Ultra-Minimalism: 19 Cool Products That Are Almost Impossible to Use

Sometimes modern design and minimalism go a little too far and it’s hard to figure out exactly what the products are. We’ve tracked down 19 products that look quite cool but leave you wondering wtf?

The Cell Tankless Toilet Even in the most modern bathroom design, a toilet is a toilet right? Apparently not, which is fine with us because why should your bathroom have to revolve around the throne? Downplay it with the egg shaped design of the Cell Tankless Toilet. [Via Yanko]

Recycled Paper Side Table It’s kind of easy to call anything that could technically support a lamp and some magazines a “side table” which gives lots of room to minimalist designers. The Recycled Paper Side Table by Matt Gagnon technically fits the requirement of being able to hold something on it, although until you put a lamp on it people will have no clue what it is. $2798 [Source]

KONE Vacuum System Usually you’re looking for a place to stash your vacuum in your tiny city apartment, but here’s one that you can leave out as a piece of modern art. The Dirt Devil Kone Vacuum is cordless, bagless and the coolest looking vacuum you never knew you wanted. $40 at Amazon

Das Keyboard Ultimate Das Keyboard was designed to be the best keyboard ever made and it provides the best tactile typing experience… That’s great but why does it have blank keys? Apparently real typists can feel their way though so silly things like marked keys are unnecessary. daskeyboard.com

Flavor of Time It’s been said that our most powerful sense is the sense of smell and that the scent of a fond memory can stay with you forever—like homemade cookies from when you were a kid, or the way that that she smelled the first time you kissed… But you probably never thought you’d be telling the time based on smell alone. That’s the idea behind the Flavor of Time Clock. There are 12 different “flavor capsules” so each hour a different scent is exuded from the holes on the face of the clock. Source

End Table Bookspine Saver As most minimalist products you might not know what this is until you see it in use. And like the best minimalist designs, once you realize what Habitual Bedside Table is you realize it’s really the ONLY way to design a bedside table… especially if you read a lot. Via Boing Boing

Harmony Salt & Pepper Shakers Is that one of those new tiny speakers I’ve heard so much about? Yeah, that’s got to be it. They’re for your iPod right? This product looks way more complicated than it is… seriously, it’s just a salt and pepper shaker. The outer part holds pepper while the center blob holds salt. corinagarona.com Source

Fuksas Mocha Cups Don’t be surprised if your friends try to ash their cigarettes, or ignore these altogether because they look like art. The Fuksas Mocha Cups eliminate handles and that tired ‘cup’ shape most mugs have. Simple and of course very unique. Source

Mondrian T Lamp Unless it’s on you might think this was some kind of hat rack or something. The Mondrian T is about as simple as it gets for lighting and you get the benefit of clean lines without loads of color which is usually what comes to mind when there’s a mention of something “Mondrian.” See it Source

Osorom Bench A bench huh? It’s hard to imagine something that looks like this would have a purpose, but apparently it does. Actually the curved sides might be pretty comfortable as opposed to a hard square corner. Although those holes all over it seem like if you sit on this thing you’re asking for some uncomfortable snaggage. Yeah nevermind about the Osorom Bench seeming comfortable. Source

Pano Logic Computer If you think that even the Mac mini has too many bells and whistles then you’ll appreciate the Pano Logic Computer. It literally fits in the palm of your hand, doesn’t have any disk drives, or even a hard drive and processor. We’re not really sure how it works, but we think some kind of voodoo may be involved. (Actually, all of the real computing is done off site somewhere which is subscription based) $300 panologic.com

Phillippe Starck Veiled Watch If you’re a fan of the slick metal bands on a nice watch, but hate a big clunky face you’re gonna dig the Phillippe Starck Veiled Watch. At first you’ll think this is just a cool metal bracelet but upon further inspection you’ll notice the subtle hands underneath… or you might not notice—they’re pretty obscure. $150 at Amazon

Sliding Shower You could give someone all day to guess what that weird panel on the wall was and they’d probably never figure it out without the context of a bathroom or someone using it. The Sliding Shower feels like something straight out of a sci-fi movie and seems like it’s designed to make you feel uncomfortable with change. Source

Samsung ML-1630 Printer Usually when you think of a minimalist gadget you think of mp3 players, speakers, maybe even computers, but printers? The Samsung ML-1630 Printer makes fools of us all. At first glance we weren’t sure if it was a digital scale or some kind of light-up paperweight, but we certainly didn’t think it was a printer. Kudos Samsung for making us want a printer for looking cool rather than what it does. $159 at Amazon

Stick Sound FM Radio Hey that’s a neat penholder. No? Um, oh, it’s a joystick for video games? Oh it’s not? The Stick Sound FM Radio makes its purpose known when you grab the stick which tunes the radio, adjusts the volume and turns it on and off. And if that’s not cool enough for you, it’s base glows blue when it’s on. $39 at Singulier

Pendulum Wall Clock This is the result of creating a minimalist grandfather clock. No numbers, no face, no housing… just hands and a pendulum mounted to a wall. It’s a pretty cool design, but we have to wonder what the point of a pendulum is on a minimalist clock since we don’t see the point of them on a regular clock. $114 Source

Ultimate Wheel Who needs bike chains… or handle bars…. or a seat for that matter? The Nimbus Ultimate Wheel is as basic as it gets. Until now we though the unicycle was the stripped down version of the bicycle… but no, apparent it’s a wheel with some pedals. And sure, you may look at this and know what it’s for right away, but we dare you to use it! $90 at Unicycle.com via Geekologie

Bluetooth Laser Virtual Keyboard This is definitely one of those products that you’ll have absolutely no clue what it is until it’s in use. And it uses lasers, which is always a plus. The idea behind this product is that instead of typing on the keys, this virtual keyboard can tell what you’re trying to type by how you interrupt the laser… it even simulates the typing “click” sounds so it feels pretty natural. $150 at ThinkGeek

Transformer Shelves One of the marks of great minimalist design is that it actually serves a great purpose that you might not have noticed right away. The Transformer Shelves look like a table that makes cool uses of lines in its design, but it turns out it’s actually a very complicated customizable storage system. Or a very big rubix cube perhaps. Source

Suicide banker found hanged in five-star hotel had blown a fortune on women and drugs

By James Millbank

A senior HSBC banker found hanged in a five-star London hotel is believed to have spent tens of thousands of pounds on cocaine and women in the months leading up to his death.

Christen Schnor, who was independently wealthy, had regularly gone missing from his six-figure post as he embarked on a personal journey of destruction.

Sources say Mr Schnor, who was a close friend of the Danish royal family, had been squandering large chunks of his family’s fortune.

High-flying career: Smiling HSBC executive Christen Schnor and a friend in a picture posed on Facebook

A hotel worker found Danish-born Mr Schnor, 49, in his £500-a-night suite at the Jumeriah Carlton Tower Hotel in Knightsbridge a fortnight ago. A suicide note written in Danish was by his side.

