Mercedes-Benz unveils its vision of a self-driving car

Mercedes-Benz unveils its vision of a self-driving car

Mercedes-Benz is far from the first automaker to experiment with self-driving cars, but it's making up for that in style at CES. Meet the F015 Luxury in Motion, a previously hinted-atconcept car designed from the ground up for robotic transportation. Passengers normally sit face to face so they can talk more, and anyone can control the car through remote units and gestures -- this is really a classic, luxurious carriage remade for the modern era, according to Mercedes. The vehicle even has color-coded LED lights on the front and back to let you know what the car is thinking. It can tell you whether or not it's in autonomous mode, or give pedestrians a heads-up when it's safe to cross. You probably won't ever see the F015 go on sale, but it's a good clue as to what Mercedes hopes you'll drive (or rather, not drive) in the years ahead.

Jon Fingas

Engadget

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Schlage's new smart lock lets you open your door with your voice

Schlage's new smart lock lets you open your door with your voice

Smart Locks are starting to become big business, with even Sony (Sony!) muscling in on the action. If, however, you'd like to buy a model from a company with any sort of reputation for security, then Schlage Sense might be the door furniture for you. Simply bolt this thing onto your front door and cram in four AA batteries and you'll almost instantly be able to access your home, either with your key, a four-digit PIN or your smartphone.
There are plenty of customization and control options, too, since you can create up to 30 entry codes and control how and when guests can enter. The companion app even integrates with Siri (as well as Apple's HomeKit) and means that you can ask Siri to open the door if your hands are otherwise occupied. It's still early in the product's development, and it's not likely to hit the market until much later in 2015, but the price is probably going to be between $199 and $300.
Daniel Cooper
Engadget

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Zolt's tiny laptop charger can also power up your phone and tablet

Zolt's tiny laptop charger can also power up your phone and tablet

The race for the world's tiniest laptop charger is on. Last year we saw FINsix's Dart charger debut at CES, and this year it's Zolt's time to shine. Just like the Dart, Zolt's entry is a 70 watt charger that's significantly smaller than your current laptop power box. But Zolt adds an additional USB port, making for a total of three ports to charge your devices (only one can recharge your tablet, though). And, as Zolt's founder and CEO Dinesh Ramanathan noted, the other big difference is that it's actually functional for its CES debut (we only saw mockups of the Dart). It'll come with a variety of tips for various laptops, and the company also plans to add Apple-compatible adapters as accessories. Zolt will be available for pre-order tomorrow for an introductory $80 price (it'll eventually bump up to $100), and the company expects to start shipping it in spring.

Zolt didn't feel as light as the Dart when I held it, but it was still substantially smaller than every other laptop charger I've seen. And while it can charge three USB devices at once, only the top port can charge laptops (a small notch on Zolt's laptop charging cable prevents it from going into the other ports). A heat shield that wraps around much of the device keeps it from overheating, and there are small vents to let heat escape from its top as well. Now that our laptops are getting smaller, it'll be interesting to see if people will actually pay for the privilege of lightening their computer bag with smaller chargers.
Zolt

Devindra Hardawar

Engadget

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Is Shay Mitchell Totally Stealing Harry Styles' Signature Look?

Is Shay Mitchell Totally Stealing Harry Styles' Signature Look?

Shay Mitchell is currently on an amazing vacation with her besties, but we couldn't help but feel a sense of déjà vu when we saw her latest pics. The one and only Harry Styles immediately came to mind!

Why? Shay wore a dramatic headband while she posed with a super cute new friend, and this literally is Harry's go-to look.

Seriously, Harry and head scarves have become one, especially during One Direction's Where We Are Tour. We think it's safe to say that he is a pioneer for guys using this stylish accessory to tie back their long hair. Here's an example:

We must say, Shay does look so pretty with her colorful headband and if she really is taking her style cues from Harry, then we just love her even more. Who wouldn't want to look as fabulous as this guy?

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Soon you can start Hyundais with an Android Wear watch

Soon you can start Hyundais with an Android Wear watch

Oh, you use an app on your phone to start your car? How passé. Hyundai's gearing up for CES by talking up an Android Wear app that'll let you remotely unlock, locate and start your car with a tap on the wrist. Naturally, if you just can't muster the energy to swipe on your smartwatch, you'll be able to issue voice commands to get the job done, too. Isn't the future grand?
While we're not exactly surprised to see a major player like Hyundai embracing the ballooning wearables market, it's definitely not the first company whose cars have bent to the whims of your watch. Android developer Matthew Patience whipped up a little Wear app of his own back in July that lets Tesla S owners fiddle with the sunroof remotely secure their rides... albeit without Tesla's express permission. While that clever hack only worked for one car, Hyundai's Wear app should play nice with several -- any of the company's BlueLink-enabled cars should listen to your commands, even ones as long in the tooth as the 2012 Sonata. For now companies like Hyundai are in the wearable-friendly minority, but somehow we don't think it'll be long before others start to see the light (especially since the Droidification of the automotive industry is already well underway).Hyundai News

Chris Velazco

Engadget 

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Swiftites Taylor Swift Falls Down Stairs on New Year's Eve 2015!

Swiftites Taylor Swift Falls Down Stairs on New Year's Eve 2015!

