Here at Cool Top Ten, we salute the men, the machines and the quest for freedom that has marked just about every major international conflict. Thus, we present to our readers a comprehensive list of the 10 Most Expensive Military Aircraft that have forever changed the face of combat.

If these menacing birds of prey enthrall you, then make sure you check out,  War Planes: 10 Modern Fighter Jets & Bombers That Revolutionized Aerial Combat.

1.  B-2 Spirit

Manufacturer: Northrop Grumman

Operator: United States Air Force

Price: $2.2 Billion

The very backbone of the U.S nuclear deterrence and the pride of the U.S Air Force, B-2 Spirit is by far the most expensive military aircraft in the entire world, with a price tag of  a mind blowing $2.2 billion a pop. First introduced in the month of April in 1997, this most expensive bomber has for more than a decade, served as the principal first strike weapon for nearly all U.S military campaigns. The B-2 Spirit is categorized as a heavy stealth bomber and is most renowned for its ‘Boomerang’ design and the use of state of the art low observable stealth technology. Designed and developed by Northrop Grumman in collaboration with Boeing, the B-2 was conceived primarily to hit Soviet targets with both conventional and nuclear payloads, while penetrating enemy radar nets and completely avoiding anti-aircraft defenses leaving zero traces of insertion. Though till date no B-2 bomber has ever operationally delivered nuclear ordnance, yet the some 20 odd B-2 aircraft in service have seen their share of action in numerous theaters across the globe. The B-2 was initially used to neutralize designated Serbian hard targets during the  Kosovo War in 1999 and since has been an active component of the U.S war efforts, especially in Iraq and Afghanistan while also playing a significant role in suppressing Libyan air defenses during the 2011 Libyan civil war. The B-2 Spirit is powered by four  General Electric F118-GE-100 engines and has maximum service celling of  50,000 ft. The B-2 bomber carries an infinite range as the bomber is capable of midair refueling and this marvel of military aviation is said to be the only aircraft that has the ability of carrying air to surface standoff weapons, while employing full stealth features.

2.  VH-71 Kestrel

Manufacturer: Lockheed Martin

Operator: United States Marine Corps (Cancelled)

Price: $400 Million

Planned as the next United States Marine Corps’ Marine One, the VH-71 Kestrel was an in-development transport helicopter to provide a new and cutting edge helicopter that was to become the transport of the U.S President. The development process of the Kestrel led to the creation of nine helicopters, but was later cancelled by the Pentagon as the development cost reached a massive $400 million per unit, making it one of the most expensive military aircraft. The Kestrel was the end result of a collaborative effort between Lockheed Martin and AugustaWestland and was designated as the US101, which was eventually awarded the contract primarily because of its three engines. The US101, which eventually became VH-71 Kestrel was powered by three  General Electric CT7-8E turboshaft engines providing a combined output of  2,520 hp and gave the helicopter a top speed of 192 mph. The Kestrel, which was modified for Presidential use carried the capacity of accommodating up to 14 seated troops, while featuring a maximum service ceiling of 15,000 feet. After the program’s cancellation, the U.S Department of Defense sold the manufactured VH-71 Kestrel aircraft to Canada and announced that the remaining amount of the $13 billion funds for the Kestrel will be diverted towards upgrading of VH-3D and VH-60N helicopters, which make the current U.S Presidential helicopter fleet.

3.  B-1B Lancer

Manufacturer: Rockwell International

Operator: United States Air Force

Price: $283 Million

Fulfilling the needs of the U.S Air Force as a long-range, multi-role heavy bomber is the incredibly famous B-1B Lancer. This astounding bomber aircraft carries a massive price tag of $283 million a unit and thus is considered to be one of the most expensive military aircraft in the world. Introduced in the year 1985, the B-1B was essentially designed to fulfill the role of low-level penetration bombings and was seen as the next generation successor to the aging Boeing B-52 Stratofortress, which was quickly proving to be obsolete with the times. The Lancer was pressed into service in the year 1986 primarily as a nuclear payload delivery vehicle, but was later converted into a conventional bomber as the face of the world changed. The B-1B Lancer witnessed its first operational deployment in the year 1998, when it was used in combat during  Operation Desert Fox (Iraq) and then was subsequently deployed to Kosovo in the year 1999, for the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia (Operation Allied Force). This supersonic strategic bomber is powered by four General Electric F101-GE-102 turbofan engine that provide an output of a staggering 30,780 lbf for each engine when used in afterburners. The B-1B Lancer has the capability of mid-air refueling and can cover a distance of 7,456 miles. Operating at a maximum service ceiling of 60,000 ft, the Lancer can easily reach a cursing speed of Mach 1.25 or 830 mph.

4.  Eurofighter Typhoon

Manufacturer: Eurofighter GmbH

Operator: U.K Royal Air Force & Other Nations

Price: $197 Million

Designed and developed as the next generation multirole fighter, the Eurofighter Typhoon is currently rated as one of the best fighter aircraft in the world and is also compared to the state of the art F-22 Raptor. The Typhoon program was the culmination of a collaboration between three European aircraft manufacturers, namely EADS, Alenia Aeronautica and BAE Systems. The Eurofighter Typhoon features a canard-delta wing design and has been complemented with stealth or radar signature reduction features to make the fighter more adaptable for 21^st century combat. Introduced in the year 2003, there are currently 300 Typhoon aircraft in active service in the air force of numerous nations. The Typhoon has been embedded with a digital fly-by-wire system and makes use of inertial navigation system as well as Terrain Referenced Navigation (TRN) system for increased performance and survivability. With each Typhoon costing $197 million, this extremely potent aircraft is hailed as one of the most expensive military aircraft in the world. Since its induction, the Eurofighter Typhoon has seen combat sorties in the Falkland Islands and more recently was involved in the enforcement of a no-fly zone over Libyan airspace, along with the precision bombing of a Libyan armored column during the 2011 Libyan civil war. The Eurofighter Typhoon is powered by twin Eurojet EJ200 afterburning turbofan engines that provide a maximum speed of Mach 2 or 1,550 mph, while also enabling the fighter to take advantage of the cutting edge ‘Supercruise’ feature. The Typhoon has a maximum service ceiling of 64,990 ft and carries an impressive range of 1,800 miles, while featuring mid-air refueling capabilities.

5.  AC-130U Spooky II

Manufacturer: Lockheed Martin & Boeing

Operator: United States Air Force

Price: $190 Million

Designed and developed jointly by Lockheed Martin and Boeing, the AC-130 U Spooky II is widely considered to be one of the most lethal, comprehensive and effective air to ground weapons platform in the world. Essentially, the AC-130 is a heavily modified and weaponries variant of the C-130 Hercules transport aircraft and has been a vital player in modern combat situations providing various support roles such as close air support, air interdiction and force protection. The Spooky II was extensively used in the post-2000 U.S  combat missions in both Afghanistan and Iraq, where in the gunship was primarily called in by the on-ground Special Forces units for the elimination of Taliban and other insurgent strong-points in Afghanistan. Hailed as one of the most expensive military aircraft with a single unit price tag of $190 million, the AC-130U Spooky II carries enough ordnance and state of the art mission computers to gain leverage on any battle field. The Spooky II is comprised of a 25mm GAU-12 Gatling gun, a 40mm L60 Bofors cannon and a six to ten rounds per minute 105mm M-102 Howitzer cannon. Furthermore, to ensure the safety of this behemoth of a gunship, the AC-130 has also been provided with numerous countermeasures such as chaffs and flare, while also featuring infrared heat shields that are mounted underneath the engines to minimize the aircraft’s heat signature and to protect it from an instant lock-on by infrared-guided antiaircraft missiles. The AC-130 is powered by four Allison T56-A-15 turboprop engines that provide an incredible 4,910 hp, while allowing the gunship to reach a service ceiling of 30,000 ft at 300 mph.

6.  F-22 Raptor                      

Manufacturer: Lockheed Martin

Operator: U.S Air Force

Price: $150 Million

Widely accepted as the most advanced fighter plane ever built, the F-22 Raptor represents the very pinnacle of cutting edge military aviation. Designed and developed by Lockheed Martin, the F-22 Raptor is a fight generation air superiority fighter that employs state of the art stealth features and was primarily conceived to replace the glorious F-15 Eagle and F-16 Fighting Falcon family. Besides its air-to-air combat roles, the F-22 Raptor has also been developed to conduct ground attack missions and is also highly proficient as a potent aircraft for electronic warfare, and signals intelligence. With a price tag of $150 million apiece, the Raptor is considered to be one of the most expensive military aircraft in the world. Lockheed Martin engineered the Raptor to be a super-maneuverable fighter aircraft that has been incorporated with the latest in thrust vectoring technology. However, the most stunning feature of the F-22 Raptor is its ability to ‘Supercruise’, where in the fighter is capable of attaining sustained supersonic flight without the use of afterburners. The cockpit of this futuristic fighter aircraft has been completely digitized and since its inception into the USAF in the year 2007, the Raptor has fast taken the shape of the most vital element for U.S air dominance in a combat scenario. The F-22 Raptor is powered by twin Pratt & Whitney F119-PW-100 Pitch Thrust vectoring turbofan engines and the aircraft can achieve a maximum service celling of 65,000 feet, reaching a top speed of Mach 2.25 (1,500 mph) in conventional flight and Mach 1.82 (1,220 mph) in Supercruise mode. The F-22 Raptor also comes with enhanced life support systems for the pilots and  the fighter aircraft is capable of delivering both conventional as well as nuclear payloads.

7.  F-35 Lightning II

Manufacturer: Lockheed Martin

Operator: Under Production

Price: $150 Million

Currently under production, the F-35 Lightning II is also referred to as the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF), which has been made possible by the collaboration of aerospace companies such as Lockheed Martin and others from different NATO countries and U.S allies. The Lightning II is being produced in three variants namely, conventional take off, SVTOL (Short Vertical Take Off & Landing) and an aircraft carrier landing version. This cutting edge stealth multirole fighter is expected to enter service from the year 2016 and will be able to perform multiple mission objectives such as ground attack, reconnaissance, and air defense missions. The F-35 Lightning II has been designed primary as a fifth generation  stealth fighter and in the case of U.S armed forces, will be inducted in the U.S Marine Corp to replace the aging and obsolete F/A-18 Hornet as well as the AV-8B Harrier II fighter aircraft. Capable of delivering both conventional and nuclear payloads, the Lightning II costs $150 million a unit, thus making it one of the most expensive aircraft. The shell of the aircraft has been developed with composite materials to reduce the aircraft’s radar signature and provide it with stealth capabilities. However, the most astounding features of the F-35 Lightning II can be found in its state of the art cockpit and the revolutionary helmet-mounted display system. The cockpit itself has been designed to be extremely pilot friendly and comes with a panoramic cockpit display that is powered by a cockpit speech-recognition system. The helmet-mounted display system (HMDS) will essentially enable the pilots to track and then lock on to target by simply looking at them and without having to reposition the JSF. This futuristic system makes use of radio frequency and infra-red situational awareness that keeps the pilot informed  of friendlies as well as hostile elements on the battlefield. The F-35 Lightning II is powered by a single Pratt & Whitney F135 afterburning turbofan with thrust vectoring capabilities and can achieve a maximum speed of Mach 1.6 (1,200 mph) at an altitude of 60,000 ft. the Joint Strike Fighter is capable of mid-air refueling and has a maximum range of 2,220 km on a full load of fuel in its internal tanks.