The millionaire father of four, who drove an Aston Martin to work, is said to have started using expensive prostitutes and cocaine after moving to London in June 2007 to take up his post.

His wife Marianne allegedly discovered that he had been siphoning their bank accounts and repeatedly tried to track down Mr Schnor at his office in Canary Wharf, but he was rarely there.

Sources say the bank thought he was off with Legionnaire’s Disease. Mr Schnor was HSBC’s head of insurance for the UK, Turkey, the Middle East and Malta – an arm of the business worth an estimated £750million in profit.

He sat on the executive committee of HSBC Bank plc, which runs the UK and European side of the global bank.

A source at HSBC said: ‘Christen was a big player at the bank. He was one of the most senior executives in Europe for HSBC and it was quite a coup to have brought him over from the Winterthur Group, where he had been an executive board member.

More...

• HSBC banker found hanged by belt at 5-star London hotel after 'committing suicide'

‘Senior management became concerned by his erratic behaviour and appearance but he claimed he was ill with Legionnaire’s Disease. This now seems doubtful. Instead, he appears to have been spending a small fortune booking prostitutes through an
escort agency and buying drugs.'

The source added: ‘He had lost almost two stone in weight and when he did turn up at work he looked a shell of the man who had first arrived at the bank. His poor wife Marianne made many attempts to find him.

‘She had discovered he had been draining their bank account and spending the money on Russian prostitutes and cocaine. The amount of money he had withdrawn had even made it difficult for her to pay the bills by the end.’

Mr Schnor’s wife and children were believed to be back home in Copenhagen at the time of his death on December 17 last year.

Marianne had spent time living with her husband and two of their children at a £390-a-day rented four-bedroom flat in Wellesley House, Lower Sloane Street, Chelsea.

But Mr Schnor told bank bosses that he had to move out of his flat due to ‘refurbishment’ work. HSBC helped relocate him to the Jumeriah Carlton Hotel, which he paid for himself. It now appears there was no work being carried out on his flat and he had just left of his own accord.

Luxury lifestyle: The Schnors owned this villa in France and were friends of Danish royalty

The bank source said: ‘What happened came as a complete shock to management. Some were aware that he was undergoing personal problems but nothing like what was happening in reality.

‘They had tried to support him as much as they could, with the bank later helping to book him the hotel where he was staying but which he paid for himself, and put his absence at work down to him meeting business contacts as he built up their insurance arm.’

Mr Schnor also told bank bosses he had been burgled just weeks before he died. But he was unable to detail what was taken and the Metropolitan Police have no record of any break-in. They are not treating his death as suspicious.

An inquest is due to take place into his apparent suicide and his funeral is expected to be held this week.

The Schnors, who also owned a seven-bedroom villa in Cannes, France, which they let for up to £10,000 a week, were close friends of the Danish royal family, especially Crown Prince Frederik, who is heir to the Danish throne.

The banker had also been one of the elite who dined with Denmark’s Queen Margrethe, 68.

Mr Schnor spent five years in the Danish army after graduating and belonged to the country’s military reserve, recently attaining the highest position of Lieutenant Colonel.

A spokesman for HSBC refused to comment about Mr Schnor’s activities, but said: ‘The bank’s thoughts are with Christen’s friends and family following their tragic loss.’

Wisconsin Firm Recalls Bacon Bit Products For Possible Listeria Contamination

Recall Release	CLASS I RECALL
FSIS-RC-001-2009	HEALTH RISK: HIGH

Congressional and Public Affairs
(202) 720-9113
Peggy Riek

WASHINGTON, Jan. 3, 2009 - Patrick Cudahy, a Cudahy, Wisc., firm, is recalling approximately 3,590 pounds of bacon bit products that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service announced today.

The following products are subject to recall: [View Labels]

• 10-pound cases of "Golden Crisp APPLEWOOD SMOKED PRECOOKED BACON TOPPINGS." The products bear the establishment number "EST. 28" inside the USDA mark of inspection as well as a printed Julian date of "8318."
• 10-pound cases of "John Morrell APPLEWOOD SMOKED PRECOOKED BACON TOPPINGS." The products bear the establishment number "EST. 28" inside the USDA mark of inspection as well as a printed Julian date of "8318."

The bacon bit products were produced on Nov. 13, 2008, and distributed to restaurant and institutional establishments in California, Colorado, Florida, South Dakota, Texas and Wisconsin.

The problem was discovered through in-house testing by an establishment that received the product. FSIS has received no reports of illnesses associated with consumption of this product.

Consumption of food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, an uncommon but potentially fatal disease. Healthy people rarely contract listeriosis. However, listeriosis can cause high fever, severe headache, neck stiffness and nausea. Listeriosis can also cause miscarriages and stillbirths, as well as serious and sometimes fatal infections in those with weakened immune systems, such as infants, the elderly and persons with HIV infection or undergoing chemotherapy.

Consumers with questions about the recall should contact company Director of Customer Service Mike Reitz at (414) 744-2000. Media with questions about the recall should contact company Vice President, Research and Development, Susan Harrits at (414) 744-2000.

Consumers with food safety questions can "Ask Karen," the FSIS virtual representative available 24 hours a day at AskKaren.gov. The toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854) is available in English and Spanish and can be reached from l0 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Eastern Time) Monday through Friday. Recorded food safety messages are available 24 hours a day.
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New transplant hope as lung is 'repaired' and given to patient

By Jo Macfarlane

Surgeons have for the first time repaired an injured donor lung and transplanted it into a patient.

The lung did not meet strict quality standards and would normally have been discarded. But, using a new technique, doctors kept it ‘alive’ and repaired it with a combination of drugs and stem cells.

Lungs are usually removed from patients who die of brain injuries. But because the brain releases inflammatory enzymes when it shuts down, only about 15 per cent are viable for transplant.

X-Ray: Doctors have for the first time repaired an injured donor lung and transplanted it into a patient

These healthy organs are then cooled and are usable for about six to eight hours.

Under the new procedure, the lungs are transferred to a protective chamber and connected to ventilators and filters, which allow an oxygen-carrying solution to flow through them.

The temperature of the lungs is increased over 30 minutes until it reaches 37C (99F), at which point they can be preserved for between 12 and 18 hours, allowing doctors to assess the quality of the organ and treat it accordingly.

The lungs also partially use their own regenerative powers to heal in the same way they would inside the body.

The system was developed in Toronto, Canada. Lead researcher Shaf Keshavjee said: ‘This will be a significant improvement in the utilisation, and quality of organs.

'It has applications for all organs, and transplantation will become more like blood banks, with organs tested and then stored.’

The technique has been successfully used in four transplants.

WTF Are Lenticular Clouds?

Lenticular Clouds are often mistaken for UFOs
(click on any image to enlarge)

Lenticular clouds, technically known as altocumulus standing lenticularis, are stationary lens-shaped clouds that form at high altitudes, normally aligned at right-angles to the wind direction.

In short: they look badass.

(images credit: Valuca)




(images credit: Valuca)

These clouds are formed by so-called "mountain waves" of air created by strong winds forced over high mountains. Then they hang over the mountains like alien "motherships"... Mount Rainier in Washington produces some of the most spectacular lenticulars.


