On the airplane, on way home from a marvelous week spent strolling the white sand beaches of Florida, I saw a shopping catalog in the mesh bag on a corner of the seat at the front of people. It announced in large letters along could shop while with the airplane. The web site address of the store was given, and the phone embedded within seat back promised associated with the Internet. Wow! A possiblity to do couple of things at once . fly high over the clouds billowing below us, and yet still buy several of gadgets and gew-gaws. I had just taken a week out of my life to rest and to mirror on nature, and here i was already back in the thick individual commercial culture.
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Psychological study shows harmful effects on children when parents don’t play video games with their kids or have little knowledge of the themes, characters and ratings of the games their kids playing. Kids, no matter what their age, are gonna follow your advice an individual are show them you are looking for what they in their free a little time.
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Following multiple speculations and endless spy pictures, the Volkswagen T-Cross has finally come alive in production form. The premium SUV was recently unveiled in Amsterdam and is the smallest offering in VW’s line of SUVs including the Tiguan, T-Roc and the flagship Touareg. Here’s a deeper look into this rather important model that’s headed our way.
Based on the same MQB-A0 platform as the new-gen Polo, the T-Cross is 4.2m long, 1.76m in width and 1.56m in height. Volkswagen says the T-Cross will have a host of customisation options with no less than 12 colour variants to choose from. It will also have an equal number of interior personalisation options just like the new-gen Polo.
Upfront, the horizontal grille gets full-width louvres that elongate all the way to the headlamp which is, in fact, akin to the T-Roc. The front bumper gets integrated fog lamps in a black insert. But the most interesting part of the T-Roc is the dual tone multi-spoke alloy wheels which can also be matched with the body colour for added personalisation.
What catches your attention in profile are the sharp creases and prominent wheel arches. The T-Cross is compact yet spacious according to Volkswagen. At the rear, the tail lamps are joined by black inserts that run along the tailgate. The LED tail lights are unique and match the character of the SUV. VW has also confirmed a boot size of 455-litres which can be expanded to 1,281litres with the 60:40 seats folded down.
Inside there is a fully digital cockpit. The centre console has an eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system with all the connectivity features expected in modern day cars. As mentioned earlier, there will be a choice of 12 interior colours which will dominate on the dashboard and all around the cabin.
Under the hood, the new T-Cross will have a choice of four turbocharged engines: three petrol and one diesel. The two 1.0 TSI three-cylinder petrol engines with petrol generating 95bhp or 115bhp. The top model is the 1.5 TSI four-cylinder engine with 150bhp. Completing the range is a 1.6 TDI four-cylinder engine with 95bhp. All engines comply with the latest Euro 6d-TEMP emission standard.
The new T-Cross will be launched in Europe by mid-April next year. It will come to India as a sub-four metre SUV and as a part of Volkswagen India’s 2.0 plan, but that will happen around 2021. Along with a different platform (MQB-AO-IN), it might adopt a different name locally to compete against the likes of Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza, Ford EcoSport and Mahindra’s upcoming compact SUV
All member hospitals of MaineHealth will fully consolidate as of January 1, the system announced after final approval was given to unify into a single not-for-profit organization. The plan, which has been in the works for the past two years., will add strength and efficiency to the system, officials said. This means that Maine Medical Center, Southern Maine Health Care, LincolnHealth, Coastal Healthcare Alliance, Western Maine Health, Franklin Community Health Network and Maine Behavioral Healthcare will all be governed by a single Board of Trustees. Each local organization though will still maintain a local board that will help oversee the care delivered in each community.
The MaineHealth Board of Trustees will have the final word about what occurs at each hospital.
THE IMPACT
Consolidation will help MaineHealth “build a system of integrated care,” notably including a common electronic medical records system to serve local health systems across the state and 1.1 million people. The new combined health system will comprise 19,000 employees and more than $3 billion in annual revenues.
THE TREND
Rural hospital closings have been rising in recent years due to regulatory changes, reimbursement cuts and more than half operating on negative margins. Earlier this month, in fact, the U.S. Department of Health Human Services Government Accountability Office predicted that rural hospitals owned by for-profit entities are more likely to close than their nonprofit brethren.
A major driver of mergers and acquisitions has been the boost in resources that comes with being part of a larger system. That is true for stand-alone hospitals and physician practices.
In North Carolina, for instance, community challenges, state and local government policies and demographics have shone a light on struggles common across the nation.