Taylor Swift had a scary moment that she thankfully recovered from quickly when she slipped and fell down a couple stairs on Wednesday night (December 31) in New York City.

The 25-year-old singer was walking off the stage after her performance on theDick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2015 special when the moment happened.

It seems Taylor is totally fine though as minutes later she appeared on stage to count down the seconds as the ball dropped, where Ryan Seacrest gave her his coat to stay warm.

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Harry Styles Tweets His Thanks For 2014

Harry Styles Tweets His Thanks For 2014

One Direction member Harry Styles is very thankful for everything that happened to him and his band in 2014, and he wants everyone to know it! Harry took to Twitter with the following thankful Tweet,

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Demi Lovato Wears the Coziest Pajamas Ever

Winter is the season when everyone breaks out the onesie, but Demi Lovato has just taken this epic pajama staple and brought it up a notch. She snapped a pic showing off her new cozy pod, which is basically a giant onesie, and Demi's pic is all kinds of perfect.

The singer seems to be totally loving this new and improved onesie! Her blue and pink cozy pod is very spacious and just screams comfy.

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Tesla shows just how far your Model S will go on a charge

Tesla shows just how far your Model S will go on a charge

So you're fortunate enough to be shopping for a Tesla Model S, but you're anxious about just how far the electric sedan's variants will go on a full battery. How do you know you won't be stranded on the roadside because you bought the wrong edition? The automaker clearly wants to put that range anxiety to rest. It just posted a detailed look at the driving range you're likely to get from the Model S based on a slew of factors, including the equipment you use and how you drive. There's a range estimator, too, if you want to see how each of those factors comes into play.
It's no secret that the entry-level Model S 60 has the shortest range, while the 85D is the long-distance champ. Also, some of the efficiency tips for gas-powered cars still apply to varying degrees. You'll lose about 3 percent of your range if you opt for the big 21-inch performance tires, and opening the windows or turning on the air conditioning is a no-no. Both your speed and consistency matter as well. You'll eke a little extra mileage out of your ride if you cruise on the highway, and resisting the urge to mash the throttle will go a long way -- you'll go around 350 miles if you stick to 55MPH in a warm climate.
These figures are still somewhat optimistic, of course, and assume that you're not coping with unpredictable elements like traffic or snow. However, this is a rare chance at seeing how well an EV copes with your driving conditions before you take the keys. And if you're really, truly concerned about driving as far as possible in a Tesla, you can always try scoring a used Roadster.
Tesla Motors Blog, Tesla Motors

Jon Fingas

Engadget

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Xbox One SDK leak opens the door for homebrew apps

Xbox One SDK leak opens the door for homebrew apps

Want to build an Xbox One game without registering as a developer? You may soon be able to, thanks to a leak of the Xbox One developer SDK by a hacking group called H4LT. It cites noble reasons for posting the software, namely to allow greater "creativity and research... towards homebrew applications" on the console. The leak, however, doesn't mean you can start cooking up official Xbox One apps, because you'd need to be accepted into Microsoft's ID@Xbox publishing program and clear other hurdles. Still, it'll let curious types poke around the SDK or possibly check for weaknesses, giving Microsoft another holiday headache.

Steve Dent

Engadget

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Which Color Should Michael Clifford Dye His Hair Next?

Which Color Should Michael Clifford Dye His Hair Next?

Michael Clifford is definitely fearless when it comes to his hair. From hot pink, neon green to straight up rainbow, he has done it all. Now, he's let us all know that he's in the mood to change things up again, asking fans to help him decide which color or style he should try out next!

This shade of blue is perfect for the winter season.

Why not have each section of his head be a different color?

A little sky blue and light purple action going on. 

How about just changing it up for each day of the week? With one day of rest of course.

This bubblegum pink is a lighter shade looks cute.

We have a feeling pizza hair might be his dream come true.

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Taylor Swift Tops DoSomething.org's

For the third year in a row, Taylor Swift has topped DoSomething.org's "Celebs Gone Good" list, which recognizes celebrities for putting their star power to philanthropic use.
The seventh annual list by the non-profit for young people and social change also put Beyoncé and Miley Cyrus in the top 5. One Direction, John Legend, Zendaya, Demi Lovato and Justin Bieber round out the list of 20.

The final list notes Swift's "feminist awakening" this year, as well as her donating all proceeds from the sale of her single "Welcome to New York" to New York City public schools, as good reason for her again earning top honors.
Beyoncé was noted for her own feminist declaration and #BeyGOOD campaigns that support a number of charities from work-assistance to homeless issues.

Miley Cyrus was praised for using her VMAs acceptance speech to raise awareness of the hardships of homeless youths and raise more than $200,000 for My Friend's Place through a Prizeo campaign in a single day.
See the full list below

DoSomething.org's 2014 "Top 20 Celebs Gone Good" list:

1. Taylor Swift
2. Laverne Cox
3. Beyoncé
4. Miley Cyrus
5. Emma Watson
6. One Direction
7. John Cena
8. Shonda Rhimes
9. Tyler Oakley
10. Chris Pratt
11. John Legend
12. Olivia Wilde
13. Kerry Washington
14. Zendaya
15. Demi Lovato
16. Lupita Nyong'o
17. Amy Poehler
18. LeBron James
19. Mindy Kaling
20. Justin Bieber

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