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Microsoft's product planning manager Albert Penello riled up the gaming community when he said that the Xbox One vs PS4 Specs comparison was "meaningless".
Could he be right?
Were the differences between Xbox Live and PSN meaningless? Clearly not if tens of milllions of people were willing to pay for Live instead of using the free service.
Were the differences in graphics meaningless when comparing the Wii version and PS3/360 versions of Call of Duty? Clearly not if CoD routinely sold 20+ million on the HD Twins yet barely made a blip on the Wii.
Hardware power always, always matters. It's not the only factor, but it does indeed matter.
I think the vast majority of people do know which one has the better hardware, especially now that internet is so easily accessible. Obviously last gen it was a bit more confusing because the ps3 was so hard to develop for, but this time i think average joe will be able to figure it out before purchasing.
Last time it wasn't that much of a competition right away because the Xbox 360 came out a year earlier. A lot of people just didn't want to wait a year for the PS3 especially with all the bad media it got before launch.
However this time around both consoles will release pretty much simultaniously. It'll be much more of a fight for consumers this time I think.
@batman quit using that excuse about Xbox came out a year early so did the Dreamcast Microsort came with a gameplan to slow Sony down so did Nintendo
Of course specs matter... Its all I have.... What else would I whine on about, I would have no chance with the ladies if I could not talk about terraflops and gddr.... So please keep it relevant, I need them...
@ demonddel, tell me... Your dream night, 1; night out with a supermodel, who is gagging for you, or 2; sony....
no it was just that M$ had really deep pockets. They basically muscled their way into the market.
Wow, it sounds like Micro$oft is taking a page from Nintendo's playbook ROFL. Sure specs don't matter when you're 50% less powerful than the competition LOL.
OK hardware matters, but more to the point what matters most is consumer trust. Right now the PlayStation brand has gained so much consumer trust that the PS4 has become a no brainer for many. Microsoft has lost so much consumer trust with their Xbox One that its launch is looking very dismal.
I expect both consoles will inevitably sell out for the first couple months as soon as any stock arrives in stores. This is how every major console launch has been. However, unless Microsoft can regain some consumer trust I expect the Xbox One to "plateau" after 6 months. I definitely don't expect them to move as many systems as the PS4 is already being forecast. Sony already has a manufacturing edge on Microsoft and can produce to keep up with demand and Microsoft's system has already been shown to have some limitations (certain components are bottle-necking the process) that prevent them from having the level of manufacturing ability that the PS4 will have.
We'll all see what happens in the coming months. Microsoft's down, but not out completely. It up to them as to what they can do to appease people for pulling the wool over their heads and reassure them they won't do something similar again in the future.
If hardware mattered that much, I'd say buy a pc. You buy a console because graphics take a back seat to exclusives and price.
But the price has to be worth it. Better graphics for better price seems like a win to me. And better exclusives come from better specs.
I have a PC, but there are a ton of games on consoles that never come to PC.
Not to mention I can spend $400 to get a PS4 which is fairly close to my 2-year-old PC in terms of power. Why wouldn't anyone take that choice? PC isn't the be-all-end-all, not even for a lot of PC gamers.
Define "that much." Cuz if hardware was didn't matter at all, we'd still be playing on Commodore 64.
I'd say graphics take a back seat to convenience and price.
"Were the differences in graphics meaningless when comparing the Wii version and PS3/360 versions of Call of Duty? Clearly not if CoD routinely sold 20+ million on the HD Twins yet barely made a blip on the Wii. "
yeah but, were the differences in graphics meaningless when PC kicked all of their asses regardless for decades now? the answer is yes, because people still bought games based on whatever console they owned. and if i remembered it still the same.
I have a gaming PC i work at a pc repair shop i love using a pc for certain games but you cant get the sony exclusives on PC so it doesnt matter if i have gtx 780s in sli or 32g of ram or an OC i7 it still wont play uncharted. By the looks of it the pc wont be kicking any arse this time round at least for a while.
The differences between Live and PSN? Not really sure, I didn;t bother getting Live because I don't play online that much or even touch my 360.
Graphics? to a certain extent graphics will matter, but I think fps and screen tearing matter more. Think most multi-plats did run better on the 360 which was probably why no one ever saw the reason to get a PS3 which was more expensive.
PS4 vs Xbone? Now that the DRM from xbone is gone I guess it will be an even competition. The similar architecture and specs will probably mean that there won't be much difference graphically. I mean the multi-plats this gen always looked better for the console it was designed for and the port always lacked a little but with the way it could be port I guess it should almost be identical.
They arent similar specs , they are similar architecture but thats it the ps4 will be getting better fps and better resolutions along with better graphics on multiplats in the long run, if you knew anything about specs which im guessing you dont you would know that.
the specs are pretty similar. same amount of RAM but Xbone uses more for OS.
similar clock speeds, same amount of cores.
cant be bothered naming every spec. But they are similar.
I guess time will tell re specs. Right now it should be about the games.
Which MS hasn't provided since the past 3 years
Microsoft - So You're telling us Specs doesn't matter but Your Price for X BOX One is more expensive than PS4 which beats You on that Specs Category?
pretty much. It's obviously just a cheap desperate spin.
Maybe Microsoft feels that they are offering more than just specs to justify their cost? I mean, you might not find it worth the extra 100 bucks, but other people will.
Too much thought is going into the specs. Both machines are x86 based. Both machines use an AMD CPU/GPU combo chip. Both have 8 gigs of ram and a blu-ray player. Games will look incredibly similar especially from third party devs. Microsoft is placing their bet on the gaming experience from the moment you enter the room even before you sit down to the second you get up. They also believe that social interaction is an important part of the gaming experience.
If as a manufacturer they believe the two consoles to be very similar, the question is what sets them apart? Obviously exclusives make a big difference, but if they are confident with their library, what else is there to focus on? Microsoft has been working to make playing online as seemless as possible with Live. Sony has decided to do the same with their paid service. What is next? That is the question both companies ask. If Sony's plans are what you want, buy the PS4. If you like Microsofts vision, then the Xbox one is for you.
Yes, they do. Fanboys can perform all the mental gymnastics they want, it does not change reality.
With that said, I'm getting both consoles, but I'm more excited about the PS4 because it has MORE horsepower under the hood.
Disagree me, now.
Specs matter to whoever has the better ones.
Specs don't matter to whoever has the weaker ones.
So then specs only matter to pc gamers is what your saying?
we are talking about consoles, bringing up pcs doesnt negate the fact that sony has the more powerful console by a far margin nor does it change the fact the ps4 is out preordering the xbone world wide by a giant massive gap.
So you proceed to get defensive about going off topic about pc graphics, then in this thread over console graphics, you go off topic and say sony is winning in pre-orders. Hypocrite much?
Let the games do the talking. I can't wait to play both next gen consoles.
I buy only the games that speak to me. Specs speak too but games translate what the specs were trying to say.
DLC talks too much for my tastes.
Specs only matter when they get in the way of a designers vision. If a console isn't powerful to deliver the experience a developer wants then yes it matters. But if you're just trying to pump out more pixels just for the sake of it then well you're an idiot.
Aesthetics > Graphics
We'll see how they perform this holiday season. Then we could determine. I believe both consoles will perform well.
It does matter but since they have similar specs, it doesnt matter as much. It all comes down to the games now. Multi-platform games will usually look better on PC.
Again and always if your a gamer you don't pick sides you play games,as many great games as you can.pc X1 ps4 iPad don't be a fanboy be a gamer.
Except it isn't being a fanboy to be against Kinect2.
It's called being against a company that pisses on the constitution. Not only that but won't allow it to be disconnected.
So if you buy an Xbox One you are either
a) oblivious to NSA spying with Kinect2
b) against all evidence and admissions don't believe it to be the case
c) are too much of a moron to understand how badly you can be screwed by the data (the whole: who wants to see me in my underwear argument)
Because anyone who isn't ignorant of reality and has even a bit of self discipline, self respect, and an appreciation for what millions died to give us then they simply cannot buy an Xbox One for just this one reason.
The mandatory Kinect2.
...and no there is no debate on this.
If you buy an Xbox One you are in one of those sad categories.
People can lie to themselves about it, they can try to lampoon others, but the facts are facts, everyone wants your data, legally and illegally. They want to exploit you to make money, serve some agenda, or both.
M$ is not a company you can trust, and all trust given to it concerning privacy they pissed away with their actions...ongoing actions I might add.
The US spying on people isnt just to spy on anyone its to spy on people that are possible threats to our country. At the end of the day I dont have anything to hide...knowing the government is trying to stay one step ahead of the next serious threat doesnt bother me. Its rather a good feeling the government is trying to use all its resources to find the next people that may possibly decide to fly some airplanes into buildings.
Vladec, serious question: do you think Mennonites are a possible threat to our country?
It's not simply about "picking sides," it's about not supporting anti-consumer behavior, whether that be forced DRM, forced peripherals (that do also happen to be good for spyware, whether for marketing or government), cut-corner hardware, bait-and-switch marketing, moneyhatting timed exclusivity, nickel-and-dime proprietary peripherals, participation in questionable surveillance programs, or just a general sense of condescension toward their current and potential customers. While "sides" may end up being chosen, they are not necessarily chosen arbitrarily, and can be based on something more substantive than "Halo is lame," or "PSN sucks." I don't picture Sony to be some happy-time altruistic company that makes video games out of the benevolent warmth of their hearts, but I do at least feel that they have a modicum of respect for their customer base, and are trying to be successful by making the best product for their customers, not heavy-handed schemes to subvert what gamers really want.
I think it will be but not right now, maybe when the new gen starts becoming old that's when the systems will be push to it's limits and PS4 might shine more at that time.
Specs matter, if they didn't then none of the big 3 would but the time and effort and money into developing better more powerful consoles. The ps4 is also easier to develop for than the ps3 was.
But the ps3 was the most powerful system last time and when devs knew how to use all the tools it showed.
TLOU, uncharted 2, killzone 2, metal gear solid 4,
God of war 3, infamous and heavy rain all ps3 exclusives all amazing games. 3rd party games will likely be the same on both systems, however some have content specific to their respective boxes watchdogs for example has content for ps4, fifa has something Xbox1. But saying specs don't matter is like saying my car with with 160hp is as fast as your car with 300hp.
Specs meaning nothing if you have no games to play.
Specs means alot especially if the most powerful system is $100 cheaper than the weaker system.
And to add, Xbox One is not just about games, 50% of 360's lifetime was focus on Kinect. Hell, can you imagine how they are going to focus on Kinect now that its already in your Xbox One? that means the next E3 will be all about Kinect and Halo. This year will probably the last time Xbox One is featuring real games LOL
Like i said before you can build a electronic product with superior specs and all but it comes down to engineering design and components used inside. So specs dont really matter at all.
yeah but look at what sony does with soecs and hardware! ms focus is on games now but later who knows . sony is always about the games always delivers ms doesn't. ...... or maybe they will xhange their ways who knows lol
Ps4 specs are rated at raw power but reading comments from well versed tech engineers in computer design the ps4 design isnt all that great.
It wouldn't matter as much if the price was equal. But so far you're paying $100 more for a significantly weaker system.
Yes, they matter a SHITLOAD, just not nearly as much as the games themselves
Imagine, if only MS didn't release kinect back then, and now they offer kinect built-in Xbox One, i think it will make hype like Wii did.
Maybe we're gonna say PS4 is like conventional console and Xbox One is like console of the future...
Funny I pre-ordered both consoles. I've never been a Playstation fan....ps2 vs xbox (xbox dominated graphic wise & ONLINE GAMING) ps3 vs xbox 360 (xbox360 had the better titles, XBOX Live revlolutioned the online gaming community It also broke all the times I've owned 4 xbox360s so far....PS3 better graphics / superior components + reliability but sub-par online and lack of titles and some ridiculously long load times)......NOW Onto the topic that at hand the Xbone vs Ps4 (Xbone is the future it goes beyond gaming hands down... I like what it can do from a gaming and media prospective its IMPRESSIVE and any PS fanboy that says otherwise is a troll, I believe the whole used game thing is taken by people the wrong way completely. Im almost 30 I dont trade video games with friends and I rarely go over to my friends houses to play video games but IF I EVER DECIDE TO with my Xbone ill be able to log onto there console and play my games at there house! Another thing to address is the whole needing to be online ask yourself when arent you online? and who doesnt have access to it all the time? unless your in a 3rd world country of course..now the PS4...to me the PS4 is the superior console when it comes to gaming and playstation+ is what brought me on board with the PS4. This is history repeating itself with the PS3 vs the Xbox360 in a sense but this time around Sony learned a lot from its mistakes and what MS did with the 360. I do believe the this will be a tight race to the end with both consoles the only way Sony fails is it lacks in titles again and playstation+ bombs. Another thing people bring up is the Cloud service for the xbone....sure it can give it the power of "4 xbones put together"...I'll believe it when I see it. PS4 Galakai....well from what I read online its just going to be a service that you will stream games directly from and will HEAVILY depend on your internet connection which in my eyes is a big FAIL cause while everyone may have a connection faster then dial up I dont beleive everyone has a good enough connection to stream games...there will be some SERIOUS issues with lag or gameplay being incredibly downgraded. As far as all the MS fans boys and PS fan boys....lets hear all the bashing and stupid comparisons the last 10 people before you wrote :) I look forward to hooking up my PS4 to my Xbone :)
Yes, they do actually. I want to get my moneys worth when I buy a next-gen console.
umm yeah specs do matter. I'm just glad that the system I will be buying anyway, comes with more power to boot (:
Not if your hardware has a 30-50 % power deficit.
The us spy's on you every day and that's with out you haveing kinect stop using it as a excuse.