8.  Sukhoi PAK FA

Manufacturer: Sukhoi Company

Operator: Russian Air Force & Indian Air Force

Price: $57 Million

Entering into the ‘Stealth’ foray, the Russia Federation has come out with its own fifth generation jet fighter in the form of the Sukhoi PAK FA. Designed and developed by Sukhoi Company with inputs from the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited  (HAL) of India, the Sukhoi PAK FA is being developed to replace the famous MiG-29 and Su-27 fighter aircraft. Currently the progress has been focused on the PAK FA stealth multirole fighter, while there is also a side stealth air superiority fighter variant project that is being overseen by HAL and known as the Sukhoi/HAL FGFA.  The PAK FA will be introduced  in the Russian Air Force in the year 2016 and will then also be provided to India as well as other prospective clients. To ensure that this fifth generation fighter features the best of technology, Sukhoi has announced that it will be using completely new engines for the PAK FA, which will feature an all new revolutionary 3-D thrust vectoring technology as well as infra-red and radar cross section reduction elements. As per the available data, the Sukhoi PAK FA will be powered by twin AL-41F1 turbofan engines and will be able to achieve a top speed in excess of Mach 2 (1,560 mph). The PAK FA will also have the capability to “Supercruise’, meaning that the aircraft will be able to attain supersonic speeds without the use of its afterburners, thus conserving fuel. Sukhoi has stated that this stealth multirole fighter will cost approximately $57 million apiece, thus making it one of the most expensive military aircraft in the world. The Su PAK FA will sport a maximum range of 3,417 miles with a service ceiling of 65,600 feet. Though this marvelous stealth aircraft will be carrying conventional weapons, yet its capability to deliver nuclear payloads has still not been confirmed.

9.  F/A-18 Super Hornet

Manufacturer: Boeing Defense, Space & Security

Operator: United States Navy

Price: $55 Million

Designed and developed by Boeing Defense, Space & Security as a successor to the highly acclaimed F-14 Tomcat, the state of the art F/A-18 Super Hornet was pressed into the service of the U.S  Navy in the year 2001 and sincevhas been fulfilling  the role of a carrier based multi-role fighter aircraft. The Super Hornet features numerous design changes in comparison to the F/A-18 Hornet, where in the new version features rectangular air intakes and has even been given design elements that reduce its radar signature. Furthermore, the F/A-18 Super Hornet even comes with advanced electronic-warfare capabilities and is more adept at using stand-off weapons. Just like its predecessor, the Super Hornet was introduced in both single seat and two seat configurations and have seen extensive combat in both Iraq and Afghanistan during Operation Iraqi Freedom and supporting U.S combat missions against Taliban. The F/A-18 Super Hornet is powered by twin General Electric F414-GE-400 turbofan engines that provide a maximum speed of Mach 1.8 (1,190 mph), along with a service ceiling of 50,000 feet. The Super Hornet is capable of performing both air-to-air and air-to-ground operations, while achieving a maximum range of 2,346 km. Apart from the single and twin-seat configurations, the Super Hornet has also been designed as an electronic warfare aircraft, in the form of EA-18G Growler.

10.  Su-30MKI

Manufacturer: Hindustan Aeronautics Limited

Operator: Indian Air Force

Price: $35 Million

The crown of the Indian Air Force, Su-30MKI is an all-weather, long range air superiority fighter that has been developed by the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in collaboration with Sukhoi of Russia and is manufactured by HAL under license from the Sukhoi Company. Considered to be one of the most potent and efficient air superiority fighters in the world, the Su-30MKI is a successor to the Russian Su-30 and was designed keeping in mind the operational requirements of the Indian Air Force. The MKI variant mirrors numerous features of that of the state of the art Sukhoi Su-35 and has even been integrated with French as well as Israeli sub-systems. The Su-30MKI was tailor designed to accommodate Indian built weapons platforms and is more than capable of delivering both conventional as well as tactical nuclear payloads. The entire construction of this magnificent fighter aircraft is primarily composed of Titanium and high-strength aluminum alloys, while with a $35 million price tag per aircraft, the Su-30MKI is said to one of the most expensive military aircraft at present. To ensure enhanced performance and maximum combat efficiency, the MKI has been incorporated with  state of the art thrust vectoring technology. The Su-30MKI is powered by twin Lyulka AL-31FP turbofan engines with thrust vectoring that propel the aircraft to a maximum speed of an astounding Mach 1.9 (1,317 mph), while providing an operational service ceiling of 56,800 ft and a range of up to 3,000 km.

Considered as one of the world’s largest motor shows, the 2011 Frankfurt Auto Show or less commonly referred to as IAA 2011 this year proved to an electrifying event that witnessed a massive paradigm shift in the 21^st century global automobile industry. Unlike, previous sessions, this time around, the focus of the attendees as well as the participating manufacturers was primarily tuned to the rapidly evolving eco-friendly transportation. Though this meant that conventional gasoline powered vehicles were less in numbers, yet by no means was the eco-friendly vehicles restricted to solar powered cars and bikes. Along with some of the most thrilling conventional unveilings as well as launches, the event also witnessed the emergence of some of the most exciting and cutting edge plug-in hybrid luxury sports cars, luxury sedans and even all electric sports cars that guaranteed high performance with eye pooping opulent luxury.

After extensively covering the 2011 Frankfurt Auto Show at Trends Updates, we decided it was time to provide our elite readers of Cool Top 10 with a very selective round up of the event. Hence, we have now compiled our very own list of some of the most enthralling and spell binding automobiles that were presented at the IAA 2011 and left a deep impact in our hearts and minds.

1.  Rimac Concept One:

Manufacturer: Rimac Automobili

Segment: Electric Sports Car

Designed and developed by Croatian auto startup, Rimac Automobili, the all new enthralling Rimac Concept One was introduced at the IAA 2011 in Frankfurt, Germany as an all-electric sports car. This incredible vehicle that has to have been assigned a date for production has already captivated the Abu Dhabi Royal Family, leading to pre-orders. The engineering of this fabulous vehicle has been centered around zero-emission goal and the vehicle employs a powerful new drivetrain that provides the four wheels with the required power independently. The entire propulsion system is comprised of one motor, inverter and a reduction gearbox. With its all electric drivetrain, the Concept One is able to produce an astounding 1,088hp of power, taking this all electric sports cars to a mind blowing 300 km/h, while providing a range of 360 miles on a single charge. On the inside, the all new stunning Rimac Concept One has been given a generous leather upholstery by the luxury leather manufacturer, Vilner, while the engineering credits go to a highly talented team ex-Pininfarina designers.

2.  2012 Fisker Surf:

Manufacturer: Fisker Automotive

Segment: Plug-in Hybrid Sports Hatchback

After introducing the state of the plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), Fisker Karma earlier this year, automobile start up, Fisker Automotive took the prestigious 2011 Frankfurt Auto Show as a platform to showcase its latest offering in the form of the all-new 2012 Fisker Surf. This hybrid electric vehicle was showcased as a five door sports hatchback model that has been designed and developed to provides today’s demanding customers with a hybrid sports car that carries the stowing capacity of a hatchback. Fisker kept the Surf quite similar to the Karma in terms of technical specifications and has introduced this marvelous car as a range-extended electric vehicle. The 2012 Fisker Surf is powered by a 260 horsepower turbocharged onboard range-extender engine that works alongside a 175 kW electric motor providing an additional boost of a staggering 175 kW electric motor providing. This combined power of 495hp allows the Surf to reach a top speed of 125mph, while achieving an acceleration of 0 to 60mph in just 5.9 seconds. The absolutely breathtaking 2012 Fisker Karma provides a combined range of 300 mile, while adding another 50 miles when driven in ‘Stealth Mode’.

3.  2012 Lamborghini Gallardo Super Trofeo Stradale:

Manufacturer: Lamborghini

Segment: Supercar

One of the foremost names in the field of high performance supercars, Lamborghini, which is considered to be a stark competitor to the Italian auto behemoth, Ferrari, unveiled the stunning 2012 Lamborghini Gallardo Super Trofeo Stradale at the IAA 2011. This magnificent supercar has been designed and developed on in the lines of the incredibly popular Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo and the Trofeo Stradale has been introduced as a street legal variant of the Super Trofeo. The all new Super Trofeo Stradale will be powered by a 5.2L V10 direct injection engine that will enable this breathtaking vehicle to churn out 570 horsepower, while carrying a robotized e-gear six-speed transmission. The 2012 Lamborghini Gallardo Super Trofeo Stradale will provide its elite occupants with a top speed of 198 mph, while achieving an acceleration time of a mere 3.4 seconds for a 0 to 60 mph sprint. Featuring an all-wheel drive system as well as a special ‘Rosso Mars’ paint work, the car’s creator, Lamborghini has announced that it will produce only 150 models of this phenomenal supercar.

4.  2011 Volvo Concept You:

Manufacturer: Volvo

Segment: Luxury Sedan (Concept)

Showcasing its own vision of the future in respect to automobile technology, Volvo, unveiled its latest creation, the 2011 Volvo Concept You. This gorgeous concept vehicle as introduced to give the attendees a peek into the company’s latest luxury sedan project that will replace Volvo S80. This magnificent concept vehicle has been designed and developed on the basis of public feedback gathered via the company’s Volvo Concept Universe program. Besides the alluring exteriors, 2011 Volvo Concept You will provide the customers with some of the most cutting edge interiors designed for the vehicle of the future. At the center of this tech convention is a touchscreen tablet, which forms the control console of the vehicle and this unique system is synchronized with the car’s heads up display and the digital instrument panel. This tablet styled control panel will be able to take care of nearly all functions of the Concept You, including ignition. The control panel will be composed of a pair of infrared cameras that will be activate the car’s features as and when the identity of the driver is confirmed.

5. Lamborghini Sesto Elemento:

Manufacturer: Lamborghini

Segment: Super Car

The raging Italian bull, also popular known as Lamborghini was in full swing at the 2011 Frankfurt Auto Show, as soon after the unveiling of the incredible 2012 Lamborghini Gallardo Super Trofeo Stradale, the company announced its plans to pushing the remarkable Lamborghini Sesto Elemento into production. Considered to be the fastest Lamborghini, Sesto Elemento as initially unveiled at the 2010 Paris Auto Show and boasted of extreme engineering skills will drop dead gorgeous looks. Powered by a  5.2-litre V10 engine, the Sesto Elemento can attain a mind blowing acceleration of 0-60mph in just 2.5 seconds, which is considered to be even quicker than that of Bugatti Veyron. This one of a kind sports car was designed and developed at the Lamborghini Advanced Composite Research Center in Sant’Agata and the vehicle carries a  carbon fiber monocoque body shell. Lamborghini has announced the limited production of the magnificent Lamborghini Sesto Elemento, will witness the emergence of only 20 models from the company’s production lines, with each carrying a staggering price tag of $2.7 million.

