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LG 4K Nanocell TV offers nice performance and good value

Television technology continues to advance, with many of today's screens offering picture quality and other features that could have only been dreamed about not too many years ago.

I've followed, and participated in, this evolution ever since I discovered I might be a nerd – or at least since my first colour TV. Back then, a 20-inch screen was considered the best because, as CRT-based technology, that size offered the best compromise between pixels and the (empty) space between them. You could get up to 27 inches or so (and, eventually, giant CRT's of 40 inches or so also came along) but it was argued by many video snobs that the actual picture quality was best at 20 inches.

That was analogue technology and though its resolution never really got beyond 480i, it was pretty darn good for the time, especially if you embraced the old Laserdisc technology and, then, DVD.

Now, of course, it's a whole 'nuther ballgame, with digital high-definition TV having been the rule for the past couple of decades. And now it's "ultra high definition", which is known mostly as 4K (3840 x 2160 pixels).

Today's TV's have not only grown in pixel count, of course, but in picture quality as well. Top of the line quality, as far as I've seen so far, is OLED technology, which offers fantastic colours and blacks in ultra-thin packages. The downside is that they're still expensive, appreciably more expensive than other, lesser types of panel.

LG has been leading the OLED charge for quite a while now, after Sony pretty well abandoned the technology it had actually invented decades earlier. Now, several players are vying for your OLED dollars, which should help bring prices down.

They're not there yet, though, so in this little ditty I'm going to talk about an LG 65-inch QNED flat panel, the AI QNED85 4K Smart TV. This $1199 (depending on where and when you buy it) is available in a variety of screen sizes from 55 to 86 inches, but LG Canada chose to send the 65-inch version, which is a reasonable compromise.

QNED uses what LG calls a quantum dot colour filter and NanoCell technology to supposedly display a wider variety of colours than "lesser" LED TV's. I guess it's their way of competing with Samsung's excellent QLED system, which is what my reference TV is and which is extremely good, nearly as good as OLED.

This "more mainstream" LG isn't quite up to that standard, but it's still a fine TV, if you can get your head around its damn remote control. I'll whine about that more later. more...

Lincoln Nautilus charts a widescreen course into drivers' garages

Ford's upmarket brand, Lincoln, has an idea it thinks will appeal to the video generation, which may indicate they're going for customers who may not have been the marque's traditional market.

Indeed, this modern vehicle simply bristles with high tech – for good or for not so good – with a unique dashboard-wide video setup that's quite the thing to see.

Alas, I found it redundant, obtrusive, and kind of silly, since most of what you can display on this massive display (actually a few displays side by side) can and/or is displayed already on the more conventional large screen atop the centre stack.

Still, it looks really cool, is somewhat customizable, and certainly starts conversations among onlookers and passengers.

Nautilus is a two row, five-passenger beastie that's meant to compete with such other beasties as the Genesis GV80, Porsche Cayenne, or BMW X5.  The only ones of those competitors I've driven is the Cayenne and X5, and not for at least 10 years, so I'm totally unqualified to compare them.

Ford Canada sent me the conventional (non-hybrid) version of the "new for 2024" Nautilus and though Captain Nemo was nowhere to be found, I found myself enjoying it quite a bit. It drives well, is comfortable, and you can even set it to minimize the wallowing.

Non-hybrid Nautiluses (or is it Nautili?) are powered by a 250-hp turbocharged two-liter inline-four-cylinder engine. I wanted a six, but the four works just fine. And, rather than being shackled to one of those 10-speed transmissions that are becoming so popular because they keep the revs down to save gas and, therefore, Parent Earth as well, it gets an eight-speed automatic, and it works just fine, too.

You also get all-wheel drive. more...

Mazda's new CX-70 brings a lot of goodness to the plug-in hybrid SUV market

If you're looking for a reasonably large, two row SUV that also offers some nice fun-to-drive to the mix, check out Mazda's brand new CX-70.

Available in three versions, Mazda Canada sent the PHEV, plug-in hybrid, model for review. This isn't the one I would've chosen – there's another one with a lovely inline six-cylinder engine that I was really looking forward to try – but it's a fine vehicle nonetheless and if you're in the market for such a beast, this one is well worth your time.