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Phishing Supply Chain Part 1
I was in Helsinki last week to talk about phishing at an IT security conference, and after presenting a slide that shows the 'supply chain' of phishing, one of the attendees asked if I would describe phishing as organized crime.
My answer was that it wasn't anything of the sort. It might look like an international version of good old organized crime, and it's certainly not the one man hacker show it used to be a few years ago, but there's nothing orchestrated about phishing or, for the matter, online financial fraud. Speaking of Security... | Blog Entry: Uri Rivner | Phishing Supply Chain--Part 1 of 2: 1088
Back to: PC Security, privacy news

subset: commoncrawl


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The lights dim and the curtain raises and ....and ... your not there .... just an empty stage and some rather inane music playing for what seems an age. Then you appear, ambling on to the stage you look straight at you one listener sitting in the theatre and open with the words. "Hello guys, how u doing? I've just banged me hand on the mic, got with me today Dave, I going to pretend I haven't met Dave in the dressing room ... are you there Dave?"
Your listener can only just about hear Dave as he is off mic. Dave also ambles onto the stage and ignores the listener sitting out there in the stalls. "Allo mate." says Dave to you, "owe are you doing?"
"I'm alright mate how are you?"
"Can't complain I been to your mate in Kettering about a ....."
Suddenly out of the corner of your eye you see your listener get up and leave the theatre. Now answer me this question ... why do YOU think he left and stopped listening?