MaineHealth said the inability to deploy resources across a system consisting of independent member organizations had proven problematic for community hospitals, with many under growing financial stress thanks to changes in the healthcare landscape.
ON THE RECORD
“Two years ago MaineHealth members began a dialogue on how they could better leverage the strength of the whole system to make sure each community got the services it needed,” said George Hissong, Jr, Chair, Southern Maine Health Care Board of Trustees. “We are pleased with the final decision and look forward to seeing the benefits of unification in our communities.”
Nate Howell, CEO, Southern Maine Health Care, added: “Unification strengthens Southern Maine Health Care from a healthcare delivery, financial and sustainable perspective. By bringing the members together, resources can now flow more easily between various parts of the healthcare system.”
FD interest rate: Small finance banks pay an annual return of up to 9.5% on deposits below Rs. 1 crore
Small finance banks – which are banks aimed primarily at financial inclusion – pay interest rates in a range of 3.5-9.5 per cent on FDs or fixed deposits of up to Rs. 1 crore. These lenders, such as Equitas Small Finance Bank, AU Small Finance Bank, Suryoday Bank, Jana Small Finance Bank, Fincare Small Finance Bank, ESAF Small Finance Bank and Utkarsh Small Finance Bank, provide a variety of maturity periods, from as short as seven days to as long as 10 years. In contrast to market-linked instruments such as equity or mutual funds, FDs provide a fixed return over a pre-defined maturity period, known as term or lock-in. Financial planners often suggest fixed deposit for investors with a low risk appetite.
Here’s a comparison of interest rates paid by these small finance banks on fixed deposits of up to Rs. 1 crore:
Equitas Small Finance Bank
Maturity period (term)
Interest rate with effect from July 5, 2018
7 – 14 days
5.00%
15 – 29 days
5.50%
30 – 45 days
6.00%
46 – 62 days
6.25%
63 – 90 days
6.25%
91 – 120 days
6.50%
121 – 180 days
6.50%
181 – 210 days
6.75%
211 – 270 days
6.75%
271 – 364 days
7.50%
1 year to 18 months
8.00%
18 months 1 day to 2 years
7.75%
2 years 1 day to 3 years
7.75%
3 years 1 day to 4 years
7.00%
4 years 1 day to 5 years
7.00%
5 years 1 day to 10 years
7.00%
(Source: equitasbank.com)
AU Small Finance Bank
Maturity period (term)
Interest rate with effect from October 10, 2018
General
Senior citizen
7 Days to 1 Month 15 Days
5.50%
6.00%
1 Month 16 Days to 3 Months
6.75%
7.25%
3 Months 1 Day to 6 Months
6.90%
7.40%
6 Months 1 Day to 13 Months
7.00%
7.50%
13 Months 1 Day to 18 Months
8.25%
8.75%
18 Months 1 Day to 24 Months
8.50%
9.00%
24 Months 1 Day to 36 Months
7.75%
8.25%
36 Months 1 Day to 45 Months
7.75%
8.25%
45 Months 1 Day to 60 Months
8.00%
8.50%
60 Months 1 Day to 120 Months
7.25%
7.75%
(Source: aubank.in)
Suryoday Bank
Maturity period (term)
Interest rate with effect from September 29, 2018
General
Senior citizen
7 days to 14 days
4.00%
4.50%
15 days to 45 days
4.00%
4.50%
46 days to 90 days
5.00%
5.50%
91 days to 180 days
5.50%
6.00%
181 days to 240 days
7.50%
8.00%
241 days to less than 1 Year
7.75%
8.25%
1 Year to 2 Years
8.50%
9.00%
Above 2 Years to 3 Years
8.75%
9.25%
950 Days*
9.00%
9.50%
Above 3 Years to less than 5 Years
8.00%
8.50%
5 Years
8.25%
8.75%
Above 5 Years to 10 Years
7.25%
7.75%
Source: suryodaybank.com)
Jana Small Finance Bank
Maturity period (term)
Interest rate with effect from October 17, 2018
7 days to 45 days
6.00%
46 days to 60 days
6.50%
61 days to 180 days
7.00%
181 days to 365 days
8.00%
More than 1 year up to 2 years
8.25%
More than 2 years up to 3 years
8.50%
More than 3 years up to 5 years
8.00%
More than 5 years up to 10 years
7.00%
(Source: janabank.com)
Fincare Small Finance Bank
Maturity period (term)