Copyright (c)2002 Christopher J Picking


(image credit: Peter Michaud)


Mount Erebus, Antarctica (US Coast Guard photo)


(image credit: Doug Cruikshank)


(image credit: J. D. Rufo, J. Koermer)



Click here for more crazy Cloud Formations: [Gallery of Clouds]

Treasure Hunter Claims Google Maps Treasure Find

A 39-year-old musician and filmmaker from Los Angeles has been fighting representatives of an estate in Refugio County, Texas, for the right to excavate.

By Thomas Claburn

A treasure hunter testified in a Texas courtroom Tuesday that he used Google Maps to locate a shipwreck.

Houston Chronicle writer Mary Flood reported that Nathan Smith, a 39-year-old musician and filmmaker from Los Angeles, has been fighting representatives of an estate in Refugio County, Texas, for the right to excavate his claimed find.

Smith seeks to prove that the wreck lies in navigable waters rather than on privately owned land.

The case, Nathan Smith v. The Abandoned Vessel, was filed in March 2007. The significant documents, including the initial complaint, are under seal to hide the location of the supposed shipwreck.

In the publicly accessible depositions, much of the questioning has to do with the area in and around Melon Creek and Melon Lake, near the Mission River.

On Monday, according to the Houston Chronicle, Smith described the circumstances in 1822 by which the ship allegedly ran aground and sank in the mud near the Mission River while trying to avoid a hurricane. He claimed that half the crew died during the voyage and the remaining crew was killed by a local cannibal tribe.

Describing a seemingly implausible sequence of events, Smith testified that Comanche Indians found the ship's gold and buried some of it after encountering the cannibals and fleeing, the Chronicle reported.

The plaintiff's exhibit list mentions "Google (NSDQ: GOOG) Aerial photographs taken in 2007." Google has traditionally licensed its satellite imagery from companies like DigitalGlobe, GeoEye, and TerraMetrics.

The court exhibit list also includes Lost Treasures Of American History by W.C. Jameson. Presumably, the book has some relevance to the claimed shipwreck. The exhibit list also mentions a 1958 family manuscript, Nicholas Fagan: Texas Patriot, by Mrs. Tom O'Connor Sr.

Airport Vending Machines Selling DS Systems and Games

Best Buy vending machine let's you buy a DS system and a couple of games before takeoff.

By Kris Pigna, 01/04/2009

Over the years, movies have shown a variety of insane inventions we could expect in the future -- flying cars, time machines, oppressive uniforms everyone in society would be forced to wear, etc. But how they failed to warn us about electronics-selling vending machines is beyond us: Like the U.K. vending machines that sell PlayStation 3 games we saw back in November, it looks like Best Buy is now distributing their own vending machines in airports that sell Nintendo DS systems and a variety of DS games (via Ars Technica). Surely, the future is now.

These "Best Buy Express" machines -- the one pictured above spotted at Atlanta International Airport -- offer such games as Mario Kart DS, Brain Age 2, and Guitar Hero: On Tour, just in case anyone is actually brave enough to be seen playing Guitar Hero: On Tour on a crowded flight. The games are priced the same as any other retailer, so there aren't even any steep markups you might expect for anything purchased inside of an airport.

It's worth noting that the machine apparently only sells DS systems and games (in addition to other electronics like digital cameras and headphones), and no PSP products. Might Nintendo have some sort of exclusive distribution deal with Best Buy... or did the retail chain decide on its own that PSP games weren't worth stocking? More than likely it's the former, but still, it's an interesting indication of how much more visible the DS is to the general public these days.

Obama is Dead Serious About Quickly Going Back to the Moon

The most recent NASA soap opera started with administrator Michael Griffin giving the incoming Obama transition team a hard time — coming from an engineering background Griffin’s fear was that the Obama administration was going to gut the new moon rocket program. To be fair to Griffin the program was way over budget (so it looked like a good target) and early in the campaign trail Obama sent mixed signals on his support for manned exploration. The latest chapter was Griffin’s wife sending out a sad email pleading his case to keep his job (despite the fact that he is a Bush administration employee).

As a NASA fanboy I admit that I was fearing the worst: But now the good news is that it turns out that Obama is dead serious about not only going back to the moon, but trying to beat China. This story just came out on Friday when the press leaned that Obama was going to tear down the wall between NASA and the Pentagon. At first I sort of winced at the idea of watering down NASA’s mission — but it made me realize that Obama was dead serious about manned spaceflight a cause that I fully approve.

Now don’t get me wrong: I’m a big fan of international efforts — in fact the International Space Station couldn’t exist without the support of Europe and Russia (and so many other nations). However the last time space exploration was sexy was the 60s during the space race — and ironically the communists proved that competition is a good thing. The result of the space race was that within less than twenty years you got to watch the first satellite go into orbit and then just a short time later (in the big picture) you see man on the moon.

But sadly after the Apollo program manned space exploration has been stuck in time. Thanks to Hubble we’ve discovered more planets in the last ten years than the last thousand, but there’s something very cool about humans getting off this damn rock. In fact Stephen Hawking believes critical for humans to move off of planet Earth if we’re to survive as a species in the long term. But sadly since the 70s we haven’t done anything except to go into orbit and create a better version of Skylab.

Having a new space race is good because not only will it bring NASA back, but it will also encourage China (and maybe India!) to accelerate their space programs. My hope is that not only can this happen quickly within the next few years — but that it might get the world serious about going to Mars. In fact my hope is that a return to the moon would be what it was advertised to be: The first serious step in a Mars exploration program.

MT's 2008 Cars We Loved

Chismillionaire loves these picks particularly the Maserati Quattroporte and Audi R8. It shows that a great car might not be the greatest performing car. With nobody picking the Nissan GT-R or Corvette ZR1, it's great to see people looking at these vehicles from an ownership/love perspective.

Applaud someone for picking the Honda FCX Clarity for the technology it represents and how far ahead of the curve it is.
Also love the tidbit on the forever third place finishing in comparos Lexus IS-F. It is really probably the best Hot Rod Sedan to own and easiest to live with. After all it is a Lexus.

