Apple shows off thinner iPad Air and retina iPad Mini

Apple chief executive Tim Cook said the firm had sold more than 170 million iPads

Apple's software chief Craig Federighi said the new Mac OS X Mavericks system would extend laptops' battery life

The iPad Mini's new screen has 326 pixels per inch, similar to the 323ppi resolution of the Nexus 7

Apple has unveiled a top-of-the-range tablet called the iPad Air that is 20% thinner than the previous version.

The 9.7in (24.6cm) computer is 7.5mm (0.3in) thick and weighs about 1lb (469g), which it claims is the lightest full-sized tablet on the market.

It is powered by the same A7 chip found in the company's iPhone 5S.

The launch comes at a time when some analysts have suggested that Google's Android is about to overtake Apple's iOS as the bestselling tablet platform.

Apple also announced a new version of its iPad Mini.

Its 7.9in (20cm) screen has been upgraded to feature 2048 by 1536 pixels - the same as the larger model. It is being branded as "retina" to highlight the increased resolution.

Amazon and Google have already announced small tablets - the Kindle Fire HDX and Nexus 7 - with similar high definition displays.

"We've got the retina upgrade to the smaller iPad that many thought should have been there in the first place," Tony Cripps, principal analyst at tech consultants Ovum, reflected after the announcement in San Francisco.

"Market share slip is inevitable because so many rival devices are coming out, which is not necessarily a bad thing as the overall sector is growing.

"Apple does now have a cheaper model thanks to it offering the original iPad Mini at a lower price - but the firm doesn't really want to go to the low-end because that's not where the greatest profit is extracted."

Apple also announced that the latest version of its Mac operating system, Mavericks, would be offered at no cost to owners of computers already running any version of OS X released since 2009. It is the first time the company has not charged for a major Mac OS upgrade.

By contrast the full version of Windows 8.1 is sold for about £100, although it is free to existing Windows 8 users.

Linux-based Ubuntu has always been offered without charge. Chromebook computers also get free upgrades for Google's PC operating system.

New laptops, productivity and leisure apps were also unveiled. However, Apple did not show off a new TV set-top box as some had speculated.

Tablet competition

The California-based firm's most recent financial release said that its iPad range accounted for $25.8bn (£17.6bn) worth of sales in the nine months leading up to July.

That represented 19% of its revenue for the period.

However, Apple acknowledged that the amount of money it was making from the product line was growing three times slower than the growth in unit sales since many customers were opting for its cheaper iPad Mini and iPad 2 models rather than its top-of-the -range "retina display" versions.

It also faces the fact it is losing market share to rivals.

Apple's iOS operating system accounted for 53.9% of all tablets shipped in 2012, according to Gartner.

The tech research firm forecasts that Android will become the market leader with a 49.6% share, versus Apple's 48.6% this year, adding that it expects that gap to widen further in 2014.

However, consultants at IHS iSuppli said those figures needed to be put in context thanks to Apple's success at making money by taking a cut of app sales.

"It is in terms of revenue per active device where Apple's lead is strongest," said the firm's mobile media analyst Jack Kent.

"An iOS device generates around three to four times as much app revenue through Apple's App Store as an Android device through Google Play.

"Apple has so far offered a more compelling range of tablet-specific content, but Google is clearly looking to address this."

He added that many Android tablets, including Amazon's Kindle and most products sold in China, did not have Google's store pre-installed.

Apple's chief executive Tim Cook noted there were now 475,000 apps designed for iPads available through its online marketplace.

But another market watcher suggested that Apple's priority remained securing a "premium" margin on the shop price of its hardware, and that add-on software sales were of secondary interest.

"Some players, like Amazon, can afford to slash prices because they have a different business model based on content and commerce," said Thomas Husson, from the tech industry analysts Forrester.

"While Apple has shared $13bn to developers since 2008, it has made less than $6bn out of apps.

"It's a huge stat, but low in comparison with Apple's quarterly results."

source : http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-24629711

SONY Play Station 4 release date, news and features

The PlayStation 4 will go on sale in November this year and it'll be cheaper than the Xbox One - $399 in the U.S., £349 in the U.K. and €399 - compared to $499 and £429.

It'll hit stores in the US on November 15 while European gamers will have to wait just a little longer until November 29.