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Hello, I am programming an AIR application that will be caching/saving some data from our remote server to the users machine. I am doing this for that the application doesn't have to make the same request and can run offline.
I am using Flash Player's SQL classes to save the plain-text data and binaries. But I question what would be more optimal: to store binaries (Images and SWFs) as BLOBs in the database or to have a URI pointing to them in the user's
Answered here: http://forums.adobe.com/message/3120825#3120825


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Separate names with a comma.
Discussion in 'Community' started by MacAztec, Jul 21, 2002.
Haha, found this amusing...
and who ever said I didn't do one liners!
oh, that was me
You made that?
Boring, ugly, stu...
Oh, that's right, Aztec. Duke made his first one-liner.
Let's welcome duke to Macrumors!
Check out the middle of the page!
well, technically the post isn't one line, but I'll agree that sometimes you don't need to say much to get your idea across. its not a 'I agree' post, that's a totally different animal, and something I won't do.
I had to comment, because I found it in bad taste, especially after dealing with all the crap the first thread about Ellen Feiss generated. and, no, its not my work
I'll give you that, duke. But you did post a one sentence response with little meaning!
I would NEVER go into the area of a simple one word response, such as "I agree" or "Maybe" or some bullsh!t along the lines. Those posts have even less meaning than what you did, duke. But I was making note of your decision to walk away from the long posts, similar to jefhornyfield (I'm sure someone is going to ask), and join the community of shorter but useful responses. And even if they are super-short, you damn well made some sign of humor.
lol we already knew she was stoned tho
i aggree
Just kidding
but anyways one liners can be useful when you want to convey a blunt message, such as:
I still can't believe the problems the first thread generated. I'm sorry I started it--though someone would've done it had I not.
Then again, I don't have any young daughters. I might think differently if I did.
don't loose any sleep over it. you're right in saying that someone else would have said something about it.
but it would be tough coming in here and seeing things like that said about you, whether they were true or not. and there is no reason not to think that she saw it - there are other switch stars on the forums. things to consider when slamming real people.
but the question is...
we already have one of the "switchers" on macrumors...
do u guys think she's been on here?
and if so...I'm sure she's seen us talking about her...
Re: but the question is...
Probably, but if you look at all the "Guests" in the "Whos Online" list, all of them are viewing serious threads like "New G4 tower pic" etc.
She's not high, it's genetic - stupidity and severe reality disconnects run in the family.
Sounds like you know from first hand experience on those...
All I really want to say about this is... Get over it, go on, move on, nothing to see here...
Oh, and I'm sure none of you have looked like you were ****ed up, and were not at the time... right chitman???
Heh, I'm not so sure what your definition of "****ed up" is, so I'll decline to answer that question.
That alone proves my point...
I'm just very tired right now thats all.
I'm off to bed. See you crazy forum people later.
Of course, it's always sorry officer I don't know how that could have possibly happened ...
So she does pot, I mean wtf aslong as she wasn't high when she did the ad.
Bong water for all!!!
It might have been believable that she's high if it was a flower power iMac ad and ended up with freezeframe like that
Seriously, don't you think the first frame at the start of some of the switch adverts are really unflattering to the people in them anyway ?
ha, this is basically the video equivalent of sound bites - video bytes? - if you take something out of context it could be used for almost anything with some creative editing.


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Silicon Power announced its Blaze B10 USB 3.0 flash drive with color-changing pattern according to temperature of the drive. Thanks to the SuperSpeed USB 3.0 interface, the Blaze B10 offers up to 70MB/s transfer speeds and is backward compatible with USB 2.0/1.1.
Silicon Power's B10 is available in 8GB, 16GB and 32GB. It measures 72.4mm x 17.4mm x 10.0mm and weighs 9.5g.


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Past Articles:
Thoughts on PokerStars VIP Changes
The Top 9 Myths About Online Poker
The 4 Worst Tips Given To Beginner Poker Players (Don't Fall Into These Traps)
Should You Play Poker Professionally?
Poker Can Change Your Life: 4 Inspirational Rags to Riches Stories
The Discomfort Zone: Manage it for Growth and Success
An Intro to Daily Fantasy Soorts
The 4 Main Psychological Principles That Shape Your Poker Play
A Detailed Rake and Reward Comparison of Three of the Top Poker Sites
Don't Jump The Gun: Get Full Value From Your Best Hands
The Weekly Shuffle Archives, 2005-2018
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Casino Incompetence
THE WEEKLY SHUFFLE, 2009-02-22, by Ozone, TwoGunIt's no secret that the casino industry has been obliterated in this economy. That was going to be an inevitability whether they were operated well or not. Gambling in a casino is the epitome of discretionary use of funds, and anything discretionary has gotten hit hard in the last several months. Yet, in hindsight, there are a few things casinos could have done to mitigate the damage. There are also a few things they could still do to avoid going bankrupt. Bankruptcy is a possibility for some firms (Harrah's, Wynn) and perhaps a probability for others (MGM, Las Vegas Sands). Here are a few things casinos could have done to hedge their damage in this environment, as well as a few things they would still be wise to do in order to help avoid bankruptcy.
Aggressive Overexpansion
Most companies have been hurt by the credit crisis. This is especially the case for high-end companies. Vegas casinos were flat-out caught with their pants down. When the economy was doing well, Vegas was expanding rapidly. It didn't take long for a bubble to materialize. Casinos were being built or expanded with a "if you build it, they will come" mentality. Every hole-in-the-wall casino started thinking they needed a 40-story tower added to their roof.
There are many examples of this senseless over-expansion. Two of Vegas's biggest properties, Wynn and Venetian, decided that additional billion-dollar upgrades to their already extravagant resorts made sense. And thus, Encore and Palazzo were erected. These properties were launched with comical timing. Encore opened just a few months ago amidst the worst of the economic downturn.
Another high-end Vegas resort that most likely will never even open is Echelon. Properties like the Stardust and Frontier were bulldozed to make room for the massive, $4 billion dollar Echelon project. Construction had only just began before the project was put on a "temporary halt". If it ever resumes, it likely won't be for several months or years. Echelon's owners are probably hiding somewhere after investing hundreds of millions into something that might conceivably never make a dime!
Sub-Optimal Comp Systems
"Comp" (short for complimentary) systems in Vegas are designed to give players a "rakeback" of sorts on their gambling activities. It has evolved into a dance between players and the casino. The silent agreement is that if you play, maybe you'll get your room, food, transportation, or all three for free. However, the way in which casinos have implemented their comp systems is less than optimal.
Players are comped based on the duration of their play, average bet size, and the game. Essentially, they are comped based on the expected value (EV) that they give up to the casino. In a vacuum, a system like this makes sense. In practice however, it ignores a few human-elements such as the fact that if people are winning, they will continue to play and if they are losing, they will quit. People have a maximum amount of raw money they are willing to lose, not a maximum amount of EV they are willing to give up. So essentially casinos will balk at the requests of a high-roller who blows $3,000 playing $200-a-hand blackjack for thirty minutes, but will treat someone who bets $25-a-hand for 8 hours preferentially.
Of course, from the casino's standpoint, this does make a certain amount of sense. After all, the $25 player gave up much more value to them than the $200 player did. However, hosts and pit bosses who just "follow the computer" with regards to giving out comps regularly alienate bigger players who didn't get a chance to flex their money-muscles since they went broke so quickly! Sure, they might not have any money left to gamble with on that trip, but why not throw them a free hotel room as a gesture of goodwill for next time? After all, they did just win $3,000 from them.
It seems that most casinos have not changed the algorithm of their comp systems to reflect current economic conditions. In a more flourishing time when their hotel rooms were in high demand, it made sense that might not be able to meet every request. But right now, their hotels are practically empty. It costs them almost nothing to put someone in a room that will otherwise just remain empty.
The comp system for the table games necessitates the high roller to generally ask the casino host for a free room or meal. Given people are more unwilling to part with their cash than ever, it's downright silly for these casinos to play some sort of cat and mouse game with one of their many empty rooms. Be straightforward with players. Tell them that if you lose amount of dollars or put amount in play, we'll comp your room, guaranteed. Simple as that. No need for some secrete, elaborate computer system that confuses and angers players.
If Vegas was ran more efficiently, the nicest 15% of properties would be filled to the brim every night while the rest would be empty. But that isn't the case because the top 15% have alienated or failed to attract what customers are still around!
Unsupportive of Online Poker
The casino industry has always been neutral at best or hostile at worst towards online poker. When the UIGEA was on the table, they were silent. No outspoken opposition regarding the bill was made. This was a slap in the face to a phenomenon that indirectly led to huge growth for them. The WSOP and the poker boom was one of the best things to happen to Vegas since its creation. They basically fell ass-backwards into having their poker rooms (and thus, their casinos) filled overnight thanks to online poker! People started playing from the comfort of their own living room and suddenly decided to head to Vegas on a quest to become the next Chris Moneymaker. Yet, when the online poker industry had its back to the wall, casinos sat on their hands.
An outspoken and favorable stance towards online poker might have not only resulted in no UIGEA, but it could have also paved the way for legislation that enabled them to acquire and run online poker rooms of their very own. The resulting value added might have provided for less reason to worry about whether or not their once-blossoming operation will even survive.
The Weekly Shuffle is our Sunday column with our observations and commentary on the poker world. Have an idea for an article? Leave a suggestion on the feedback page.
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text: Home > Business Samsung Galaxy S9+ camera beats Pixel 2, iPhone X: review ABS-CBN News Posted at Mar 06 2018 11:48 AM | Updated as of Nov 01 2018 07:32 PM Share Save Facebook Twitter GPlus LinkedIn A woman tries out augmented reality glasses with the new Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus mobile during the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain February 27, 2018. Yves Herman, Reuters MANILA - Samsung's Galaxy S9+ is the new mobile camera leader, based on a review by industry tracker DxOMark, ahead of flagship phones from Google, Apple and Huawei. The Galaxy S9+, which will be available locally from March 16, got an overall score of 99, ahead of Google's Pixel 2 with 98 and the Huawei Mate 10 Pro and Apple iPhone X which both got 97. FIRST LOOK: Samsung's Galaxy S9 and S9+ Pixel 2 beats iPhone 8 Plus, Galaxy Note 8 in camera fight: reviews The Galaxy S9+ camera takes "excellent" shots in good light and "impressive" photos in low light, DxOMark said. Samsung "struck a very good balance between noise reduction and retention of detail," it said. The DxOMark review, however, noted purple "fringing" on the edges of high contrast images, corners that are "a little softer than the center" and "slight blue or pink" color in bright light. "These are fairly minor issues, however, and overall, the Galaxy S9 Plus is an excellent bright-light performer," according to the review. Zoomed images on the S9+ are also "noticeably cleaner" compared to the competition, it said. Galaxy S9 vs iPhone X: Samsung's latest takes on Apple's best Still worth a kidney? Flagship smartphone prices are rising fast The S9+ has a dual lens rear camera a first for the S series and a 6.3-inch screen that curves around the edges. The smaller S8 has a 5.8-inch screen and a single lens read shooter. Samsung's dual lens implementation allows for optical zoom, like the ones on Apple's iPhone X, 8 Plus and 7 Plus. Dual lens smartphone battle: Which is best for you? Share Save Facebook Share on Twitter GPlus LinkedIn Read More: Samsung Samsung Galaxy S9+ DxOMark mobile photography camera consumer technology /business/01/19/18/samsung-unveils-bang-for-buck-bets-a8-and-a8/business/01/31/18/samsung-electronics-reports-record-q4-and-full-year-profits/business/01/12/18/samsung-faces-legal-case-over-alleged-abuses-in-china/business/02/08/18/samsung-chairman-named-as-suspect-for-tax-evasion-report