Interest rate
General
Senior citizen
7 days to 45 days
4.00%
4.50%
46 days to 90 days
4.00%
4.50%
91 days to 180 days
6.00%
6.50%
181 days to 364 days
7.00%
7.50%
12 months to 15 months
8.00%
8.50%
15 months 1 day to 18 months
8.25%
8.75%
18 months 1 day to 21 months
8.50%
9.00%
21 months 1 day to 24 months
8.75%
9.25%
24 months 1 day to 36 months
9.00%
9.50%
3 years 1 day to 5 years
8.00%
8.50%
5 years 1 day to 7 years
7%
7.50%
(Source: fincarebank.com)
ESAF Small Finance Bank
Maturity period (term)
Interest rate with effect from April 1, 2018
General
Senior citizen
7 – 14 days
5.75%
6.25%
15 – 59 days
5.75%
6.25%
60 – 90 days
6.50%
7.00%
91 – 179 days
6.75%
7.25%
180 – 363 days
7.50%
8.00%
364 days
5.60%
6.10%
365 – 727 days
8.75%
9.25%
728 days
6.80%
7.30%
729 – 1091 days
8.00%
8.50%
1092 days
5.66%
6.16%
1093 – 1819 days
7.00%
7.50%
1820 days
5.65%
6.15%
1821 – 3652 days
7.00%
7.50%
(Source: esafbank.com)
Utkarsh Small Finance Bank
Maturity period (term)
Interest rate with effect from September 27, 2018
General
Senior citizen
7 Days to 15 days
3.50%
4.00%
16 Days to 28 Days
3.50%
4.00%
29 Days to 45 Days
4.00%
4.50%
46 Days to 90 Days
4.50%
5.00%
91 Days to 120 Days
5.00%
5.50%
121 Days to 179 Days
5.50%
6.00%
180 Days to 210 Days
6.00%
6.50%
211 Days to 270 Days
7.00%
7.50%
271 Days to less than 1 Year
7.50%
8.00%
1 Year to 455 Days
8.50%
9.00%
456 Days to less than 2 years
9.00%
9.50%
2 Years to less than 3 Years
7.85%
8.35%
3 Years to less than 5 Years
7.00%
7.50%
5 Years
8.00%
8.50%
More than 5 Years to 10 Years
7.00%
7.50%
(Source: utkarsh.bank)
Across many maturities, small finance banks pay higher interest rates on FDs compared to their larger counterparts.
Today’s the day to turn that dumb coffee pot or lamp into a smart device. B&H Photo Video has a great sale today for a two-pack of the TP-Link HS110 Kasa Wi-Fi Smart Plug for $25. That’s close to Amazon’s $20 price on Prime Day 2018, but that sale price was for a single device. B&H’s sale ends just before midnight Eastern time on Tuesday night.
The HS110 packs 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi and works with Google Assistant and Alexa devices. As with other TP-Link smart devices, these plugs don’t require a hub to work. Instead, you download TP-Link’s Kasa app, connect the plugs to your home Wi-Fi via your phone, and you’re done (at least until the power goes out and you have to reset them).
Once they’re set up you can use remote access to activate a light or whatever you’ve got plugged into it. Or you can schedule specific times for the smart plug to activate your electronics. This smart plug also comes with energy monitoring built-in, which is great for anyone curious about how much power they’re using up with that coffee pot or gaming console. One downside: The HS110 is bulky, taking up both plugs in a two-jack outlet.
We balked at the original $40 asking price in our TP-Link HS110 review, but those qualms disappear when you can snag two of them for just $25.
This is the Tiago JTP. And, it has received the same set of upgrades as the Tigor JTP to turn this entry-level hatchback into a special works car. But, on the road, the two cars did feel a bit different…
The upgrades
As is the case with the Tigor JTP, the Tiago JTP too gets a turbocharged version of the 1.2-litre petrol engine that powers the regular Tiago. As a result, the power is up almost by 30bhp and the torque is claimed to be a healthy 150Nm as well. This is the same engine that is housed under the hood of the Tata Nexon SUV, but it develops a little more power for the Tiago.
The gearbox is the same as on the regular Tiago, but the JTP runs a shorter final drive and a closer stacked second and third gear. This, on paper, should help improve standing start acceleration as well as the mid-range performance of the car.