Gaining favourable previews and plenty of pre-orders, the PS4 looks like the next-gen console to beat, and Sony says it was designed with an overarching theme of a "frictionless and seamless" gaming experience.

We've known that the PS4 will track both the controller in a gamer's hand, as well as their face, since the console's launch in February. But during his GDC talk Norden revealed some interesting ways that this technology will be implemented in games.

For example, the old multiplayer split screen, divvying up television realestate when two or more players go at it, will be aided by this tracking tech. If a gamer gets up and moves right or left, his section of the screen will automatically be swapped.

We learned a whole lot more when Sony gave its E3 presentation, so read on for all you need to know about the new PlayStation...

PS4 release date

The official PS4 release date was announced at Gamescom 2013. The PS4 will go on sale on Nov. 15 in the U.S., followed by the U.K. on Nov. 29. Australia will also see the console then, while Canada too shares the U.S.'s Nov. 15 launch date.

PS4 price

Sony announced the PS4 price at E3 - it'll cost $399 in the US, £349 in the UK and €399 in Europe when it goes on sale in November. That's a whole $100 cheaper than the Xbox One.

That price, it must be said, does not include the PlayStation Camera, whereas the Xbox One will ship with the second version of Kinect.

PS4 used games/online check-in

The PS4 will offer unrestricted access to pre-owned games. So when you buy a titles, you are free to then trade it in at retail, sell it to another person, lend it to a friend or keep it. Microsoft initially intended to restrict these factors with the Xbox One, but significant backlash from the gaming community forced it to backtrack and feature-match the PS4.

PS4's free features

Microsoft is famous for locking many of its Xbox Live features (Sky Go etc) behind the paywall of its Xbox Live Gold service, while Sony largely allows additional features to run for free. This is set to continue with the PS4, after Sony confirmed that features such as party chat, play free-to-play games like Planetside 2, or online apps like Netflix will all be free to access even if you don't have a PlayStation Plus subscription.xxxxx

Synergy with PlayStation Vita

The PS4 will launch with the ability to stream games directly to your PS Vita. In exactly the same way as the Wii U allows you to switch off your TV and continue playing on the tablet controller, the PS4 will wirelessly send your games to the Vita.

There will be similar synergy between "all Sony devices" which means Xperia handsets and tablets, Bravia TVs and BD players.

At the end of July, Sony revealed that the PS Vita will actually be able to control PS4 games themselves, providing that developers bake that functionality into their games.

This is a strong indication that Wii U-like gaming, using the Vita as a second screen, is on the way.

PS4 specs

AMD's technology is coursing through this new system's veins, and Sony recently told us that it believes the PS4 to be the most powerful gaming device every conceived. Sony revealed the system runs on a single-chip custom processor and utilises eight x86-64 AMD Jaguar CPU cores, with a next-gen AMD Radeon based graphics engine powering the way.

So it's very much a PC-based system then, which is great news for developers who will find it much easier to code games for the next gen consoles and for PCs. However, that CPU is hardly next-gen - it may have been heavily modified for this system but the AMD Jaguar platform is by no means the fastest of its kind - indeed it's slower than Intel's fastest by orders of magnitude.

However, with fewer redundancies than a PC has, the PS4 will certainly be able to make use of every single Watt of power it draws. And the games we've seen so far certainly look impressive.

The "highly enhanced PC GPU" is another AMD part - something along the lines of a Radeon 7850 card - and packs 18 GCN units. That may sound a like a lot of techy mumbo jumbo but what it essentially means is that the GPU packs 18 processing clusters, each packing up to 64 cores. That provides a lot of parallel processing power, and will thus handle the majority of the PS4's grunt work. It hits 1.84 TFLOPS of processing power, a good chunk more than the Xbox One.

The PS4 will also use GPU compute features to take advantage of the GPU's raw power - it'll be used for general computation tasks as well as making games shiny.

Memory

The PS4 will ship packing 8GB of GDDR5 memory. That's some super-fast stuff right there and should enable lightning fast performance.

Indeed, Sony has revealed that you will be able to power down the PS4 mid-game and then switch it on again in seconds and pick up right where you left off. That's the sort of loading power that this memory enables.