The CX-70 is essentially a CX-90 with the third row removed, welded shut, or whatever it is they did to eschew extra seating. And that's fine! I liked the CX-90 a lot but the only time I'd ever use the third row is if the kids and grandkids are travelling with us, which is a tiny minority of the time. Therefore, I'd be more interested in the CX-70 anyway, for everyday driving.

The CX-70 PHEV starts at $58,750 for the GS-L trim level, according to Mazda's Canadian website, whereas the same trim level with the extra row – the CX-90 – starts at $59,950. Oddly, you can save a few bucks with the CX-90 by opting for the lower end GS trim level, which starts at 54,900. So far, however, Mazda doesn't offer a GS option for the CX-70. more...

George Miller's Furiosa a great looking but strange prequel

The Mad Max saga continues, without Mad Max, in director/writer George Miller's latest epic, Furiosa. And though it's pretty weird, and sometimes very cruel, it's well worth at least a look.

Furiosa is set before the last Mad Max outing, Fury Road, and stars Anya Taylor-Young as the title character, with Chris Hemsworth, sounding more Australian than he probably does even in real life, as her main nemesis, a pompous and rather socialist warlord called Dementus, who has dreams of dominating the wasted lands of the wasteland.

But before Furiosa meets Dementus, we find her living in the kind of perfect, idyllic green world the eco-nuts dream of, an oasis from the wasteland where there's lots of water, plenty of animals, and all the electricity needed comes, apparently, from a few lazily-spinning windmills that obviously survived the eco-apocalypse that destroyed the world.

Fortunately, all this political crapola is really mostly just a part of the setting, and takes a back seat to the action. This is good, because there's plenty of action on hand and it's about as over the top as one would expect from a Mad Max franchise entry. more...

Mazda's miniscule motoring masterpiece continues to amaze and delight

If you're looking for a classic sporty drive, you can't go far wrong with Mazda's venerable MX-5.

Now just called the MX-5, though it'll always be the Miata to me, Mazda's little two-seater hearkens back to the classic European sports cars of old, except that the Mazda is far less likely to leave you stranded on the side of the road than those Eurosports of days gone by would.

I say that from experience. Three of the first cars I owned were MGB's (or is it MG's B?), of varying age and condition.

The demise of such vehicles left a hole in the "classic sports car" market, with a few exceptions along the way. Then Mazda, in its wisdom, decided the world could use a little personal "Zoom-Zoom" again and created a new classic roadster that was reminiscent of (some might say ripped off from) the British sports car of old.

Now in its fourth generation, the car has grown in size and capabilities, but has never strayed from its roots very far. It has never been a really fast car (well, there was a Mazdaspeed turbo for a while), but it has always been nearly fast enough. Heck, it's a sports car, not a race car (though the MX-5 does very well there, too). more...

Travelling by vehicle this summer? How about making sure your vehicle is ready for action?

Flying used to be fun to me. I've always been an aviation buff, my father flew in World War II, and in the early 1980's I realized a dream and got a pilot's license myself.

But flying commercially now (I haven't flown privately for years, alas) is nothing but a major pain in the buttocks. Whether it's obtrusive security screening that always seems to give special attention to those who don't fit the "terrorist profile" (grandmothers, etc.), airlines who apparently don't give a damn about the people who pay their salaries, airplane manufacturers who seem to be slacking off in their quality control, or just the layers of bureaucracy - from government to corporate – that strangle what used to be a pleasant and even fun experience, I'm at the point in my life where I'd rather not fly any more.

Hence the summer driving vacation! And taking care of some basic maintenance doesn't take a lot of work, or attention, and it not only can help ensure you get where you're going, and back, it's better for the life of your vehicle, especially if you plan to keep it for a few more years. more...

Twister blows onto 4K disc in a wild presentation

Just in time to cash in on this summer's sequel (or at least soften us up for its arrival), Warner Bros. has unleashed a really nice 4K version of the 1990's disaster film about storm chasers who appear to get chased as much by the storms as they do chase them.

It's a kind of classic disaster film, the type one might expect from Irwin Allen, except that this one comes from such more modern names as Steven Spielberg and Michael Crichton – folks who had already given us Jurassic Park a few years earlier.