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We've had a lovely week playing games linked to Little Red Riding Hood. At the bottom of this post you will see the links to the other games we have played also.
Here are two more simple ideas that have kept my girls happy, busy and learning!
First off we made some very simple cakes for Grandma using sponges and felt tip marker pens.
The girls loved doing this and as they made them there was lots of discussion about the colours/marks they were using/making.
We presented the completed cakes on a cake stand and the girls had a great time playing with them and taking them to Grandma.
Due to the fact they were enjoying this so much I expanded the play into a game which would incorporate some simple maths. I really quickly made up some cards with the numbers 1-10 stuck on. Then I drew some cupcakes on each card, corresponding to that number.
These would form our orders from Grandma. I played Grandma and would pick a card for Little Red to then prepare the order (the correct amount of cakes.)
Miss G loved doing this and then carrying the cakes to Grandma on her tray. As I 'ate' the cakes I counted how many I had eaten just to emphasise the one to one counting.
A really simple game that we left on the play table. It was later played with by Mr J too – lots of fun and very easy to set up.
The second maths game is related to shape. This took a little longer to make but could easily be simplified and just drawn out.
I made a maze/map for Miss G and Miss M to help Little Red get to Grandma.
As it looked quite bright, they couldn't wait to get their little hands on it! You can just see the little fingers at the bottom of the shot! To make the map I simply got a piece of brown card I had in my cupboard. Cut some post it notes in half and laid them down to create the 'road,' and then cut out some simple shapes in red (well it had to be) felt in order to make them bright and tactile. A few stickers to finish off and the game was ready.
I wanted this game to allow for turn taking as well as natural discussion of shapes and their properties.
To play the game, I got a happy land figure and placed her at the beginning of the map. Mummy then gave instructions to Miss G to guide Little Red to her Grandmother's cottage. I said things like, 'hop onto the tall rectangle,' 'slide down the triangle,' 'bounce on the round circle,' 'balance on the pointy triangle' and so on. They both very much enjoyed it and then wanted to give Mummy the instructions.
A really simple, peaceful game for a bit of quiet time. You can a little snippet of Miss G talking about going, 'round and round the circle,' on my facebook page.
I haven't left this game out for free play as it is quite delicate – so it's definitely the kind I will pull and out calm things down a little!
To see the other Little Red Riding Hood related games, see below…
Little Red Riding Hood's Apples (A Maths Game)
Position: A Mathematical Language Game (A Maths Language Game)


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Police have cordoned off a path next to the River Leven in Alexandria as they investigate an ongoing incident.
Senior officers could not confirm the nature of the incident to the Lennox Herald this afternoon (Tuesday, August 16) but it is understood it took place last night.
One senior officer told the Lennox Herald the nature of the incident is "still to be established".
A tow path which leads to the river has been closed off on India Street and police officers remain on the scene.
More to follow.


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Sunday, May 9, 2010
374 - AIIMS May 2010 Mcqs with answers part 3
a. Negri bodies
b. Guarnerii bodies
c. Cowdry B bodies
12q: Meralgia paresthetica is due to the involvement of
a. Sural nerve
b. Medial cutaneous nerve of thigh
c. Lateral cutaneous nerve of thigh
d. Peroneal nerve
13q: Anterior ethmoidal nerve supplies all except
a. Dura matter in Anterior fossa
b. Internal nasal cavity
c. Ethmoidal cells
d. Lining of maxillary sinus
14q: What is the most sensitive test for the detection of prostate cancer
a. Per rectal examination
b. Per rectal examination + PSA
c. PSA
d. MRI coil inside rectum
15q: What is the best investigation for Fracture of temporal bone?
a. CT
b. MRI
c. X-ray
d. Angiography
2 comments:
14q pr exam + psa
13 q ??? max sinus???
- May 10, 2010 at 4:45 AM
- molak fortynine said...
according to gray -
The anterior ethmoidal branch of the nasociliary nerve leaves the cranial cavity through a small slit near the crista galli and enters the roof of the nasal cavity. Here it runs in a groove on the inner surface of the nasal bone, and supplies the roof of the nasal cavity. It gives off a lateral internal branch to supply the anterior part of the lateral wall and a medial internal branch to the anterior and upper parts of the septum, before emerging at the inferior margin of the nasal bone as the external nasal nerve to supply the skin of the external nose to the nasal tip....
In the anterior cranial fossa, the dura is innervated by meningeal branches of the anterior and posterior ethmoidal nerves and anterior filaments of the meningeal rami of the maxillary (nervus meningeus medius) and mandibular (nervus spinosus) trigeminal divisions
so i agree with dr.kaushik..d ans shuld be maxilary sinus..
- June 7, 2010 at 10:19 AM


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Pronunciation: hi'per-al'i-men-ta'shun
Definition: Administration or consumption of nutrients beyond minimum normal requirements in an attempt to replace nutritional deficiencies.
Synonym(s): superalimentation, suralimentation
Further information
Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.
© Copyright 2018 Wolters Kluwer. All Rights Reserved. Review date: Sep 19, 2016.


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Roll 1860 to 1909 Indian Head Pennies 50 Coins Including 1894 and 1909 Low Grade
Sold for:
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- Sold Date:
- Source: eBay
Nice mix roll of low grade Indian head cents. Oldest coin is made of that heavier material found in the 1859 to 1864 Indians. Good mix of dates across the 1880s, 1890s and 1900s. This roll includes both tougher date 1894 and 1909 Indian cents. The dates on the heavier composite coin plus a few others are not discernible. All coins are culls, damaged, worn, dinged, corroded, whatever. Modest cost for a postage paid bubble wrap envelope with tracking number.