6.  2012 Ferrari 458 Spider:

Manufacturer: Ferrari

Segment: Super Car

When it comes to high performance sports cars and super cars, one names sits above all rest and with its glorious legacy has contributed immensely to the evolution of sports cars. We are talking about Italy based, Ferrari, which nearly stole the spotlight from other auto brands at the IAA 2011, with its all-new 2012 Ferrari 458 Spider. Introduced as the successor to the incredibly famous, Ferrari 458 Italia, the stunning 458 Spider has been unveiled as the world’s first  mid-engine sports car that has been provided with a folding metal hardtop. This magnificent new Ferrari convertible is powered by a naturally-aspirated, direct-injection 4.5-litre V8 engine that generates an astounding 570hp. The breathtaking 2012 Ferrari 458 Spider has been given a Dual-clutch, 7-speed F1 transmission that enables this striking super car to achieve a 0 to 100km/h sprint in just 3.4 seconds. Furthermore, Ferrari has incorporated the 458 Spider with some of the most cutting edge F1 grade safety features, such as F1-Trac traction control and high-performance ABS.

7.  Jaguar C-X16 Hybrid Concept:

Manufacturer: Jaguar

Segment: Plug-In Hybrid Sports Car

From one of the biggest names in the field of luxury sports cars, Jaguar, comes the all new Jaguar C-X16 Hybrid Concept, a plug-in hybrid sports car that was unveiled at the IAA 2011 and represents some of the most breakthrough automobile engineering for the future. The Jaguar C-X16 Hybrid Concept has been integrated with an all-new system called, ‘Push-to-Pass’ that has been taken directly from Formula 1 Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS). This state of the art system, gives the driver a unique chance to increase the vehicle’s velocity, by adding an additional 90hp, which is generate via an on-board electric motor and is effective for at least 10 seconds. This magnificent hybrid sports car is powered by a 3.0-liter V6 engine that delivers an impressive 375hp. Jaguar has given the C-X16 Hybrid Concept an eight-speed ZF automatic transmission that enables the vehicle to sprint from 0 to 62 mph in 4.4 seconds, while achieving a top speed of 186 mph. Furthermore, Jaguar has made effective use of the state of the art, Intelligent Start/Stop  system that was featured in Jaguar XF sports sedan. This system will allow the C-X16 to be shut down in a mere 300 milliseconds.

8.  2012 Bentley Continental GTC:

Manufacturer: Bentley

Segment: Luxury Convertible

One of the biggest names in the luxury auto industry, U.K based Bentley announced the introduction of an all-new luxury convertible at the IAA 2011 in the form of the 2012 Bentley Continental GTC. This remarkably stunning offering from Bentley will provide the customers with the best of automotive engineering, coupled with the very best luxury. The all new Continental GTC has been introduced as a direct successor to the immensely popular Bentley Continental GT Coupe and this wonderful luxury convertible features a power-operated retracting soft-top. The 2012 Bentley Continental GTC is powered by a 6.0-liter W12 engine, churning out a substantial 570hp. Along with this powerful configuration and a ZF 6HP28 transmission with ‘Quickshift’ system, the Continental GTC can achieve a top speed of 195 mph, while completing a sprint from 0-60 mph in just 4.5 seconds. On the inside, the 2012 Bentley Continental GTC features a state of the art 30GB in-car infotainment system that can be operated via an 8 inch display. Furthermore, Bentley has provided the Continental GTC with an integrated navigation system that also offers dynamic route guidance, seven-digit postcode entry and Google Map accessibility.

9.  2011 Maserati GranCabrio Fendi:

Manufacturer: Maserati & Fendi

Segment: Luxury Convertible

From the bowels of one of the most revered names in the field of luxury automobiles, Maserati, comes the all new insanely luxuriously and extremely gorgeous 2011 Maserati GranCabrio Fendi. Unveiled at the IAA 2011, this magnificent vehicle has been designed and developed in collaboration with the globally renowned Italian fashion house, Fendi, which has applied its creative talents to the vehicle’s exteriors as well as the interiors. Creating a perfect synchronicity between state of the art technology and beautiful aesthetics, the all new 2011 Maserati GranCabrio Fendi was conceived at the Maserati headquarters in Modena, Italy. Most of the cosmetic work done on the GranCabrio Fendi has been conducted under the supervision of Silvia Venturini Fendi. The most striking aspect of the GranCabrio Fendi is its custom created paint called, Grigio Fiamma Fendi, which has been created specifically for this vehicle and is a three layered special dark grey color. The 2011 Maserati GranCabrio Fendi carries sensual Pergamena Fendi wooden trims on the dashboard, doors and the gear lever. Also, several areas of the vehicles such the brake calipers have been adorned with signature Fendi yellow finish. Furthermore, to ensure that the 2011 Maserati GranCabrio Fendi exuberates nothing less than elegant style and high end luxury, Fendi has provided its interiors with the ultra-luxurious Selleria leather. On the technical side of the equation, the magnificent 2011 Maserati GranCabrio Fendi is powered by a 4.7-liter V8 engine that comes with an automatic transmission system and provides a respectable 433 horsepower as well as a top speed of 180mph.

10.  2012 Porsche Carrera S:

Manufacturer: Porsche

Segment: Sports Car

When it comes to sports cars, there is one name, Porsche that has not only made a profound impact since its inception in the year 1931, but has continuously been acting as the vanguard for the auto evolution. Now, at the IAA 2011, Porsche finally unveiled its most celebrated creation that the whole world was anxiously awaiting, in the form of the all-new 2012 Porsche Carrera S. Creating a perfect combination of high performance engineering and  bespoke luxury interiors, folks over at Porsche have now come out with a striking  new vehicle that will not only please the omnipresent thrill seekers, but will also entice the luxury lovers as well. The Carrera S has been given an aluminum-steel composite frame along with the latest in chassis construction technology such as Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control (PDCC) active roll stabilization system. The 2012 Porsche Carrera S is powered by a 3.8 liter engine churning out 400hp, while this remarkable vehicle has been given a Porsche Doppelkupplung dual clutch transmission that enables it to make sprint of 0- 62 mph in 4.3 seconds. On the inside, the fabulous 2012 Porsche Carrera S features a 7 inch  touch-screen Porsche Communication Management that comes with satellite navigation. Porsche has announced that the 2012 Porsche Carrera S will be offered to the customers with luxurious amenities, such as the likes. leather interior, sports seats, automatic climate control, Bi-Xenon headlights, Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) and Porsche Torque Vectoring (PTV).

Since the last decade or so, the world of gaming has evolved in leaps and bounds, so much so that it has now turned into one of the most vital economic factors amounting to billions in revenues. Long gone are those days, when the 8bit and 16bit games were the calling of the day and players seemed to be content with games such as Super Mario, Contra, Pac-Man etc. Nowadays, with the immense advancements made in the field of technology and computing, console video games have closer to reality than ever before. With sports cars driving at breakneck speeds and fighter jets soaring to the skies with real sound effects, video games have taken a definitive new form.

At the vanguard of this gaming revolution stands the globally cherished, Microsoft Xbox 360 that offers the gamers with eye popping graphics and unmatched processing power to immerse them in a whole new world. Since the launch of this magnificent gaming console, the Windows Marketplace along with physical retailers have been flooded with an immensely long list of gaming titles from numerous and highly established game developers such as Activision Electronic Arts etc. Now, as the year 2011 crossed the half-year mark, we found it prudent to apprise our readers of some of the most scintillating and heart pumping gaming titles for the Xbox 360. These games have either been launched this year or are just a couple of months away of hitting the markets with a renewed fervor.

1.   Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3

Publisher: Activision

Price: $60 (Pre-Order)

Continuing the legendary Call of Duty series that began in the year 2003 on PC, the upcoming and highly anticipated Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (MW3) is the eight title in the franchise. To be published by Activision, MW3 is a first-person shooter (FPS) game that brings to light the events post the MW2. The game storyline picks up from its predecessor and puts the player in the shoes of several special forces operators from U.S, U.K and Russia, conducting mission across a variety of locations including Somalia, Sierra Leone, Moscow and Dubai. The players will be able to take on the roles of elements from the U.S Delta Force, U.K SAS and a Russian federal security agent, in an effort to capture the game’s main antagonist, Vladimir Makarov. COD: MW3 will present gamers with a vivid selection of advanced weapons and playable vehicles, while Activision has stated that it has completely overhauled the multiplayer mode of the game, claiming it to be refreshing change. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare will bring its enormous impact on November 8^th, 2011.

2.  Ace Combat: Assault Horizon:

Publisher: Namco Bandai Games

Price: $81 (Pre-Order)

Ace Combat franchise that launched itself in spotlight with release of Ace Combat 04: Shattered Skies on Sony PS2 platform in the year 2001 is now continuing its legacy with the all new Ace Combat: Assault Horizon. Designed and developed especially for Microsoft Xbox 360 and Sony PlayStation 3 gaming consoles, this latest title packs a powerful punch and will propel the gamers in a high paced, fast flying world of aerial engagements. The storyline for this over the top game has been written by  New York Times bestselling author Jim DeFelice and leads the players in to a world plunged into chaos. Deviating from its traditional manner of fictitious country names, Namco has for Assault Horizon picked the U.S, NATO and Russia as the warring nations. The player assumes the role of Lt. Col. William Bishop who leads the Warwolf Squadron, as part of 108th Task Force. The game revolves around a super weapon called ‘Trinity’ and the involvement of Russian ace pilot, Colonel Andrei “Akula” Markov who is also the primary antagonist in the game. The game takes place in a variety of locations including  Miami, Dubai, East Africa, the Middle East, and Russia and has been incorporated with playable Black Hawk helicopters as well as gunners of AC-130 gunships. Ace Combat: Assault Horizon will brings its vast line up of screaming fighters including F-22 Raptor, F-15E Strike Eagle, F-35B Lightning II etc. and monstrous bombers such as the B-2 Spirit and B1-B Lancer on October 11^th, 2011

3.  Alan Wake

Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios

Price: $20

One of the most astounding games for the year 2011, Alan Wake, takes the players on a dark journey through fear and tension as the game has been described as survival horror/action game. Alan Wake is set in the fictional town of  Bright Falls, Washington and the game creates an intricate balance between light and darkness. The primary enemies of Alan Wake are called ‘The Taken’ possessed human beings that the player has to kill by shining light on them and then shoot. This intense console game lays emphasis on the use of various sources of light such as lanterns, flashlights etc. The story revolves around the a bestselling thriller writer Alan Wake, who is thrust into the world of supernatural in an effort to find his wife who has mysteriously disappeared. This phenomenal game has even spawned a related web series called, Bright Falls, as well as numerous related books. Further glorifying the game title is the presence of Finnish rock band ‘Poets of The Fall’, that has not only contributed to the soundtrack of the game, but is also featured in the game itself as an in-game band titled, ‘Old Gods of Asgard’. Due to the immense popularity of Alan Wake, two new special feature episodes have also been made available on Xbox Live as downloadable content that cost 560 Microsoft Points.