The PS4 Eye will be sold separately

PlayStation 4 Eye

What's really grabbing though is the development of the PlayStation Camera, a newly developed camera system that utilises two high-sensitivity cameras equipped with wide-angle lenses and 85-degree diagonal angle views.

Sony said the cameras (amounting to 1280 x 800 pixels) can cut out the image of a player from the background or differentiate between players in the background and foreground, enhancing game play handily. There's also mention of logging in using facial recognition and using voice and body movements to play games "more intuitively."

If you want to know how these specs stack up against what we know so far about the Xbox One (clue: PS4 is more powerful) - check out our comparison of PS4 and Xbox One specs.

The DualShock 4 has been re-imagined for the next generationh

PlayStation 4 Specifications

• CPU: low power x86-64 AMD "Jaguar", 8 cores
• GPU: 1.84 TFLOPS, AMD Radeon™ Graphics Core Next engine
• Memory: GDDR5 8GB
• Hard Disk Drive: Built –in
• Optical Drive (Read only): BD 6xCAV, DVD 8xCAV
• I/O: Super-Speed USB (USB 3.0), AUX
• Communication: Ethernet, IEEE 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth® 2.1 (EDR)
• AV output: HDMI, Analog-AV out, Digital Output (optical)

DualShock 4 specifications:

• External Dimensions: Approx. 162mm x 52mm x 98mm
• Weight: Approx. 210g (tentative)
• Buttons: PS button, SHARE button, OPTIONS button, Directional buttons (Up/Down/Left/Right), Action buttons (Triangle, Circle, Cross, Square), R1/L1/R2/L2/R3/L3, Right stick, Left stick, Touch Pad Button, Touch Pad 2 Point Touch Pad, Click Mechanism, Capacitive Type
• Other Features: Light Bar, Vibration, Built-in Mono Speaker
• Ports: USB (Micro B), Extention Port, Stereo Headset Jack
• Wireless communication: Bluetooth® Ver2.1+EDR

PS4 camera specifications

• External Dimension: Approx. 186mm x 27mm x 27mm
• Weight: Approx. 183g
• Video Pixel: (Maximum) 1280 x 800 pixel x 2
• Video Frame Rate: 1280x800 pixel @ 60fps, 640x400 pixel @ 120fps, 320x192 pixel @ 240fps
• Video Format: RAW, YUV (uncompressed)
• Lens: Dual Lenses, F value/F2.0 fixed focus
• Field-of-View: 85 degrees
• Microphone: 4 Channel Microphone Array
• Connection Type: PS4 dedicated connector (AUX connector)
• Cable Length: Approx. 2m (tentative)

Can you see this sitting under your TV?

PS4 pre-orders

So far, you can pro-order your console at ShopTo, GAME and ASDA.

DualShock 4 gamepad

If you have an eye for details you may have noticed that the PS4'sDualShock 4 controller has no Start or Select buttons. It has an Option button instead, as well as the much bandied-about Share button on the rear.

• See what we thought when we put the DualShock 4 against the DualShock 3

The analogue sticks have been tightened up to be more precise, and the controller also features a brand new three-axis gyroscopic motion sensor with three-axis accelerometer which should be great for getting you immersed in the games. The camera continuously tracks all four controllers with precise accuracy. Rotational tracking is provided by the internal components.

The controller has a two-point Vita-like touchpad on the front with a 1920x900 resolution, and a tactile clicking sound letting you know you've pressed it. The light bar on the front will glow different colours depending on whether you're player 1, 2, 3 or 4 and will be tracked by the new PS Eye camera. The controller also has an Xbox-style headset jack and a mono speaker inside it.

Video-watchers take note

This new PS4 controller won't accidentally fast forward when you set it down. Norden said this was one of the biggest complaints his team heard about the PS3's DualShock. The PS4's controller has triggers designed not to depress when set down. What's more, Norden even said he'd been dropping controllers without skipping a single frame.

That touchpad on the DualShock 4 will be capable of two simultaneous inputs. The light on the controller will glow blue, red, green or pink light, depending on whether you're player one, two, three or four.

The Share button

The PS4's hardware encoder always records the last several minutes of game play without using any additional resources from the game. By pressing the Share button you can then upload or save your gameplay, show your friends or keep it just for your own amusement.

Colours

The PS4's DualShock 4 controller will be available from launch in Black, Red and Blue.