As I said in my review of the Blu-ray when it came out: "If you open a dictionary, looking for the definition of "summer popcorn movie", chances are you'll find Twister there right next to Independence Day."

Looking back now, I might add such titles as "The Towering Inferno", "Earthquake" or "The Poseidon Adventure", classic disaster movies that probably kept Orville Redenbacher in business.

As with the others, Twister is another special effects extravaganza, one that eschews such trivialities as a logical screenplay and believable characterizations – despite coming partly from the word processor of the great Michael Crichton – instead embracing eye candy and a fantastic surround sound soundtrack.

It's enough, though when there's no weather on screen the film is kind of silly. Okay, really silly. And kind of dumb.

When Parent Nature does rear his/her/its ugly head, though, wow! more...

Ford's Mustang is a better than ever treat even after 60 years

Muscle cars are getting hard to find these days as government regulation and some short-sighted auto companies continue to drop cars in favour of the flavours of the decade, the EV, the SUV and/or crossover.

But if you want a muscle car, the original one can still be found, and after a week spent in the 2024 version of the Mustang GT, I can safely tell you it's still a blast.

And the one I had was saddled with a damn 10-speed automatic transmission!

To my eyes, the current, seventh generation of the Mustang is the best looking one ever, even nicer than my usual favourite version the 1967-68 model that became so famous when Steve McQueen caused a comparable Dodge Charger to blow its doors – and everything else, really – off. After 1970, the Mustang kind of lost its way stylistically, and with the Mustang II it lost its way technologically, too.

Fortunately, that was then and in the 2000's Ford brought the Mustang back to attractiveness with the retro styling that's still kind of the basis of the car today. More recently, they also changed the rear suspension from something the Amish might like for their buggies to a real, independent one that helps the car handle nicely in more than a straight line. I loved it!

Naturally, being a pony car means the Mustang is a four-seater with front engine and rear wheel drive.

Ford makes the Mustang available with two main engine choices, an EcoBoost four banger that's probably adequate (I haven't driven it) and the venerable five litre V8 of the sample I had. That V8 is not only what a Mustang should have, it sounds fantastic and its stable of horses (should they be called ponies in a Mustang?) are rarin' to go at the prod of the gas pedal. more...

Are so-called safety nannies endangering your car's value?

Lane departure warning, lane keeping assist, front cross traffic monitors, driver awareness warnings – all of these are bits of technology supposedly designed to help keep you safe when you're behind the wheel. And maybe they do.

But what if they're just expensive add-ons – that you have to pay for anyway – that not only lull drivers into a false sense of security that they're "safe!" but which could also affect your car's value if it's involved in a collision?

According to a recent article by Chris Chilton, as run on MSN's website (I know, I know…), an ugly reality of nanny life is that about 20 per cent of such nanny-equipped cars end up being written off completely after the vehicle was crunched (or crunched someone else's).

Here's how Chilton described it: "The rocketing cost of repairing crashed cars means 21 percent of wrecks now result in a vehicle being totaled by insurance firms, a five-fold increase versus 1980. And some experts think that number could jump to a staggering 30 percent as cars become even more complex. more...

Kia EV9 a compelling vehicle despite the issues of EV's

If you're looking for a relatively big, three row electric SUV, Kia's EV9 is probably a good place to start.

That said, Kia also makes other very nice three row SUV's such as the Telluride and Sorrento, except that those vehicles have internal combustion engines and therefore won't facilitate smug emissions.

But this piece isn't about fake Eco-lunacy, it's about the captivating EV9, which Kia's Canadian website says starts at $63,166. That's a pretty big chunk of change, about 10 grand more than the Telluride's starting price and more than 20 grand more than the Sorrento's starting price.

Of course this is a bit of apples-to-oranges, especially with the smaller Sorrento, but it does show that "going green" is going to cost you big time.  That said, you can spend a lot more for competing EV's.

Here's how Kia describes the vehicle. more...

Dune part 2 and American Sniper: two 4k films worth owning

Warner Brothers has released two excellent examples of the 4K disc medium and both are so good they're really "must own" discs if you're a movie buff and/or collector. One is brand new, and the other is celebrating its 10th anniversary.

But you may be surprised to find out which one this die-hard sci-fi fan thinks is the better of the two – although I suppose I just gave that away.