"So, what was the best car you drove this year?" It's one of those questions that routinely crops up during holiday party conversations once folks find out what we do for a living here at Motor Trend. And it's a fiendishly difficult one to answer: The definition of "best" usually involves a highly personal compromise between need and desire. One man's Ferrari is another man's total waste of money. This compromise is at the core of every test we do. To get around it, we approach every new car, truck, or SUV we test with a key philosophical question in mind -- how well does the vehicle do the job its maker designed it to do? Understand what a vehicle's intended function is, what market segment it's aimed at, and what price point it's meant to hit, and you have the foundation for a first drive, full test, or multi-car comparison. We drove or tested hundreds vehicles this past year; everything from low-buck econoboxes to 200-mph supercars. We picked the good, the bad, and the ugly, and told it like it was. But out of all those vehicles, which are the ones that hit our personal sweet spot between need and desire; the ones that may not have been the fastest, the most stylish, the most economical, or even the best value for money, but simply were the cars we loved? Read on, and find out... -Angus MacKenzie Angus MacKenzie: BMW M3 DCT There were faster, more exotic, more expensive cars. But nothing touched me like the BMW M3 DCT. The M3's chassis balance is sublime; the steering surgically precise; the brakes bulletproof; that yowling V-8 utterly intoxicating. And now the lightning fast, seven speed, dual clutch, paddle-shift tranny ties it all together. On one mad, early morning dash across a heaving, twisting, deserted central California two lane, this car made me feel like Kubica on a qualifying lap. Kim Reynolds: Honda FCX Clarity Every now and then you drive a car that seems more like a worm hole into the future than yet another rearrangement of four wheels, and the Honda FCX Clarity was mine for 2008. While it didn't completely make me a hydrogen believer, for a few hundred miles at least, I felt like Kubrick had cast me into an automotive remake of 2001: A Space Odyssey. Better buckle up, HAL. Edward Loh: Mini Clubman S Reynolds and St. Antoine expect me to say, "Duh, GT-R", but my love for 2008 wasn't the world's fastest, most attractive (believe it, Kim), all-wheel-drive coupe. It was the lust driven tryst I had with the Mini Clubman S. As I profiled in the Feb. 2008 issue, it was a breathless affair for the ages -- a rush of smashed inhibitions and highly irresponsible behavior that came from driving the right car on the right road. Matt Stone: 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Spyder California Like Audrey Hepburn in a Halston gown, you don't need anyone to tell you that a Cal Spyder is elegant. And this was special among the special, as it was owned by actor James Coburn for more than two decades. I trembled as I settled into this triple black beauty. Driving Coburn's Spyder around Ferrari's Fiorano test track in Italy was the highlight of my automotive 2008. Glad I brought it home in one piece too; the next day, it sold for at auction for $10.9 million. Gavin Green: Ferrari California There has never been a Ferrari with such a broad and breathtaking range of abilities. It can play the easy riding comfy cruiser, a Bentley-by-Ferrari, coupe one moment convertible the next. Or be a Schumacher-at-Spa racer, helped by that brilliant seven-speed paddle gearshift and a handling balance that takes Ferrari to a whole new plane of excellence. Arthur St Antoine: Jaguar XF Supercharged Yes, the Alfa-Romeo 8C roared like a lion that'd swallowed Pavarotti, and, yes, driving the ZR1 was a 10-meter platform dive into a pool of adrenaline, but in 2008 I loved the Jaguar XF Supercharged most. Why? Because I'd own one. Superb comfort? Check. Rakish good looks? Check. Performance and handling worthy of a purpose-built two-seater? Check mate. Scott Mortara: Audi R8 We first played with this car last year, but we had it back this year for our Best Handling test, and it won, that's right, the Audi R8 was my favorite car of 2008. There is nothing I don't like about this car, the look, sound, feel, everything is fantastic. It might not be the fastest in a straight line, or turn the quickest lap time but it will hang with almost anything out there, and I love it. Paul Horrell: Ferrari Scuderia No question. Many supercars intimidate me by demanding Fangio-like skills, but this one seemed to bestow them on me. Its electronic wizardry augmented my own meagre abilities, while communicating its intentions in an animate, organic manner. Oh yes, the GT-R did that too, but the GT-R didn't have that engine, those looks, this heritage. Frank Markus: Maserati Quattroporte S Maybe it was the Austrian Alpine scenery or the hip tunes my co-driver Steve brought along for the ride, but I doubt it. The Maserati Quattroporte S's supermodel-svelte sheetmetal, Armani interior, Ferrariesque chassis and eight-tenors engine-note could probably seduce anybody reading this even on a North Dakota freeway with the radio off. Ron Kiino: Lexus IS F The M3 is nimbler and the C63 quicker, but give me the Lexus IS F. Its V-8 warble above 4000 rpm is titillating. Its hunkered-down stance is menacing. Its green factor (no gas-guzzler tax, 18-mpg combined fuel econ) is forests beyond the Teutons'. And its uniqueness (only one to hail from Japan, offer eight cogs, and get standard 19-inch forged alloys) is eminent. Mike Floyd: BMW 1 Series It's not the greatest-looking coupe in the world, nor is it the fastest or most technically gifted vehicle in the BMW stable (see M3 DCT above), but the 1 Series is hands down one of the most engaging and entertaining vehicles I've ever driven, and that goes for both the 128 and 135 -- with either six speed tranny on board. Tight, light, and amazingly quick and agile, to me, the 1 Series is the Ultimate Ultimate Driving Machine. Todd Lassa: Audi R8 Not because of its mid-engine balance. Not because with a clutch as light as an A4’s; it’s the next-generation NSX that Acura would love to build. It’s because Audi put Blizzaks on one last January and let us have fun in the cold and snow. And it worked.

Top 10 MacWorld Rumors

Apple’s (AAPL) last Macworld Conference and Expo opens Monday at San Francisco’s Moscone Center, but the real action starts Tuesday at 9 a.m. PT (12 noon ET) with senior vice president Phil Schiller’s opening remarks — the first Macworld keynote not delivered by Steve Jobs since 1997.

Nobody’s expecting breakthrough products that rise to the level of the iMac (Macworld 1998), the iBook (1999), iTunes (2001) or the iPhone (2007), but this Expo is not without its drama, speculation and hype.

Our top 10 favorite Macworld rumors:

10. Snow Leopard release date. We know a lot about Mac OS X 10.6, thanks to Jobs’ June 2008 announcement that it was coming, Apple’s official description of the product and a steady stream of leaks from the developer community. What we don’t know is when it will ship.

9. Unibody 17-inch MacBook Pro. By several accounts, this machine was supposed to be released in October, along with the new unibody 13-inch MacBook and 15-inch MacBook Pro. But display issues and problems with the optical drive reportedly pushed its release back “several months” — which brings us to next week’s Expo. UPDATE: Seth Weintraub at 9to5Mac adds this twist: the new 17-inch Pro will sport a superslim longer-lasting nonremovable battery pack.

8. Revamped iWork. The big news on New Year’s Eve was the “truckload” of information dumped on various rumor sites about iWork — Apple’s homegrown answer to Microsoft (MSFT) Office. The thrust of it was that what’s now a suite of desktop applications — Pages, Numbers and Keynote — is about to be transformed into a collection of Web-based apps like the .Mac Web Gallery, suitable for cloud computing.

7. 32 GB iPhone. Whispers that Apple was set to double the memory of the top-end iPhone have been floating around since September, but AT&T’s (T) post-Christmas $99 iPhone sale and word that Apple had sewed up the lion’s share Samsung’s flash memory production all point to a January release.

6. 64 GB iPod touch. Rumors of this memory upgrade go back even further. It was supposed to happen in August, then in September, and then before Christmas. With memory prices falling, time is more than ripe.