You can lay the PS4 flat or use the bundled stand to prop it up

DualShock 4 lightbar

The DualShock 4 controller, you will notice, carries a Move-like glowing light bar. This makes it possible for the PlayStation Camera to track the controller's position. This, it has been revealed, is a permanent fixture and cannot be turned off, so if you don't like controller-sourced mood lighting, think about getting a third party pad.

PS4 Streaming

PS4 streaming lets you stream out live gameplay to your friends. This is all built into the hardware and does not need to be supported by developers. Users can react to the video by typing comments in real time. You can do this to friends, or public.

PS4 user interface

The XrossMediaBar (XMB) interface of PlayStations past has beencompletely ditched in the PS4, with Sony instead choosing to design a new OS that looks a lot more like that of the Xbox 360 than the PS3.

Tamiya News : XB GAZOO Racing TRD 86 (TT-02 Chassis)

1/10 Expert Built Series No.160

XB GAZOO Racing TRD 86 (TT-02 Chassis)

Item No：57860

Length: 431mm 

【 Ready to Rally 】　This is a factory finished R/C model of the GAZOO Racing TRD 86, a car which appeared in the final round of the 2012 TRD Rally Challenge series. The polycarbonate body accurately captures the low body and smooth lines of the compact TRD 86, also including a faithful recreation of the car's rear diffuser. The car's headlights  are recreated using polycarbonate light cases. The body is pre-painted in the colorful GAZOO Racing livery of red, black and white, and decals are pre-applied to depict the markings of this racing rally car. It is based on the controllable and adaptable TT-02 chassis, and fitted with gun-metal colored 6-spoke wheels and racing radial tires.

【 Adaptable TT-02 Chassis offers balanced shaft-driven 4WD 】　The shaft-driven 4WD TT-02 chassis employs a longitudinal layout with the battery on the left and the motor on the right, to offer excellent stability. In addition, it utilizes 4-wheel double wishbone suspension plus sealed 4-bevel differentials for a smooth ride. It is not short on looks either, with brake disc-shaped wheel hubs and stylish front bumper supports. It is a highly adaptable chassis, as it offers 2 different wheelbases, 2 ground clearance settings and 2 tread set-ups in addition to a range of 10 possible gear ratios. The included forward/reverse ESC (Electronic Speed Controller) allows smooth driving.

【 2.4GHz Transmitter included 】 　In addition to the painted body, this item also includes a wheel-type transmitter, battery pack and charger to allow instant enjoyment of driving. (*Battery pack and charger are included for Japan market only.) The 2.4GHz transmitter eliminates the need for frequency crystals, and is factory-paired with the receiver in the model to ensure that the receiver communicates with that transmitter only. Transmitter features detachable grip covers to match your hand size as well as a throttle trigger cover to increase the size of the throttle trigger for easier operation.

【 Specifications 】　●Length: 431mm, Width: 190mm, Height: 135mm ●Wheelbase: 257mm　 ●Tire Width/Diameter (Front & Rear): 27/67mm ●Bathtub-Type Frame ●Shaft-Driven 4WD  ●Front/Rear 4-Bevel Resin Differentials ●3-Piece Steering Tie-Rod ●4-Wheel Double Wishbone Suspension  ●Front/Rear Friction Dampers ●Gear Ratio = 8.27:1 ●Type 540 Motor ●Electronic Speed Controller (Forward/Reverse Type)

【 Separately Required Items 】　●Battery Pack & Charger ●R6/AA/UM3 batteries for transmitter

Tamiya News : 1/35 R/C Tank Battle System Series No. 13

1/35 R/C Tank Battle System Series No. 13

JGSDF Type 10 Tank (w/2.4GHz Control Unit)
Item No：48213

Length: 273mm. Image shows painted and assembled kit. 

★The JGSDF Type 10 tank is the next exciting entry into the 1/35 R/C Tank Battle System Series  ★Features a specially designed lower hull. Turret rotation and main gun elevation/depression gearbox provide  realistic movement and are integrated for ease of installation.  ★Sounds are produced in conjunction with tank controls, while the firing sound of the gun is accompanied  by a muzzle flash. ★Enjoy battles with your friends' tanks!