4.  Crysis 2

Publisher: Electronic Arts

Price: $60

Published by Electronic Arts (EA) Crysis 2 is the sequel to the bestselling video game Crysis and Crysis Warhead. This magnificent FPS game takes place in the year 2023, a time when New York City is destroyed due an alien invasion. The player takes upon the role of Alcatraz, a Force Recon Marine who is equipped with the cutting edge Nanosuit 2.0 issued by U.S Delta Force and the game even enables the players to customize their suit and the weapons. The Nanosuit has been thoroughly redesigned to allow the players the freedom to use multiple modes as and when required. Crysis 2 has been designed and developed on CryEngine 3 and as per Crytek, the game is even capable of being rendered in true stereoscopic 3D. During the development of the game, the focus was kept on enhancing graphics performance while keeping the system requirements to the same level of the original Crysis. Just months after the release of Crysis 2, Xbox Live presented the gamers with downloadable content, which carries four new multiplayer maps namely Park Avenue, Transit, Shipyard, and Compound. This downloadable pack was called, Crysis 2: Retaliation and comes with a price tag of $9.99

5.  Shift 2: Unleashed

Publisher: Electronic Arts

Price: $33.21

After the satisfactory success of Need For Speed: Shift, Electronic Arts came out with the all new Shift 2: Unleashed a high speed racing video game title that continued with the Shift legacy. Designed and developed to test the players’ driving skills to the limit, Shift 2: Unleashed features some 145 world renowned high performance sports cars and the game itself comes with 36 different tracks. The game is primarily composed of a ‘Career Mode’ wherein the players begins with casual races and steadily moves to the top of the charts. Shift 2: Unleashed has been developed on the state of the art The Madness Engine and the game has retained its predecessor’s Autolog feature in the form Need for Speed DNA. The entire game is comprised of some 60 playable cars that are segregated in to four categories. Tier 1 represents the average vehicles, Tier 2 consists of performance cars, Tier 3 is comprised of supercars such as the likes of Lamborghini Gallardo and Tier 4 comes with super cars including Bugatti Veyron and Pagani Huayra. Furthermore, Shift 2: Unleashed takes 40 locations inspired from the real world, including  Bathurst, Spa-Francorchamps and Suzuka.

6.  Dead Space 2

Publishers: Electronic Arts

Price: $35.49

Categorized as a survival horror third-person shooter, Dead Space carries forward the horrific tale of an alien infestation as was depicted in the games sequel, Dead Space. The game revolves around Isaac Clarke, who has just woken up from coma to find a human colony on Titan, one of Saturn’s moon is complete disarray due to the infestation. The antagonists of the game just as in the prequel turn the mutate the humans into ‘Necromorphs’. As the game is in third perspective mode, that player can view their surroundings as well as the character and vital information such messages and ammunition count, along with health status are shown as holograms. Apart from the guns the players are also provided with two new abilities, ‘stasis’ and ‘kinesis’ through which players can slow down the enemies and objects as well as move them with their telekinetic powers. There has also been launched various game packs as downloadable content through which users can attain new suits and new weapons.

7. Portal 2

Publisher: Valve Corporation

Price: $40

Designed and developed by the Valve Corporation, Postal 2 has been launched for those players who prefer to more of their brains into a game rather than simply shooting and blowing stuff up. The game has been categorized as a first person puzzle game that presents unique physics based challenges for the players to achieve in order to proceed. The player takes upon the role of Chell, the protagonist from the original Portal game and must navigate through the rapidly rebuilding Aperture Science Enrichment Center, which is controlled by GLaDOS, an artificially intelligence (AI) that was also the protagonist of the game’s predecessor. The player will be equipped with a portal gun that can be used to create inter-spatial portals that Chell must use to teleport from location to location and solve the intricately designed challenges. Valve Corporation has also announced that the company will soon be releasing downloadable content for Portal 2 which be inclusive of new test chambers and a ‘challenge mode’. These game packs will be available free of cost across all platforms and the challenge mode will be compatible with both single player and co-operative player modes.

8.  Mass Effect 3

Publisher: Electronic Arts

Price: $60 (Pre-Order)

Keeping the storyline from Mass Effect and Mass Effect 2 invigorated and extremely captivating, Electronic Arts (EA) is now gearing up for the launch of one of the most anticipated games, Mass Effect 3. This game title will be launched on March 6, 2012 and will take the player across the galaxy as well as on Earth and Mars. Mass Effect 3 will feature a plethora of new weapons, location and more importantly a new and improved AI. The player will assume the role of Commander Shepard who must fight a horde of Reapers that have attacked Earth. In his quest to liberate the planet, Shepard has to flee the planet and enlist the help of other alien civilizations that will fight with him. Keeping the mystery alight, Mass Effect has been given two new love interests that and the entire love triangle is set to be unraveled towards the end of the game. Mass Effect 3 will also witness the reprisal of many known characters from its predecessors such as the Illusive Man, Garrus Vakarian, Liara T’Soni, Kaidan Alenko etc.

9.  Battlefield 3:

Publisher: Electronic Arts

Price: $60  (Pre-Order)

Being hailed as one of the most anticipated of all FPS games for 2011, Battlefield is all set for a launch on October 25^th, 2011 across the U.S and the game will bring back to life the Battlefield series. Continuing the global conflict from its predecessor, Battlefield 3 will provide the players with a plethora of weapons as well as vehicle both ground based and airborne to commandeer and strike at the heart of the enemy in raging pitched battles. This remarkable game from Electronic Arts will bring forth single, cooperative and multiplayer modes, while EA has is also due to introduce an iOS variant too. Battlefield 3 will revive some of the most requested element such as fighter jets, prone position etc. Battlefield 3 will take the players across a variety of locations across the globe covering  Paris, Tehran, Sarajevo, Sulaymaniyah, New York, Wake Island and Oman. The storyline of the game will be centered around the  Iraq-Iran border, that is the scene of a conflict between U.S forces and the PLR. The player will take on the role of Staff Sergeant Henry ‘Black’ Blackburn of USMC as well as that of Corporal Jonathan “Jono” Miller, a tank operator. The game has been developed on a newly developed Frostbite 2 engine that will provide the game with enhanced graphics, sound and will render gunfire, explosions etc. in startling reality.

10. Deus Ex: Human Revolution

Publisher: Square Enix

Price: $60 (Pre Order)

Published by Square Enix, Deus Ex: Human Revolution is said to be the prequel to the very first Deus Ex game title, as the game takes the players on a journey into the events that led to the first game of the Deus Ex franchise. The game revolves around the principal character of Deus Ex, Adam Jensen who is depicted as a private security office working for Sarif Industries and has to undergo human augmentation, after being critically injured in an attack. Deus Ex: Human Revolution will be officially launched on August 23^rd, 2011 across the U.S and will bring to the players a series of skill sets including Combat, Stealth, Hacking etc. thereby enabling the users to create fine balance between all three to achieve their objects. The players will be able to customize their weapons, while using custom ammo, along with regenerative health abilities.

Though the world is mostly bedazzled by luxury sedans, sports cars and limousines and now with the emergence of eco-green vehicles, there has been a new trend of plug in vehicles and hybrid cars, yet there is something about bikes that just allures nearly all of us. The cool breeze flowing all around you as you whisk by the countryside on a Ducati or a Yamaha, is a feeling that cannot be replicated with even the best supercars out there. In the last few decades, motorcycles have witnessed a great evolutionary curve and in the 21^st century, superbikes are the way to go. With intense power under your seat and drop dead gorgeous looks that turn heads no matter where you go, superbikes have now become the epitome that define free-spirited individuals.

Hence, it is our pleasure here at Cool Top 10 to bring to our readers the Ten Best Superbikes that have been designed and developed to push the boundaries of technology and give the riders a new adrenaline filled experience, every time they open up the throttle.

1.   Dodge Tomahawk:

Designed and developed by the famous Chrysler Group, the immensely powerful Dodge Tomahawk is one of the most exceptional super bikes in existence, with rather unusual design parameters. Powered by a monstrous Viper V-10 engine, the Tomahawk is capable of producing 500-horsepower that enables this one of a kind superbike to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just 25 seconds, while attaining a top speed of a mind numbing 400 miles per hour. Chrysler has the Dodge Tomahawk a Manual, foot-shifted two-speed transmission and this incredible motorcycle comes with Dunlop custom-made symmetrical tires as well as a centrally mounted engine and rear-wheel drive.

Price: $555,000

2.   2010 Ducati 1198:

From the Italian motorcycle behemoth, Ducati Motor Holding comes the stunning 2010 Ducati 1198 superbike that has been designed and developed to replace the company’s highly successful Ducati 1098 S. This magnificent superbike is also said to carry the lightest ever engine to be fitted in a Ducati superbike. Not only the 1198 is immensely powerful, but is also equally gorgeous as well. The 2010 Ducati 1198 is powered by a V-twin, 4 valve per cylinder Desmodromic, liquid-cooled engine displacing 1,198.4 cc at 180 bhp thereby enabling this phenomenal superbike to sprint from 0–60 mph time is less than 2.5 seconds with a top speed of 186 mph. The 1198 features a 6 speed, dry multi-plate clutch transmission along with a Digital MotoGP style unit consisting of a speedometer, rev counter, clock, scheduled maintenance warning, oil temperature, fuel reserve, trip fuel among other useful performance indicators.

Price: $16,495 (Starting Price)

3.   MV Augusta F4 1000:

Improving upon the highly popular Augusta F4 series, another Italian motorcycle giant, MV Agusta came out with the sizzling MV Auguta F4 1000, a model that sports significant performance as well as aesthetic changes. The F4 1000 is powered by an In-line four, four-stroke engine that is capable of producing 183 bhp that enables this magnificent superbike to reach a maximum speed of 301.7 km/h (187.5 mph). the Augusta F4 1000 comes with a 6-speed gearbox and is fitted with a Euro 3 exhaust system. Accentuating the beauty of this marvelous superbike is the titanium finish that has been abundantly applied on the silencers as well as the fairing air vents of the bike. Furthermore, MV Augusta has given the bike Marzocchi front upside down fork and Sachs rear suspension for enhanced stability.

Price: $23,000

4.   Aprilia RSV 1000 R Factory:

From one of the foremost superbikes manufacturers, Aprilia, comes yet another marvelous sports bike in the form of the Aprilia RSV 1000 R Factory that has been designed and developed as an upgrade to the company’ original Aprilia RSV 1000 R. the RSV 1000 R Factory is powered by a V60 v-twin Magnesium engine that gives an output of 138.72 hp, providing the R Factory with a top speed of 270 km/h (168 mph). This phenomenal superbike is driven by a 6-speed, chain drive transmission system, while Aprilia has provided the bike with 43 mm upside-down Ohlins Racing fork suspension system for more stability. The entire bike has been designed around the concept of ‘low weight’ thus carrying several components such as mudguards are made from woven carbon composite material. Furthermore, the stunning Aprilia RSV 1000 R Factory also features carbon fiber windscreen deflectors, as well as forged aluminum front & rear wheels.

