More Smartphone Users Taking Pictures, Updating Statuses at Restaurants [INFOGRAPHIC]

More Smartphone Users Taking Pictures, Updating Statuses at Restaurants [INFOGRAPHIC]
by Samantha Murphy on Mashable

Playing on your phone might be taboo while out to dinner, but more people are pulling out their mobile devices to snap and share pictures of meals and update their Facebook statuses, a new study suggests.

According to an infographic by market research firm Lab42, about 19% of those that use their smartphone while at a restaurant update their status on Facebook. Meanwhile, about 24% said they take pictures of their entrees and 18% check-in to the restaurant on services such as Foursquare.

Not surprisingly, smartphone users (20%) are also communicating with others to make dinner plans and 19% use mobile devices to find nearby restaurants. Meanwhile, about one in five people who use their smartphones during their dining out experience do so to view a menu online and find directions.

Does it bother your when someone uses a phone while at a restaurant or is it now socially acceptable? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

Thumbnail image courtesy of iStockphoto, robynmac

Source of Article: Mashable

Cutting Edge Taxi of Tomorrow Coming to New York City in 2013 [PICS]

Cutting Edge Taxi of Tomorrow Coming to New York City in 2013 [PICS]
by Samantha Murphy on Mashable

At the 2012 New York International Auto Show on Tuesday, Nissan showed off the New York taxi of the future. The new cab features electrical outlets, USB ports and a dedicated air conditioner that’s passenger-controlled.

Called the 2014 Nissan NV200 — and known as the Taxi of Tomorrow — the iconic yellow cab will undergo a big tech makeover next year. Following a two-year competitive bid selection process, the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) announced in May 2011 that the Nissan NV200 Taxi will be the exclusive taxi to the city beginning in late 2013.

“In addition to the rear screen that will provide entertainment, maps and payment for the passenger, there is also a dedicated air conditioner that can be controlled independently from the driver’s system,” Peter Bedrosian, senior manager of product planning at Nissan North America, told Mashable. “We also incorporated a 12-volt electrical outlet and two USB ports, so passengers can charge their portable devices while riding in the taxi.”

LED lighting is also featured on the bottom of the backseat’s floor, so you can better step into the cab at night and see if you’ve dropped anything on the way out.

For the driver, there is a built-in GPS system, as well as a USB Auxiliary audio input and charge port to charge their devices while on the go. The Nissan NV200 also comes with a driver-passenger intercom system.

The suggested price of the taxi is about $29,700.

Nissan is also working with New York City and taxi owners to study the use of zero-emission electric vehicles as taxis. As a part of a pilot program, Nissan will provide six 100% electric Nissan LEAFs and three Level 2 charging stations to test the electrification of the taxi fleet.

New NYC Taxi

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NYC Taxi Side View

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USB Charging

The Viper Sports Car Roars Back to Life With a New Name

The Viper Sports Car Roars Back to Life With a New Name
by Samantha Murphy on Mashable

The snake is back and it’s ready to bite. Chrysler unveiled during the 2012 New York International Auto Show its new ultra-sleek, super fast SRT Viper sports car, boasting a new design and a variety of new tech tools.

The Viper, which hasn’t been in production since 2010, is making a gallant return with a stunning design and powerful 8.4 liter V10 engine. Chrysler is no longer calling it the Dodge Viper, though — it will simply be known as the SRT Viper.

The engine in the new model is 25 pounds lighter than it’s predecessor. The latest Viper also comes with traction and cruise control, which is a first for the line, and stability control to help drivers better maneuver the vehicle.

It also comes with a connectivity system called Uconnect Access, which provides drivers with access to more information, emergency services, entertainment such as SiriusXM and improved graphics. The system includes an 8.4-inch touchscreen along with buttons for commonly used functions, as well as traditional knobs for tuning the radio bands and radio volume. Touchscreen buttons along the bottom of the screen allow drivers to easily access the radio, climate controls, navigation and the phone.