Other mechanical changes include a stiffer and lowered suspension setup, bigger and wider wheels and tyres, re-calibrated throttle maps, a new intake and exhaust system, and an EPS that adds more weight at speed.
There are visual upgrades too, like on the Tigor JTP. So, you can only have this JTP in either red or white. There’s a contrasting black roof, red JTP badging all round, 15-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels, and black ORVMs on the red car, and red ORVMs on the white. And, lest I forget, there’s a bonnet scope that works to add ram air as part of the intake upgrade, and there are side vents to help with cooling.
Inside, there’s red outline for the aircon vents, red stitching and honeycomb motif on the seats, the floor pedals have a faux drilled finish, and well, nothing else that sets it apart from the top-spec Tiago XZ.
The drive
The Tiago and the Tigor are based on the same platform. And now under JTP, these have received the same set of upgrades, and the exact same tuning. So, one would expect the two to feel near identical to drive. That, however, isn’t the case.
There are some differences between the regular versions of the cars to begin with. The Tiago is 50kg lighter. It sits on a 50mm shorter wheelbase. And, it doesn’t get the same sound insulation or NVH package as the Tigor.
On the road, the Tiago JTP feels just as fast as the Tigor. It too can do the 0-100kmph sprint in 10 seconds. And from behind the wheel, especially in Sport mode, the Tiago feels like a power packed hatchback.
It manages to spin its fat 185 section front tyres under full bore acceleration. Get past 3,000rpm, and you are welcomed by a satisfying turbo kick. The car though, keeps pulling vigourously to its near 6,000rpm redline. And then, when you shift up just short of that mark, you find yourself back in a potent accelerating zone.
Keeping that throttle pinned, and going up the gearbox, leads you to high three digit speeds one wouldn’t even expect an affordable hatchback to get to, besides feeling completely comfortable and in-control. And that’s when you realise what a good job the team at JT Special Vehicles have done.
They have completely transformed the Tiago. It’s not just about plonking a more powerful engine under the hood. The JTP actually can handle and put down all that additional power with some engineering finesse.
Now, we didn’t get to throw the Tiago JTP around the twisty stuff, but whatever long, bumpy, and fast bends we countered, the JTP showed clear signs of being a hoot to drive up a winding road. But, just like the Tigor JTP, this one too could do with better brakes.
Our take
Yes, I realise I haven’t talked about how the Tiago JTP is different from the Tigor JTP, especially after all that build up. The bottom line is – the Tigor JTP feels like the better car here.
The Tiago JTP is less refined. You can hear more of the mechanical noises – the turbo whine, the gear slotting, and even the engine – inside the Tiago. But, that’s not all. The lighter weight and the shorter wheelbase means that it feels twitchier than the Tigor at high speeds.
It’s also not as planted under hard braking as the sedan. And at slower city speeds, the Tiago feels more like a sports car with its rear slapping around over bumps instead of absorbing them.
The Tigor JTP just feels like the more luxurious, more matured of the two cars here.
But, the Tiago JTP is significantly cheaper. And to be honest, you are essentially getting the same thrills but at a more sensible price point. So, when it comes to the price to performance bang-for-your-buck equation, the Tiago JTP certainly takes the cake. And, not just over the Tigor JTP, mind.
A few days ago, I cashed in 3,914 Chase Ultimate Rewards points for a three-hour “Game of Thrones” sightseeing tour in Dubrovnik, Croatia. My husband and I are big fans of the show and we have always wanted to see Dubrovnik, which is also the setting of “King’s Landing” in the HBO series made-up world of Westeros. So, next month, we are going to see the Red Keep, where the Battle of Blackwater Bay took place, and a wide range of other settings where important scenes of the movies were filmed. I’m pretty stoked this is happening, but I’m equally happy I didn’t have to pay a dime.
The same is true for a few other excursions we booked for our upcoming Croatia trip, including a Plitvice Lakes tour from Zagreb and a day trip to Bosnia and Herzegovina including Medjugorje and Mostar that I paid with entirely with points.
The crazy thing is, most people I speak to about using points this way don’t realize booking activities is an option. When they think about using their Chase Ultimate Rewards points, they focus mostly on airline and hotel partners, while maybe thinking of using their points to book flights or hotels through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal.
However, it’s super easy to book activities and experiences through Chase if you know where to look. When you go into the Chase portal, all you have to do is select “activities” instead of flights, hotels, or rental cars. It’s as easy as that.