Yes, I had planned on focusing more on Denis Villeneuve's Dune Part 2, yet after having seen Clint Eastwood's American Sniper I found myself so taken, so moved by this masterpiece that I decided to focus more on it because it's not only a better film overall, but a more important one as well.

Not that Dune Part 2 is a slouch. I'm not sure it's better than Part One, though that seems to be the consensus of reviewers, but it's still a darn fine sci-fi epic and the fact that it did its best to stay faithful to Frank Herbert's classic novel is a big bonus

Taking pot shots at war…

I haven't seen nearly all of Clint Eastwood's films, either as actor or director, but I've seen my respect for the man growing over the past several years. I first noticed his skills behind the camera with Unforgiven, the early 1990's film that won him all kinds of accolades, including some important Oscars (back when the Oscars were important!).

American Sniper is better and it deserved to have won all the awards that Unforgiven did. But it didn't. more...

Excellent new Arizer vapes up the brand's – and the state of the art – ante

Medical marijuana users – and others who may merely choose to imbibe in cannabis products since Justin Trudeau decided he needed their votes – have some great new (and new-ish) tools from which to choose, thanks to Canadian company Arizer.

So why vape, as opposed to edibles or smoking? Well, I can't really comment on edibles, but my doctor recommended vaping as opposed to smoking because you don't get all the supposedly dangerous stuff created by combustion (vapes don't burn the stuff, they just heat it up until it gives up its "wonders").

And now Arizer has taken my favourite vape – the Solo, which impressed my panel and myself in various versions – and introduced not only an update to an earlier generation but added an entirely new model (the Solo III) as well, one that ups the ante substantially.

The previous version, the Solo II, now has a Max edition as well, and you can also get an even more portable Air Max and an entry level Air SE. Arizer sent me all four of these to reiew and I can happily admit that all deliver excellent performance coupled with wonderful build quality. They're quite a bit different from each other, however, and together they offer a nice range from "entry level portable" to "high end not quite as portable" units.

Let's start with the new kid on the block: the Solo III. At $344.99 (US and Canadian), it's hardly entry level, but you get a really great unit that performs better than any other such vape I or my friends on the panel have tried. It definitely isn't without issues, but the thing works so well we can live with them easily. more...

Mazda's Suna trim offers engaging variations on a turbocharged theme

Mazda may have retired its "Zoom-Zoom" slogan, but that doesn't mean its products have become stodgy or any less fun to drive.

In fact, as evidenced by my recent time in a CX-5 and a 3 Sport hatchback, both "sporting" Mazda's new Suna trim level, they're as much or more fun than they've ever been.

The Suna edition, also available on the MX-30 EV and the CX-30, "share styling elements with the previously released Kuro Edition lineup, both offering a sense of sportiness blended with upscale styling," according to Mazda's press blurb. And as with the Kuro Edition models, the new Suna Editions feature gloss black exterior flourishes (black metallic aluminum alloy wheels, side mirrors, and front grille, for example), but with its own unique colour scheme to stand out from other models.

And they sure do! My samples of the Suna editions wore the edition's Zircon Sand Metallic exterior paint colour and, while it certainly isn't my particular cup of tea, it's reminiscent of that interesting glossy grey finish that's cropping up all over the place – except that there's more green in it. And the interiors feature stuff like terracotta upholstery with black suede inserts and gunmetal accents to, as Mazda claims, "give these models a timeless feel that still appeals to the modern world." more...

Applian's Replay Capture Suite 24 lets you record, re-use web-based media

Streaming media, whether via Netflix, YouTube or whatever, is the hot commodity in consumers' choices these days. And thanks to products such as Replay Capture Suite, you can exploit it yourself, over and over again.

It's quite empowering!

It's pretty cheap, too, all things considered. As of this writing, the suite is on sale via Applian's website for $49.95USD, down from its already reasonable regular price of $79USD.

Traditional networks and broadcasters are finding their ratings crashing these days, not only because they spew mostly crap and/or propaganda into our homes, but also because people are deciding to cut the cord – getting rid of the cable, satellite or whatever – in favour of content they can choose to watch at their convenience rather than that of the broadcaster, PVR's notwithstanding. Streaming is also a good way to find stuff you want to see, rather than what they're pushing on you to see.

