good speeds. It was able to bring up CNET's page in about 30 seconds, while CNN's and ESPN's mobile sites loaded in a blazing 5 seconds. A 720p HD YouTube video took about 10 seconds to load and buffer, but unfortunately, the viewing quality was pretty bad. Even though the sound and picture were synchronized, there was a lot of pixelation.

Aside from the aforementioned complaints, we had no major problems with the social networking apps. We were able to tweet and post comments on Facebook without any glitches, In addition, we were able to successfully set up and access our Yahoo e-mail account. The only major source of grief was the Sidekick's GPS. Sometimes it was dead on with our location and sometimes it was completely off the mark. On more than one occasion, it had us in the middle of the San Francisco Bay, so we then we would have to exit out of Microsoft Live Search, refresh our location, and then go back into the app to get directions, which was quite a time suck.

The T-Mobile Sidekick LX 2009 has a 1250mAh lithium ion battery with a rated talk time of 5.5 hours (GSM)/3 hours (3G) and up to 8 days (GSM)/6 days (3G) of standby time. We are still conducting our battery drain tests, but we will update this section as soon as we have final results. We did notice, however, after a couple hours of using the various apps, GPS, and Web browsing, the battery life was down to about 50 percent so we'll definitely keep an eye on that as we continuing testing the device. According to FCC radiation tests, the Sidekick LX has a digital SAR rating of 0.847 watt per kilogram.

Source:http://reviews.cnet.com

Pros

• Passengers get their own door and ample leg room
• Versatile split rear folding seats
• Spirited cornering
• Excellent value

Cons

• Engine is tuned for economy, not performance
• Thin sheetmetal designed to save weight

The Toyota 5-door Yaris looks and feels about right as the utility vehicle for the new economy. It is cheap, roomy, economical and versatile. And it accomplishes all of this with a bit of style and flare. Its EPA numbers of 29 City/35 Highway is not quite at the level of the tiny Smart Fortwo’s mpg of 33/41. But we believe the Yaris is a better car in every respect and it is the smarter choice.

The 5 doors are a minor miracle because the car has the same dimensions as the 3-door model. They inserted two more doors and they are not cramped or awkward at all. The doors look and feel normal. And with kids and other passengers, the extra doors are a blessing. It’s easier for the passengers and you don’t have deal with with folding your driver seat every time. We believe a car should only have less doors if it looks a heck of a lot cooler than the 5 door model. In this case, they’re equal in looks so the 5-door wins for utility.

The real revelation to us is the space and versatility of the rear luggage compartment. It’s a split folding rear seat plus the seats can independently slide forwards and backwards to optimize for passenger or luggage room. There’s so many options available for configuring passengers and luggage. Essentially, it offers minivan versatility in a micro package. The rear leg room was quite impressive, as well. Your kids can ride in the back with you all the way until they’re full grown adults.

I liked driving this car around town. It steered and handled well and it was comfortable even on rough surfaces. It is so light that it cornered pretty well without a lot of excess weight pushing you out of a corner. Steering was quite good and was not mushy nor did it have a lot of play unlike a lot of cars in this price range. And the interior, although minimalist was clean and functional

What didn’t we like? Well the engine sounds like a sewing machine when pushed. It was very happy at constant speeds and was quite content accelerating slowly around town. But if you mash the throttle and attempted some spirited driving, you are greeting by unpleasant noises and not a lot of acceleration. And of course the car feels light and the sheetmetal feels thin. But this is to be expected of course at this price range.

So with the Toyota Yaris 5-door liftback, you get quite a car for the base price of $13,300. We would recommend the $1,580 power package particularly because it includes the versatile folding rear seats. For value and versatility and economy, we fully recommend the Yaris 5-door.

Source:http://reviews.carreview.com

Summary

Senators and news anchors say American car companies aren't making fuel-efficient cars that people want to buy. They're wrong. The 2010 Mercury Milan Hybrid is a serious fuel miser that's neither boring to behold nor dull to drive.

Pros

Excellent fuel economy and range, engaging handling for a hybrid, spacious interior, comfortable ride, lots of user-friendly electronic gizmos including Ford's Sync system.

Cons

Huge price premium over four-cylinder Milan.

What's New for 2010

The 2010 Mercury Milan Hybrid is a new gasoline-electric variation of Mercury's midsize sedan, which itself is a mild variation of Ford's Fusion. As with all other 2010 Milans, the Hybrid benefits from this year's updates, which include more distinct styling and greatly improved interior controls.

2010 Mercury Milan Hybrid Vehicle Overview

Introduction

Like the little kid tagging along with his big brother, Mercury is always there to copy-cat its more successful Ford sibling. So when the blue oval's midsize Fusion sedan got saddled with a modern gasoline-electric hybrid system, the 2010 Mercury Milan Hybrid was following closely behind.

If you're interested in a hybrid, your choices are few, far between and very mediocre. There's a reason a certain funky Toyota hybrid hatchback outsells all other gas-electric models combined. Everything else is too slow, too small, too expensive, too rare, not efficient enough or just not a very good car. The Milan Hybrid -- and its Ford twin -- change all that. They are the first hybrids from the United States that offer a fully functional gasoline-electric powertrain that isn't connected to a giant full-size SUV. Mercury's compact Mariner Hybrid doesn't meet that criterion because it can't run in full electric mode with the air-conditioning on. The Milan can. It can also be purchased in all 50 states (unlike the otherwise desirable Nissan Altima Hybrid) and is based on a fun-to-drive family sedan (unlike the Toyota Camry Hybrid). And although its real-world fuel economy isn't quite as spectacular as the EPA estimates would suggest, the Milan Hybrid is still one of the most frugal gas sippers you can purchase.