It’s super easy to book activities and experiences through Chase if you know where to look within the Ultimate Rewards portal. Holly Johnson
If you haven’t checked out the activities available in Chase Ultimate Rewards before, I highly recommend you do. You might be surprised at what you find and just how affordable many options are whether you’re paying in points or cash.
Here are some truly exciting options you can book worldwide with Chase Ultimate Rewards points, along with how much they would cost if you carry the Chase Sapphire Reserve.
Click here to learn more about the Chase Sapphire Reserve from Insider Picks’ partner: The Points Guy.
Click here to learn more about the Chase Sapphire Preferred from Insider Picks’ partner: The Points Guy.
#1: Electric Bike Tour in Athens, Greece
TripAdvisor
After a day spent exploring ancient ruins and relics of our culture’s past in Athens, Greece, you can cash in 5,145 Chase Ultimate Rewards points for an electric bike ride around the city. See the Hill of the Muses and the Hill of the Nymphs, the ancient Acropolis, the historic neighborhood of Plaka, the Panathenaic Stadium, and so many more of this city’s famous sights while only pedaling when you feel like it.
#2: Taste of Barcelona Food Tour
Flickr/jlastras
Spain is known for its bull fights, its alluring and rich history, and its small tasting plates known as tapas. On this Barcelona food tour, you’ll roam the streets of Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter and El Born neighborhood to try amazing local delicacies such as “sardina arenque,” a local sardine cleaned on the spot in a unique way along with wine pairings with nearly every dish. This three-hour tour costs just 5,052 Chase Ultimate Rewards points per person.
#3: Private Day Trip to Terra Cotta Warriors from Xian, China
LEE SNIDER PHOTO IMAGES / Shutterstock.com
Travelers flock to this region of China to see one of the most interesting dig discoveries in world history — an army of terra cotta warriors and horses that have been buried for over 2,000 years. This army stands over 7,000 strong and is still being excavated, making this the educational trip of a lifetime. You can book this private day tour through Chase Ultimate Rewards for just 1,600 points per person.
#4: Vodka Tasting and Evening Canal Cruise in St. Petersburg, Russia
Flickr Creative Commons
Fork over just 3,200 Chase Ultimate Rewards points per person to enjoy St. Petersburg and Russia in the most epic way ever — on a boat drinking vodka. This Insta-worthy day trip lasts three hours and takes you through the city’s gorgeous canals and along the Neva, Fontanka, and Moika rivers.
This is the Tigor JTP. It is a look-better, go-faster version of the regular Tata Tigor. And, according to Tata Motors, if this – and its hatchback sibling, the Tiago JTP – manage to garner even five per cent of the volume of the regular versions, JTP will be slapped on other Tata cars as well. Possibly even the likes of the Nexon and the upcoming Tata Harrier.
So, what’s different?
Quite a bit actually. But first, the similarity. The shell, the construction, the panels, the vendor base, and the production line is all identical to the Tigor. But, instead of the naturally aspirated 1.2-litre petrol engine, the Tigor JTP gets the turbocharged version of the same engine.
And that’s not all. With change in boost pressure, throttle and engine mapping, the engine under the JTP hood makes 112bhp compared to 84bhp of the regular Tigor. The peak torque, meanwhile, has gone up to 150Nm. And, it’s flatter too. The JTP continues to use the same gearbox as the regular Tigor, albeit with a shorter final drive, and different gear ratios.
The suspension has been worked upon as well. It is stiffer and marginally lower than the regular car. The steering too has been recaliberated. And, the JTP runs on bigger, wider wheels with tyres that have slightly stiffer sidewalls.
There are some styling tweaks as well. For starters, the Tigor JTP can only be had in White or Red paint hues. We prefer the white. It gets a contrasting black roof, red ORVMs, clear lens tail lamps, and a gloss black strip that runs between the tail lamps. And yes, there’s an overload of JTP bagding as well – grille, side vents, boot lid, you name it, and it’s there.
Inside, everything remains the same as the Tigor XZ. So, there’s a multifunctional steering wheel, climate control, a trip computer, a touchscreen multimedia system, electric adjust for ORVMs, and power windows all round. The JTP also comes with dual front air bags and ABS as standard, like the XZ.
The accents inside though are sportier. The aircon vents have a red outline; one gets faux drilled pedals; leather wrap for the steering; and a black seat with red stitching and a honeycomb motif in the centre.
