Tag Archives: Apparently

Motorsport

A Porsche 718 Cayman Makes a Surprisingly Excellent Drift Car

What do you do while you’ve simply received a Formula Drift championship? Buy a Porsche, apparently. Reigning FD champ Chelsea DeNofa simply purchased a 718 Cayman S to show it right into a drift automobile, and it is likely one of the coolest issues we have seen in a minute. A mid-engine Porsche might look like an unlikely drift automobile, however with some modification and DeNofa’s fast fingers, it really works extraordinarily nicely.

 

DeNofa is detailing the construct on his YouTube channel, and it is fascinating. The Cayman is surprisingly nicely fitted to a conversion right into a drift automobile. DeNofa was in a position to preserve the inventory rear suspension geometry, and easily put in new arms that permit for extra adjustment of roll heart and anti-squat and ditch the inventory rubber bushings for heim joints. 

After dropping the gearbox, DeNofa put in a stronger clutch, beefed-up 2nd, third, and 4th gears, and welded the differential, all of which was surprisingly easy. He selected to go together with a Cayman with a turbocharged flat-four quite than a naturally aspirated flat-six for the large energy potential for the boosted engine. Right now, they’re working about 400 hp over the inventory 350, however the objective is to get nearer to 600. That ought to require a brand new exhaust, which is already fitted to the automobile, and a brand new turbocharger.

This will not be a Formula Drift automobile, so DeNofa is making an attempt to maintain as many Porsche elements as attainable. Aside from a cage, seats, harnesses, and naturally, a hydraulic handbrake, the inside is being saved inventory. He’ll possible do away with the small radiators forward of the entrance wheels for a bigger unit to be mounted at an angle within the entrance trunk a la the brand new 911 GT3 RS. That’s to maintain the radiator much less uncovered to impacts. DeNofa assumes it will need cooling upgrades too.

There was additionally the matter of electronics. With any trendy automobile, all of the programs discuss to 1 one other, and while you begin messing with one, the remainder go haywire. DeNofa does not go into particulars, however it took plenty of work to primarily “unlock” the automobile for it for use for this goal.

We’re excited to see this construct unfold. DeNofa dives deep on all of the points of the automobile right here, and there is a lot past cool sideways pictures of the automobile. Though, we’re blissful watching drift pictures again and again.

Motorsport

Toyota’s EV Manual Transmission Could Have Up To 14 Gears

Toyota is bringing a simulated guide transmission to its electrical autos. It’s apparently pretty fun, and the Japanese automaker’s method so as to add extra engagement to its EVs possible will not be restricted to only six or seven speeds, like most manuals as of late. A current patent utility from the automaker printed just some days in the past claims there’s technically no restrict to what number of “gears” such a device could have. Images printed alongside the technical doc present as many as 14 speeds. How does that truly work? The automaker explains that, too.

The patent goes into numerous element regarding the ins and outs of such a system. In a nutshell, the driving force will be capable of choose precisely what number of ratios they need. “The number of the virtual gear stage may be six stages or more, or less than six stages,” the doc notes. “A driver is allowed to select a desired pattern in line with his/her preference.”


News, Technology

Sam Altman No Longer At The Helm Of OpenAI As Board Expresses Dissatisfaction

Altman’s departure came as a surprise to people outside and inside the company. According to Bloomberg, Altman was still sending regular emails to employees as of late Friday morning. He had not shown any signs of trouble and had recently met with world leaders to discuss the responsible use of generative AI.

In October, reports indicated that OpenAI was in discussions to sell shares that would value the company at $86 billion. As for Altman, a Y-Combinator alum and a prominent figure in AI development, he has not yet issued a statement regarding his departure from OpenAI and his future plans. This is not the first turbulent chapter in OpenAI’s history. Founded with support from Elon Musk, the billionaire Tesla owner departed soon after. Rumors suggest Musk’s attempt to acquire the company was rejected, while he claims he disagreed with the company’s shift away from its non-profit focus.