5. New Mac mini. Rumors of the most affordable Mac’s imminent demise have given way to a flood of new specs, among them 2.0 or 2.3 GHz Core 2 Duo processors, NVIDIA graphics platform, dual display outputs and dual drives that can be configured every which way.

4. New iMac. Some inspired sleuthing in the extension files that shipped with the new MacBooks found references to NVIDIA chipsets for both a Mac mini and a new iMac — along with hints that the reconfigured all-in-one desktop was supposed to ship in November but got pushed into 2009 by unexpected delays. DigiTimes now reports that Apple has ordered shipments of 800,000 per month.

3. New iPod shuffle. FBR Capital Markets’ Craig Berger, whose track record AppleInsider describes as “questionable,” expects Apple to release a new and smaller version of the iPod shuffle sometime in the first calendar quarter — which started on Thursday. AppleInsider adds that it has picked up chatter of a new shuffle that would be flat as a credit card but thick enough at one end to fit a headphone jack.

2. New Apple TV/Time Capsule. This one also comes from an analyst. Shaw Wu, a veteran Apple watcher newly ensconsed at Kaufman Bros., wrote last week about the possibility that Apple will introduce a new consumer device — “an enhanced version of Apple TV and/or Time Capsule” — that would give users access to their media content, SlingBox style, from anywhere on the Internet.

1. Steve Jobs. Show or no-show, Apple’s CEO is both Macworld 2009’s No. 1 rumor and No. 1 source of rumors — whether it be that he’s stepping down, that his health is failing, that he doesn’t feel there’s enough news in Nos. 1-9 to justify a Steve Jobs keynote, or that he just doesn’t feel like playing in Macworld’s sandbox anymore. We favor the theory that he’s set the stage brilliantly for a surprise cameo appearance.

The Bust is a Boon for Some

From California to D.C., falling home prices and cheaper mortgage rates are making dream homes possible.

1 of 9

Boynton Beach, Fla.

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Purchase price: $285,000
Price change from peak: -42%

When Scott Furr and his partner Damian Hetherington sold their North Carolina condo in 2003 and moved to Palm Beach County Fla., they intended to buy a house. It took a lot longer than they planned.

"The real estate market was exploding here in Florida, and it placed many desirable homes out of reach," said Furr, a structural designer.

Even confining their property searches to short sales, homes listed for less than what the current owners owe to their lenders, the pair found most homes overpriced. They finally got lucky when their agent recommended a house that had originally listed at $425,000 in November 2007. By the time they saw the home earlier this year, the lender had approved a short sale of $325,000 on a $390,000 mortgage.

The pair fell in love with the four-bed, two-bath, 2,800-square-foot Mediterranean. They offered $285,000, haggled some as area prices continued their decline (down 16% this year, according to real-estate Web site Zillow.com) and closed in June. They even got the lender to throw in 3% at closing.

But when they took possession in July, there was a bit of a surprise: The previous owner had trashed the place before he left. "He removed all the shelving and lighting fixtures," said Furr, "and left a refrigerator full of rotting food."

There was also tons of debris in the yard, garage and attic. "We got a 30-yard construction dumpster and came over every night after work to clean everything up," said Furr.

But all's well. They now proudly own a beautiful home with lovely gardens complete with palms, all for a price they couldn't have touched a few years ago.

"I feel the bust was badly needed, and it opened up an opportunity that we otherwise would not have had," Furr said. - L.C.

By Les Christine and Julianne Pepitone

Steve Jobs Weight Loss due to Hormone Issue- will remain CEO while being treated

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Apple Chief Executive Steve Jobs said Monday that doctors may have discovered the cause of the weight loss that has caused speculation about his health, adding that he will continue to serve as the computer maker's CEO.

In a letter to the "Apple community," Jobs said the cause appears to be "a hormone imbalance that has been 'robbing' me of the proteins my body needs to be healthy. Sophisticated blood tests have confirmed this diagnosis."

Jobs released the letter as the Macworld conference for Apple developers was to get underway in San Francisco. No major breakthrough products were expected from the conference, the first that won't be highlighted by Jobs since he returned to power at the company in 1997.

Investors were relieved to hear that Jobs' condition is improving. Stock of Apple (AAPL, Fortune 500), based in Cupertino, Calif., rose about 3% in early Monday trading.

"It should alleviate an overhang on the stock," said Shannon Cross, technology analyst for Cross Research. "It should provide [investors] with more confidence that Steve Jobs is going to be around for a while."

Apple's decision to have Phil Schiller, senior vice president of worldwide product marketing, headline the conference had fueled speculation about Jobs' health, as he experienced noticeable weight loss last year. Schiller is scheduled to deliver the keynote address Tuesday.

"Unfortunately, my decision to have Phil deliver the Macworld keynote set off another flurry of rumors about my health, with some even publishing stories of me on my deathbed," Jobs said in the letter.

Also, Jobs underwent surgery for pancreatic surgery back in 2004, further fueling rumors about his health problems. But Jobs said Monday he would recover and continue to lead Apple.

"The remedy for this nutritional problem is relatively simple and straightforward, and I've already begun treatment," said Jobs. "But, just like I didn't lose this much weight and body mass in a week or a month, my doctors expect it will take me until late this spring to regain it. I will continue as Apple's CEO during my recovery."

Apple's board of directors released a statement of support for its CEO.

"It is widely recognized both inside and outside of Apple that Steve Jobs is one of the most talented and effective CEOs in the world," read the board's letter. "As we have said before, if there ever comes a day when Steve wants to retire or for other reasons cannot continue to fulfill his duties as Apple's CEO, you will know it.

Proof That Genesis is indeed a Game Changer- Sales are on Target (Even in Current Market Climate)

MediaPost reports that Hyundai has sold 5,127 examples of its Genesis sedan, which went on sale in July 2008, with 1,151 being sold in the month of November. Hyundai's big gamble seems to be paying off, or at least breaking even-quite a feat for the company given the drastic automotive market downturn in the last quarter of 2008. Sales in the past 90 days have been at or near objectives. Hyundai's Genesis nameplate-a coupe is coming in 2009-was created to compete with the likes of the BMW 5-Series and raise the overall appeal of the Hyundai brand, the latter objective one the sedan has met thus far according to Joel Ewanick, Hyundai Motor America's Vice President of Marketing. "Genesis has helped move the needle away from how Hyundai has been perceived," Ewanick said. "Net consideration is the way we look at awareness and consideration for the Hyundai brand, and that has improved 25 percent this year alone." Ewanick also said that 90 percent of all Genesis buyers are new Hyundai customers, and 40 percent of buyers traded in Lexus, BMW, Mercedes or Porsche vehicles. Hyundai is readying a marketing blitz in anticipation of the 2010 Genesis coupe due next year. It recently announced that it will air two advertisements during the Super Bowl, and Ewanick revealed that Hyundai will also advertise during the Academy Awards. "[Such events] give us an opportunity to state our case and show that this is another Hyundai," Ewanick said. "If [consumers] aren't forced to reconsider us, they won't." Source: MediaPost

