Porsche 718 Boxster first drive: 20 years on, it’s still boxing clever

Can you believe the Porsche Boxster is 20 years old? No, we can’t either. But back when the Spice Girls were miming Wannabe on Top of the Pops and kids were losing their minds over games of POGs, the Boxster was waiting in the wings, preparing itself to utterly dominate the sports car market and make Porsche a big wad of cash in the process.

Today, the mid-engined two-seater is still regarded as the benchmark roadster, a car that all other cars want to be like. A machine that rival engineers revere due to its seemingly unending levels of grip and grin-inducing performance that somehow manages to remain attainable if not completely affordable.

Now, a new generation of Boxster lives among us, and it boasts a fancy new name (that’s the 718 bit), revised styling and – brace yourselves – a choice of either a 2.0-litre or 2.5-litre four-cylinder boxer engine. Yeah, we said four-cylinder and the simple act of typing that made us feel almost as weird as when we heard these updated powerplants fire up for the first time – but more of that later.

Porsche 718 Boxster: The emperor’s new clothes

It might not look like it but only the boot lid, windscreen and convertible hood are shared with the previous generation car. Everything else has been tweaked, stiffened and reshaped to ensure the 718, whose name is a nod to some very successful Porsche racecars of the 1950s and 60s, performs better than its predecessor.

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Stylistic changes are subtle but they don’t go unnoticed. The front end is wider, with larger cooling air intakes, while the nose hosts piercing new Bi-Xenon headlights with integrated LED daytime running lamps. Customers will also be able to specify optional four-point running lights similar to those found on the Panamera and Macan SUV.

The general theme of steroid-based enhancement continues into the side profile, where more bulbous wheel arches, larger air inlet panels behind the doors and mirrors with aerodynamic cut-outs reside. It’s most definitely a Boxster, but stand it next to the first-generation model and it looks like The Mountain is conversing with Stephen Merchant.

At the back, new clear glass taillights sit on a widened rear-end and large Porsche 3D lettering cuts an imposing figure on the panel beneath the electronic spoiler, which automatically raises and lowers at speeds of around 75mph to aid downforce.

The overall package certainly turns heads – but fans of the previous model’s sharp yet understated looks might say all of the added loveliness is a little fussy.

Porsche 718 Boxster: The great cylinder debate

Let’s deal with the elephant in the room before we continue. Porsche has decided to do away with the glorious, naturally-aspirated 2.7 or 3.4-litre flat-six cylinder engines found in the outgoing model and replace them with either 2.0 or 2.5-litre turbocharged flat-four variants in the standard Boxster or S model, which start at £41,739 or £50,695 respectively.

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The result is increased performance – horsepower is up 35bhp in each model and the standard 2.0-litre gains 100Nm of torque over its predecessor – while fuel economy is up by around 5mpg in both cars.

Harmful CO2 emissions have also been reduced, with the more powerful S model now belches out just 184g/km, which sees it drop four vehicle excise duty bands and will save customers over £250 in tax every year.

Porsche engineers are extremely pleased with the results and they claim this is the best performing Boxster to date, with the new S variant lapping the Nurburgring 16-seconds faster than the vehicle it replaces.

That’s good news, right? Yes, the gains in performance are tangible, with the extra torque especially noticeable during over-taking manoeuvres, and reducing the burden on the taxpayer is welcome news, but these engines just aren’t as characterful as the units they replace.

That epic howl from the 3.4-litre flat-six at full chat has been replaced by a deep burble that gets harsher and more gravelly as the power surges. On idle, the engines sound lumpy and off-beat, plus they produce a monotonous drone at motorway speeds that can get a little tiresome.

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Some people have said it sounds a bit like the old Subaru ‘boxer’ engines when pootling around town and others have likened it to a slightly beefier Toyota GT86 under hard acceleration. But whatever the comparison, it’s just not as aurally impeccable as the old units.

This won’t matter to those seeking pure performance gains, but the appeal of a soft-top roadster is to be able to enjoy the engine note on a sunny day. Sure, the 718 still pops and bangs with Porsche’s sports exhaust added to the options list but it doesn’t quite make hairs stand on end.

