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As you read this, journalists in Europe are getting their first taste of the Ferrari California, flogging the new coupe/convertible through the rolling hills of Italy, and periodically stopping to snack on shaved white truffles and sip Brunello di Montalcino. Jealous? We are. But rest assured our time will come. If it doesn’t, then at least we know what we’ll have to remove from our tanking 401k to get a California of our own… in Europe.

Evo is reporting that the Ferrari California will set back our friends abroad £143,000, placing it right in between the F430 coupe and spider. To put that into a U.S.-dollar perspective, the F430 coupe costs around $185,000 in the States, while the drop-top F430 is priced somewhere north of $210,000.

We’ll have to wait to see how the 460-hp California fares in the first round of reviews, but in the meantime, start saving your pennies and get in line.

For as clean and green and Earth-loving as the Europeans are, they sure do some dirty things… like throw a sooty-exhaust-belching racing semi around hairpin turns with loads of opposite lock – up an impossibly green mountain – just for a hillclimb. But hey, trucks and racing aren’t illegal yet, so we say flog ‘em while ya got ‘em. Check out the video of Markus Boesiger, 2007’s Truck Racing Champion, and his dashing diesel after the jump.

Race truck pushing it on hillclimb

Not content to leave its recently-announced V4500 LCDs to fend for itself in the European market, Sony has brought backup in the order of the X4500 and W4500 Bravia models. The X4500 sequence is accessible in 40-, 46- and 55-inch sizes and characteristics a “floating” design which might compliment the optional colored speaker covers fairly nicely, thank you. Meh — we are myself more and more enthusiastic on the locally-dimming LED backlight, DLNA substantiation and the sheer large amount of of speakers packed to the cabinet (eight on the 55-inch model, six on the tinier ones). We’re too odd to see Sony’s “IB Reduction” in effect, combined amidst interlaced backlight dimming who promises to decrease motion blur without introducing flicker. The W4500 chain appears similar to a modest phase decreased the Bravia ladder and is out there in 40-, 46- and 52-inch sizes. The W4500 string as well has DLNA and LED backlighting in IB Reduction, but no talk about of local-dimming.

EDIT: The W4500 examples do not undergo an LED backlight.
Ultimate picture quality. Ultimate looks.
Introducing the economy of the art BRAVIA™ X4500 and W4500 series

Aug 12, 2008

BRAVIA™ X4500 series
* Full HD 1080p
* Graceful floating design amid translucent frame
* Best-ever clarity, colour, contrast and definition among BRAVIA™ ENGINE 2 PRO
* Rich, deep colours, astronomical contrast and come down electricity consumption based on what i read in new RGB Dynamic LED backlight (46, 55-inch)
* Smoother, brighter fast-moving action surrounded by Motionflow PRO100Hz technology (46, 55-inch)
* Enjoy digital music and photos according to networked DLNA devices

BRAVIA™ W4500 series
* Full HD 1080p
* Innovative styling inspired by new ‘draw the LINE’ design concept
* Superb clarity, colour and contrast investing in BRAVIA™ ENGINE 2
* Smoother, better fast-moving action thanks to Motionflow 100Hz amidst Image Blur Reduction technology
* Enjoy digital music and photos based on what i read in networked DLNA devices

12th August 2008 - Whether you are to the newest movies on Blu-ray™ Disc, nail-biting PLAYSTATION®3 games or sparkling HD broadcasts, there is a mouthwatering opportunity of BRAVIA™ televisions for major viewers who clamor the closing entertainment experience.

“The quality blend of advanced technology and most major design of both the BRAVIA™ X4500 and slim speaker systems, instigate this lendees can now view crystal-clear images in on atmospheric sound without compromising on the seem and feel of this home”, explained George Damigos, General Manager, Marketing, TV Marketing Europe.

“Together surrounded by the feature-packed W4500 series, these kinds of two new BRAVIA™ price points serve the ensured peak of Sony innovation in bringing you the best-looking pictures and an unmatched housing theatre experience.”

BRAVIA™ X4500 series: the exceptionally persist word for critical real estate theatre fans

The stunning flagship of the BRAVIA™ range, the top-of-the-range X4500 string represents the really endure word in unmatched picture worth and breathtaking design.

Available in 3 rating sizes (40-inch, 46-inch, 55-inch), it is packed in on state-of-the-art Sony technologies to deliver Full HD 1080p pictures and dynamic sound who effortlessly surpass everything you have observed before. With no lessened as opposed to 4x HDMI ports for connection investing in a wide array of HD sources, the X4500 string is the closing option for discerning structure cinema enthusiasts who clamor an uncompromised theatrical experience.

Thanks to a valuable new ‘floating’ design, the exquisite seems of the X4500 chain are guarded to take over your service before the TV is significantly turned on. In addition to the handed out sterling silver speaker covers, there is a opportunity of optional speaker covers (Ruby Red or Obsidian Black), permitting for you customise the X4500 string to complement and develop your customized leading space.