BMW "Progressive Activity Sedan" a GO

BMW will go ahead with plans to bring its "Progressive Activity Sedan", or PAS, to market. Referred to over the past year as the V5, 5-Series GT, 5-Series Fastback and 5-Series Hatch, BMW's PAS is an original concept regardless of its identity crisis. According to Autocar, one source claims BMW has identified an ageing population group that finds modern sedans too low but also dislikes SUVs. The automaker will address this perceived niche by giving the PAS a higher driving position than a normal sedan. Because it is based on the new platform underpinning the 2009 BMW 7-Series however, the car will share more with its sedan brethren than its X6 lookalike. The exact dimensions are unknown, but the PAS is slightly longer than the 5-series sedan and shorter than the 7-series. It will also ride higher than a normal sedan. The car's height is somewhere between a 5-series and an X6. Inside, Autocar's source says the PAS will offer the same amount of generous legroom as the new 7-series, although headroom is probably a bigger concern with its sloping roof. The roofline and hatch are similar to the X6, but the car's front end will refer to the CS concept, pictured above. The interior will continue the flowing design theme of the 2010 BMW Z4 roadster, with a wide center console. There has been no word on whether the PAS will be a 4- or 5-passenger vehicle, and no details have emerged concerning the engine specifications, but the 3.0-liter turbo-diesel for the U.K and 3.0-liter turbocharged gasoline engine for the U.S. are safe bets. Source: Autocar

Hyundai Genesis Coupe Driven

It's 5 a.m. in South Korea and we slip downstairs in the dark from our motel room in Uljin to the underground parking garage. We point the key fob into the blackness and a car's soft interior lighting illuminates a sumptuous leather cabin. Headlights cast a glow, highlighting aggressive character lines that cut across purposeful bodywork.

We're drooling over a Hyundai, for heaven's sake. It's the 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe. We load the gear into the surprisingly accommodating trunk, slip into the chilly cockpit and press the starter button. We're looking forward to this. Really looking forward to it.

In 10 minutes time, we'll be carving a piece of Korean blacktop that's every bit as epic as the very best roads in the world. It's the Bulryeong Valley, an amazing route that starts on Korea's picturesque east coast and reaches into the country's mountainous heart.

It'll be a real test, a mustard-cutting exercise for the 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe that will prove whether the Koreans can make a genuine world-class sport coupe.

World-Class Rear-Wheel-Drive
This is the 2010 Genesis Coupe, the two-door version of the rear-wheel-drive car that has won Hyundai grudging respect at last from the world's luxury carmakers. At its core, this top-line Genesis SE coupe is powered by Hyundai's 32-valve, 3.8-liter Lambda V6, which produces 299 horsepower at 6,300 rpm and delivers 266 pound-feet of torque at 4,700 rpm. A ZF-built 6HP26 six-speed transmission sends the power to the rear wheels.

This car looks substantial in person, measuring 182.3 inches long, 73.4 inches wide and 54.3 inches tall. The wheelbase is commensurately long at 111 inches. The suspension setup includes MacPherson struts up front, while a five-link independent arrangement controls the rear wheels. If the V6 is in place, the Genesis coupe weighs in at 3,549 pounds; if the turbocharged, intercooled, 212-hp 2.9-liter inline-4 is doing business under the hood, the car weighs 3,439 pounds.

There are three trim levels: entry-level GS with turbo inline-4; the GT with the V6; and the high-performance SE with a sport-tuned suspension, Brembo brakes and 19-inch tires matched to either the four- or six-cylinder.

Leaving Uljin
We turn off Highway 5, burble through still-sleeping villages, then start to climb into the hills that tower above. The road to Yeongju is smooth, fairly wide and bordered by guardrails and catch fencing. Sweeping corners outnumber straights 10 to one. It's like we've found our own private racetrack.

Even in this demanding environment, the 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe still delivers. It grips so hard at the front that you wonder if there is actually a Korean word for understeer, then encourages you to get on the gas early and put all 299 hp to use at the rear. Again there's grip from the 19-inch rear tires, yet there's a lightness and deft poise that makes for an immensely satisfying and extremely manageable flow from one apex to the next.

The SE package's big brakes never lose their bite, thanks to 13.4-inch rotors in front and 13-inch rotors in the rear, both with four-piston Brembo calipers. Meanwhile, the V6's large reserve of torque is always on hand to haul you fuss-free from tight turns. Then it hits me. The 2010 Genesis Coupe feels exactly like the Infiniti G37 — the hollow warble of the V6, the chassis balance, and the light and linear steering. We have never driven one car that feels so much like another. And to think it used to be the Japanese who imitated the Americans and Europeans.

Seoul Man
Two days earlier we were sitting in the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Seoul, listening to Western businessmen discuss deals with their Korean counterparts while looking out at a parking drive marked by Mercedes-Benz SLs and the odd Porsche 911 GT3. Out of the window, this city of 10 million bathes in misty smog, and a tangle of traffic jostles into the distance. Such a familiar view doesn't seem to promise the new driving experiences and taste of a foreign culture that brought us to Korea.

As we set off into traffic in the 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe, we remember the advice of our Korean guidebooks, with the usual limp-wristed attitude of "driving in Seoul is crazy, man; take the bus." But the signs have English translations and it's not so bad as long as you have a basic idea of where you're heading and aren't expecting everyone to conduct themselves as if they're in a driver training video. Koreans are aggressive, but there's also an acceptance that you'll be aggressive, too.

Outpunching the Nissan VQ V6?
It's surely no coincidence that this 3,778cc V6 outpunches the Nissan VQ V6 by about 100cc. We're slightly perturbed to see we've landed the six-speed automatic instead of the standard six-speed manual, but the six-speed slusher is a blessing in traffic — smooth, fairly quick and hassle-free. The lack of shifter paddles on the steering wheel feels odd in a car so sporting, though. At least Sport mode holds the gear to the engine's redline and asks that you press the accelerator farther before it will kick down a gear.

We stick on Highway 4 and make for Hongcheon, impressed by the quality of the roads and amazed by how much of the Korean GDP must be spent on bridge-building projects. Some 70 percent of the country is mountainous, so there's a lot of fresh air to span. But it's taking a long time to get anywhere at the mandatory speed limit of 80 km/h (50 mph). At first we toe the line, perturbed by how few Korean drivers are willing to exceed the speed limit as well as by ubiquitous photo radar installations. But since there's zero police presence and the speed cameras are easy to spot, we settle in to a more reasonable 160 km/h (100 mph).

Even at this pace there's barely any wind noise in the Genesis coupe and tire noise is well suppressed except on the kind of concrete-paved sections you get on U.S. freeways. It's a nice cruiser, and a nice place to be. Even the soft-touch dash plastics exude quality — though the indicator stalks and charmless center console let the side down.

On the outskirts of Hongcheon the roadsides become a chaotic mix of LPG stations, single-story dwellings with tatty breezeblock walls and lunchtime eateries. A wide, slow-flowing river cuts through town and fishermen crouch peacefully at its sandy banks. But, like all the Korean towns we see, Hongcheon feels bland and reconstructed post-Korean War with too much haste and too little thought to the people who live there. So we push on through the Taebaek mountain range in search of Seoraksan National Park.