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This wine's lip-smacking peach and apricot flavors are slathered with buttery toast notes, yet kept lively by vibrant acidity. Despite the almost decadent flavors, it maintains its precision through a stunningly long finish and gets even better with aeration. Drink now through 2028.
Paul Gregutt is a Contributing Editor for Wine Enthusiast magazine, a founding member of the magazine's Tasting Panel, and reviews the wines of Oregon and Canada. The author of the critically-acclaimed Washington Wines & Wineries—The Essential Guide, he consulted on the Pacific Northwest entries in current versions of The World Atlas of Wine and The Oxford Companion to Wine.Email: email@example.com.


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You've heard of Young Adult (or YA) fiction for some time, no doubt, but have you heard of one of the latest trends in publishing?
It's called New Adult (or NA) fiction, and it's becoming more and more popular, not only with its intended target audience (protagonists tend to range from ages eighteen through twenty-five) but also with mature younger teens and adults, too.
Meet Olivia Bloom, secretly engaged to marry rock star Berkeley Dalton. She's floored that someone so well-known, popular, and talented would even notice her, let alone date her and ask to marry her.
But she's caught in a difficult position—she does have to keep their engagement … and even their relationship … a total secret. Otherwise, Berkeley's opportunity to play the male lead in a huge new film project will be lost, especially because the leading lady is Berkeley's jealous, manipulative ex-girlfriend, Chris, who wants Berkeley back very badly.
Meanwhile, Olivia, a fashion design major, is hired to help with the costumes for the production (thanks to Berkeley's influence) but the work behind the scenes isn't nearly as forthright, nor the people as possessed of integrity, as she expected. Before long, it's clear that everyone is keeping secrets, and even Berkeley may have a hidden agenda.
Blushing, a Brightside novel by KatieDelahanty, debuts from Entangled Publishing's Embrace imprint, their New Adult line of books. The work—essentially a romance, but with enough unexpectedness to keep readers from feeling like the whole thing is a "same old, same old" cliché—is innovative and entertaining, in equal measures.
The innovation is evident in the story's format. Each chapter begins with one or more Twitter messages ("tweets") between or among the characters. The quick snapshot-style messages are designed to ground the reader in the immediate scene of each chapter and, simultaneously, to open up different facets of each character.
The entertainment factor is present in a number of gratifying ways. The story is written in Olivia's point of view, in a breathless, breakneck, first-person present-tense voice that perfectly encapsulates the typical New Adult female perspective. A wild cast of characters, both primary and secondary, maintain reader engagement from one encounter and page to the next. And the very newness of the New Adult genre itself— with its standard preferences for its characters to strike out on their own, assert their independence, and develop their own paradigms for life—is excellently portrayed.
Blushing is a fantastic example of the rising New Adult genre, and worth your time whether you're a New Adult yourself or not.
# # #
Author: Katie Delahanty
Title: Blushing
Publisher: Embrace (Entangled Publishing)
Purchase here: http://amzn.to/1LxQ6dK
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this work from the publisher through Net Galley in exchange for an honest, though not necessarily positive, review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.


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Updated for 2016: The 8th annual Atlanta Bar-B-Q Festival is turning up the flavor! Located in the Parking Lot of Perimeter Mall, the festival brings two days of flavor to Sandy Springs.
Festival Hours:
- Friday, August 12th: 4:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
- Saturday, August 13th: 12:00 Noon – 8:00 p.m.
Celebrate America's favorite backyard pastime as Atlanta's top BBQ restaurants serve up their specialties! In an exciting Cook Off, over 30 professional competitive BAR-B-Q teams from across the region will compete for cash prizes, trophies, and bragging rights. The festival will showcase the South's best BBQ cooking, live music, and an interactive children's area!
The region's best rock, blues, and bluegrass performers will keep you entertained as you sample your way through the festival! Pick up new tricks and tips over at the Live Cooking Stage for your next BBQ, and be sure to swing by the Kids Village for games and interactive activities.
2016 Tickets & Pricing:
- General Admission: $8 Advance; $12 Same-Day
- Bourbon Experience: $35 Advance; $40 Same-Day
Includes entry into the festival, commemorative sample glass, plus 10 sampling tokens that can be used to select your bourbon samples. Each bourbon sample is priced at 1-4 tokens and additional tokens may be purchased at the event for $1 each.
- Children 12 & under will be admitted free when accompanied by an adult.


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A barbecue pit master (I didn't even know there was such a thing till he called) begged us to sell him a case before a major competition, and a buyer for a major grocery chain ranks this as his top flavor (he even makes lunch for his office mates every day with The Gourmet Collection's Chicken Salt blend). Hey- you can't make this stuff up. If you like chicken (and who doesn't) try it with Chicken Salt. It brings out all the best chicken flavor and then some!! Go figure!!
Note: This product is not OU kosher certified.
Posted by Whitney on 29th Dec 2017
We love this spice! My husband and I use it on almost everything we cook!
Posted by Unknown on 11th Oct 2016
I love chicken salt and Chili Lime, ordered 3 of each.
Posted by jamie Roberts on 29th Feb 2016
I'm from Wisconsin and discovered this spice by accident while on vacation, omg I'm glad I did because now I order all there spices and this one is still my favorite :-) I wish they sold them here because I use nothing else now.
Posted by jamie on 29th Feb 2016
I absolutely love this, it it one of your best spices
Posted by Unknown on 6th Jan 2015
This seasoning was the best on fried chicken! You really don't need a lot and it will be absolute perfection.
Posted by Whitney on 1st Nov 2013
We love all the Dangold spices and this is no exception! My husband loves to bake the little Cornish hens in the oven, and this is his go to spice!
Posted by susan korich on 15th Oct 2013
Chicken salt is the best seasoning for chicken I have ever used. We don't buy grocery store rotisserie chicken anymore because Chicken Salt is better.
Posted by Unknown on 10th Aug 2013
Enhances the chicken's natural flavor. Just remember its a salt base and not a rub.


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Beautiful Christmas-Decoration
Winter for me means: Sitting in front of a warm fireplace with a good book, a glass of wine or a cup of tea, walking through snowcovered woods and visiting X-Mas markets. I am also fond of spending time in a Spa and swimming outside while the landscape around me seems to be asleep and everything is so soft and qualm. Extraordinary food is also a topic in winter. I really like to take more time for the good things in life when it´s cold outside. And of course I love to decorate. Have you already started to decorate your home for Christmas? If not, here are some really nice ideas for you.....Raumkrönung 2) Quite simple but very beautiful 3) I love black and White Christmas decoration 4) A very natural decoration idea via Vibeke Design 5) Love the pillows and the black and white in combination with wood