Price: $18,000

5.   2007 Honda CBR1100XX Blackbird:

Being one of the most cherished and extremely famous of all superbikes, the 2007 Honda CBR1100XX Blackbird was initially brought to the markets in the year 1996 and Honda continued its production till the year 2007. The Blackbird was designed and developed as a viable competitor to Kawasaki Ninja ZX-11 and the superbike derives its name from the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird, the world renowned long range reconnaissance aircraft. The Blackbird is powered by a DOHC single cylinder four stroke liquid cooled engine producing an astounding 150 bhp that enables the Blackbird to achieve a top speed  in excess of 130 mph The 2007 Blackbird has been given an electronic fuel injection system along with a chain transmission. The 2007 Honda CBR1100XX Blackbird also sports dual front disc brakes, as well as a single disc brake.

Price: Not Specified For U.S Markets

6.   2010 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-14:

Touted  as the ‘Ultimate Superbike’, the all-new 2010 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-14 is one of the most astounding and appealing among all superbikes currently in existence and brings to the riders a whole new world of high performance biking. The Ninja ZX-14 is powered by an inline-four DOHC liquid cooled four stroke engine that provides this amazing bike with 203 hp taking the ZX-14 to an astonishing 299 km/h. Along with the induction of a 6-speed, X-ring chain transmission, this marvelous superbike can sprint from 0–100 km/h in just 2.9 seconds. To ensure the expected performance figures from a Kawasaki bike, the company has given the super bike Ram-Air Induction technology that provides additional power to the engine. The 2010 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-14 features digital fuel injection and has been designed from a next-generation monocoque aluminum frame. On the dashboard of the ZX-14 sits a multi-function LCD digital display that is composed of an odometer  two trip meters, fuel gauge, gear position indicator as well as a clock.

Price: $14,000

7.  2011 Suzuki Hayabusa:

Designed and engineered to the perfection as far as performance and aerodynamics are concerned, the remarkable 2011 Suzuki Hayabusa is considered to be the most cherished and sought after superbike in the world. The Hayabusa is powered by an  in-line, DOHC liquid-cooled engine producing 1349cc of raw power with 197 hp. With such a thrilling specs, the Hayabusa is capable of attaining a top speed of 186 mph (299 km/h) and as per the recent tests, this phenomenal superbike can sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in just 2.6 seconds. The 2011 Suzuki Hayabusa carries a lightweight twin-spar aluminum frame along with a state of the art instrument panel that carries speedometer, tachometer, fuel gauge and water temperature among other critical indicators. The Hayabusa has been incorporated with Suzuki Dual Throttle Valve fuel injection system.

Price: $13,700

8.   2011 Yamaha YZF-R1:

Introduced as the world’s first bike to have been given a crossplane crankshaft, the stunning 2011 Yamaha YZF-R1 has been designed and developed to push the boundaries of technology as well as performance. The 2011 YZF-R1 is powered by an in-line DOHC, 4-valve engine producing 182 bhp that is more than sufficient enough to take the YZF-R1 to a maximum speed of 165 mph (266 km/h). This magnificent superbike carries a 6-speed w/multi-plate slipper clutch transmission as well as a direct fuel injection system. The YZF-R1 features a composite frame that has been developed to make the superbike aerodynamically sound, while the fuel tank of the bike has been designed using cutting 3D simulation analysis technology.

Price: $13,790

9.  MTT Turbine Superbike (Y2K Superbike):

The king of all superbikes in respect to performance figures has to be the sensational MTT Turbine Superbike, also known as the Y2K Superbike. Designed and developed by Marine Turbine Technologies Inc. (MTT) and is hailed as the most powerful production bike in the world and the first turbine-powered street legal motorcycle. This one of a kind superbike is powered by a Rolls-Royce-Allison Model 250 turboshaft engine producing an astounding 320 bhp that enables this incredible superbike to reach a top speed of 227 mph (370 km/h). The Y2K Superbike comes with an assortment of electronic additions, such as the likes of carbon fiber fairings, a rear mounted camera with LCD color display, forward- and rear-looking radar detector with laser scrambler, one touch “Smart Start” ignition etc.

Price: $175,000

10. BMW K 1200 S:

Designed and developed by BMW Motorrad, the stunning BMW K 1200 S is the company’s answer to some of the high performance super bikes currently in existence. This magnificent bike carries a striking sports design with equally matching performance statistics. Powered by a 4-cylinder 16V engine, the K 1200 S is capable of 167bhp, while attaining a sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in 2.8 seconds. This remarkable superbike features a low center of gravity that provides the riders with enhanced control even at high speeds.

Price: $14,020 (Base Model)

The year 2011 brought with it a recovering global economy as well as a renewed spending trend of the 21^st century consumers, that is now more heavily focused on technology products, to make their lives much easier. In the last century or so, the field of science and technology has witnessed an exponential evolutionary curve, that till date is unmatched and unrivaled by any other vertical. Technology, as far as communication is concerned has come a long way from the conventional landline phones invented by Graham Bell and with the onset of the 21^st century, the entire global communication platform is now ruled by the Internet and an intricate network of satellites, that have brought the 6 billion people of this planet, all the more close to each other.

The Consumer Electronics Show  (CES 2011), that is widely regarded as one of the biggest platforms for the introduction and launch of new products and technologies, showed the world the rapidly growing trend of Tablet. A tablet is essentially a cross breed between the functions of a PC and a communication platform, providing the user with the benefits of both enrolled in one compact, neat package. As the entire event was dominated by tablets from a wide range of technology companies, here at Cool Top 10, our team of tech crazy researchers sifted through a long list of some of the best tablet devices slated for a launch in 2011 and created an elite list of the Top 10 most worthy tablet devices, that you should be most looking forward to.

• Asus Eee Pad Slider: Showcased at the CES 2011, the all new Asus Eee Pad Slider was introduced as part of a line-up of incredibly gorgeous and feature packed tablets from the leading hardware manufacturer, Asus. The Asus Eee Pad Slider besides its features, is one tablet that will make you feel like showing off to just about every tech enthusiast you know. The Eee Pad Slider comes with a 10.1 inch IPS touch screen, while sporting a magnificent slide out keyboard that gives this splendid a notebook like aura. Powered by a NVIDIA Tegra 2 dual-core processor and running Google Android 3.0 Honeycomb operating system, Eee Pad Slider offers its owners a 5 MP rear camera and a 1.3 MP camera for video calling. Asus has provided this incredible tablet with two storage options, 16 GB and a 32 GB model carrying the same configuration along with a variety of other features such as Bluetooth, wifi, HDMI output, extra USB ports, a card reader, and extended battery life. Asus Eee Pas Slider will be available with a price tag that hovers between $399 to $699.

• Motorola Xoom: Considered as one of the foremost competitors to the incredibly famous Apple iPad, the all new Motorola Xoom is an incredibly stunning tablet device, that would not only look great in your hands, but also offer you a range of features to make your digital existence all the more exciting. Packed with 4G ready connectivity option, the Xoom is said to be one of the very few tablets to have captured the attention of consumers on such a grand scale. Featuring a 10.1 inch high definition screen and Google Android 3.0 OS, the Xoom will offer the users incredible mobile broadband speeds, thanks to Verizon 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) network. Packed with a 5 MP rear camera and a front camera for video calling, you can enjoy HD video recording and stunning image captures with the rear camera. The Xoom is powered by a 1GHz Dual Core processor and carries 1GB RAM , along with up to 32 GB of on board memory, that can be further increased with the microSD card. Motorola has also provided Xoom with full Flash support and a range of connectivity options including Bluetooth and wifi. Motorola Xoom is available for purchase via Verizon on a two year contract basis for $599 and as a standalone tablet for $799.

• Dell Streak 7: One of the leading and most popular hardware manufacturers, Dell Inc. also couldn’t resist the tablet charm and the highly lucrative market it represents. Hence, Dell took its time, but at the CES 2011, announced the all new Dell Streak 7. Another 4G capable tablet, Dell Streak 7 comes with a 7 inch capacitive multitouch display, along with full Adobe Flash support. Powered by a NVIDIA Tegra 2 mobile processor, Dell Streak 7 is as elegant as it’s loaded with features. Dell has given this incredible new tablet device Google Android 2.2 Froyo, that can later be upgraded via over-the-air feature. Following the trend set by other tablets, Streak 7 offers  a 5MP rear camera, as well as a 1.3 MP front camera and comes with 16GB of internal storage, that can be further upgraded to 32GB via memory cards. With Bluetooth and wifi connectivity options, the all new Dell Streak 7 will cost you about $199 from T-Mobile, while if you prefer to go for the retail option, then you would have to shed about $450.

• LG Honeycomb: In the year 2011, you can most definitely be on the lookout for an all new tablet from one of the biggest consumer electronic products company, LG Electronics. Spoken about at the CES 2011, this all new tablet, that till now has been referred to as LG Honeycomb, will be running the tablet only Google Android 3.0 OS  and will come in 8.9 inch and 10 inch display variants. What has now come to be known as LG G-Slate, will per numerous reports be providing the users with 3D recording capability and the display itself has been designed to support 3D viewing without the requirement of 3D glasses. Powered by a dual core processor, the all new LG G-Slate will also come with USB ports and HDMI output, for direct HDTV integration.

• Notion Ink Adam Tablet: Now, this is a tablet that can truly give Apple iPad a run for its money, as Notion Ink, one of the foremost names in computing products has designed the all new Adam tablet with careful precision and provided this unique tablet with features that iPad lacks. The all new Notion Ink Adam Tablet will provide the users with a stunning 1080p HD video playback and this incredible tablet comes with 10.1 inch pixel matte touchscreen, that has been blended with cutting edge Pixel QI technology. This marvelous technology provides the users with a remarkable viewing experience by running videos at an astounding 60fps. Powered by a Nvidia tegra 2 processor, the Adam tablet will come packed with built-in WiFi, 3G and Bluetooth, along with HDMI support and a 3.2MP camera. Also this marvelous tablet will have 1GB RAM as well as micorSD card support. Featuring wifi, Bluetooth, GPS and a digital compass, Notion Ink Adams Tablet is surely to be quite an intimidating tablet device for other brands.

• Evolve III Maestro: Besides the most common features provided by numerous current generation tablets, multi-OS booting is a factor, that nearly none of the tablets have focused on and which is also one of the most in-demand feature from consumers. This is where the all new Evolve III Maestro stands apart from the rest of the crowd. This incredible new tablet will come with three boot options, including Windows 7, Google Android and MeeGo Linux, while featuring a 10.1 inch display and an Intel Atom N475 CPU. Evolve III has also provided the new Maestro tablet with 2GB DDR RAM, and a 32GB solid state drive, along with wifi and 3G connectivity options. The company is well on its way of introducing another variant of the Maestro, that will have similar feature, but will be running on a dual core Oak Trail processors, providing enhanced power and performance. The all new Evolve III Maestro will carry a price tag of $500 and an additional $100, if you wish to opt for the Oak Trail processor variant.