But, does it drive any different?
The proof of the pudding is in eating it. Tata and Jayem, the two companies who have co-developed this car, seem to agree. So, the focus wasn’t just on making the Tigor look more desirable in JTP clothing, but to make it desirable for the driving enthusiast as well.
Now, as we mentioned earlier, the engine is from the Nexon, but with even more power. The company has claimed a 0-100kmph time of 10 seconds, which puts it in the same league as the Baleno RS and faster than the Polo GT TSI. Also, this makes the JTP six seconds quicker than the standard Tigor petrol! We haven’t tested the JTP ourselves yet, but, after having driven it, the 10 second figure feels completely believable. It does feel quick, the Tigor JTP.
Now, the JTP has two driving modes – City and Sport. In City, the Tigor JTP feels more alive than the regular car, then be it the mid or top range pull or the throttle response. But, switch to Sport, and it turns into a completely different car! Especially in the way it pulls from 3,000rpm almost all the way to its near 6,000rpm redline. It pleasantly surprises you. It makes you smile. And it makes you want the car.
The engine revs freely. The turbo lag doesn’t feel so much like lag. In fact, it’s more like a step up switch. A step up in performance that is. The gear shifts are light, precise, and the throws are short. And though there’s a hint of delay in the car’s response when you stamp on the throttle, once on, the throttle response is crisp and easy to modulate. Having said that, we did find it a bit jerky at times, especially at higher revs in a lower gear.
Back to the performance, and the Tigor JTP accelerates – be it from a standstill or under roll-on – with the vigour one can comfortably associate with a 100bhp plus car. In fact, the Tigor JTP gets deep into three digit speeds with ease. And sits there without effort as well. It feels planted, confident, and unwavering in a straight line, even at these high speeds. If there’s one thing it needs though, it is better feel at the brake pedal, and a stronger brake bite.
Now, we didn’t subject the JTP to hard cornering around a switchback, but we did go around fast, sweeping corners. We also made some quick lane change manouvres. And on both occasions, it was evident that the change in geometry resulting from altered suspension setup, has made the Tigor’s front end a quicker responding one in JTP guise. It’s still not a go-kart, but it makes the Tigor feel lighter, more responsive, and involving than the stock car.
The ride on the other hand is stiffer than the regular car, and the travel is marginally less as well. Not surprisingly, at slow speeds the car rides the bumps instead of flattening them. But, unless you hit a square-edged pothole, the ride never feels harsh. Then, at higher speeds – anything over 60-70kmph – the suspension comes into its own.
Be it undulating roads, pockmarked surfaces, or ruts and rumblers, the Tigor JTP simply glides over it all. And, it never really wallows, weaves, or washes out, no matter how unexpected or pronounced the bump or dip. But, it’s the car’s ability to come back to its steady state in lightning quick time instead of pogoing on its springs, that makes it special. Not, only does this add to the driver’s confidence, it aids both comfort and safety. The latter comes to the fore when one has to make an evasive manoeuvre.
As far as steering goes, only the EPS has been recaliberated for weight. It’s still a three turns lock-to-lock steering, so it isn’t the quickest in the business. But, it proved to be effortless to twirl around in the city, and it weighed up enough at speed to cut out the twitchness. But, like the regular Tigor, this one doesn’t brim with feel either.
Our take
The philosophy behind cars carrying the JTP badging is simple. These will, for the time being, be based on existing Tata Motors models. And, to carry the JTP badge, these cars must have improved engine performance, sportier exterior and interior, and better driving dynamics and sound, compared to the stock car.
On that front the Tigor JTP hits the nail on the head. Okay, it could sound better. It could also do with more refinement. Maybe, the throttle response could be more linear. And lower, more snug seats would be welcome too. But, when it comes to balancing ride and handling, or usability and driving fun, the Tigor JTP is spot on.
Yes, the real hardcore driving enthusiast would like even more performance, even crisper handling, a much lower ride height, and not to mention louder acoustics. But, the current JTP setup makes the Tigor acceptable, agreeable, and even desirable to not just the young and hardcore, but even to guys like me who are married, have kids, and can only afford one car, but don’t want to be stuck with a boring everyday family car.
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HP’s flagship HP Spectre x360 13 convertible laptop has previously won PCWorld’s Editor’s Choice award on the strength of its frequent, substantive improvements. Its 2018 update offers even more: incredible battery life (22.5 hours!), a new Intel “Whiskey Lake” processor, eSIM LTE, and even a webcam “kill switch.”