Touring Seoraksan
We hoped the road across Seoraksan's craggy granite hillsides and densely forested slopes would make for a spectacular drive. And it does, only it's a 30-mph drive. This is a key tourist destination and since there's pretty much just one road that everyone uses, it's packed on a Friday. Overtaking is forbidden, so we sit it out with the tourists and admire the fall-season trees with their golden yellows and rust-colored reds and deep greens.

Our enforced amble does highlight a flaw, because the 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe rides badly, as its damping lacks the supple polish of the best all-around sporting coupes. Probably the SE package's front 225/40R19 and rear 245/40R19 Hankook tires don't help. The trick for Hyundai would be in maintaining the excellence of the handling, while underpinning it with more comfort. Perhaps a trip to Lotus Engineering, a longtime collaborator with Hyundai for suspension calibration in the past, would be in order.

On Saturday morning, we point the Hyundai toward the border with North Korea and away from the tourist buses that relentlessly stream into the park. So far the tension between North and South Korea has seemed pretty distant, but the standoff starts to feel very real indeed as we run along the east coast. Beautiful beaches and calm waters lie entirely empty, an uninterrupted length of fencing topped with razor wire preventing any access to anyone. Fencing and military lookout points ensure tourists go no farther, and even a river inlet is fenced end-to-end to its deepest depths.

Then a few kilometers away from the demilitarized zone (DMZ) that separates the two countries, things start to get really strange. A man with a pink baton waves us into a parking lot and we're asked to buy a ticket. They've turned the DMZ into a tourist attraction! There's popcorn and slush-puppy drinks and the kind of tourist crap you'd get at Coney Island (if it hadn't been torn down recently, that is). At a lookout point, a line of 30 or so coin-operated telescopes are trained toward the North under a tattered awning sponsored by Fuji Film. This is a very strange vibe indeed.

The Modern Korean Car
The Koreans have had to work damn hard to rebuild their country from the ashes of war. The work ethic continues to this day. As one English executive on assignment here tells us, "If they need to do a job, they'll work 18-hour days until it's done."

Fifty years on and the hard graft is paying off. Hyundai together with Kia represents the world's fifth-largest car manufacturer with a 70 percent share of its domestic market and growing respect in Europe. And today, with the 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe, the company has built a truly world-class product.

Portions of this content have appeared in foreign print media and are reproduced with permission.

2010 Caddy SRX gets Turbo V6

What is it?
2010 Cadillac SRX

What's special about it?
If you listen to Cadillac, the problem with the outgoing CTS-based SRX has been that it looks too much like a CTS wagon. Its roof line and hood were too long, the thinking goes. It was not convincing enough as an SUV-ish thing.

Whatever. We liked it. But for the 2010 model year, Cadillac takes another stab at the two-row crossover market with a new SRX that's aimed squarely at the Lexus RX 350.

The new five-seater might carry the same name, but it's a different breed of cat than the vehicle it replaces. There will be no V8 or optional third-row seating. And instead of using the CTS's excellent platform that gives you the choice between rear- and all-wheel drive, the new SRX uses a version of the front- and all-wheel-drive architecture that underpins the new Chevrolet Equinox and the upcoming Saab 9-4X. This means the SRX swaps its sophisticated front suspension with dual control arms for simpler (and cheaper) struts. A real-time damping system, similar to that now featured on the Escalade, will be optional, but the current SRX's sophisticated (and expensive) optional Magnetic Ride Control system will not be offered. And the 2010 model will be built in Mexico instead of Lansing, Michigan.

The new vehicle, which goes on sale in the second quarter of 2009, has the coveted SUV-ish proportions Cadillac felt the old vehicle lacked. It's shorter in overall length by 5 inches than the old car, and rides on a wheelbase that's 5.5 inches shorter. But it's 2.5 inches wider than the long-and-slender 2009 model. Maximum cargo space shrinks from 69.5 cubic feet to 61.2.

Two new engines will be available in the 2010 model. The base engine is a 3.0-liter version of the familiar 3.6-liter direct-injection V6 used in the CTS sedan. At 260 horsepower, the 3.0-liter makes 5 more horses than the existing car's 3.6-liter, which lacks the direct fuel injection. Owing largely to its smaller displacement, the 3.0-liter makes 33 fewer pound-feet of torque than the old motor. Cadillac says the new V6 should return 10-15 percent better fuel-efficiency than the former V6, which was rated at 14 mpg city/22 mpg highway in the all-wheel-drive SRX. The base V6 is also 15-hp shy of the output from the 2010 RX 350's 3.5-liter.

The new optional engine for the SRX is a turbocharged 2.8-liter V6, which makes 300 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque on premium fuel. Initially a version of the CTS's 3.6-liter was to be the upgrade motor for the SRX, but instead the new turbo engine has been borrowed from the upcoming Saab 9-4X. Both engines are mated to six-speed automatic transmissions. The base V6 comes with a GM Powertrain Hydra-matic and the turbo motor is bolted to an Aisin Warner-supplied tranny.

What's Edmunds' take?
We might be in the minority on this one, but we kind of miss the old SRX. But then, we'd be happy driving the upcoming CTS wagon. — Daniel Pund, Senior Editor, Detroit

Global Auto Sales Fall by Double Digits

PARIS (Reuters) -- France and Japan posted steep falls in December car sales on Monday, adding to a swathe of depressing data from an industry bearing the brunt of wrecked consumer confidence, as analysts and a trade body forecast further pain in 2009.

A 15.8% decline in France and a record 22% drop in Japan chimed in with December falls announced last week in Italy, Spain and Belgium, extending the downturn of recent months as the fragile economic environment continued to impact both lenders offering credit for new vehicles and would-be buyers.

"I expect we'll continue to see double-digit declines (in sales) across Europe for the first part of 2009," said Credit Suisse analyst Stuart Pearson. "But that won't really surprise people."

Automakers across the globe are struggling to reduce stocks of unsold vehicles, and many have resorted to temporary site closures, job cuts and extended holidays for workers.

Citigroup analysts said that, in Europe, they were basing 2009 forecasts on a further 15% decline in sales. "No earnings/no dividend is likely to be a common autos tune in 2009," they said in a research note.

In Japan, industry association JADA said the country's worst-ever December for auto sales excluding 660cc minivehicles, which left 2009 unit sales at 5.08 million, suggested already grim predictions for 2009 would have to be revised.

Last month, JAMA had projected a fall in demand for new automobiles to 4.86 million vehicles this year - the first drop below 5 million in 31 years - but even that projection had not taken into account the extent of the slide in December, association Director Takeshi Fushimi said.

"We never expected sales would fall this badly," he told reporters.

Sales of non-mini vehicles at the world's biggest carmaker, Toyota Motor Corp., fell 17.8% in December, while Nissan Motor Co. fell 21.8% and Honda Motor Co. retreated 25.3%.