Porsche 718 Boxster: Speedy by nature

Climb into the low-slung body, settle into the cossetting sports seats, insert the stubby key into the ignition and slot the beautifully mechanical manual gear shifter into first. Pile on the revs, dump the surprisingly heavy clutch and prepare to rocket from standstill to 60mph in 4.9-seconds in the standard model, or 4.4 seconds in the more powerful S. Opt for the ludicrously quick-shifting PDK automatic transmission and you can expect to shave 0.2 of a second off those times.

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The 718 is unmistakably a Porsche. The revisions to the chassis, including strengthening the rear subframe for improved lateral rigidity and revised tuning of vibration dampers, means it handles better than ever. This is one seriously sweet car to drive.

The steering has also been stolen from the 911 Turbo, meaning the electromechanical set-up is 10 per cent faster than before for more precise handling and better feedback. The standard steel brakes are so strong, it makes the carbon ceramic option seem a little pointless; the Porsche Stability Management (PSM) system now features a PSM Sport mode that allows for a little bit of slip and slide without causing pants to be stained.

The 718 is phenomenal on both road and track and both engines are equally adept at causing spontaneous whoops of delight, while the car remains comfortable and practical enough (it has two boots, after all) to use every day or tackle longer road trips.

This Boxster may have shed its distinctive engine note but it hasn’t lost any of the handling and performance charms that won it so many fans in the first place.

Porsche 718 Boxster preview: Bristles with tech

To sate the technological appetite of modern buyers, the German marque has added its Porsche Communication Management (PCM) system as standard on all cars.

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This means punters can now enjoy hands-free Bluetooth calls, a 110W audio system and the ability to tether a smartphone for access to msuic on the go at no extra cost. But before you go thinking Porsche has made its options list less tempting, we must remind you that a shedload of extra niceties can be thrown in – for wallet-burning fees, of course.

For example, navigation costs a staggering £1,052 – but at least it features an improved display and voice control to make it easier to input destinations. Customers can also go mad and add TV tuners, a Burmester surround sound system, digital radio and Apple CarPlay – but it all comes at a cost.

First Impressions

The Porsche 718 Boxster remains a phenomenally capable car and its performance attributes, external styling and interior quality only improve with every generation.

However, a large question mark hangs over the new range of engines. Performance is blistering and the added torque is immediately apparent from behind the wheel, while feedback from the controls is still as good as ever, but it is very difficult to ignore the rough and displeasing sound emanating from behind the driver’s head.

It may seem like a minor point, but for some that will most certainly tarnish the experience. Which is a shame, because the Boxster is still by far the best car in its class.

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Private Internet Access VPN keeps your data secure, unlocks unlimited streaming content

We’d all like to think that a Wi-Fi password is all it takes to ensure online security.

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HTC 10 official launch video just revealed everything early

Barely 24 hours are left to go before HTC unveils its new smartphone, the HTC 10, and the official launch video has leaked.

The leaked video, slipped out via Reddit, shows off the new HTC 10 in a way that reminds us of many launch events gone before. This is most likely the video that will used to wow fans watching the event tomorrow.

If you don’t want spoilers stop reading now.

The video shows the phone being created from a single block of metal – something HTC has taken pride in since its unibody HTC One wowed the world. The shiny metallic edging finish appears to be laser cut with a rougher grip-friendly rear.

Also seen is the single rear camera, USB-C port, drilled speaker, a ribbed power button on the side plus a front-facing home button that should double as a fingerprint reader. The handset is seen running the new version of HTC Sense skinned over Android Marshmallow. 

Other specs leaked include a 5.2-inch QHD display, 12-megapixel UltraPixel camera, Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 chip with 4GB of RAM plus a Quick Charge 3.0 compatible battery.

For the full details on the HTC 10, as well as hand-on coverage live from the event tomorrow, check back for a 1PM BST launch on 12 April.