What you’ll immediately notice, though, is a faceted chassis design that angles the corners and offsets the power connections and USB-C port. On the side of the chassis is also a small red switch that electrically disables the webcam, actually removing the driver from Windows.
HP debuted two versions of the Spectre x360 13 in 2017, and what was noteworthy about the excellent late 2017 Spectre x360 13 was its leap to an 8th-gen, quad-core part. Intel still calls its latest quad-core “Whiskey Lake” chip an 8th-gen processor too, but there’s less of an emphasis on performance. HP believes you’ll see a boost of about 13 percent in 3DMark performance from the previous x360 generation, but a whopping 37-percent increase in battery life to a rated 22.5 hours. In part, that’s because the new Spectre x360 uses a 1-watt display panel that still manages to pump out a maximum of 400 nits of luminosity.
Mark Hachman / IDGHP designed its Spectre x360 for your professionals, with battery life among its primary characteristics.
HP Spectre x360 13 (2018) prices, features and specs
Display: 13.3-inch (3840×2160) WLED;13.3-inch (1920×1080) WLED with either HP SureView privacy protection or HP BrightView; protected by Corning Gorilla Glass NBT
Ports: 1 USB-A, 2 USB-C (Thunderbolt, fast charging), mic/headphones
Wireless: dual eSIM LTE support, gigabit WiFi
Security: IR camera; fingerprint reader
Battery: 60Wh
Chassis: CNC-machined aluminum in either “Dark Ash Silver/Copper Luxe Accents” or “Poseidon Blue/Pale Brass Accents”
Dimensions: Exact dimensions are unknown, but it’s 14mm thin and 2.9 pounds—slightly thicker and heavier than the previous generation.
Optional accessories: Ink Certified Pen (included); HP Spectre Tilt rechargeable Pen; HP Spectre Rechargeable Mouse 700
Operating system: Windows 10 Home
Price: Beginning at $1,150
Shipping: December (Best Buy)
Hands on with the HP Spectre x360 13
(Editor’s note: Our hands-on was conducted at an HP event which showed off a new HP Spectre 15 x360 as well, emphasizing performance rather than battery life.)
Under the dim lights of a recent HP launch event, it was difficult to distinguish between the new Dark Ash Silver and Poseidon Blue colors. But the accent metals used on the corners gleam. And speaking of the corners—they’re gone. Well, sort of. On each of the rear corners, HP has angled the corners to include a power button on one side and a Thunderbolt-enabled USB-C connector on the other. Because the new x360 is USB-C powered, that means that the power cord can be attached at a convenient angle, or connected via the side of the Spectre, using the other port.
Mark Hachman / IDGHP widened its speaker grille and reshaped it to give it a geometric bent.
Honestly, the new faceted design is a bit gratuitous, as a USB-C slot at the side or rear of the notebook is just fine. But HP has always tried to make its products visually distinctive, and it’s a stylistic flourish that you’ll instantly identify with the Spectre line.
Mark Hachman / IDGThe rear corners have been squared off to give the Spectre laptops this “faceted” look. On the right side of the Spectre x360 13, there’s a pair of USB-C ports (with Thunderbolt), the headphone jack, and the new webcam kill switch.
Held in the hand, the Spectre x360 (2018) was both bright and light. The display can blast out up to 400 nits, even with the new 1-watt panel technology—a huge deal, and one of the most important announcements to come out of Computex this year. The new, ultra-efficient panel minimizes one of the most power-hungry components within a PC. Even though the battery remains unchanged from the Spectre x360 (2017) at 60Wh, HP executives described the reduction in panel power as one of the key enablers of its massive increase in battery life—pushing into the territory carved out by Qualcomm Snapdragon chips, but with a traditional x86 architecture.
To our eyes, the Spectre x360 13’s new display appeared both bright and color-accurate. You also have the option of buying a SureView-equipped panel, which helps reduce visibility to viewers to your left and right, preserving privacy. HP also said it trimmed the bezel size by just under 6 percent, the majority at the bottom of the screen.
Power plays a role in other changes, as well. The Spectre x360 13 (2018) includes an improved thermal architecture, which adds a bit of thickness and weight—it’s about a millimeter thicker, and 0.05 lb heavier. At 2.9 pounds, the Spectre x360 felt sturdy, but not overly heavy.