This is why there are so many streaming services vying for your time and money (well, they probably don't care a whit about your time…). more...

Toyota Grand Highlander is indeed a Grand Highlander

Toyota's enhanced Highlander SUV is not only a really nice three row vehicle, it's also snagging honours including the prestigious "2024 Canadian Utility Vehicle of the Year" from the Automotive Journalists Association of Canada.

It's quite flexible, too. Toyota Canada will let you have a 2024 Grand Highlander with one of three different powertrain setups. Toyota's sample, the Hybrid MAX, generates a most lovely 362 combined horsepower and boasts a 5,000-pound towing rating for high-performance adventures. The other hybrid option offers 243 "system horsepower", while the base non-hybrid comes with a turbocharged gas engine that cranks out 265 peak horsepower.

I've only tried the Hybrid MAX and its power is really nice – and the engine sounds almost as if you're standing on the gas pedal of an old fashioned V8. I loved it!

Part of that love comes from the fact that the Hybrid Max comes with a very nice six-speed automatic transmission. The others get either an Electronically Controlled Continuously Variable Transmission (hybrid) or an eight-speed auto (non-hybrid). I think six speeds – okay, maybe seven – is optimal because it doesn't require the excessive hunting and pecking to find the optimal gear for the circumstance that other, more "gear laden" automatics. more...

Momoa's Aquaman 2 in 4K a mesmerizing but meandering mishmash

What is it with the DC comics universe? What should arguably be a comic franchise that's at least as compelling and fun as Marvel's seems to have a real problem making compelling and fun movies based on their comics.

I was always a DC comics guy when I was growing up and only gave Marvel a passing nod occasionally, so it continues to disappoint me that DC seems unable to shine Marvel's shoes – mostly – when it comes to making great movies from their vast universe.

It's a question that has always bothered me, at least as much as such a trivial thing could. I mean, if it weren't for Richard Donner's Superman, released in 1978, and the Christopher Nolan Dark Knight trilogy, there have only been a smattering of DC titles I've seen that are really worth it.

Now we have the second Aquaman film, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, and unfortunately it has to be considered with the majority of the DC films as a failure. And it didn't have to be.

There's sure a lot to like here, especially if you're a nerd and/or a fan of the type of movie Ray Harryhausen used to make (not that "nerd" and "Harryhausen fan" are mutually exclusive!). . more...

Continental Tire previews new winter model at Mirabel event

Tires are a very competitive business, with an abundance of brands vying for your hard-earned dollars, so when you're introducing a new model, it helps if you can get as much attention as possible.

To this end, Continental Tire, the European-based multinational company that has been around for 150 years or so, threw a winter driving bash at the ICAR facility at what used to be (and may still be, for all I know) Canada's largest aviation white elephant, Mirabel airport near Montreal.

The new tire, which will be available this autumn at Canadian Tire outlets exclusively (though Continental also sells tires at just about any such outlet you can imagine), is called the Ultimate Contact Winter which the company says boasts "a directional tread pattern with advanced siping technology (that) ensures optimal grip on ice and snow by creating additional biting edges."

The Ultimate Contact Winters take advantage of what Continental calls "Polar Plus Technology", and they're also engineered with electric vehicles in mind, for those folks who heed the siren song of the eco-warriors. This means they offer low noise, as well as low rolling resistance for "improved efficiency and extended range" (if only they'd also recharge the EV's batteries to extend the range!). They also sport a special "EV" badge, to indicate their EV friendliness, as well as the winter tire "three peak mountain" logo, which Continental says means you get up to 10 per cent more traction on snow than a regular winter tire. more...

The Swiss Conspiracy shows off Switzerland's beauty – and Roku reaches a milestone

Film Masters' latest release is kind of an espionage tale, except it's more about Swiss banking intrigue than it is kind of James Bond adventure.

Meanwhile, Roku, the streaming platform and service, has announced it's now being used by 80 million people worldwide. That's quite the thing!

As far as the Swiss Conspiracy is concerned, the 1976 movie stars David Janssen as a retired DOJ officer who's hired to be a "security consultant" to solve a blackmail conspiracy involving some very high rollers and their Swiss bank accounts.