“The SRT Viper model is meant to offer a perfect blend of extreme performance and a deliberate preservation of what has become the iconic DNA of the Viper,” said Ralph Gilles, president and CEO of street and racing technology brand and motorsports at Chrysler Group. “We strove to deliver a supercar that continues to bring the driver as close as possible to the machine.”

The company also announced that the SRT Viper racing team will return to the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) in 2012.

“Racing has been a significant part of the illustrious history of Viper not only with wins on the track, but also in the continued development of the street cars,” Giles added.

What technology would you want in your dream car? Let us know in the comments.

Twitter Reacts to Snooki Pregnancy Rumor [PICS]

Twitter Reacts to Snooki Pregnancy Rumor [PICS]
By Samantha Murphy For Mashable

Image via @SteveCarell

Note: Actor Steve Carrell just joined Twitter earlier this week. His Snooki comment has since been removed.

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If we’ve learned anything from the record number of tweets sent surrounding Beyonce’s pregnancy announcement last September, it’s that social media users love baby news.

E! News reported earlier this week that Jersey Shore cast member Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi, 24, is expecting a child with her boyfriend Jionni, despite denying it to various media outlets last month.

You may argue that no one cares about the personal life of Snooki; search trends suggest otherwise. Not only did the pregnancy rumors start trending on Twitter — with hashtags such as #mamasnooks — it also dominated Google search trends. “Snooki pregnant” made the top 10 most-searched list.

Although Snooki is usually active on Twitter, she hasn’t tweeted much since the E! report — and has yet to address it. However, actors Steve Carrell and Zach Braff shared their reactions via the site.

“I hope Snooki doesn’t have problems delivering her baby. She’d hate to hear the doctor say, “we have a little Situation here,” @SteveCarell tweeted.

Carrell’s tweet has since been removed without explanation.

Some users on Twitter said that Snooki’s alleged due date is December 21, 2012 — coincidentally, the last day of the Mayan calendar. But since some reports indicate that she is already a few months pregnant, this seems unlikely.

Although Twitter hasn’t released numbers yet regarding the number of tweets surrounding the rumors, the site has said that Beyonce’s baby news announcement at the 2011 MTV Music Video Awards received more mentions for each second than the Women’s World Cup, Japan’s New Year and Osama bin Laden’s death.

Thumbnail via Twitter, @Snooki

Memes and GIFs from Oscars 2012

Top 14 Memes and GIFs from Oscars 2012
By Samantha Murphy For Mashable


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The Internet was quick to put together the best memes and GIFs from the 84th Annual Academy Awards on Sunday night, from Robert Downey Jr. channeling his inner Tim Tebow to Sacha Baron Cohen dumping ashes on Ryan Seacrest on the red carpet.

The Oscars were filled with various memorable moments this year. Robert Downey Jr. showed the world his own Tebow impression before presenting an award with his Iron Man co-star Gwyneth Palthrow. Meanwhile,Sacha Baron Cohen dumped faux ashes of late dictator Kim Jong II on Ryan Seacrest during an a red carpet interview.

Baron Cohen — who was dressed in character as General Aladeen to plug his upcoming film The Dictator, a parody about a Middle Eastern dictator — said it was a longtime wish of Jong Il’s to be sprinkled over the red carpet and “over Halle Berry’s chest.” When Seacrest turned his head, Baron Cohen “accidentally” dumped the ashes on his tuxedo.

SEE ALSO: Sacha Baron Cohen Red Carpet Shenanigans Go Viral | Oscars 2012: How to Watch Online

Emma Stone shimmied while presenting with Ben Stiller, Jonah Hill reacted and the Bridesmaids girls drink on stage — every time someone says “Scorsese”.

For more moments from the Oscars, check out the gallery above.

What was your favorite moment of the night? Which awards show did you like best: The Grammys or The Oscars? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.