LEGO NEWS : 13% revenue increase fueled by strong growth in Asia and new product innovation

In a low growth global toy market the LEGO Group has experienced strong revenue increases – particularly in Asia - supported by product lines such as LEGO® Legends of ChimaTM and LEGO Friends, which contributes to a very satisfactory interim result for 2013.

Key financial figures from the interim result:

• Revenue for the first half of 2013 was DKK 10,363m compared with DKK 9,134m for the same period last year – an increase of 13% .
• In local currency (i.e. excluding the impact of foreign exchange changes) revenue increased 15% year over year.
• Operating profit (profit before financial items and tax) for first half 2013 was DKK 3,196 mDKK compared with DKK 2,877m for first half 2012.
• Net Profit for first half of 2013 was DKK 2,381m compared with DKK 2,016m for first half 2012
• Cash flow from operating activities was DKK 2,908m compared with DKK 2,230m during the first half of 2012.
• The LEGO Group increased its share of the global toy market to approximately 8.8 % – up from 8.6% at the end of 2012.

Commenting on the financial result, LEGO Group CEO Jørgen Vig Knudstorp says:“It is a very satisfactory result in view of general developments in the world toy market which has had a slow start to the year in the largest and most mature markets of North America, Europe and Japan. Despite this tough dynamic, our data indicates that consumer sales of LEGO® products for the first half of 2013 grew 9% globally versus the same period a year ago. In addition, our sales in the first half of 2013 have been increased  by the fact that inventory of LEGO products at retailers was very low going into the first quarter due to a successful end of year in 2012. This meant that we needed to restock retailer’s shelves with new products, and now stocks are at a more healthy level going into the second half of 2013 providing improved availability for shoppers.”

New product lines driving growth The LEGO Group’s big product launch in 2013, LEGO Legends of ChimaTM has contributed strongly to the interim result.

“LEGO Legends of Chima has performed well in its launch phase and is already one of the largest LEGO product themes. We expect that the product line will continue to grow through the balance of its first year on the market. The theme has performed particularly well in Asia, where it has been a large contributor to the high growth,” says Mads Nipper, LEGO Group CMO.

LEGO Friends – a product line launched in 2012 and targeted towards girls – is also experiencing a strong second year, with growth rates significantly higher than the company average.

Strong growth in new marketsThe LEGO Group has experienced growth in all regions and all major markets during the first half year of 2013. The revenue increase varies from region to region but continues to be broad based. Sales to consumers rose by 8 % in European markets and by 4% in North and Latin America. The strongest performance was experienced in Asia with growth in consumer sales of over 35% for the first half of 2013.“We are very satisfied with the growth we see in Asia, as it supports our long term ambition to make the region a larger contributor in the future. We have recently located our regional headquarter for Asia in Singapore and we will begin construction of our own in-region manufacturing facilities in China next year to further develop Asia as an engine for future growth,” says John Goodwin, CFO of the LEGO Group, and adds:

 “As we look to expand globally, we are focusing on ensuring that our approach is sustainable – both in the context of the long term delivery of financial performance and in terms of leaving a positive impact on the world. We are committed to caring for the environment wherever we operate and for the society that children will inherit. Our non-financial performance is an indicator of our progress on this parameter,” says John Goodwin.

The highlights covering the non-financial performance of the company for the first six months of 2013 show progress on all parameters:Safety:• 0 product recalls has been performed in the first six months of 2013 – since 2009 the LEGO Group has not recalled a product.
• 15% reduction in the Lost Time Injury rate (number of injuries leading to absence per million working hours) from 1.9 to 1.6 for the first six months of 2013 compared to the full year result of 2012
• A 40% reduction in injuries with absence, down to 15 injuries for the first six months of 2013 compared to 25 for the first six months of 2012

