China takes first step to steady economic growth

China acted for the first time this year to steady its stumbling economy by cutting taxes for small firms on Wednesday and announcing plans to speed up the construction of railway lines.

The Chinese cabinet said after its weekly meeting that it will accelerate the construction of rail projects that have been approved, and increase the total length of lines being laid this year by 18 percent compared to 2013.

The government also said it would lower tax rates for smaller companies by relaxing the criteria that allows them to halve their income taxes. This policy will be extended to the end of 2016, the government said.

The measures mark the first concrete action being taken by China this year to boost its economy, and come after Premier Li Keqiang last week sought to reassure jittery markets that Beijing was ready to provide support. [ID:nL4N0MP0CQ]

Flagging growth has unnerved global investors and fuelled speculation about a modest stimulus package to boost activity.

Two surveys of China's vast manufacturing sector showed this week that factories faced persistent headwinds in March, raising fears that the economy may be cooling much faster than thought. [ID:nL4N0MT0AA]

"We will find innovative ways including fiscal and financial methods to...steady economic growth," the cabinet said in a statement on the government's website.

The Chinese government said in March that it aims to grow the economy by around 7.5 percent this year, and a minority of analysts believe growth will ultimately fall short of 7.5 percent.

Increased construction of railway lines will foster investment, the biggest driver of China's economy, and which is rising at its slowest rate in at least a decade as the country moves towards consumption-driven growth.

The railway investment will be partly financed by bank loans, the government said. Authorities will also create an annual fund worth 200 billion yuan ($32.2 billion) to 300 billion yuan each year that is open to private investors.

For this year, the government will also sell 150 billion yuan worth of bonds to pay for over 6,600 kilometres of new railway track.

Railway projects in China gained infamy in recent years for their rife corruption and heavy debt load - problems that culminated in a series of corruption scandals at the Ministry of Railways that led to its dissolving in March 2013.

Projects are now overseen by China Railway Corp, which won approval on Tuesday to sell 150 billion yuan worth of bonds, according to two sources with direct knowledge of the matter. 

Source: Reuters

Windows 8.1 update fixes many common issues

The latest update to Windows 8 will be available on April 8 and brings much-needed tweaks for desktop users, restoring some of the features Windows users have been missing since the Metro interface first launched.

First and foremost, the OS now detects whether you're using a tablet or desktop and mouse setup, and delivers the best experience for your device. This means that upon launch, if you're on a desktop computer, the OS will boot straight to the desktop, and on a tablet, you'll get the touchable tiles of Microsoft's modern interface. But don't worry if you prefer the way Windows currently behaves; you still have the option to choose your startup preferences in the settings.

One of the biggest complaints about Windows 8 was the loss of the Start Button as we knew it in previous versions of Windows. Windows 8.1 brought back the Start Button for some functions, but still didn't offer many of the most used features in older Windows versions. Now, with the Windows 8.1 Update, you get a mash up of both the traditional Start Button view and the live tiles. So, with a click you can now get recently opened apps, your documents folder, and other common options found in older versions of the Start Menu, but on the right, you get the live tiles from the modern interface. It seems like a good compromise between the two, and I like that it doesn't completely remove you from the desktop any longer.

Microsoft also made some changes with full-screen apps making them a lot more intuitive for desktop users and more in line with the history of the Windows OS. Full screen apps now (once again) have a title bar at the top, with the X in the upper right so you can quit out of an app easily with a click of your mouse.

With the modern interface out of the way on your desktop, it makes sense that Microsoft would find a way to make the Windows Store more accessible. Now, with this latest update, the Windows Store is automatically pinned to the taskbar on your desktop.

Source: CNET

Mercedes Benz New S-Class takes the lead with self-driving tech

The Good Mammoth cabin space and smooth ride quality make the 2014 Mercedes-Benz S550's cabin the place to be, whether in front or back. LED lights and big LCD dashboard panels keep the tech ahead of the pack. A new Steering Assist feature eases driving in heavy traffic.

The Bad App integration loads too slowly for general use. Virtual instrument gauges look a little flat, and it needs a graphic fuel gauge.

The Bottom Line Mercedes-Benz takes a big step forward with its 2014 S550 flagship sedan, improving just about every feature in this model update, but app integration suffers from slow connection times.

Given its size (over 17 feet), powerful engine, and loads of tech, it is certainly worthy of more than one nickname.

Mercedes-Benz's flagship S-Class luxury sedan has been facing stiff competition, from the Audi A8 to even the Hyundai Equus . The company obviously couldn't rest on its laurels, especially considering the much lower prices of a few other big, luxury rollers.

The 2014 S550 shows that Mercedes-Benz took the threat seriously, and designed a car that will force other luxury sedan makers back to their drawing boards. Along with redesigned bodywork, a huge cabin, large LCD panels for instruments and cabin tech, and fuel economy technology, Mercedes-Benz adds an innovative steering-assistance feature that will ease driving and bring the S550 one step closer to being an autonomous car.

  Source: CNET

2014 Audi A7 TDI :Efficient diesel engine meets connected tech

The Good A diesel drivetrain gives the 2014 Audi A7 TDI impressive fuel economy for a large car. Connected features include Google local search and Google Earth integrated with navigation. Bang & Olufsen audio delivers detailed and balanced music reproduction.

The Bad The A7 TDI requires additional maintenance in the form of 10,000 mile AdBlue fill-ups. Audi's proprietary audio port requires adapter cables for external devices; a standard USB port would be preferable.

The Bottom Line The 2014 Audi A7 TDI includes some of the best connected tech available today in an automobile, and those inclined to put up with a few diesel drivetrain quirks will be rewarded with significantly higher fuel economy than from the gasoline equivalent.

In heavy traffic on the freeway, I let the 2014 Audi A7 TDI's cruise control handle braking and accelerating, and gave lane-keeping assist a try by letting the car drift over to the left lane line. Cruise control, using its radar to track the car ahead, unerringly handled stop-and-go without my intervention. And before the car crossed the lane line, the camera-based lane assist moved the wheel under my light grip, steering the A7 TDI back into its own lane.

Was I experiencing a glimpse of our autonomous driving future?

Not exactly, as the pull on the steering wheel sent the car on a drift toward the right lane line, from which it also corrected. If I let it have its way, I figured it would drunkenly weave back and forth between the lines, then get completely thrown off by the first serious curve or faded line paint. The A7 TDI's radar and cameras made it dimly aware of its surroundings, but true autonomy requires more sophisticated sensors.

Despite not exactly being the future of self-driving, the A7 has been a high-tech showcase for Audi since its launch in 2010, not to mention having an excellent body design that became much copied. For 2014, the A7 adds some driver assistance features, but its connected infotainment system is largely the same as before.

Source: CNET

Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 arrives in 7, 8 and 10-inch sizes

Just what the world needs: more Samsung tablets. Samsung has officially announced the Samsung Galaxy Tab 4, a new line of mid-range Android tablets in 7, 8 and 10-inch sizes.

All three are powered by a 1.2GHz quad-core processor and Android 4.4 KitKat software. They connect to the Web via 4G, with 3G versions for the 10 and 7-inch models that will probably save you a few pennies. Prices and release dates are yet to be confirmed.

Each Tab 4 has 16GB of storage on board, or you can opt for an 8GB version of the 7-inch model.

The trio all include a 3-megapixel snapper coupled with a low-resolution camera for video chat. The tablets come decked out in a choice of black or white cases.

All three models boast a 1,280x800 screen, which means the smallest 7-inch model has the best pixel density: 215 pixels per inch, compared to the 8-incher's 188ppi or the 10-incher's 149ppi.

Source: CNET

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