In addition to his involvement with OpenAI, Altman is also an investor in other high-profile companies, including Humane, co-founded by former Apple executives, which recently launched its first AI-infused wearable product. He is also an investor in Neuralink, Reddit, Patreon, Asana, CodeAcademy, and InstaCart, among others. Neuralink is known for its development of human brain interface chip implants and has received FDA approval for human testing.

Motorsport

Goodyear Introduces Wrangler DuraTrac RT All-Season Tire for Snow and Off-Road Use

As winter approaches, Goodyear is gearing up by unveiling a new addition to its Wrangler tire lineup. The upgraded version of the DuraTrac series, called DuraTrac RT, is designed for light trucks and SUVs. This all-season, all-terrain tire strikes a balance between durability and off-road grip while maintaining on-road performance. Notably, Goodyear emphasizes the snow grip capabilities of this tire, which is certified with both the Mud and Snow (M+S) rating and the 3 Peak Mountain Snowflake certification (3PMSF) that meets the requirements for severe snow use in the US and Europe.

Goodyear DuraTrac RT

Compared to the standard DuraTrac, the DuraTrac RT features a less aggressive tread pattern, although it still boasts durability for off-road use. The tire incorporates Kevlar protection and a three-ply sidewall to resist punctures and tears. It comes with a 50,000-mile treadwear warranty and is available in 42 different sizes. The DuraTrac RT is compatible with rim sizes ranging from 16 to 20 inches, with the exception of 19-inch wheels which are not offered.

Michiel Kramer, director of product marketing at Goodyear, said, “From summer off-roading to snowy on-road drives, the new Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac RT provides drivers with the power and versatility to take them where they want to go. Engineered with a proven tread pattern featuring more biting edges for enhanced grip, this versatile tire can help drivers take on any road or trail in any weather condition – rain, snow, or shine.”

This is Goodyear’s second recent tire design announcement. The Wrangler Boulder MT was unveiled on September 21, featuring an off-road-focused tread pattern designed for extreme use. It serves as Goodyear’s flagship tire for trucks and SUVs.

Accessories and Peripherals

How To Use Your Apple EarPods To Fast Forward A Song

While the AirPods only allow you to move to the previous or next track, the EarPods have more precise controls that let you quickly find your favorite part of the audio without skipping the track completely. Here’s what you need to do:

  1. Ensure that your Apple EarPods are connected properly to your mobile device.
  2. To fast forward while an audio track is playing, press the center button (the space between the “-” and “+” buttons) on the remote twice quickly. Press and hold the button on the second press to continue fast-forwarding. Release the button when you reach the desired part of the audio.
  3. To rewind within the track, triple-press the middle button instead and hold the last press to continue rewinding. Release the button when you return to the section you want to hear again.

In addition to the precise skipping feature of the EarPods, you can also use the following playback controls:

  • Press the center button once to pause, and press it again to resume playback.
  • Double-press the center button quickly to skip to the next track.
  • Triple-press the center button quickly to go back to the previous track.

If you’re using EarPods on an Apple device with Siri enabled, you can long-press the center button to activate the virtual assistant. When you hear a beep, release the button and speak your Siri command.

News, Technology

Meta Expands Messenger E2E Encryption With Full Launch Coming Soon

Implementing end-to-end encryption was a challenging task that took several years to complete. In a blog post, Meta explains that the process involved transitioning to a new server architecture and rewriting the code base to work across multiple devices, rather than just the server. Meta had to rebuild over 100 features on top of the updated code stack to support encryption. One example given is the integration of rich URL previews, which were previously pulled by Meta’s servers. Now, the Messenger app itself visits the shared URL, retrieves the necessary information, and displays the preview. Although this adds a bit of extra time, the entire feature pipeline has been redesigned to accommodate end-to-end encryption without compromising on functionality and privacy.