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Just started the tipping program. Thought I'd show my results like everyone else. It skyrocketed in just one day. I'm very confident in this
Also, I made a promo episode for tipping on my comics if anyone's interested.
Finally got it thank you!
Thanks for adding me!!!
I'm still really new to comic making, and a little nervous to share like this, but this is the Tipping Episode I made xPhttps://tapastic.com/episode/557769
Thank you to the staff!
thank you for adding me!
I will send an email for tipping too, but I'm curious why is this just for the mobile readers? Wouldn't it be more efficient to allow it for both mobile and computer? I use Tapastic exclusively on computer, and I'm sure there are others who do the same. But I'm not entirely sure how the details of a thing like this works, just curious why it's a mobile exclusive feature.
Just sent an email considering my two series Mountain's End https://tapastic.com/episode/347064and Mercenary Gu https://tapastic.com/series/Mercenary-GuI hope tipping can work out for me, since I need to pay my artist and my real life budget is getting tighter I hope it can help in some manner, if not I'll just fund it the good ol' fashion way, hard work and begging my wife to let me spend some money B)
It's currently mobile only because it works on microtransactions that are harder to do off mobile devices. I think the staff is considering ways to make it possible for desktop users, but to start out it'll only be on the app. This is also a super new feature, less than a month since it launched, and it's still being tested to make sure this is a feature in high demand. It's shattered records in the last few weeks, so I have no worries that this will be big for Tapas and they'll focus on expanding and improving upon the tipping feature, however for now it's still in a bit of a launching test stage.
I did! I made it to January e-mails!!
I see the light.
I have a question. If you enroll in the tipping program, but have multiple comics, does that make all of your comics tip-able?
Yep! (20 chars, blah blah)
I can't wait until they expand on it! I have tons of people in my audience telling me they want to tip but can't for whatever reason, or wish they could tip more. (Reasons like "my phone can't handle the app", "the app is crashing", "the ads run out", "I can't have the app because my parents monitor my phone but not my computer", etc etc)
So it would be a big improvement if they'd expand it to desktop and get in touch with peanut lab / surveys and the like. I think adding surveys to free coin earning could kick up the tipping rate big time, and give smaller creators more of a chance too.
I would also like to be able to scroll through the tippers by recent, popularity and name on desktop and not just the app.The app can be a little weird and vary from phone to phone and it gets in the way. I, for example, can't scroll past a certain point - making it impossible for me to even see all the people that tipped me 1k coins or more. This became a bit of an issue last time I decided to give all those people a reward for their help. Thankfully, a member named "tvgold" offered to help me cause the full scroll worked on their phone.
Just made a special episode about Tipping.Better late than never!
Stocking coins on my Tapas app.This is a very exciting new feature.Great results so far!
maybe a way they can integrate tipping to desktop is when you scroll through maybe every 5 pages you'd get a pop-up video add that if watched in full it'll give the user Tapas coins. A simple button to turn it on and off would be good.
Was I supposed to receive an email back about tipping after I email Michael Son? I'm not entirely sure how this all works and the link in the OP is inaccessible in China...
Don't walk towards it, Michael...
there has got to be a better way than to have people email and activate features one person at a time that seems so inefficient and its amazing that you are doing it yourself
I have a question for the tapas people. Are we able to give you a tipping program before we are part of the program but have applied to be? I'm working on one now and don't want to overstep boundaries by sending it when I'm done if I haven't been accepted yet.Thank you!
Yes, it's activated for all comics as well as your mobile profile page.
@michaelson a lot of my readers complain that there aren't any videos available most of the time, do you plan on adding more ? I'm just worried that they'll loose interest in the feature if they think the can't earn any coins anyway... (I couldn't watch a single video these past two days so I'd love more videos too...)


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While cash is not going away anytime soon, bank cards represent the future of your money exchanging. As banks ramp up fees for debit cards and regular accounts, credit cards are becoming even more popular. Keep reading to find out how to use bank cards can work for you.
It's good credit practice to continuously keep two or three open credit cards. This helps improve your credit score, especially if you don't carry a balance from month to month. But, if you have over three cards open, lenders may not view that favorably.
Many credit card issuers offer signing bonuses when you open a card.
You can avoid being late by putting your credit card payments on an automatic payments.
Pay off your credit card bill each month if you can. In a perfect world, credit cards are just used for convenience, using it only for purchases that will be paid off in full monthly.
Watch your balance cautiously. You should also need to know how close you are to your credit limit. Going over that limit will raise your fees and your overall debt. It is going to take a longer time to pay down your balance if you continue to go over the limit.
Always pay your credit card payments. Additionally, many credit companies will increase your card's interest rate, which means an increase in the cost of every purchase you put on that card thereafter.
Creditors use your credit score to decide what sort of card they are willing to offer you. The best cards are usually reserved for those with high credit scores.
Retain a sales receipt when you utilize your card.Keep it until you receive your statement to make sure it is the correct amount. File a dispute if there is any discrepancy. This can help you to be sure that you're never being charged too much for what you never overpay for the items that you purchase.
Do not write your password or pin number down. You need to remember what your password without writing it down so no one else can steal or use it.
Never give your credit card out when you receive a telephone call asking you for it. This is a very common ploy for scammers. Only give your card number to businesses that you can trust. Never give this information to someone who calls you. No matter what or who they might claim to be, don't know truly know their identity.
Credit Card
You get another piece of unsolicited "junk mail" urging you to apply for a shiny new credit card offers in the mail. You might be looking for a credit card, however, you might not. Always rip up any credit card offer that comes through the mail.
Some have the mistaken idea that having no credit cards so it will look like they are not in debt. You must carry one card if you can establish credit. Use this and pay off quickly. If you do not have any charge cards, your credit score will be lowered and you will have a harder time being approved for loans, and future lenders may not have any measure of your creditworthiness.
Credit Bureaus
Avoid prepaid cards when you are looking to get a secured card. These are considered debit cards so they don't report to the credit bureaus. A lot of them charge extra fees and they are nothing more than checking account. Put down a deposit and get yourself an actual secured credit card so that it reports to the credit bureaus, and acquire a secured credit card.
Know the credit card laws that you are protected. Credit card companies are prohibited from imposing retroactive rate increases, as an example.They are also never allowed to double-cycle system. The two important laws that have come into effect recently are the CARD Act as well as the Fair Credit Billing Act.
Stay away from cards that imposes an annual fee. People with good credit scores typically are offered the cards without the annual fees. These annual fees can end up costing you more than what you can earn through any sort of reward scheme offered by the credit card would have provided. Take a few minutes to run the time to do the calculations. Get your glasses out!
Be certain you monitor your credit card transactions. You can even get mobile alerts if they are offered to you. This will allow you the opportunity to report any irregularities or suspicious activity right away. If you notice any suspicious activity with your account, be sure to contact your bank, and if necessary, get a hold of the police.
Charge cards have been slowly becoming the way people purchase things because of the way that their banks have been charging fees on their debit cards. Since there are now lots of credit card providers in the market, you can take advantage of the many offers that are available. To maximize this potential, use the information you have discovered in the article.


