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December 6, 2006
Boeing, Lufthansa Announce Order for 747-8 Intercontinental
First airline order for 747-8 passenger version.
New technologies to bring efficiency, environmental benefits to Lufthansa fleet.
SEATTLE, Dec. 06, 2006 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] and Deutsche Lufthansa AG today announced the carrier ordered 20 747-8 Intercontinental jetliners plus 20 purchase rights. Lufthansa is the first airline to place an order for the passenger version of the fuel-efficient airplane.
The Lufthansa order, with a total average list-price value of $5.5 billion, is scheduled for delivery beginning in 2010. This order is a primary component of the airline's plan to modernize its fleet and increase environmental stewardship.
"Lufthansa operates one of the youngest and most environmentally friendly fleets in the world," said Scott Carson, president and chief executive officer, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "The 747-8 will use state-of-the-art technology innovations from the 787 Dreamliner to significantly increase the capabilities of Lufthansa's fleet. This airplane improves upon the economics of the 747-400, while greatly enhancing fuel efficiency, reducing emissions and noise. We are thrilled that this world-class airline has chosen this world-class airplane."
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 9:10 PM | View the original post
Discovery Channel Announces Ground-Breaking 11-Part Television Event
PLANET EARTH, the Ultimate Portrait of our Planet in High-Definition.
Award-winning Actress and Conservationist Sigourney Weaver to Narrate.
SILVER SPRING, Md., Dec. 5 -- Award-winning actress and conservationist Sigourney Weaver joins Discovery Channel as narrator of the breathtaking look at our world, PLANET EARTH, premiering on the Discovery Channel on Sunday, March 25, 2007 at 8 PM ET/PT. PLANET EARTH will amaze viewers with never-before-seen animal behaviors, startling views of locations captured by cameras for the first time, and unprecedented high definition production techniques. More than five years in the making, PLANET EARTH redefines blue-chip natural history filmmaking and continues the Discovery mission of providing the highest quality programming in the world. PLANET EARTH airs on consecutive Sundays from March 25 through April 22, 2007.
PHOTO: Award-winning actress and conservationist Sigourney Weaver narrates Discovery Channel's epic high definition series PLANET EARTH, premiering Sun, March 25, 2007.
"The PLANET EARTH series is like a wonderful ride through our world," said Weaver. "Whatever fascinates you the most...whether it be caves or deep sea, deserts or mountains, you're in for such a treat. The camera work is so extraordinary and it's as if you're an animal living in that world...you become part of that world."
The series takes viewers from the mightiest mountain ranges to the deepest waters to the last true wilderness areas, all using cutting-edge filming methods such as the Cineflex heligimble aerial photography system, a highly stable camera attached to a helicopter that captures distant objects and creatures in close-up.
Spectacular animal scenes in PLANET EARTH include the first footage of the rarely seen snow leopard hunting in the Himalayas; lions hunting and killing elephants in the middle of the night; and the Blue Bird of Paradise performing a mating ritual, captured for the first time on film.
Bank of America is the presenting sponsor of the PLANET EARTH series.
Discovery Communications, Inc., is the leading global real-world media company. Discovery has grown from its core property, the Discovery Channel, first launched in the United States in 1985, to current global operations in 170 countries and territories.
70 camera operators spent over 2,000 days in the field visiting more than 200 locations to document nature's greatest spectacles. Locations filmed for the first time include the Gobi Desert covered in snow; unique access to the Arctic island of Kong Karls Land -- home to the world's highest densities of polar bears; and the first high-quality aerial sequences of Mount Everest.
Best known for her film roles, Sigourney Weaver is an active conservationist. She serves as honorary chair to the board of trustees of The Dian Fosse Gorilla Fund and recently drew international attention during a United Nations press conference on the threat to ocean habitat posed by deep sea trawling.
PLANET EARTH is produced for Discovery Channel by the BBC. Alastair Fothergill is the executive producer for the BBC. Maureen Lemire is the executive producer for Discovery Channel. Discovery Channel and the BBC also created the award-winning natural history series BLUE PLANET.
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 6:42 PM | View the original post
Sony Ericsson’s new Z310 mirror-finish clamshell phone
It color codes your contacts.
New Sony Ericsson Z310. Announced today, this stand-out phone has a flawless, polished finish. The front icon display is integrated into the design, hidden discretely beneath the surface until a message or call is received. There are even eye-catching coloured light effects that can be assigned to contacts in the phonebook; so you can know at a glance who is calling.
“This stylish clamshell phone is one you won’t want to live without. Not only does it boast good looks and a vibrant colour, it also provides must-have features for this type of everyday phone: VGA camera, MP3 Music Ringtones & Bluetooth connectivity,” says Steve Walker, Head of Product Marketing at Sony Ericsson. “The fresh look is also complimented by some innovative design features, normally only seen on more advanced phones.”
Adding to the striking design is a series of novel light effects that serve to both personalise the phone & allow the user to ‘colour code’ their contacts. Simply assign a coloured light to your frequent callers and you will know instantly whether its work trying to reach you, your best friend fixing a date, or your mother calling to invite you to Sunday lunch! It is even possible to set the look and feel of the menu & screen display to match the time of day; a bright theme during the daytime and something more relaxing or subtle at night.
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 6:25 PM | View the original post
Honda Accord Coupe Concept to Debut at North American International Auto Show
TORRANCE, Calif., Dec. 5 -- A bold new look for the next-generation Honda Accord Coupe will be unveiled at the January 2007 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit, American Honda Motor Co., Inc., announced today.
The Accord Coupe Concept will convey exterior styling cues and design features that provide a first look at the direction the next-generation Accord will take and it promises to set a new benchmark for Accord and for the segment. The Accord is Honda's best selling model in North America, and this vehicle's debut at NAIAS will mark the first time an Accord concept car has ever been shown at a major auto show.
Car and Driver magazine recently named the current-generation 2007 Honda Accord as one of the winners of its prestigious and highly competitive annual "10Best Cars" award. The Accord has achieved "10Best" status 21 times in the 25 years that Car and Driver editors have been conducting the competition, more than any other vehicle in the award's history.
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 5:27 PM | View the original post