Mark Hachman / IDGHP’s pen ships with the Spectre x360 13.
HP has also included a “Performance HP Command Center” app that offers three modes: performance, cool, and quiet. We weren’t able to tell how the different modes affected performance and battery life, but the “quiet” mode runs the fan at minimum speed or turns it off entirely, if possible. (Because the demo room was pretty loud, we weren’t able to accurately judge its effects.)
Three other details distinguish the Spectre x360 13 (2018) from its predecessor, the 2017 model. First, there’s a wider, “micro-drilled speaker grille,” which allows what HP calls better acoustic transparency from the traditional Bang & Olufsen-certified speakers. What we’d expect from this would be a louder, clearer sound, but we didn’t have a chance to compare one generation to the other.
Mark Hachman / IDGThe fingerprint reader has been returned to its traditional position on the palm rest.
Enhancements to privacy, security
The second feature is a novel take on webcam privacy: a “kill switch” that appears on the right side of the Spectre x360 13 (2018). When flipped on, the laptop’s webcam is electrically switched off. That’s no joke: If you go to into the Windows Task Manager while flipping the “kill switch” to on, the webcam driver actually disappears from the driver list, like so:
Is this a better solution than the physical ThinkShutter on the Lenovo ThinkPad Carbon (6th Gen), or the wacky pop-up webcam of the Huawei Matebook Pro X? We’ll have to test it to be sure. (It seems that all three solutions leave the mic enabled unless you manually disable it.) There’s also an IR camera for biometric logins.
Finally, what the side of the Spectre doesn’t have anymore is a fingerprint sensor. With the 2017 Spectre x360 generation, HP argued that the side-mounted sensor facilitated logging into the laptop in whichever mode it was in: a laptop configuration, tent mode, or folded back. HP now puts the fingerprint sensor where most other laptop makers place it: on the palm rest, which makes more sense.
Granted, we couldn’t test a number of features in just the short time we were able to examine the Spectre x360 13, not the least of which include the new chip inside of it. Choice features like dual eSIM should allow always-on connectivity both at home and abroad, and the new gigabit Wi-Fi capabilities should speed downloads dramatically—provided you have a compatible router or access point.
As for the flagship feature, battery life: Based on our tests of the HP Spectre x360 (2017), it seems that our tests usually confirm about 80 percent of HP’s claimed battery life. That would put HP’s eye-popping claim of 22.5 hours of battery life closer to 18 hours—still a massive amount. We’ll have the full report once we can get our hands on one.
Mini Cooper fans are going to love this. The Oxford Edition of the Mini Cooper is now available in India. This limited edition is based on the classic three-door Cooper S model and pays a tribute to the brand’s British heritage. It’s a stylish take on the hot hatch that proves to be a stand out in terms of design and exclusivity. Feast your eyes on this picture gallery of the Mini Oxford edition.
This special Oxford edition of the Cooper will be limited to 25 units in our country and offered in two colour options – 15 in solaris orange and 10 in midnight black.
The surrounds around the headlamps, radiator grille and tail lights are blackened out instead of chrome. Featuring black door handles and fuel filler cap, the ORVMs are painted in black or orange.
A contrasting roof and matte black decals on the bonnet and on the sides are subtle changes that might not catch your attention.
But what’s definitely eye-catching is the John Cooper Works rear spoiler and an aerodynamic kit. Also, the 17-inch alloy wheels finished in black and twin chrome exhaust tips are quite appealing.
Oh yes, and there’s an overload of the Union Jack badging that can be found at various places on the exterior like the tail lights and side scuttles.
This national flag of the UK can be seen inside the cabin too on the steering wheel, door sill finishers, leather upholstery, illuminated dashboard and even the LED door projection.
What’s new is an 8.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with a touchpad controller. This unit is a Harmon Kardon audio system with 12 speakers supporting Apple CarPlay connectivity and navigation.
Powering the Mini Oxford Edition is a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine churning out 189bhp and 280Nm of torque. It comes mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.
Sport and Green are two driving modes the car comes equipped with. Apart from this an auto start/stop function with brake energy recuperation, active cooling air flaps and a head-up display is standard.
The Oxford Edition is equipped with many safety features like airbags, ABS with brake assist, Dynamic Stability Control, traction control, Crash Sensor and Cornering Brake Control.
