Hewlett-Packard (HP) presented a product preview of several new professional and consumer desktop computers yesterday afternoon at the Edelman Offices in Manhattan. The presentation pointed to HP’s future, which seems to be streamlining its efforts toward more all-in-ones, as opposed to the more traditional tower and monitor design, in response to consumer demand. Many of the new products presented will not be available in the United States until August or September of this year, but one of the most interesting models is already on the market as of today.
The HP Passport 1912nm Internet Monitor is a relatively inexpensive option for direct access to online content without the use of a PC. Starting at $259, the monitor provides quick and easy internet service through its “plug-and-play” set-up, and is especially designed for consumer-oriented business environments such as lobbies, waiting rooms, cyber cafes, airports and conference centers. According to HP’s official press release, this monitor “delivers access to email, videos, images and music through an easy web interface with a locked-down operating system that prevents vulnerability to viruses. With an Ethernet input and plug-and-play connectivity options, the HP Passport 1912nm offers a four-in-one HP Media Card Reader and five USB ports to support digital cameras and other accessories.”
Also previewed yesterday, and expected to hit the U.S. market on June 24, was the new HP 2311xi IPS LED Backlit Monitor, which features a 23-inch diagonal full HD display in an ultra-slim chassis designed to fit into any environment without taking up too much space. Its IPS panel technology provides an exceptionally sharp, clear picture with rich, vibrant colors and wide viewing angles. Perhaps its most unique and exciting feature is its 178-degree viewing angle, which makes photo or video sharing, as well as gaming, much more convenient for large groups of people. With this monitor, even sitting far to the side of the screen allows for a comfortable and clear viewing experience, making any seat in the house as good as any other.
HP continues to be on the vanguard of exciting new professional and consumer products that make life easier in both business and pleasure settings. As Jun Kim, vice president and general manager of HP’s Display Business Unit, says, “The needs of customers continue to evolve, and HP is well-positioned to meet these new demands by expanding its award-winning display portfolio. HP’s new IPS monitors bring professional-grade technology directly to consumers, while our internet monitor serves as a new tool for businesses to engage with their patrons.”
It’s arguably the laziest possible comparison to suggest that Aaron Sorkin’s new HBO series, “The Newsroom,” comes across like “Sports Night” and “Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip” fused with “The West Wing.”
With that said, however, it’s also hard to deny the inherent accuracy of such a statement, given that it’s a series that takes place behind the scenes of a television program, except rather than sports or comedy, the predominant thrust of the program is politics. Plus, it’s full of bombastic speeches, rapid patter, romantic comedy, and – oh, yes – more than a few walk-and-talks.
In a nutshell, “The Newsroom” is about as Sorkin-esque as anyone could possibly hope for his return to television to be. This, of course, opens a whole other can of worms…but we’ll get to that.
“The Newsroom” begins by introducing newsman Will McAvoy, played by Jeff Daniels, as he sits on a political discussion panel in a college auditorium, and although it’s basically a blind introduction which offers us nothing about his career, we can already tell from his responses that whatever talents he once had as a newsman have been supplanted by a desire to play it safe. It’s also a bit of a given that, in short order, he’s going to give an answer that causes him to break out of his rut, but it’s a testament to Sorkin’s writing and directing that, when it does finally happen, it still manages to feel pretty damned inspirational.
Just when you think you’ve seen or heard of every angle to pitch a so-called energy drink, you hear another one. “Drink this to enlarge your wiener.” “Drink this to make women want you.” “Drink this to be (insert celebrity here).” But here’s a new one: “Drinking a can of Celsius will actually burn calories, just by drinking it.”
“Yeah right,” I thought. I grew up in the Tony Little and Body by Jake (or Body by “Joke,” as a former boss in the fitness industry used to say) era of amazing fitness products that showed results within milliseconds of actually using them.
It sounded too gimmicky, so I looked at the research (which was easy to find on the company’s website), and I was pleased to see that there were seven specific studies which definitely meant the product wasn’t hiding things, making outrageous claims and then heading for the hills.