Suppliers:• 35 non-conformities with the LEGO Code of Conduct were found at 21 suppliers. This is up from 18 findings in the first six months of 2012 at 22 suppliers
• 100% of the non-conformities have been solved satisfactorily and within a short time frame in the first six months of 2013.Environment:• 9.1% increase in energy efficiency in the LEGO Group’s production facilities in the first half of 2013
• Recycling of waste, reaching an all time high of 90%. This is up from 88% for the full year of 2012
Diversity:
• 39% of female employees hired at Director+ level. This from 34% for the full year of 2012Commenting on the non-financial performance, Jørgen Vig Knudstorp says:“Overall I am pleased with our progress. Product safety is our highest priority as it is essential to us that children all over the world can enjoy the safest possible LEGO play. Therefore I am happy that we again have had no product recalls so far this year. In order to deliver products of a consistent high quality and safety it is essential for us to have control of the production process.“
For this reason the LEGO Group manufactures the majority of LEGO® products on LEGO owned and operated factories in Denmark, Hungary, The Czech republic and Mexico. In addition the LEGO Group has some key suppliers that play an important role in delivering high quality products.Higher standards for suppliersYear to date, 21 audits of suppliers have been performed at LEGO suppliers throughout the world. This is at the same level as the same period in 2012. However, the number of non-conformities found has increased from 18 to 35 for the first half of the year. All the 35 non-conformities were solved within a short timeframe.The LEGO Group does not necessarily consider the finding of non-conformities unsatisfactory. Instead the company focuses on solving the non-conformities quickly and learning from them, says John Goodwin:“The audits are part of a process where we want to increase the capabilities of our suppliers. Finding and solving these issues enables them to increase their performance in safety, quality and labor rights among many other things. Our supplier base is important to our business, and therefore it is very important for us to keep working with partners on this.”The full year non-financial performance will be published in early 2014 in the LEGO Group’s Progress Report for 2013. 

What Are Longboard Bushings?

Smooth, long carves are made comfortable thanks to the bushings on your longboard. But what the heck are bushings? Bushings are those brightly colored rubbery rings located in the heart of your longboard trucks. They’re typically made of urethane. Longboard and skateboard trucks usually have two bushings per truck. One bushing is in the heart of the truck, and provides the flex and springiness of the truck, for turning and steering. Set right beneath the head of the kingpin, the other bushing is smaller and allows the trucks to easily be tightened or loosened and set to a more specific degree. Tight trucks are ideal for tricks, while loose trucks are better for cursing. There’s no right or wrong way to set you trucks in terms of how loose or tight. It’s all about what is most comfortable for the rider.

Now, back to bushings. Over time, bushings break down and will become less responsive and loose their springiness. They need to be replaced periodically. Bushings are the least expensive part of your board and make a world of difference when it comes to comfort, preferred riding style and the fun factor. Worn out bushings will make your board more difficult to ride, will feel “off” and will likely leave you frustrated with longboarding in general. So go ahead and replace those babies. It’s almost like buying a whole new set up.

What Are the Best Longboard Bushings?

• Size – A bigger bushing presents more body to squish against and dig into the turn. the bigger the bushing, the more body you have to squish against and dig into your turn. Bigger bushings may affect the geometry of the truck. Putting bigger bushings than the stock bushings that came with your trucks into them tends to result in a more turny truck and a higher turning angle. Smaller bushings will then do the opposite and decrease turning angle and limit the truck from carving as deeply.
• Shape – When talking about longboard bushing shape, you’ll hear the words ‘cone’ and ‘barrel’ frequently. Referring to the shape, the main difference between the two is how easily the truck turns over and how the bushing returns to center. Cones are typically easier to turn and have a snappier return to center. They have the greatest turning ability by having less support in the center. This is ideal for a super carvy ride that rarely follows a straight line. However, cones don’t last as long as barrels. Barrel busings provide a good bit of of resistance in the turn and have a solid center of gravity while having a solid amount of rebound. Lastly, stepped bushings have the strongest center of gravity with the least turning ability. They, too, have great turning ability. Stepped bushings are popular for  downhill setups due to their stability.
• Durometer - Durometer is the measurement of the softness and density of an object, or a longboard wheel in this case. A lower number indicates a softer material while the letters A through D are then assigned to indicate density. For example, an object with a rating of 72a will be softer and less dense than an object rating 83b. The majority of longboard wheels have a density of A.
• Setup – A very popular busing setup is to have a harder bushing on the bottom and a softer bushing on top (closest to the ground). This will yield excellent stability and killer turning depth when leaning into a turn. Such a set up will provide a very carvey and lively ride…AKA extremely fun!