In addition, Meta is testing an on-device recovery option for encrypted chats. This feature requires users to set up a PIN or generate a code. Meta is also exploring the option of enabling users to save these chats on a third-party cloud storage service like Apple’s iCloud. While end-to-end encryption for Instagram direct messages is currently in the testing phase, Meta’s safety chief, Antigone Davis, mentioned in an article for The Telegraph that the chat privacy feature will be implemented for Instagram DMs by the end of 2023.

Motorsport

Hennessey Venom F5 Revolution Roadster Debuts With 1,817 HP, $3M Price

Hennessey is set to unveil the Venom F5 Revolution Roadster on August 18, but we already have all the details about it. The new open-roof hypercar features the same track-focused aero upgrades as the F5 Revolution hardtop that was introduced earlier this year. The car was teased in May when a photo of John Hennessey, the CEO of Hennessey, standing next to NBA legend Michael Jordan next to a black Venom F5 was shared on Facebook. Now, we can see that the car in the photo is the F5 Revolution Roadster, with its black finish and yellow trim.

Hennessey Venom F5 Revolution Roadster
hennessey-venom-f5-revolution-roadster-10-scaled
hennessey-venom-f5-revolution-roadster-Low-3-scaled

The F5 Revolution Roadster shares its visual upgrades with its hardtop counterpart, including larger splitters and diffusers, a rear wing, and dive planes on the front clip. It also features a roof scoop for the engine, even though the roof is removable. The roof is made of rigid carbon fiber composite and is lined with Alcantara on the inside. It weighs only 18 pounds and can be easily removed thanks to high-strength latches. According to Hennessey, the Roadster has been comprehensively re-engineered from the coupe version, although specific details about the changes have not been provided.


Technology

Microsoft Introduces AI Hub in the Windows 11 App Store

Microsoft is incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) into the Windows Store with the introduction of the AI Hub. While it is uncertain how much value this will bring to the average Windows user, it offers a convenient way to explore and discover AI applications that could be beneficial.

This addition also serves as a platform for Microsoft to promote its own Office suite of productivity apps, which now feature enhanced AI capabilities. Back in March 2023, Microsoft launched Microsoft 365 Copilot, which utilizes AI to enhance Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams, PowerPoint, and other apps. With this tool, Word can generate draft ideas, while PowerPoint can create detailed presentations based on a short text prompt.

Moreover, Microsoft has plans to introduce more AI-driven features to the Windows Store. One such feature, highlighted by the company, is the “AI-Generated Review Summary” that summarizes an app’s description and user reviews, providing users with a quick understanding of what an app offers and whether users are satisfied with it.

Long-Term Review

Alpina D3 S 2023 long-term test

In Germany, Alpina’s diesel models are popular because people prefer to commute long distances rather than fly internally. In Japan, which is traditionally a petrol market, they have also started to embrace diesel models, similar to the trend in the early 2000s.

From a dynamic perspective, the Alpina D3 S is quite impressive. It has a firm yet controlled ride, low noise levels, and heavy but consistent steering. The car feels incredibly stable at high speeds and has a reliable and uncompromising approach.

It’s common to compare Alpina models with their BMW M counterparts, but since the D3 S is a diesel and BMW doesn’t offer this engine, I won’t be making a direct comparison to the M3 Touring. These two cars are quite different, and the D3 S lacks the agility of the M models.

If there is an issue with the D3 S, it’s not entirely its fault. The 20-inch wheels with 30-profile Pirelli P Zero tires provide a nicely balanced four-wheel-drive setup with even weight distribution. However, on a couple of occasions, I encountered unexpected British potholes at night that made me fear damaging a tire. It might be worth considering the 19-inch wheels instead, although they have a different design compared to the sleek Alpina classic spokes that I’m personally fond of.

Stay tuned for more updates, including how the tires fare on continental Europe roads.

Second Opinion

Prior’s enthusiasm for the diesel V6 engine in Alpina’s D4 S Gran Coupé is well-founded. Earlier this year, I was thoroughly impressed by its refined cruising and effortless performance and efficiency. I even speculated that you could achieve 40mpg while cruising at speeds over 100mph on the autobahn.