READ: HTC 10: Release date, rumours and everything you need to know

HTC’s next flagship leaks in promotional video

If you had any doubts over what HTC’s new flagship might look like, it’s time to fold them up like a paper airplane and throw them out the window. A promotional video for the new “10” smartphone has leaked online, revealing what it looks like from almost every conceivable angle. Of course, there’s always the possibility that this is a fake, although based on previous leaks we’re pretty confident that it’s legitimate. It shows the phone in three colors — gold, silver and dark grey — with chamfered edges and a USB Type-C port on the bottom. On the back, there’s an ever so slightly protruding camera lens, the HTC logo and two antenna lines.

The back of the device is in keeping with the stylish One (M7), One M8 and One M9. The front is a different story, however, due to the absence of HTC’s trademark dual speaker grills. Instead, there’s a physical button near the bottom, which possibly serves as a home shortcut and a fingerprint scanner. It’s reminiscent of the One A9, a successor to the One M9 which our own Chris Velazco criticized for sporting a “new but derivative look.”

Under the hood, the phone is rumored to run a Snapdragon 820 processor, 4GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage. It’s all speculation for now — while most of the surprises appear to have been leaked, there’s only one way to know if they’re accurate. HTC will be making its announcement at 8am ET/1pm BST tomorrow, so check back here for the full rundown.

Via: The Verge, Mobiflip

Source: Niccolo Roli (YouTube)

4K Blu-rays have arrived in the UK

In what’ll undoubtedly become a rarer event in the future, a brand new physical media format has arrived in the UK today: 4K Ultra HD Blu-Ray. Understandably, the selection is relatively slim on day one. There are a total of 12 official launch titles — highlights being Life of Pi, The Lego Movie, Mad Max: Fury Road and Kingsman: The Secret Service — all available from retailers such as Zavvi and HMV for between £20 and £25. 4K Blu-rays aren’t region-locked, though, so a handful of other (imported) flicks, including Chappie and Hancock, are available through third-party retailers on Amazon too.

While we imagine videophiles out there are rubbing their hands together today, Panasonic has just as much cause to celebrate. The company only just released its £600 DMP-UB900 4K Blu-ray player, and it’s the only one you can buy in the UK right now. Samsung’s UBD-K8500 is due to launch any day now, though, and should retail for significantly cheaper if pre-order pricing is any indication.

4K TVs have been around for some time, of course, and various services like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Wuaki.tv offer 4K content to stream. With 4K Ultra HD Blu-rays, however, Brits can now watch the newest releases in the bestest quality without worrying about broadband bandwidth.

Fitbit data led doctors to shock a patient’s heart

Doctor’s made a decision to shock a man’s heart back to rhythm based on his Fitbit data, showing that such devices can do far more than just track your exercise. The 42-year old patient arrive at an ER in Camden, New Jersey with an atrial fibrillation (a fast and irregular heartbeat), meaning he needed immediate medical treatment. But which kind? Using a defibrillator could trigger a stroke in some cases, but not using one could also trigger a stroke. Luckily they noticed he was wearing a Fitbit, and its data confirmed his abnormal heart rate happened around the same time he had a seizure.

According to a research paper, “it was noted that he was wearing a wrist activity tracker (Fitbit Charge HR) which was synchronized with an application on the patient’s smartphone, recording his pulse rate as part of a fitness program. [There was] an immediate persistent increase to a range of 140 to 160 bpm at the approximate time of the patient’s seizure.” That meant the arrythmia wasn’t caused by a chronic condition, meaning it was unlikely that the patient had a blot clot that could be dislodged by a defibrillation. Based on that information, the team elected to do an electrical cardioversion, shocking the patient’s hard back to a normal rhythm.

While the case marks the first known time that a patient’s fitness tracker was used in such a direct medical procedure, such devices have already become useful to doctors. Researchers are using Apple’s ResearchKit app in conjunction with the Apple Watch to track patients’ cardiovascular health, for instance. IBM Watson researchers are also using the Apple Watch to see how sleep affects patients medical stats. Using a Fitbit in a direct medical intervention goes well beyond that, however, and one lucky user is probably glad he had it on.

Via: Gizmodo

Source: Annals of Emergency Medicine

‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ digital downloads come to the UK

If you’ve ignored regional loopholes and a plethora of dodgy websites waiting for Star Wars: The Force Awakens to become available in the UK, your patience has finally paid off. The latest instalment in the franchise is now available for digital download from online stores like iTunes, Google Play and Amazon.