Aside from all its hybrid-related bits and pieces, the Milan Hybrid is essentially a well-equipped Milan Premier. As such it gets all the welcome improvements made for the 2010 Milan. The exterior styling was updated a little, and the interior was given a thorough makeover. Whereas the previous cabin felt distinctly dated, the 2010 Milan has improved interior materials quality and all-new entertainment and climate controls. To this, the Hybrid adds the fancy "SmartGauge" instrument cluster, which consists of two color LCD screens flanking a traditional speedometer. The driver can select among four information modes, most of which have to do with hybrid power flow and fuel economy. One includes animated leaves and branches -- the more economically you drive, the fuller your shrubbery becomes.

Although the 2010 Mercury Milan Hybrid doesn't avoid the typical price premium over a similarly equipped gas-only version (about $4,000), it betters its meager hybrid competition in more areas than any other rival (including the Chevy Malibu, Altima and Camry hybrids). It is more engaging to drive than all but the Altima, and is more spacious and features a much nicer interior than them all. The Milan Hybrid also achieves the best fuel economy. Of course, the Prius and the Honda Insight achieve better fuel economy, have more cargo space and are cheaper, but they're also much slower, weirder and dull to drive. In other words, whether it's the Milan or the Fusion, your hybrid choices just got a whole lot better.

For Pricing information, see our Pricing page.

Body Styles, Trim Levels, and Options

The 2010 Mercury Milan Hybrid comes in a lone trim level. Standard equipment includes 17-inch alloy wheels, rear parking sensors, automatic headlights, foglamps, cruise control, keyless entry and keypad code exterior access, dual-zone automatic climate control, a leather-wrapped tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, power front seats (eight-way driver, six-way passenger), eco-friendly cloth upholstery, an LCD gauge cluster, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, the Sync electronics interface system (includes Bluetooth and an iPod interface), and a six-speaker stereo with a six-CD/MP3 changer, auxiliary audio jack and satellite radio.

Options include the Moon & Tune package that adds a 12-speaker surround-sound system and a sunroof. The voice-activated navigation system is hard-drive-based and includes DVD audio and video capability, 10GB of digital music storage and Sirius Travel Link (real-time traffic, weather and other information). The Driver's Vision package adds a blind-spot warning system, a rearview camera and cross-traffic alert. Leather upholstery and heated front seats are also available.

For more Style information, see our Compare Styles page.

Powertrains and Performance

The 2010 Mercury Milan Hybrid utilizes a 2.5-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine that produces 156 horsepower and 136 pound-feet of torque. It is paired with an electric motor that helps bumps power output up to 191 hp and 166 lb-ft of torque. Power is sent to the front wheels via a continuously variable automatic transmission. The result is a 0-60-mph acceleration time of 8.7 seconds, which is quite swift for a hybrid. Fuel economy is an EPA estimated 41 mpg city/36 mpg highway. The city number is a full 8 mpg better than the Camry Hybrid's, although 7 mpg shy of the Prius. As always, your mileage will vary greatly depending on driving conditions and how much lead lines your shoes.

For more Performance Data, see our Specifications page.

Safety

The 2010 Mercury Milan Hybrid comes standard with antilock disc brakes, stability and traction control, front-seat side airbags, side curtain airbags and rear parking sensors. A blind-spot warning system and rearview camera are optional. At our test track, the Milan's twin, the Fusion Hybrid, stopped from 60 mph in a tidy 126 feet, which is the best distance we've recorded among non-luxury hybrid cars.

Although the 2010 Milan Hybrid had not been crash-tested as of this writing, the 2009 Milan posted very strong government crash test ratings, with a perfect five stars for frontal collision protection and front side protection. It earned four stars for rear side protection. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave the otherwise identical '09 Fusion its best rating of "Good" for frontal offset and side crash protection.

For more Safety information, see our Safety page.

Interior Design and Special Features

The Milan Hybrid's high-quality cabin features abundant soft-touch materials, and the overall look is a little snazzier than the more austere Fusion. The center stack is a bit button-happy, but it's a significant ergonomic and aesthetic improvement over its dated predecessor. The available Sync system works great, integrating audio and Bluetooth functions with voice-recognition technology to provide easy hands-free operation of cell phones and portable MP3 players. The Hybrid gets its own gauge cluster, dubbed SmartGauge, featuring a pair of color display screens flanking a traditional speedometer. There's a wealth of information displayed and the graphics are pleasant and modern, but it takes some discipline to avoid becoming fixated on the pretty lights.

The Milan has plenty of space for front and rear occupants. Drivers, in particular, will appreciate the comfortable position. Interior storage space is adequate, but as is typical for hybrid sedans, the trunk is compromised by the car's battery pack. At only 11.8 cubic feet and with no folding rear seat, cargo capacity is still bigger than in the Altima and Camry hybrids, but much smaller than the hatchback Prius.

For more Interior Features information, see our Specifications page.

Driving Impressions

Other than its Ford twin and the Altima Hybrid (which is only sold in nine states), the 2010 Mercury Milan is the most involving hybrid to drive. While we wouldn't go so far as to call it fun, the Milan Hybrid nevertheless provides ample steering feedback, and body control through corners is impressive. The ride is comfortable and quiet. The Milan doesn't allow for the same sort of electric-only driving range as the Toyota hybrids, but its electric motor assists the gas engine for a longer period of time, which benefits fuel economy.

Source:http://www.edmunds.com