• Viewsonic ViewPad 10:  Say hello to yet another highly advanced tablet device, designed and developed for the techcentric consumers of the digital age. The all new Viewsonic ViewPad 10 is dual boot tablet, that runs both Microsoft Windows 7 and Google Android, providing the users with limitless option and a great ease of use. Powered by an 1.66GHz Intel Pine Trail N455 processors, the ViewPad 10 comes with 1GB DDR3 RAM  and a 16GB SATA hard drive. Even though Viewsonic has provided this tablet with a1.3 MP front camera, for reasons known only to the company engineers, this otherwise near perfect tablet has been devoid of a rear camera. Strange! but a sad reality indeed.  Coming back to the specifications, ViewPad 10 offers wifi and Bluetooth connectivity, along with a 3.5 mm headphone jack, 2 USB 2.0 ports and a microSD slot. Viewsonic ViewPad 10 comes with a price tag of about $629.

• Acer Iconia Tab A500: One of the foremost names in computer hardware, Acer, taking the opportunity provided by the Mobile World Congress (MWC 2011) in Barcelona, Spain, unveiled its all new tablet device, that is stated to be a stark competitor to both Motorola Xoom and Samsung Galaxy Tab. The all new Acer Iconia Tab A500 is powered by a NVIDIA’s Tegra 2 processor and offers an incredible 1080p HD video playback, quite on the lines of the Notion Ink Adam Tablet, while running on Google Android 3.0 ‘Honeycomb’. Featuring a 5MP rear camera and a front camera for web cam purposes, the Iconia Tab A500 also comes with HDMI, WiFi, 3G and Bluetooth. The Iconia Tab A500 will provide its owners with crystal clear graphics, courtesy NVIDIA GeForce GPU on a 10.1 inch touch screen display, that will also have full Flash 10.1 support.

• Panasonic Viera: One of the biggest names in consumer electronics, Panasonic, unveiled its own tablet device at the CES 2011, thereby officially stepping into this incredibly competitive and highly lucrative market. The all new Panasonic Viera will be available in three different versions i.e in a 4 inch, 7 inch and 10 inch variant, while all these models will retain the default configuration. Unlike other tablets, that are virtual replicas of a PC, Panasonic Viera on the other hand has been introduced to the world as an add on to televisions, where in the users will be able to user their Viera tablets in conjunction with their TVs via an all new dedicated service called, Viera Connect. This incredible feature will allow the users to use Viera Connect as an IPTV platform, where in they can enjoy online video-on-demand and interactive services. Furthermore, Panasonic Viera can also be used as a visual remote control for TVs and the users can even change channels via their tablet device.

• HP Slate: After much speculations and a lot of rumors, at the CES 2011, Hewlett Packard (HP) finally unveiled its ever elusive tablet, the HP Slate. Designed specifically for business purposes, the all new HP Slate 500 tablet comes with an impressive 8.9 inch WSVGA touchscreen and is powered by an 1.86 Ghz Intel Atom Processor. HP Slate 500 is one of those very tablets, that haven’t been bitten by the Google Android bug, as this rather professional looking tablet runs on Microsoft Windows 7 Professional 32 bit OS, that is equally supported by 2GB DDR 2 RAM and a 64 GB SSD (Solid State Drive). One of the notable features of the Slate 500 is the availability of a USB 2.0 CD/DVD R/RW, that will be provided with select models only. HP has provided this conventional though impressive tablet with a 3MP rear camera and a VGA webcam for video calling. Along with wifi, Bluetooth and a HP Slate Digital Pen, the all new HP Slate 500 will come with a price tag of a whopping $800.

Note:  The year 2011 is by default again going to be dominated by Apple Inc. as the world’s foremost technology firm, is all set to come out with the all new Apple iPad 2, the successor to the world’s most famous tablet device, Apple iPad. However, due to the high secrecy around the confirmed specifications of the device, we chose not to add it into the Top Ten list, as here at Cool Top 10, we believed in reporting of facts and not speculations.

Before the end of the year 2009, the entire world plunged into what was being termed as one of the most devastating economic recessions since the historic Great Depression of the year 1929. This economic collapse led to a massive string of personal property foreclosures, leading to hundreds and thousands of people losing their homes as well as jobs. However, as the year 2010 began to set in, nations all across the globe began their consolidated efforts to bring the global economy out of the downturn and into a renewed progression.

The year 2010, though was relatively a but slower than the previous years, yet there have been verticals in the global media industry, where this year witnessed growths, profits and new levels of launches. These new initiative were aimed at the resurrection of the industry with renewed vigor and vitality while exploring new and experimental platforms for the growth of all sectors of media, including paper, television and the Internet. These new endeavors came with ventures, expansions of online media entities and portrayed the current generation media’s willingness to take risk and venture into the unknown of a post recession economy, that though might not exactly be booming, yet is recovery rapidly. Here the top ten media events that had made headlines this year and are sure to make their mark via their impact next year.

• Huffington Post’s New ‘Divorce’ Section: One of the most popular and highly respected news outlets, the Huffington Post, in expansion efforts, launched an all new section for its online portal called, Huff Post Divorce. This unique section has been designed to provide a common platform for readers dealing with failed marriages and will also offer them financial advise and legal expertise on divorce cases, with news about celebrity divorces. This highly creative initiative has been undertaken by Huffington Post senior editor, Willow Bay and is also being driven ahead by the acclaimed writer, Nora Ephron, Ms. Bay has had long experience in the media industry as she has worked as an on-air contributor for Lifetime, NBC News, “Good Morning America,” and MSNBC.

• New York Mag Launches ‘Vulture’ Blog:  One of the most renowned and widely read magazines in the U.S, related to life, culture, politics, and style of New York City, New York Magazine finally made its entertainment section, ‘Vulture’ independent with the launch of an all new stand alone blog. The new blog titled, ‘New York’ will be covering pretty much the same topics as it used to when it was tethered by NYMag, yet the blog is also slated to showcase content different from its parent magazine and the blog will be continuously updated by New York magazine’s television, movie and theater critics, along with a plethora of viral online videos. . The creation of the Vulture blog is itself a big accomplishment for the magazine and entailed the purchase of the ‘Vulture.com’ domain and then led to the acquisition of Vulture trademark from an advertising agency.

• Capital New York:  From the  former New York Observer editors Tom McGeveran and Josh Benson comes an all new serious journalism website called, Capital New York, that has been designed to provide the online users and information seekers with a more in depth coverage on an assortment of topics, thereby creating a different approach than the other conventional blogs. Though Capital New York is relatively less funded than many other established media start ups, yet one of the most unique element of this new initiative is the amount of money they are offering to freelance writers, that has been said to be between $100 to $300 per article. As of now, this new approach to journalism is composed of a staff of five editors, inclusive of Mr. McGeveran and Mr. Benson.

• NYT Redesigns DealB%k & Adds New Staff: The financial new service of the incredibly popular and prestigious New York Times, DealBook, was recently given a major facelift, logo wise and was also packed with 12 new staffers. This financial blog by Andrew Ross Sorkin has now been given a ‘%’ sign in the Book part of the logo, thereby changing its entire face to ‘DealB%k’, while retaining its goal of providing up to date information in regards to the financial world including merger, acquisitions, venture capital and hedge funds. This new look to DealB%k seems to have been done by The Times to ensure the site’s friendliness with tablet devices.

• Conde Nast’s ‘Gourmet Live’ App For Apple iPad: One of the principal publishing entities in the U.S, Conde Nast, has recently resurrected its long retired cuisine vertical, Gourmet, in the form of an all new Apple iPad application called, Gourmet Live. Nast had previously shut down this vertical, due to its inability to bring in the desired revenue and thereby becoming a liability. However, with the tablet technology explosion, Conde Nast is now targeting the online community with this cuisine vertical. Gourmet Live will be composed mainly of content archived in the original Gourmet brand, but will also provide users with recipes, videos, stories and also an interactive map of the restaurant that, Gourmet Live will be reviewing.

• Techmeme Launches ‘Mediagazer’: One of the foremost and pioneering tech news aggregators, Techmeme, in the month of March this year, announced the launch of a new vertical called, Mediagazer. This service has been designed to pick and display the best of the media related news around the web and considering the success of Techmeme’s algorithms, Mediagazer was instantly accepted a host of respectable blogs and online services as an instrumental addition to the world of media and a major media news aggregator. Furthermore, unlike Techmeme, that is nearly 100% automated, Mediagazer has been given the human edge, with Megan McCarthy acting in the position of the first human editor for Techmeme.

• Launch of Splitsider & The Hairpin: In the month of September this year, two veteran media masters, Alex Balk and Choire Sicha, who had previously been associated with Gawker media and the latter, who was also a former editor and columnist for the Observer, announced the launch of an all new blog called, Spiltsider, followed by a similar launch in the month of October of The Hairpin, two blogs designed to work in coherence with their flagship site, The Awl. Splitsider turned out to be a platform dedicated to news and events in the world of comedy, along with some of the funniest content available on the web. The Hairpin on the other hand, is a completely women oriented website run by Edith Zimmerman and Liz Colville and serves as a general interest blog for women.

• A Revamped Wall Street Journal: One of the most respectable and revered financial journals of our time, the Wall Street Journal, in the month of September this year, decided to give its print edition makeover. This interesting beautification of the Journal is being seen as the publication’s direct attempt to catch the attention of the modern woman, with goldenrod yellow, magenta, red-white and blue color induction into the front page of the newspaper. This weekend edition is quite at different from the weekday editions and is a commendable step in progression from the media mogul Rupert Murdoch.

• Yahoo! Inc. Acquires New Blogs: One of the oldest Internet entities, Yahoo Inc., that has been lately facing a crisis time with decreased user account and a mass exodus of the upper echelon on the company, last month announced its plans of expansion in terms of blogs and news reporting. Yahoo! added blogs like The Ticket, The Lookout, and The Cutline who are under the direct supervision of the news blog, The Upshot.

• ‘The Daily’ – iPad App From Rupert Murdoch: With the launch of the immensely famed tablet device, Apple iPad, there came in a revolution of epic proportions, highlighting the rise of digital media and providing a unique glimpse into the eventual death of the print media. Media behemoth, Rupert Murdoch took this outlook and turned it into a brand new vertical, The Daily, a newspaper edition designed specifically for the iPad. Though The Daily is expected to be launched in the year 2011, Mr. Murdoch is extensively busy in picking the best of reporters from all across New York and other regions, while appointing Jesse Angelo to take command of this highly ambitious project.

Black Friday, a terms that to the unreferenced, might seem to be the figure of speed of doomsday, is in fact, one of the most joyous of times in the U.S. This even begins right after Thanksgiving and continues on till the day of Christmas and is mostly associated with relentless shopping, where in vendors and companies come out with jaw dropping discounts and enticing limited time offers, Black Friday has for some time been an event, that has been revered and cherished by virtually every segment of the society i.e, from the insanely rich to the middle class families, where people go to shops, malls and stores to get their hands on some of the most scintillating commodities at bottom dollars.