Extras vary depending on where you purchase, but both Amazon and Apple are including deleted scenes at the very end of the movie. Craving something more physical? This time around, you’ll need to wait a week as Disney has decided to hold the Blu-ray and DVD releases until April 18th.

Whatever your choice, you’ll at least have something to keep you entertained while you wait Rogue One: A Star Wars Story to hit cinemas in December — especially if you have one of those adorable little BB-8 robots.

Source: Star Wars: The Force Awakens (iTunes), (Google Play), (Amazon)

Apple Reportedly Using Chinese Server Supplier to Migrate iCloud Service

Apple is reportedly working with China-based server vendor Inspur to help transfer its iCloud data services in-house, according to sources out of the China supply chain (via DigiTimes).

Currently Apple is thought to rely heavily on Amazon Web Services (AWS) to host many of its cloud server requirements, but the company’s data center plans suggest it is looking to scale back the money it spends on third-party cloud computing platforms as its data demands increase.

Inspur currently has a share of over 60 percent of China’s internet server market, and has previously agreed partnerships with Microsoft, Intel, IBM, and other technology companies looking to expand their server capacity. Inspur already has facilities close to Apple’s headquarters in California that include an R&D team as well as a production center.

Neither Apple nor Inspur have confirmed the rumor, but sources within the supply chain quoted by Taiwan-based website DigiTimes have proven reliable in the past.

Last month, Apple signed a deal with Google worth between $400 million and $600 million that will see the Google Cloud Platform providing some of the cloud infrastructure for iCloud and other cloud-based Apple services.

Apple has never confirmed the cloud services that power iCloud, but past rumors have pointed towards AWS and Microsoft Azure, suggesting Apple will continue using multiple services to meet its needs until its own data centers are all fully operational.

Apple is currently building new data centers in Ireland, Denmark, Reno, and Arizona, and is expanding its existing data center in Prineville, Oregon.

Tags: digitimes.com, iCloud
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Tesla Model S for 2016, what to expect from the newest electric supercar

Tesla is expected to unveil an upgraded version of its Model S this week.

While the Tesla Model S P90D is still relatively new, the electric car manufacturer is always pushing forward.

The new model is expected to arrive at the same time as the Model X custom order configurator goes live on the Tesla website.

So what can we expect from the latest Tesla Model S?

Tesla Model S 2016: Range and power

While Tesla doesn’t usually use dates to describe its models, we’ve added 2016 to differentiate this car from the rest. That said the specs should do that too.

According to rumours from sources of The Verge the new Model S will come with an upgraded 100kWh battery. Currently even the top end Model S P90D tops out at 90kWh.

That should mean, coupled with the latest software, this new Model S has the greatest range yet. Either that or it will carry more luxurious extras and this larger battery will offset that weight to continue to offer over 300 miles on a charge.

Tesla Model S 2016: Air filtration

One of the big pushes for the Model X was the Bioweapon Defense Mode air filtration system. This, according to rumours, will also be a feature in the new Model S.

Naysayers might point out that luxury brands like Mercedes and Audi have sported these filtration systems for years. But Musk does have a flair for the dramatic, hence the naming, and hefty claims that the car will keep you safe even in a bioweapon attack.

Tesla Model S 2016: Luxury extras

The new Model S may take luxury to the next level. While the current models offer plenty of comforts, plus plenty of performance, there may be more to add.

Rumours suggest the new Model S will feature new LED headlights. It could also feature the same ventilated seats that will launch in the Model X. Again this is something other brands offer already.

The shape of the car may also have a change with tweaks to the nose – suggesting it could be more aerodynamic for greater range. Also there should be a selection of new paint colour options.

Tesla Model S 2016: Release date and price

While Tesla is expected to unveil the new Model S this week, release date and pricing have not even been whispered yet.

As a Model S, it won’t come cheaper than £50,000 and, since the wait list even on current models is until June, we wouldn’t expect this one to arrive soon.

READ: Tesla: Everything you need to know about Model 3, Model S, Model X and more