If you’re new to long boarding, riding a stock board (complete setup at purchase) is a perfect place to start. It will take some time to learn your riding style, terrain preference and to really get a feel for your board. Once you’re more familiar with your board and your ability, experiment with different bushings!  For further reading check out our article Longboards for Beginners and Advanced Riders.

Longboards for Beginners and Advanced Riders

Many would consider Loaded Longboard to be the best in the industry. With  fiberglass additive, vertically lamated bamboo and a dropthur design, these are the perfect board for those who are looking to take their longboarding skills to the next level.

If you don’t have $300+ to drop on a longboard check out our inventory of moderately priced longboard fromGoldCoast, Santa Cruz, Arbor and Sector 9.

Click here to see our full selection of Longboards.

If you are looking for your first longboard or something to cruz around campus with, check out the GoldCoast Rebirth Moon. It has a eco-friendly bamboo construction and the durability of a Mac Truck. The  GoldCoast Rebirth Moon is a reasonably priced longboard that is perfect for anyone looking to get in to the sport.

Key Features of the Gold Coast Rebirth Moon Longboard :

• 40″ x 9.5″
• 24″ Wheel Base
• Kicktail
•  Bamboo Consturtion
• Century 7″ Reverse Pivot Trucks
• 68mm 80a Wheels
• ABEC 7 Bearings With Teflon
• GoldCoast Printed Grip Tape

How to Choose the Right Longboard Skateboard

Longboarding is yet another totally awesome sport that has swept adrenaline seekers coast to coast. It’s easier than skateboarding, yet still gives you that feeling of cruising sideways. Snowboards, surfers and skiers are all attracted to long boarding in addition to those who are just attracted to the freedom and chill feeling of longbaording. The wheels are softer and bigger than those of a skateboard, so it’s a much smoother ride and more “beginner friendly.” There are various shapes, lengths, widths and flexes for different rides. Once you’re comfortable on a longboard, you can really get down with carving, board slides, speed and other tricks like the peeps in this inspiring video below. If you’re like anyone who works at The House, having an arsenal of longboard styles is the way to go!

Cruiser Longboard The name pretty much stakes it’s claim! A cruiser board is a longboard for a means of transportation and perfect for beginners. Some are shorter, designed to easily weave in and out of foot traffic and get you to work, school, the store or for a bite to eat. If you think you’d like to bomb some hills, then opt for a longer board for more stability at higher speeds. Next, you’ll need to decide on the length, stiffness and tail shape which we’ve defined for you…

• Deck Length – Naturally, this is the length of the board from nose to tail (in inches). A board raining from 28″ – 46″ is a great choice for a cruiser board. If you are new to longbaording, going any shorter than this will make it more difficult to learn. Unlike snowboards, length is more of a preference than a necessity. If a snowboard is way too short for your body size, it could easily break and won’t offer a true flex. Longboards are different in that the length is almost complete preference. Again, shorter boards enable one to make shorter, quicker turns and longer boards are great for carving at high speeds. If you’re totally lost on what size to get, go for one in the the mid 30s.

1. Shorter Cruising Boards – Lengths in the 28″ – 32″ range are perfect for young riders and shorter people. However, taller people can rider shorter cursing boards if they have their skills down since it will be slightly more difficult to navigate.
2. Mid-Sized Cruising Board – Longboards in the range of 32″ – 42″ are the most popular and recommended for newbies of all sizes. With a length between small and long, these boards are just right and can do almost anything!
3. Longer Cruising Board – Great for longer, relaxed rides, these boards are perfect for the sidewalk or cursing the boardwalk when the surf is flat. Be forewarned, these boards can be quite heavy to carry!

• Deck Flex – Flex is a pretty important component of a cursing longboard. The flex of the board will absorb some of the rough terrain, bumpy roads or tiny rocks. A flexy board also enables the rider to ride close to the ground, which can be quite fun and perfect for hands down 360s! This type of shock absorption will also help to relieve some of the stress on your knees and ankles. Making it easier to balance and push, riding lower to the ground adjusts your center of gravity. If you would like some flex, be sure to check out the weight range on the board.  On the other hand, a stiffer board will provide more stability. Such boards are popular for downhill longboards and are sort of the ‘original’ style of longboards. Once thing to consider is that newbies could find a very flexy board to be quite challenging to master from the start, so a stiffer board is likely the way to go!
• Kicktail or No Kicktail - A kicktail is when the tail of the board is…kicked up a bit (think traditional skateboard shape)! Having a kicktail can be very convenient when you need to make quick turns, do tricks, and pop up and down curbs. Beginners can go either way since they won’t be using a kicktail from the start. Boards without kicktails are able to maximize the effective wheelbase (distance from one axle to the other),which allows them to be a bit more stable for beginners. If you don’t think you’ll ever be turning or doing tricks with the help of a kicktail, then opt for no kicktail.