This year however, the hospitality industry is also playing a key role in the Black Friday event, as some of the biggest and most popular hotels are now offering extremely affordable packages for the out of town shoppers and for those, who wish to bathe in the shower of luxury, without having to empty their accounts. These fabulous offers are inclusive of gifts, vouchers and near unbelievable stay packages, to makes the holiday shopping season, all the more exciting. Hence, we decided to inform our eager users of some of the most exciting Black Friday packages being offered by various hotels across the United States.

• Back Bay Hotel:  One of the premier hotels in Boston, the Back Bay Hotel celebrating the shopping season in its own unique way by offering overnight accommodations in one its best rooms, with the package starting at just $295 a night. Among other exquisite amenities, the Back Bay Hotel will also present its guests with to and fro transportation to Wrentham Village Premium Outlets and the guests will also be given a Wrentham Village Premium Outlet VIP Coupon Book, that includes coupon worth hundred of dollars on a discounted price. The guests visiting these outlets will also carry lunch packs, courtesy of the hotel to keep their stomachs filled, while they shop.

• Hotel Providence: Located in the serene location of Providence, Rhode Island, Hotel Providence has begun its Black Friday promotional campaign with the offerings of a Black Friday Girls Escape package, valid from November 18th to 19th, 2010.. Under this particular initiative, the guests will be offered a one night stay at the hotel with a host of amenities, that also include quite insightful tips and details for the down town shopping region. These tips have been designed to provide the guests with a unique and hassle free shopping experience at the Providence Place Mall stores. Hotel Providence will also be handing out energy drinks, snacks, and to-go coffee cups for the early shoppers. Besides the outdoor activities, the guests will also enjoy pedicures and hotel’s very own Personal Shopping Butler to carry their shopping bags in and out of the hotel and all this at an unbelievable price of $129 per night.

• Holiday Inn Elmira Riverview: One of the most respectable hospitality establishments in New York, Holiday Inn Elmira Riverview has come out with an all new Black Friday Survival package, where in the guests will be pampered with luxury along with other essential assistance for your Black Friday shopping spree. As per the package, the hotel is providing an overnight accommodation for one guest along with a wake up call, so as to give you an early start. With a price tag of just $229.95 (25th & 26th Nov.) and $129.95 for 26th Nov., the guests will be served with a $5.00 Gift Certificate to The Christmas House, along with a host of services from the hotel including, breakfast-on-the-go bag and an all day energy pack. Apart from these thoughtful services, the Holiday Inn Elmira Riverview will also arm you with various accessories such as two rolls of wrapping paper, a bag of bows, tape and scissors, to help you in wrapping your presents before you proceed to home.

• Kensington Court: An iconic hotel in the Midwestern U.S, specifically in Ann Harbor, Arizona, the Kensington Court has focused all its attention on the Black Friday event, due to sheer proximity with Ann Harbor’s largest shopping center, Briarwood Mall. Kensington Hotel is offering its guest custom tailored Black Friday packages beginning from $155 a night and the packages will include local shopping guides, along with a $25 Visa gift card and a $35 voucher for Graham’s restaurant, which is said to be one of the main attractions at Kensington Court.

• The Hyatt Place: Another Midwestern landmark in the field of hospitality, the Hyatt Place located in Chicago is all set to bring the joy of the festive season with its own brand of Black Friday packages, designed to pamper the guests with utmost luxury. The Hyatt Place is offering its guests with a copy of the Chicago Tribune Thanksgiving newspaper, along with hotel provided transportation to some of the most popular shopping destinations in the region including, Target, Best Buy, Oakbrook Centre and Yorktown Mall. The package is also constituted of a complimentary continental breakfast and a shoppers survivor kit, that would contain bottled water, an energy bar and whole fruit.

• The Caribe Royale: With the Black Friday shopping season just days away, the Caribe Royale, a prestigious hotel property in Orlando, Florida, has come out with an all new Thanksgiving Shop & Dine Suite Package, where in the guests will be provided a one bedroom suite with a breakfast buffet for two at the Tropicale restaurant. Along with this luxurious offer, the Caribe Royale will also be handing out one Orlando Premium Outlets giftcard worth $25 for each night of stay, along with a VIP Discount Coupon Book for Orlando Premium Outlets – Vineland Avenue for Midnight Madness. The guests will give the opportunity of enjoying the hotels sumptuous Thanksgiving Buffet with a $10 discount for adults and $5 discount for children, along with the convenience of checking out a little late till, 2 pm. The packages at the Caribe Royale begin at $117 for a one-bedroom suite and the guests will be provided with complimentary shuttle service to the Orlando Premium Outlets from 11.30 pm on 25th Nov. 2010 till 26th Nov. 2010, 11 pm.

• Milliken Creek Inn & Spa: Located in the gorgeous and breathtaking Napa region in California, the Milliken Creek Inn & Spa has now announced its own package deals to celebrate Black Friday, in the form of Black Friday/Cyber Monday Serenity Special, keeping in mind that, all the reservations at the venue have already been made, hence extending the program to November 26th, 2010, which is also called, Cyber Monday. As per the package, the guests will be treated to a relaxing and soulful assortment massage therapies including a complimentary 75-minute Aromatherapy Massage worth $160 on November 29th.  All interested users should contact Milliken Creek Inn & Spa at the earliest, as this exclusive Black Friday package is available only on November 26 and November 29, 2010.

• Aloft Hotel:  One of the most famous of all hotels in Midwest, Aloft Hotels located in Illinois is known for its  impeccable customer service and excellent hospitality. Hence, on the occasion of Black Friday, the hotel management has come out with an all new package, where in the guests will be able to enjoy their stay at the hotel for just $169 a night, where in Aloft Hotel will give the customers a $100 gift card to The Promenade Shopping Center, that is home to some of the biggest names in fashion and luxury such as Bass Pro Shops, Coach, Forever 21 and Macy’s. Also, the guests will get a complimentary hot or cold caffeinated drink from Re:Fuel.

• Hyatt Bonaventure:  Situated in the scenic beauty of Orlando, Florida, the Hyatt Bonaventure has covered the Black Friday shopping season into its Season Of Sawgrass Savings program, that the hotel is set to run from November 21st till December 22nd, 2010. The entire package comes with a nominal price tag of $109 and will also includes a $20 Simon Mall Gift Card, along with a complimentary coupon book. Furthermore, Hyatt Bonaventure will also be offering its guests, transportation to and from Sawgrass Mills Mall.

• Hotel Valencia Santana: A perfect blend of luxury and aesthetics, the Hotel Valencia Santana located in San Jose, California is all set to celebrate the Black Friday shopping season in own way by offering its guests with accommodations for two and a deluxe continental breakfast at the Citrus restaurant. This luxury packed program begins at just $169 per room each night.

For decades, scientists, authors and numerous intellectuals have envisioned an era of humanity, where the human efforts to improve its existence and the society itself is aided by none other than, machines themselves. To be more precise, there has always been dreams of the creation of a Utopian Society, where in the humans work along with the help of robots to make the world an even better place to live for our future generations. Though, such living conditions have always been the work of fiction, yet some parts of it, such as the mechanical robots doing our daily chores and actively participating in our day to day life could very well be turned into a reality in the near future.

As the threshold of technological advancements continue to be redefined, along with cutting edge breakthroughs in the field of robotics, these machines, which at times, can even be self aware have already begun to contribute in various fields, where they play a significant role in achieving complex and precise tasks, that many a times could prove to be dangerous or even fatal for the homo sapiens. For some time now, law enforcement agencies along with military of numerous nations have been using robots for detection of explosives, surveillance and intelligence gathering. In a similar life saving fashion, robots have made their mark especially in the field of medicine and healthcare, where these machines have prove invaluable. Due to the precise and virtually zero error nature of these robots, doctors and medical professionals are now able to perform extremely critical surgeries and procedures, thereby saving thousands of lives. Realizing the importance of robotics in our lives and their continuing evolution, we have now compiled a list of Top Ten events and developments in the field of robotics.

• eBay Now Selling ‘Omni Hand’ Robotic Arm Prototype From NASA:  One of the biggest and foremost space agencies in the world, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has been known to have made numerous breakthroughs in the field of space research and even robotics. One such innovation, a robotic arm called, Omni Hand, has now made its way to eBay, with a price tag of an astounding $25,000. The incredible was developed by Mark Rosheim in the 1990s, with funding provided by NASA and so far only two of these robotic arms have been made, where in the first as a prototype and the second was a completely fabricated working model. The entire package, that is available on sale at eBay includes Omni-Hand with base and space glove, power box, motion controller, extra power box, motion controller, hand control software for PC and an original copy of the Robot Evolution.

• Life Saving Robotic Heart Saves 15 year Old Boy’s Life:  A 15 year old boy in Italy, suffering from terminal cardiac condition has now been given a hope of a new life, as heart surgeons at the Bambino Gesu Children’s Hospital in Rome, implanted an artificial robotic heart into the boy’s chest, replacing the defective organ. The boy was diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy and due the condition, it was nearly impossible to wait for an actual heart transplant. The entire breakthrough surgery took about ten hours and the doctors are currently monitoring the patient closely for any infections or other complications. The artificial heart weighs about 400 grams, is 1.6 inches wide and the medical team has stated that, it has taken all precautions to avoid the risk of infections.

• Japanese Researchers Experiment With Car Driven By A Rat’s Brain: One of the countries, who can actually be termed as the ‘pioneer’ of robotics, Japan, has now taken the entire concept to new levels as researchers from University of Tokyo are currently experimenting on an all new robot called, RatCar. Believe it or not, the experiment entails the working of the robot car through the brain patterns of a living mouse. Under the leadership of Osamu Fukayama, the team has been looking to the feasibility of functioning a small vehicle with power of the brain, in this case, the brain being that of a rat. For the experiment, the rat is first implanted with neural electrodes and then is suspended from a small lightweight neuro-robotic platform. The idea behind this extremely bizarre experiment is to find ways that could help patients with locked-in syndrome or other conditions to control a vehicle through their brains and hence enhancing their means of mobility.

• Panasonic Introduces The All New Electric Care Assistance Bed with Integrated Wheelchair and Hair-Washing Robot: One of the largest manufacturers of consumer electronic products, Panasonic, has come up with an interesting product called, Electric Care Assistance Bed with Integrated Wheelchair and Hair-Washing Robot, that has been designed and developed to create a more comfortable living conditions for the elderly and the disabled. This all new robot comes with 16 fingers and is based on Panasonic’s robot hand technology, that enables this techno wiz to wash hairs and rinse the bubbles, just like a human hand would do. The robot is able to scan and measure the head in front of it in 3D and this incredible machine can also remember the head shape, thereby, making it easier for the occupants to get their hair wash and massages done without having to adjust the robot every time. The all new Electric Care Assistance Bed with Integrated Wheelchair and Hair-Washing Robot will be showcased at the 37th International Home Care & Rehabilitation Exhibition (H.C.R.) 2010.