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The Skinny: Skoda's light car offering is certainly not light on for technology. The new Fabia packs in everything from mobile phone mirroring to autonomous emergency braking. That makes it something special among non-premium light cars.
The range is much simpler than many too - Skoda offers just two Fabia variants: a 66kW manual or the 81kW DSG automatic tested here. There's also a huge range up dress-up options for those who want to be seen in something a little more unique.
Vehicle Style: light five-door hatchback
Price: $20,290 (plus on-roads)
Engine/trans: 81kW/175Nm 1.4 turbo petrol 4cyl | 7spd DSG automatic
Fuel Economy claimed: 4.8 l/100km | tested: 7.1 l/100km
Skoda launched in Australia as a value-brand: no frills, 'cut price' transport for the masses.
It hasn't taken long for that to change though, with the latest Skoda Fabia now nudging it's Volkswagen stablemate, the Polo - the Fabia 81TSI tested here is just $500 less than an equivalent Polo.
Same engine, same transmission, same warranty.
Where the Skoda wins over the Polo is in the value packaged-in. 'Forward collision warning', autonomous emergency braking, and rear park sensors are all standard. There's also a range of personalisation options at extra cost.
But the slightly larger, but more plainly-wrapped Skoda Rapid is also only only a heartbeat away on price.
It's a good thing then that the top-shelf Fabia 81TSI comes with an unexpected classy feel, plenty of underbonnet zing, and distinctive looks to help set it apart from the light car masses.
Quality: Inside, you will find an array of well-finished surfaces, and a huge feature-panel that reaches across the dash.
The colours of the handsome tri-colour cloth trim and the dashboard insert change depending on the exterior hue they're matched to. Grey cloth and a silver insert are paired nicely with the attention-grabbing Sprint Yellow of our test car.
Solid construction, precise fit and finish and padded soft-points where you're likely to rest your arms make the Fabia feel commendably high-end.
Comfort: Thanks to a somewhat lofty roof, the Fabia feels spacious, and front seat travellers will find no shortage of space.
Jump in the rear and it can be a little tight. Knee-room is lacking, as is width, but again there's plenty of headroom, and great visibility out the expansive side windows.
Equipment: Standard kit in the Fabia 81TSI includes cloth seat trim, leather-wrapped multi-function steering wheel, reverse park sensors, multi-function trip computer, heated power adjustable mirrors, manual air conditioning, 15-inch alloy wheels, and cruise control.
Infotainment consists of a 6.5-inch touchscreen, six-speaker audio, Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity, plus Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone mirroring capability.
For an extra $2600 our test car was fitted with a 'Premium Sports Pack with Colour Concept'.
This consists of a contrasting coloured roof, black 16-inch alloy wheels, LED running lights, lowered suspension, front fog lights, fatigue detection, proximity key with push button start, flat-bottom steering wheel, climate control, auto lights and wipers, DAB+ radio and privacy glass.
Storage: Fabia takes the prize for most innovative storage solutions in its class, hands down. More than just a generous 305 litre boot (1125 litre with the seats down), there's also a stack of usability additions.
There's a relocatable basket that can hold smaller items, like a single grocery bag in place, nets on the floor and front of the boot to pin down anything that might slide about, plus a deep bin, and a bag hook on each side of the boot.
Inside there's a pocket in each door, with a handy bin-insert you can shift about, a deep binnacle at the base of the centre stack, and further storage in the folding centre armrest.
Driveability: From behind the wheel the Fabia offers pleasing refinement and civility, and sits on the right side of a divide that sees light cars either well-presented, or as bare-bones transport.
Thanks to a characterful 1.2 litre turbo four-cylinder, the Fabia pushes out 81kW of power at 5600rpm, and 175Nm of torque between 1400 and 4000rpm.
It is smooth and quiet, and pulls strongly. And, although it doesn't 'spin' as readily as some (throttle response is slightly attenuated), it can be briskly hustled around a winding road.
A seven-speed DSG is the sole transmission offered with the 81TSI; manual shoppers have to be content with a less powerful 66kW engine.
Once rolling, the DSG automatic is incredibly smooth, and acquiescent to the demands of the driver. It's weak point is low-speed manoeuvrability, as it is prone to stutter and lurch during three-point turns, or whilst reverse parking.
As for fuel, we couldn't get close to Skoda's consumption claim of 4.8 l/100km, and a recorded 7.1 l/100km figure is getting up there, particularly with the Fabia's need for 95RON premium petrol.
Refinement: Noise and vibration from the driveline are well sorted. Sink the boot in and engine noise naturally picks up, but is far from disruptive.
Tyre noise is the Fabia's biggest enemy and can start to sneak in at speeds as low as 70 km/h. By the time you hit the freeway (depending on the road surface of course) it can be at quite a roar… good thing the audio system is capable then.
Ride and Handling: With a MacPherson strut front-end, and a torsion-beam rear, the Fabia hardly challenges convention. Hooked up to lower, firmer sports suspension didn't seem to be any handicap to the Fabia though.
The ride was expectedly firm, but not harsh, and by no means did it falter over speed humps or tarmac joins. When shown a set of bends on the open road, the Fabia corners with terrific front-end bite, and little body roll.
Braking: Compounding the jittery automatic transmission are brakes that are too grabby at low-speed, making it hard to glide to a smooth stop in city-driving scenarios.
There's no doubting the performance of the four-wheel disc brake system though. Easily able to drag the Fabia down from speed, and far more progressive at highway speeds.
ANCAP rating: 5-Stars - this model scored 34.16 out of 37 possible points.
Safety features: Six airbags (dual front, dual front-side, full length curtain), forward collision alert with autonomous emergency braking, stability and traction control, ABS brakes with brake assist and electronic brakeforce distribution, tyre pressure monitoring, multi-collision brake, three point seatbelts in all seats and front seatbelt pretensioners.
Warranty: Three years/unlimited kilometres
Service costs: Skoda offers capped price servicing for six years or 90,000km with 15,000km/12 month intervals. The total cost for the program is $2650, with the cheapest service (15,000km/12 months) costing $316 and the most expensive (60,000km/48 months) priced at $612.
Toyota Yaris ZR ($21,490) - Despite an update earlier this year that delivered more striking styling and much-improved infotainment system, the Yaris feels a little out of touch.
A large part of that comes down to a four-speed automatic. But the Yaris is also getting on in years, and does without some of the Fabia's safety kit like autonomous braking and tyre pressure monitoring. (see Yaris reviews)
Volkswagen Polo 81TSI Comfortline ($20,990) - If you're looking at a Fabia, it makes sense to take a look at the Polo. The two share a mechanical package and an infotainment system, the drive is largely the same too.
It really comes down to splitting hairs - the Skoda has a more unique look, and an interior that feels just a wee step nicer, as well as a more practical and user-friendly boot. (see Polo reviews)
Mazda2 Genki ($22,690) - Mazda offers a great handling package, a clever six-speed auto, and a nicely premium feeling interior with plenty of soft-touch surfaces. A heads-up display is a nice touch, and the infotainment system is one of the best on offer.
Boot space and rear seat room aren't the Mazda's strongest points, but if you're only carrying one or two people it makes for a stylish little ride. (see Mazda2 reviews)
Note: all prices are Manufacturer's List Price and do not include dealer delivery or on-road costs.
While Skoda may not be the best-known brand on the market, the backing of a colossus like the Volkswagen Group means that the Fabia benefits from a massive shared-engineering base.
A combination of sweet on-road manners, a modern and high-tech interior, astute powertrain and impressive safety make the Fabia worth a thorough second-glance if you're shopping for a light hatch.
To end up with an on-trend two-tone colour pack like the review car isn't an outrageous expense either, it's part of one of three option packs that bring a load of handy extra features.
And it's nice to see another manufacturer bring some visual flair, much like the Renault Clio does.
Those looking for a level of refinement and maturity, beyond just basic transport, should find a comfortable match in the Fabia 81TSI.
MORE: Skoda | Fabia | Light Cars
- Interested in buying SKODA FABIA? Visit our SKODA FABIA showroom for more information.


text: Brett: Mount the changer under the rear deck using sheet metal screws and lock washers. Route the control cable down the tranny tunnel on the pass. side. Take it back to the metal that supports the rear seat. Route it towards the passenger door and under the rear seat. There is a gap between the rear seat and wheel arch on both sides of the car. Use a fish tape or hanger (tape it well) to pull the cable from the trunk through this hole (stick wire through hole, tape to cable, pull through). Support cable under deck with cable ties. Use plastic wire loom to protect against chafing anywhere you suspect rubbing. Cable ties also help in strategic spots. This method worked well for me in my '86 5k turbo. Brian


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You're probably either getting increasingly outraged at the ways in which your personal information is being accessed online, or getting slowly used to it. If you're in the former category, then this news won't do much to calm you down: retail stores can, and often do, observe their customer's shopping habits by tracking their customers through their smartphone's WiFi, according to RT.com.
In a particularly ingenious little feat of privacy invasion, retail stores have figured out how to monitor the length of time consumers spend in different departments and how long it's been since a customer has visited by tracking their customer's smartphone identification code. Retailers can create profiles of their customers when said customer logs in to the store's WiFi or download's the company's app. Nordstrom started using this method in October of 2012, though they discontinued it after a Dallas TV station reported on it.
According to the Pittsburgh Post Gazette, "the company that sold the tracking service, Euclid Analytics, has tracked 50 million devices in 4,000 locations for 100 corporate and other customers." Opting out is possible, but unsurprisingly complicated, as to do so requires entering your phone's media access control address on Euclid's website.
As usual, we here at FlashRouters feel it's our duty to impress upon you how important it is to maintain as much internet privacy as you can possibly achieve. Check out our recent list of our most popular VPN service provider requests (and WiFi routers) of June 2013, and find out how these networks can help make your online experience secure.
For more VPN news & Service Provider info, and privacy news, follow us on Twitter @flashrouters or like us on Facebook.