Five of these rollers have been "doxed" (a term that didn't exist back then, I daresay), something Swiss banks try to prevent from happening lest their credibility and reputation for discretion go up in smoke. One of the doxees is also a Chicago mob dude who has other problems of his own: he's being chased by American gangsters.

The Swiss Conspiracy also stars Elke Sommer, John Saxon, John Ireland, Senta Berger, David Hess and Ray Milland. more...

Beware Governments help in regulating cars and traffic, part two

a special TechnoFile rant

Do our governments work for us, or rule us?

Like "to be, or not to be," that is the question. Indeed, we're constantly told that our governments are there to serve us, to represent us – yet increasingly we're seeing governments who are clearly working to modify our behaviour in the service of their increasingly illogical and annoying ideology, often supposedly in service of the "green" agenda that posits we can stop the world from doing anything bad merely by sending them increasing amounts of our already overtaxed income and giving up more and more of the freedoms our ancestors fought to obtain and preserve.

I guess you can see where this is going!

I've been driving for a long time and have noticed that more and more governments are bringing in ludicrous rules for the road, rules that defy common sense and fly in the face of the "we're here to represent you" platitudes from a political class that doesn't seem to care a whit about the folks who put them in their positions of power and influence.

I see it every day when I drive. more...

Beware Governments' help in regulating cars and traffic

a special TechnoFile rant

What happens when a government mandates things for drivers and carmakers, supposedly to help ensure our safety behind the wheels of our vehicles?

Well, sometimes it could be a good thing – the use of seat belts come to mind, though I would argue that they shouldn't be mandated by law – but sometimes what I like to think of as "the law of unintended consequences" rears its ugly head.

The latter appears to be the case with the mandating of daytime running lights on vehicles in Canada. This law has been on the books for ages and is theoretically aimed at helping eliminating head on collisions in the daytime, because stupid people might notice an illuminated front end approaching them whereas they might not notice a non-illuminated front end approaching them.

So much for letting Darwin play itself out… more...

iFly's flying leaps a real soar spot for wannabe sky divers

I had a skydiving experience just after the new year's celebration, and I didn't even have to get in a plane to do it!

Nope, thanks to my dear wife (as opposed to the rest of them…), I got a gift certificate to iFly, an indoor skydiving adventure thingy that set up in my home town of Calgary a couple of years ago. It was an intriguing notion, and one with which I've been very familiar for decades, though I'd never tried it.

Though they're actually competitors, iFly is kind of an adaptation of the Aerodium concept, a vertical wind tunnel technology that was invented by Quebec inventor Jean Saint-Germain. He opened the first outlet in Saint Simon de Bagot, 50 miles east of Montreal, in 1979 and since then I've passed by the Aerodium in Las Vegas many times. I always thought about going in, but never did.

Then came Christmas 2023, and under the tree was a gift pack for five flights at our local iFly outlet, which is at a local mall not far from where I live. Now I had to go, and no excuses!

So, I did, and I had a blast! And I'd do it again. And I may.

It isn't cheap, but it sure is a fabulous experience.

iFly lets the Walter Mitty in you come out, in increments of about a minute per "flight". more...

Film Masters scores with two Roger Corman classics in a fun Blu-ray package

Two new Blu-ray titles may not have a lot of thrills and chills, but there's some creepiness coupled with laughs in the two-disc package.

Film Masters, to mark the 60th anniversary of Roger Corman's The Terror, has paired it with one his most famous other flicks, a horror comedy that also inspired a classic musical.

The Terror, which isn't particularly terror-inducing, is a relatively spooky tale about 18th century French Lieutenant Andre Duvalier (Jack Nicholson) who comes across the ghostly figure of a woman (Sandra Knight), a vision that leads him to the castle of one Baron von Leppe (the great Boris Karloff), where he discovers an old portrait of the Baron's long-dead wife, Ilsa.

When I was a kid, The Little Shop of Horrors really disappointed me. Not because it's a lousy film: I didn't like it because I saw it on my local TV station's late night horror movie show, where I spent many an otherwise productive hour grooving to whatever scary story they were showing that week. And when The Little Shop of Horrors unspooled in front of my teenaged eyes, I was appalled that it was funny, not scary at all! The nerve of the TV programmer! more...