According to one study, consuming a single can of Celsius burns an average of over 100 calories in the following three hours, and the average person experienced an increase in metabolism of 12% in that same period. An additional study stated that over a 10-week period, men and women who used Celsius showed 93% greater fat loss, 50% more muscle gain, 62% better cardio fitness and 32% increased endurance compared to the group drinking the placebo.
The core of Celsius is its formula called MetaPlus, which is a blend of ingredients designed to work together to increase calorie burning over a three-hour period, specifically. The mix itself is a proprietary blend made by Celsius, but it also includes healthy ingredients lime Green Tea, Ginger, Caffeine, Guarana (not to be confused with the Santana song “Guajira”) and vitamins B and C.
There are eight different flavors of Celsius available: Sparkling Orange, Wild Berry and Cola are all carbonated; Green Tea Raspberry Acai, Lemon Iced Tea, Strawberry-Kiwi and Outrageous Orange are all non-carbonated; and there’s an Apple Orchard Blend which is naturally sweetened and non-carbonated.
Nissan is asking, “Wouldn’t it be cool if someone took mid-sized sedans and broke the mold?” It appears Nissan did just that with the all new 2013 Altima. We recently participated in a media preview of the new Altima and we left very impressed! Nissan now wants everyone to know that they took their best-selling Altima back to its essence and re-imagined it completely. The 2013 Altima offers great horsepower, best in class 38 MPG, and is equipped with a lighter and stronger body. It has improved headlight technology for better visibility and NASA-inspired zero gravity seats that reduce fatigue. It’s their most innovative Altima ever! The 2013 Nissan Altima, one of five all-new models Nissan will introduce this year, is now at dealers across the country. The 2013 Nissan Altima will be produced in Canton, MS and Smyrna, TN.
Check out these cool videos telling the Altima story that will make you smile as well.
With Euro 2012 in full swing, you’ve likely spotted some of the cool gear that the world’s biggest names have been showcasing at the tournament. Although the newest adiZero F50 has been out for a while now, they remain one of the most popular shoes in the game, worn by the likes of England’s Ashley Young, Spain’s David Silva and Portugal’s Nani. I was recently sent a pair of adiZero F50s in the Euro 2012 colorway for review, and as someone who’s always been more of a Nike guy when it comes to my soccer cleats, Adidas has really won me over with the latest incarnation of their signature line.
The first thing that you’ll notice about the new adiZero F50 (apart from the bright neon colorway) is how incredibly lightweight they are. Weighing in at a mere 5.8 ounces, these are some of the lightest cleats on the market. Using a SPRINTSKIN single-layer synthetic upper and SPRINTFRAME bottom, Adidas has created an almost feather-light boot that has a snug, glove-like fit but still offers the stability that you need. Additionally, the SPRINTWEB on the inside provides great support for making quick cuts, while the TRAXION FG outsole ensures maximum grip and acceleration on firm ground fields.
Because of how thin and lightweight the synthetic material is, however, there’s very little standing between your foot and the ball. Though that creates a much better touch as a result, it comes at the cost of the protection you’d get from wearing a thicker or leather shoe. It’s a compromise that will differ from player to player, but if you’re the kind of person that favors speed over protection, you really can’t go wrong with the adiZero F50. They’re not quite as light as advertised when using the thicker comfort insoles that are provided or adding the optional miCoach chip, but so much thought has clearly gone into the smart and stylish design that it’s easy to see why they’re so incredibly popular.
Of course, it doesn’t hurt that the F50 also happens to be the official shoe of three-time Player of the Year Lionel Messi, who absolutely lit up La Liga this year with 50 goals and a record-breaking 73 goals in all club competitions. More recently, Messi lit up the soccer world yet again, but this time as the focus of a massive digital protection in New York City in support of the new adiZero F50 and the Argentina vs. Brazil friendly, where he coincidentally bagged another hat trick. Check out footage from the campaign below.
The Adidas adiZero F50 TRX is available in a variety of colorways at soccer specialty stores and www.shopadidas.com, and in conjunction with our review, we’re giving away a pair to one lucky reader. Click here to enter for your chance to win, and be sure to include which size you’d prefer in the box marked “Additional Information.” Also, don’t forget to follow us on Twitter and Facebook for updates on all of our latest giveaways.