To get the ensured highest quality out of your favourite movies, TV broadcasts and games, Sony’s new BRAVIA™ ENGINE 2 PRO filters, cleans and optimises image information before it is displayed on the Full HD 1080p LCD panel. As perfectly as falling picture noise, currently powerful processor widens colour span and smooths motion additonally increasing contrast for deep, cinematic blacks.

For incredible consequences through any picture source desire DVD, the latest-generation DRC (Digital Reality Creation) 3.0 shoots up the resolution employing advanced up-conversion-technology to stream a Full HD 1080p picture. This ensures detail-packed images overly take comprehensive advantage of the highly detailed 1920×1080 panel.

A real cinematic suffer in your own residence demands rich colours and true, deep blacks. For the above all second ever, 46-inch and 55-inch X4500 sequence cases feature an energy-efficient RGB Dynamic LED backlight the current momentarily dims in dark the public of the picture, falling indistinct leakage for boosted contrast and deeper blacks. Clusters of red, purple and green LEDs submit a wider palette of colours as opposed to average grey LED backlights. The result is stunning reproduction of Blu-ray Disc™, DVD and TV broadcast sources, only as the director intended.

46- and 55-inch examples excel amid smooth, lifelike reproduction of sports and a good deal more fast-moving action. Motionflow PRO 100Hz technology intelligently creates surplus frames, putting in them to the hint at and doubling the displayed frame rate. In addition, ‘backlight blinking’ successively switches off horizontal backlight characteristics of the frame investing in every frame. This substantially comes down picture blur without the fatiguing ‘flicker’ affect of average brown frame insertion systems. The 40-inch display size ideal furthermore characteristics new IB Reduction. This ‘cleans’ previous frames before new frame insertion for a more clever image that much amidst decreased motion blur.

Along amidst the W4500 series, the X4500 line is the initial BRAVIA™ television such a connects seamlessly in on opposite networked devices via DLNA in your home. It’s easy to access, share and enjoy digital photos and music in on a good amount of certified devices almost the piece of real estate – fancy VAIO Blu-ray Disc™ PCs and !no! compatible media devices.

You can in addition view your pictures by putting in a USB Memory stick to the USB include on the half of the TV or by directly connecting your Cyber-shot™ or further digital cameras to your BRAVIA™. Enjoying your detail-packed photos in Picture Frame Mode on a 40 inch or a good deal perfect score is planning to bid your memories returning to life.

The final BRAVIA™ entertainment suffer is wound up by an innovative audio process providing 6 chief speakers and 2 woofer speakers on the 55X4500 and 4 primary and 2 woofer speakers on 40X4500 / 46X4500.

Surround effects can be optimised for sports, make a home music concerts or movies, or customised for maximum enjoyment of any sort of programme. The combination of the ultra-thin order investing in the largest technology of the finger speaker and make it easier for woofer produces a really crisp sound grade without fluctuating the style and design of the TV1.

BRAVIA™ W4500 series: exciting images surrounded by any HD source

Whether you are to sports, gaming or whole TV viewing, the BRAVIA™ W4500 sequence delivers extraordinary picture and sound superiority to get the essentially top out of your favourite HD sources.

Available in 3 rating sizes (40-inch, 46-inch, 52-inch), the set characteristics effortlessly new seems inspired by Sony’s audacious ‘Draw the Line’ design concept. Sharing the majority of of the same picture ideas as its X4500 sibling, the BRAVIA™ W4500 chain is packed investing in present Sony technology for the best-looking Full HD pictures you have regularly seen.

BRAVIA™ ENGINE 2 processing guarantees sharp clarity, colour, contrast and definition, additonally Motionflow 100Hz technology carries on fast-moving action crisp and clear. In addition, new IB Reduction ‘cleans’ first frames before new frame insertion for a more intelligent image amidst ebbed blur.

The W4500 chain moreover lets you enjoy multimedia content of a good amount of devices on your residential structure network too validation the DLNA standard.

Japan’s Nihon Keizai Shimbun reads the present afternoon the present Sony plans to turn over its 11-inch XEL-1 OLED TV in Europe in 2009. That dovetails nicely amid a two-week old statement by a Sony representative who said, “I’d be really surprised if their hasn’t arrived in the UK by 2009.” Us too, in the wake of all, it is carried on on be purchased in Japan from the time December of 2007 and was just recently caught slumming the big box outlets in the US. It just turns out expected then, the current Sony can ramp generation to the rate which by 2009 properties would balance the minimal, European clamor for a $2,500-ish TV measuring clearly 11-inches — million:1 contrast or not. Still, it is all a bit late if you ask us (you did right?) seeing as how Sony plans to be giving medium to extensive OLED panels as the beginning of as April 2009.

The dollar rallied to a six-week high Wednesday after U.S. productivity increased at a larger-than-expected rate and sentiment surfaced that Europe’s economy may have slowed considerably.

The dollar rose about 2 cents versus the euro — a large move in the currency market — to $1.5370 on Wednesday afternoon. The dollar also gained against the world’s other major currencies, rising about 2 cents to $1.9530 versus the British poundת about 0.5 cents to $1.0555 versus the Swiss franc and about one-half yen to 104.85 yen versus Japan’s yen.