Toyota-branded car sales fell for the fifth straight month.

Sales in France did little better, but they still outperformed Spain, which last week announced a 49.9% fall in December and a 28% drop for the year as a whole, their sharpest-ever annual decline, Spanish industry group ANFAC said.

Italy, Europe's fourth biggest market, after France, Germany and the United Kingdom, posted a 13.3% drop for December on Friday.

German data are due later this week.

Renault surprise

France's December decline was "not too bad," Pearson said, as December 2007 sales got a temporary boost before the January introduction of an incentive scheme to encourage drivers to buy cleaner vehicles.

The main surprise was that Renault, with its newly launched version of the best-selling Megane, performed worse than PSA Peugeot Citroen, he said.

France's biggest automaker, PSA Peugeot Citroen, posted a 0.9% decline in sales in December, while Renault saw a 19.9% drop.

Shares in the two French car manufacturers were the second and third biggest fallers on the CAC-40 in 2008. Renault lost 80.9% and Peugeot 76.6%.

European governments and the European Commission have pledged to help the ailing industry, which in Europe employs 2.2 million people directly and a further 10 million in related industries and services.

Coming Soon: Netflix Built into TV's

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- LG Electronics said Monday it will market a high-definition television set that will instantly stream movies from the video rental service Netflix.

The two companies said the new set will stream HD movies and television shows directly from Netflix without an external device.

The new model will be on display this week at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

LG (LGEIY) said the new HDTVs will rely on broadband connections and allow members to build their selections through the Netflix (NFLX) Web site.

Shares of Netflix rose 2% in early Monday trading.

Obama Readies Economic Recovery Plan

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- President-elect Barack Obama was set Monday to begin the push for a massive package of tax cuts and spending proposals aimed at reviving an economy mired in recession.

Obama will meet with top legislators from both parties including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., as well as Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio.

The plan will include about $300 billion in tax cuts for individuals and businesses, an aide to the transition told CNN. Obama has not publicly put a price tag on his overall stimulus plan, though his advisers have said they expect it to fall between $675 billion and $775 billion, 40% of which would be in tax cuts.

Obama offered his most detailed sketch yet of his proposal, which he called the American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan, in his weekly radio and video address on Saturday. He said he would propose to:

• provide tax breaks to workers;
• double renewable energy production and make public buildings more energy efficient;
• rebuild crumbling roads, bridges and schools;
• computerize the health care system;
• and modernize classrooms, labs and libraries.

"Economists from across the political spectrum agree that if we don't act swiftly and boldly, we could see a much deeper economic downturn," Obama said. "That's why we need an American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan that not only creates jobs in the short-term but spurs economic growth and competitiveness in the long-term."

The main goal of his plan: to create 3 million new jobs. Most would come from the private sector, he said.

As Obama prepares to take office on Jan. 20, the country faces a series of severe economic and political challenges.

Nearly 2 million jobs were lost in the first 11 months of 2008 - the final government reading on the employment picture will be released on Friday - and the economy has stagnated. Investors suffered the worst year in stocks since the Great Depression, and foreclosures are rising while housing values are declining at record paces.

Virtually every state is facing a budget shortfall, forcing many to make plans to cut back on critical services and raise taxes.

To that end, Obama's advisers and lawmakers have said they expect his legislation to provide increased aid to states to pay for Medicaid, as well as a boost to unemployment benefits.

Many economists have called for stimulus spending to approach or even exceed $1 trillion if the government expects to successfully beat back one of the deepest downturns in more than two generations.

Some Democrats and Republicans have already raised red flags about the proposed plan's potential scope and the prospect of a rushed attempt to pass the legislation, which could be the most expensive spending bill in U.S. history.

The congressional timeline for the stimulus plan is not clear. Some Democrats had earlier said they wanted to have it ready for Obama to sign shortly after he is sworn in. It appears, however, that such a fast-track is not realistic.

"The urgency of this, everyone knows about," Reid said on NBC's "Meet the Press" on Sunday. "But I'm not going to have some false deadline [on it], whether it's February 1 or whatever it is. I want to make sure that all senators have some input in what goes on here and that we do it as quickly as we can."

A sharp debate is likely over several crucial questions. Will the proposed measures in fact boost the economy? What's the right balance between seeding short-term stimulus versus funding long-term projects? Will money intended to yield long-term dividends for the economy as a whole end up merely serving politically motivated agendas or pet projects?

Obama attempted to assuage some of those concerns on Saturday when he called for "vigorous oversight and strict accountability for achieving results." He stressed that his plan is not an attempt to "throw money" at the economy's problems.

"I am optimistic that if we come together to seek solutions that advance not the interests of any party, or the agenda of any one group, but the aspirations of all Americans, then we will meet the challenges of our time just as previous generations have met the challenges of theirs," Obama said.

- Additional reporting by CNN correspondent Kate Bolduan.

Hussman Funds Weekly Market Comment 1/5/09

Portfolio Rebalancing- Don't Ignore Duration

Group Unlocks Apple's New iPhone

By YUKARI IWATANI KANE

A band of independent programmers says it has "unlocked" the latest generation of Apple Inc.'s iPhones so the devices can be used on unauthorized wireless networks, in a move that could threaten Apple's carrier partners.

Since the original iPhone was launched in June 2007, Apple has struck partnerships with wireless carriers world-wide, such as AT&T Inc. in the U.S. and France Telecom SA's Orange unit. Under the agreements, the iPhone can generally be used only by subscribers to those carriers.

But on Wednesday, a group called the iPhone Dev Team released a free piece of software called "yellowsn0w" that unlocks the iPhone 3G. The software lets users reprogram the phones so they can work on any wireless network based on the same technical standard.

Several users said they successfully installed the software on their iPhone 3Gs and were able to make calls on non-authorized networks.

An Apple spokeswoman declined to comment on the iPhone Dev Team's work, only saying that Apple doesn't support unlocked iPhones in the U.S. Apple offers such phones in Germany and Hong Kong "where government regulation requires it" but they usually come at a steep price.

Software programmers have been trying to unlock the iPhone 3G since it came out last July.

The development could lead to a loss in revenue for Apple's wireless partners. International travelers would be able to buy airtime for their iPhones on local wireless networks when they travel abroad, so they don't have to incur steep roaming charges.

Consumers in markets where Apple hasn't yet launched the iPhone could also buy the device elsewhere and use it in their home countries. In China, for example, consumers can already buy previous generation iPhones that have been smuggled in and come unlocked.

In the U.S., "the iPhone is meant to be used exclusively on the AT&T network. Any other use of the device is inappropriate and would void the warranty," said an AT&T spokesman.

The iPhone Dev Team is the same group that unlocked the original iPhone model more than a year earlier. The team didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

Write to Yukari Iwatani Kane at yukari.iwatani@wsj.com

Don't mess with the Dutch and their Darts!!!

WOW!! Barney made the first ever 9 Dart Finish at the PDC World Darts Championships in 2009 in the quarter-final against Jelle klaasen!!