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Cliché 38
Various / Fit Vol.1
If I'm a Cliché were a home, Fit would be the guest room. I'm a Cliché has some relatives – whether distant or close – who happen to produce isolated gems that just have to be released. The first volume of Fit gathers four dance tracks made by different people based in various countries. Fitting I'm a Cliché's artistic view is the only thing they have in common, and it means a lot to the label..
1. Fit opens with a Hardway Bros' track entitled "A Diabolical Liberty". The Englishman Sean Johnston took his loose-fitting clothes out of the closet. While climaxing with a Rolling Stones piano sample, the song is an obvious and devilish ode to the Baggy sound.
2. Liv Spencer (Still Going, House of House) and Max Pask (Populette), two Frenchies based in NYC, temporarily associated (hence their Spencerpask moniker) to create "Way Too Long". A naive yet powerful little tune is the beauty secret of this one.
3. "Iris" was composed by Naum Gabo, the studio project of Jonnie Wilkes, half of Optimo and one of our favourite DJs. It's like C2 was coming from Glasgow.
4. Fit closes with a "Side Effect" of Booze. The effect is hard given the composure: some no- wave macerated in 2011 dance sweat. The cooks : Milo Smee (check his "Heavenz Gate" release on I'm a Cliché earlier this year under his Binary Chaffinch moniker) and Demian Castellanos from The Oscillation. They are releasing two LPs these days on All Time Low.


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Some freebies
Everyone loves freebies, and in the Bible journaling community, you will find a lot of them. So many journalers and artists are also shop owners at Etsy.com and other sites, but they are generous enough to share some of their really cool creations with you to use in your journaling. Below are links to some of the cooler sites I've found, and at the bottom of the page are some margin strips/bookmarks I made following Robin Sampson's tutorial on Biblejournalingdigitally.com. You are welcome to save and share them with the idea of encouraging others to begin their journaling journey. These can be taped or glued into the margins of most journaling Bibles or can be printed on sticker paper. Or they can be printed on card stock to use as bookmarks.
Some of the clipart in my margin strips is available free of charge and for any purpose from clipartpanda.com, cliparthut.com, picturespider.com, hasslefreeclipart.com, clipartsheep.com. All images are in the public domain or permission has been granted to use them through creative commons licensing. Background papers are available from pixelscrapper.com, computerscrapbooking.com, and other places.


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MASKS : Interview Andreas Marschall
English version
We had discovered the German director Andreas Marschall with the excellent TEARS OF KALI, a film shot in 2004 and released in DVD in France in 2009 ! Since then we have not heard of him until we met him in the alleys of the Cannes film market 2011. Good news, the director is about to finish its new opus, a strange film named MASKS.
Eric Dinkian: Can you tell us what you have done since TEARS OF KALI ?
Is it finished ?
How can you achieve a movie without any funding ?
The current mood is around zombie flicks, hardcore violence. Why the giallo?
The trailer is very effective, very disturbing, not because of the violent scenes but because of those people wearing those strange masks. Were you searching for this kind of effect ?
What reaction do you hope from the audience ?
You said earlier that the German industry does not support horror movies. What do you think about France ?
Is there anything else you want to say to our readers ?
Official website : www.masks-themovie.de
Dossier réalisé par Eric Dinkian & Sandrine Ah-son.
Remerciements à Andreas Marschall, Ivo Scheloske & Anolis Entertainement.


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Available ebook formats: epub mobi pdf lrf pdb txt html
We make your dream of being a self-published or published author come true. My name is Pat Grayson and I have been a writer for over twenty years and a publisher (www.heartspacebooks.com) for the last ten years. I set up Writer's Angel: (www.writersangel.com) because I am passionate about supporting authors like you to become published. This is whether you have a finished manuscript or are struggling to write the first word, I would love to assist you, to become a successfully published author. We are based outside of Melbourne, Australia, but have clients in Sydney, Adelaide, South Africa and in fact, all over. Or you may want us to help you improve your writing skill. Many of our authors have grown from ordinary writer's through to being very good writer's under our guidance. But not only that, they learnt to love the writing process and now regard themselves as writer's.


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Members of the orchid family, Orchidaceae, are classified as perennial herbs. Most members of Orchidaceae are known for their bright, characteristic blossoms and fragrant smell, but there is a wide variety in the family, manifesting in a few truly uncharacteristic plants. They come in many different shapes, sizes and colors. According to the Royal Botanical Gardens of Kew, there are 880 genera of orchids within the family Orchidaceae containing close to 22,000 species and countless hybrids.
Vanilla planifolia is the plant from which commercial vanilla flavoring is extracted. Surprisingly, this plant is a member of the orchid family. This orchid gains the prestige as the only orchid used in industrial applications, mainly the food and cosmetic industries. Native to Mexico, this orchid is also known as flat-leaved vanilla and Tahitian vanilla. It prefers moist, humid climates. The yellow flowers of Vanilla planifolia last only one day and are self-fertile plants. Vanilla flowers must be hand pollinated to produce fruit, making these time-sensitive plants lucrative to grow at home.
Bee Orchid
Most plants in the Orchidaceae family are tropical or subtropical, requiring hot, humid climates for growth. The bee orchid, Ophrys apifera, is native to southern England and the Mediterranean, making it a temperate climate plant perfect for gardeners in temperate zones. The flowers of the bee orchid are pink or purple in color and form in spring. The plants require a cold period of growth over winter to be able to blossom in the spring. At maturity, Ophrys apifera grow to almost a foot in height.
Cattleya Genus
Orchids in the Cattleya genus are some of the most common orchids used in floral arrangements. Native to Central and South America, these orchids are available in every color except for black and blue. Cattleyas are known colloquially as the "Queen of Orchids" for their prevalence in the cut flower world. They enjoy full sun, but require a period of shade during the hottest part of the day. Like most orchids, cattleyas prefer a tropical or subtropical climate with temperatures of about 85 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and no less than 60 F at night with high humidity. In their native habitat, cattleyas are subject to periods of dry soil between waterings. These orchids do best when their natural conditions are mimicked.
Bird's Nest Orchid
Not all orchid plants are famous for their fragrance or smell. The bird's nest orchid, Neottia nidus-avis, is one of two types of orchids that lack chlorophyll. This orchid obtains its nutrients from a symbiotic relationship with a host plant. Bird's nest orchids prefer soils of a high pH content and are found throughout the world. They are not grown commercially, as their fungus-like appearance makes them unpopular.


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The first thing you need to do is create a "package", which determines how much disc space, bandwidth, e-mails etc, your customers can use. If you're starting your own hosting company or offering your clients web hosting, you may want to set up several "levels" of hosting that can vary in cost, and this is where you set those levels up. You can simply set up a single level as well, if you like.
First, locate the Add Packages link on the left side menu, or click on Packages icon in the center area of the screen, then click on Add Packages. NOTE: Either way works fine in all cases; it depends on your preference. The left side menu is a little quicker and more direct with commands, but some prefer using the icons in the center of the screen. WHM doesn't care how you get there.
After choosing Add Packages, you're presented with a list of features to assign to that package.
- Package Name: Type in a name for that package that you'll remember for your own reference (ie Gold, Bronze, Silver, Beginner). Make it something you can recall while creating your accounts later.
- Disk Space: Enter in how many MB of disk space you want to assign to the package. This is commonly referred to as the Quota. Remember, this is in megabytes (MB; which is a million bytes, roughly), so 1000 MB would be 1 GB (gigabyte, or one billion bytes), 5000 would be 5 GB, etc.
- Bandwidth : Enter in how many MB of bandwidth or data transfer the customer will be allowed per month. Bandwidth refers to data sent out from the server to a surfer's web page, whether it be images, text or data. This is entered the same as above; in MB.
- Max FTP Accounts, Max E-Mail Accounts, Max E-mail Lists, Max Databases, Max Sub-Domains, Max Parked Domains: Same as above, limits the amount of the listed item, represented by a number, or you can just type "unlimited" to not restrict the amount of these items on a customer's account.
- Dedicated IP: If you see this here, check it if you offer dedicated IPs and this customer has requested one. Otherwise, disregard this box.
- Select Options: Shell Access, FrontPage Extensions, CGI access: Most of the time, these are all checked, unless you have a specific reason for removing them.
- Cpanel Theme & Feature List: Leave as is.
- Language: If a customer requests an account in a certain language, then by all means set it this language for them. Otherwise, leave it as English by default (or your own native language if not English).
That's it. Click the Add button and your package is created. Now you're ready to create accounts, and assign these packages to them.