U.S. productivity gives dollar a lift

Earlier in the day, the U.S. Labor Department announced that U.S. worker productivity increased at a 2.2% annual pace in Q1 2008, well above the 1.7% Bloomberg News survey consensus estimate.

Independent currency trader Andrew Resnick told BloggingStocks Wednesday the Q1 2008 productivity data, combined with a sense that the European Central Bank is behind-the-curve concerning interest rate cuts to deal with slowing economic growth, put traders in dollar-buy mode.

“There’s a sense now in the market that some of the [economic] fundamentals may begin to favor the dollar now, and they’ve been against the dollar for so long. That’s giving the dollar a lift,” Resnick said. “Also, it’s hard to believe the euro could find buyers at these levels, but we’ll have to see. One negative data point against the dollar and sentiment could change.” Resnick added that he is long with the dollar in the euro-dollar and British pound-dollar currency pairings.

U.S. economy bottoming?

Further, Resnick said that although the bulk of the fallout from the subprime mortgage / housing recession has affected the U.S. economy, there’s a growing consensus that the U.S. economy is “approaching a bottom,” whereas Europe “is at the beginning of their economic slowdown.” The perspective is fairly nuanced, Resnick admitted, but if in fact the U.S.’s economic cycle is ‘ahead’ of the European one, that would increase the attractiveness of dollar-denominated investments, boosting demand for the dollar.

A key data point will occur Thursday when the ECB meets to discuss short-term interest rates, with a decision due at 7 a.m. EDT. Resnick said traders expect the ECB to keep its benchmark, short-term rate, the refinance rate, at 4%. But if the ECB’s statement hints at slowing growth or economic sluggishness in the euro-zone, “that would build the case for a likely move higher by the dollar in the months ahead.”

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Toshiba’s been cranking out a pretty steady stream of laptops since the year began, and it’s making sure no slacking goes on in May. Revealed today, the 13.3-inch Portégé M800 weighs in at 4.3-pounds and will be available with a white pearl finish with silver accents, not to mention the white LEDs within meant to keep things classy. Furthermore, you’ll find a 2GHz Core 2 Duo T5750, 1GB of DDR2 RAM, a WXGA (1,280 x 800) panel, Intel’s GMA X3100 graphics set, a built-in DVD burner, three USB 2.0 ports, FireWire / VGA / headphone sockets, 802.11a/g/n WiFi, 56k modem, gigabit Ethernet, Bluetooth and Vista Home Premium running the show. Regrettably, there’s no word on price, but you won’t see this one arrive in Europe until Q3, anyway.

[Via Tech Digest, thanks to everyone who sent this in]

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Britain’s top fixed-line carrier is apparently aiming to get back in the handset game, as Times Online is reporting that said company will reveal a “BlackBerry-styled” device that does everything your typical smartphone can along with one extra inclusion. According to the writeup, the forthcoming device will “switch from BT’s wireless Home Hub indoors to Vodafone’s network on the move,” and it’s expected to be sold with a broadband package. Of course, those familiar with BT will recall that this isn’t the outfit’s first foray in the sector, but it’s hoping the new handset will fare a good bit better than the poorly received BT Fusion. So, how’s about a picture of this thing?

[Via Pocket-lint]

Update: The BT ToGo is official.

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Check it, Europeans — Clarion has just dumped a new duo of PNDs on the market, and they’re both geared up to route you all over your humble lands. It appears that the only major difference between the MAP680 and MAP780 are the actual maps loaded in; the former is available in four regional versions, while the latter features a full 43 European countries. Specs wise, we’re lookin’ at a 4.3-inch widescreen display, text-to-speech, built-in TMC tuner, 3D display of buildings / POIs, lane assistant, Bluetooth (with phone book transfer and audio streaming), a 400MHz CPU, multimedia player and 2GB (MAP780) / 1GB (MAP680) of internal memory. No word on a price or any of that good stuff just yet, but feel free to get more acquainted with the pair in the gallery below.

[Via NaviGadget]

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2008 was predicted to be a big year for the PS3, and it looks like things are going according to plan: Sony announced today that European PS3 sales had topped the five million mark, and that the PS3 has been outselling the Xbox 360 sur le continent since October. Combined with the PS3’s strong US showings lately, and that’s a pretty solid run — and we’d assume things are only get to get better once MGS4 hits in June. Hmm, looks like a few of you decided to take the plunge after all.

[Thanks, Nimro]

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Britain’s top fixed-line carrier is apparently aiming to get back in the handset game, as Times Online is reporting that said company will reveal a “BlackBerry-styled” device that does everything your typical smartphone can along with one extra inclusion. According to the writeup, the forthcoming device will “switch from BT’s wireless Home Hub indoors to Vodafone’s network on the move,” and it’s expected to be sold with a broadband package. Of course, those familiar with BT will recall that this isn’t the outfit’s first foray in the sector, but it’s hoping the new handset will fare a good bit better than the poorly received BT Fusion. So, how’s about a picture of this thing?

[Via Pocket-lint]

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