Freeride Longboard
For intermediate to advanced longboarders, a freeriding involves riding down hills while doing technical maneuvers. Watch this unreal clip for some freeriding eye candy…

• Deck Style – Are you ready for some boardslides on pavement while going down a concrete hill? Truthfully, any board can be set up for freeriding, but some decks are specifically designed for such a purpose. An ideal downhill deck will be longer than the average longboard and will be completely rigid for increased stability at higher speeds. Thin, flexible boards are designed for fun in the parking lot or streets, not bombing down hills! There are two choices from here – drop through and drop platform.

1. Drop Through – For the intermediate rider, drop through decks are lighter and have a slimmer construction. Be sure to choose one with little flex since it’s not a good idea for freeriding.
2. Drop Platform – Geared towards beginners, drop platforms have a lowered platform on the drop platform (and double drop) decks gives riders an enhanced sense of stability. It makes initiating slides much easier.

• Deck Dimensions – Anything in the 38″ – 42″ range will be perfect for freeride. Shorter will be unstable and longer will be too cumbersome. Don’t worry about the width since it will be proportional to the length.

Downhill Longboard – For the advanced only, downhill longboarding involves riding at very high speeds and requires a lot of precision. Although it doesn’t look like they are going that fast, the dudes in the clip below clocked in at 50 MPH!

• Deck Style – For speed, stability and precision, the majority of pro longboards (yes, there are pro long boarders!) prefer a top mount deck. Still, some are more comfortable with the lower, more stable feeling that drop-through decks offer. If you’ve been reading this entire article, you probably have noticed a theme – longboard styles vary and it’s easy to customize your ideal ride for various types of riding!

1. Drop Through – Have you ever had the wobbles when going fast down a hill? It’s pretty scary when your board seems to uncontrollably shake beneath your feet taking your legs with it. A drop through deck offers incredible stability since it sits lower to the ground offering the rider a more stable center of gravity. To mix things up a bit, a drop through deck can be mounted the “normal” way (underneath the deck as opposed on the sides of the deck) for a top mount ride. If you’re new to downhill racing, drop through is the way to go.
2. Top Mount – Like a traditional skateboard, top mount trucks attached to the bottom of the deck. This mounting style give the board more grip when speeding around turns. When sliding is necessary to slow down for tight corners,  a top-mount board will give better performance. Keep in mind, however, there are many skills to master before obtaining the benefits of a top mount board. Unless you’re a seasoned longboard who is comfortable riding at very high speeds, a drop though would be a wiser choice.

• Deck Dimensions – For downhill, decks in the length range of 37-43″ will be ideal. A shorter deck will be unstable at high speeds while a longer deck will lack maneuverability. Oh the choices. Beginners should stick with longer setups until they are accustomed to bombing down hills. Still torn? Stick to something around 40-41” to be on the safe side. You can’t go wrong with that size range!

Now for the fun part. Shop around for your new board (or boards) on The House’s extensive selection of longboards!

info from  : http://www.the-house.com/portal/best-beginner-longboard/

What is drift trike?

What is drift trike? 

Drift triking originates in New Zealand. Drift tikes are similar to kid’s tricycles, but stronger in frame and have two sliding wheels at the back. Front wheel is usually standard bike wheel with a brake and pedals.

It is designed for drifting by counter-steering and loss of traction in the rear wheels. Riders enjoy drifting along downhill gradients and of cause it is the most attractive aspect of drift triking.

Drift triking is getting more popular from about 2009-2010. It spreads around the world and makes riders crazy.

Examples of drift trikes: 

Where to buy a drift trike?

Want to experience how crazy it is? Let's pick your own drift trike here. You can choose from numbers of drift trikes from our store for yourself and also for your kids. To buy it, just click on the banners in the product pages.

It is an example.