• Sakakibara-Kikai Come Up With The All New Mechanized Kid’s Walker: One of the biggest and foremost machinery and robotics manufacturers, Sakakibara-Kikai, has now come with an all new product called, Kid’s Walker, that essentially puts your child into a exo-frame, such that from the Matrix Revolutions and the child can pilot the frame himself. The Kid’s Walker is a scaled down version of the company’s previously launched ‘Land Walker’, which was designed for adults. This all new toy for kids doesn’t actually walk, but moves on a pair of wheel-supported feet and is powered by a gasoline engine. The Kid’s Walker is stated to be absolutely safe for the children and the company plans to introduce the product starting with Japan, carrying a price tag of $21,000.

• Presenting The All New Windoro, The Windows Washing Robot: At the Pohang Institute of Intelligent Robotics (PIRO) in South Korea, researchers have come up with an incredible new robotic machine, that has been designed to accomplish one of the most common tasks, window washing. The all new Windoro, is composed of neodymium magnets, that will stick to the opposite sides of a window and let the machine do its work. Furthermore, Windoro also comes with an assortment of features such as distance sensors, attitude adjustment, and obstacle detection and the robot can work on any window that has a maximum thickness of 25mm. This astounding robot is all set for commercial production in the year 2011 and will be launched with a price tag of a whopping $260,000.

• Introducing An All New Household Female Humanoid, AILA: The German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence after conducting vast amounts of research has now come up with an all new household robot, or more precisely, a humanoid called, AILA. This robot is said to be extremely flexible, enabling her to carry out lifting/carrying movements and move more freely than other robots, due to the six independently driven swiveling wheels. AILA has been embedded with Radio-frequency identification (RFID) sensors, that help her in identifying the objects within reach of her sensors, which she then maps against a library of objects in her database, making her a valuable addition to various locations such as workplace, restaurants, bars etc.

• Kikuchi Unveils An All New Life Saving Robot: Some of the most threatening scenarios for rescue workers include sites of chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear disasters and that is where an immense danger to life is presented, both to the victim as well as to the rescuer. However, a Japanese firm called, Kikuchi, has now unveiled an all new life saving robot, that has been designed and developed to ensure that, the life of the victim is saved, without having to endanger any human rescue worker. This incredible new machine can reach hazardous disaster areas, thanks to the highly durable and sturdy treads and can rescue a victim, by scooping him onto a conveyor belt. After the victim is in the safe custody of the robot, the rescuers can then remotely move the machine to a safer location to administer medical care. The robot can rotate 360 degrees within a 1.5m radius and it can even ascend slopes with up to 30 degrees of elevation. Kikuchi has now made the rescue robot available for sale, with a price tag of $110,000 and the buyers can even opt for additions features such as night vision cameras etc.

• Toshiba Introduces ‘Wheelie’. An Automated Butler Robot: One of the biggest manufacturers of electronic products, Toshiba, has now come out with a really interesting creation, in the form of a butler robot called, Wheelie. This robot was showcased at the Toshiba Science Museum earlier this year. Wheelie is a fully automated robot and has been designed specifically to cater to the household tasks. Toshiba has given Wheelie two wheels and the robot itself maintains its balance by applying the inverse pendulum method, while the company has also provided it with two retractable wheels, just to be on the safer side. Wheelie comes equipped with stereo vision and to help avoid obstacles, the robot has also been given a laser range finder in its chest.

• Manga-bot Can Make Coffee For You Giving You A Good Start For The Day: A most tedious task to accomplish for most of us is to get up from a nice slumber and then go to the kitchen to make coffee. However, Clockwork has now put an end to this dilemma with the introduction of an all new Manga-bot, that can make the coffee for you and that too, all on its own. There has been now update as to when this really cool robot could be up for sale, but if it does, then it would definitely be a nice addition to have in your kitchen.

3D or three dimensional technology has for quite some time had been seen as a futuristic and highly advanced in the evolution of personal entertainment, with numerous futurists predicting the rise of the 3D entertainment and dominating the world of technology. At the Consumer Electronics Show (CES 2010), that was held in the month of January this year, the event took the shape of a launch platform the 3D revolution, as numerous companies showcased theirs 3D products such as television, blu ray players etc., thereby announcing the coming of the 3D age.

The 3D phenomenon is not only limited to movie theaters and big budget blockbusters, but this technological evolution is now making its way into our homes, with televisions, satellite channels, computers etc. and in the near future, the entire face of the entertainment industry could easily be altered to a more state of the art form. Today’s cutting edge 3D technology is able to refine the pictures and sounds to such a larger extent, that the distinction between an electronically generated image and an actual one has become nearly impossible to specify.  Keeping in mind the immense significance of the 3D breakthrough, we decided to compile a list of some of the most interesting events in the 3D realm. Hence, here are our Top Ten picks of what’s happening in the 3D industry.

• Sky Launches All New 3D TV Channel In The U.K: One of the biggest satellite broadcasting networks in the U.K, Sky, has now announced the launch of an all new 3D TV channel, that will cater to the increasing demand of 3D television programming. The launch of this incredible new service will be marked by a 3D coverage of the coveted Ryder Cup, along with two 3D animated movies, Bolt & Monster vs Aliens. Furthermore, the company has also lined up a host of Hollywood blockbusters in 3D format including, Alice in Wonderland, Harry Potter & The Half Blood Prince and Ice Age – Dawn of the Dinosaurs. Though Virgin has already launched a 3D Movies On Demand service, which is a pay per view service, Sky’s own 3D TV will be providing the consumers with regular TV programming in 3D format, without the pay per view stipulation.

• LG Introduces The All New Full HD 3D Notebook, LG A510: The 3D technology has now been taken to a whole new level, as one of the biggest consumer electronics manufacturer, LG Electronics, has now announced the all new LG A510, a full HD 3D notebook, that will significantly enhance computer entertainment and the device is also capable of converting 2D into 3D content, via the use of TriDef software. The LG A510 notebook is powered by an Intel Core i7 processor and comes with an astounding NVIDIA GEFORCE GT 425M graphics card with 1GB of dedicated DDR3 video memory. The 3D notebook features a 15.6 inch Full HD 3D LED LCD display, along with a LED finger print reader, thus making the notebook ultra secure. Also, LG has incorporated a host of useful features and applications in the A510 and has planned to launch the product in the month of October this year in Asia, South America, the Middle East and Africa.

• 3D Blu-ray Disc Playback Now Comes To Sony PS3.  Taking an unexpected turn, the 3D phenomenon, that was till some time had been confined to the limitations of cinematic and home entertainment, has now made its way to the gaming arena as well, with the Sony PS3 getting the capability of 3D Blu-ray disc playback. Sony has now released this incredible new feature via the firmware update for the PlayStation 3 console and the users will he required to acquire a 3D enabled TV to run 3D Blu-ray discs via the PS3 consoles. The update version 3.50 will be downloaded over the air by the consoles the moment the console connects to the Internet and with this new firmware, the users will also be able to report any and all unwanted messages sent via the PlayStation Network.

• No-Glasses 3D TVs Coming Soon From Toshiba. One of the biggest electronics company in the world, Toshiba, is all set to announce the launch of two new 3D TVs, that will not require the users to wear the mandatory 3D glasses to enhance the viewing experience. The company will be launching these new 3D televisions in Japan this December and the products consist of two variants, a 12 inch 3D TV and a 20 inch 3D TV. The 20 inch variant has been given the state of the art Cell Broadband Engine, that enables the television to support several advanced image processing features. The same technology is used in the Sony PS3 console and can also be found in the all Nintendo 3DS handheld gaming device.

• NICT Develops The World’s First 62 Channel 3D Sound System: The National Institute of Information and Communications (NICT) in Japan has now unveiled an all new cutting edge 3D Sound System, that support an whopping 62 channels of sound. This incredible innovation unveiled at the CEATEC 2010, has been deigned to provide any moving sound that of a singer or an instrument in three dimensions. The process behind this one of a kind sound generation includes the device’s capability to create a 3D representation including sound source orientation and motion by sending acoustic signals through 62 independently driven channels in every direction.

• Panasonic Introduces An All New 3D Camera: At the CEATEC 2010, one of the largest manufacturers of consumer electronic products, Panasonic, has now come out with an all new 3D camera lens, taking the 3D technology to the realm of digital imaging and creating an all new threshold for other companies to rise up to. The all 3D lens, is devoid of any zoom and the lens also requires a huge amount of light source. To view the 3D images, the users will have to insert the SD card from the camera and insert it into a Panasonic 3D TV. the users will also be required to have a set of 3D glasses to view the images in the 3D format. The 3D lens from Panasonic is set for a launch in the U.S in the month of November this year, with a price tag of $300.

• Samsung Showcases World’s Largest Full HD LED 3D TV: The GITEK event, scheduled to be held from October 17th to 21st, 2010, will witness the unveiling of all new 3D television from Samsung, that has been touted as the world’s largest full HD 3D TV. The incredible Samsung C8000 makes use of the state of the art Samsung HyperReal Engine, thereby delivering cinema-style home theater experience in full high definition and 3D format. Furthermore, Samsung has given this awesome device the benefit of some of the company’s state of the art technological advances including the proprietary Samsung 3D processor, Precision Dimming Technology and motion clarity. The Samsung C8000 packs a huge 65 inch display screen and the television has also been incorporated with Samsung’s very own AllShare technology, thereby enabling the device to play and share multimedia content from PC or mobile devices directly onto the television itself. Also, the C8000 comes with an assortment of social networking widgets including, Yahoo!, Facebook, Twitter etc.

• ‘The Hobbit’ Series: Coming To A Cinema Near You In 3D: Soon after the incredible success as far as the 3D variants of some of the biggest Hollywood blockbusters, such as ‘Lord of The Rings’, ‘Avatar’ and ‘Clash of The Titans’, the movie world is now holding its breath for the release of ‘The Hobbit’ and ‘The Hobbit’ sequel in 3D. After months of negotiations, the entire series is finally set for 3D production under the watchful eyes of director, Peter Jackson. The Hobbit is scheduled for releases on Dec. 19th, 2012 , but the release of The Hobbit Sequel is yet unknown.

• Titanic’s 100th Anniversary Marks The Coming Of ‘The Titanic’ In 3D: The sinking of the Titanic in the year 1912, which is considered to be of the worst peacetime maritime disasters in history and spawned the Hollywood blockbuster ‘Titanic’ is set to receive an all new tribute on its 100th anniversary, in the form of a 3D variant of James Cameron’s epic movie, ‘Titanic’. The all new 3D Titanic has been scheduled for release in the year 2012 and the entire project is expected to cost $15 million.

• Toshiba Announces The All New A660 3D Notebook: With the 3D technology making its presence felt in the computing world, one of the biggest hardware manufactures, Toshiba, has now announced an all new 3D notebook called, Toshiba A660-X5310. This incredible notebook is powered by an Intel Core i5 processor and comes with 4GB DDR3 RAM. The notebook features a 15.6-inch LED backlit display and the graphics of the device are powered by an NVIDIA GeForce GTS 350M graphic card with 1GB DDR3 graphics memory. Furthermore, Toshiba has made it remarkably easy for users to connect their A660 3D notebook with their 3D enabled televisions, as the notebook has also been given the all new Nvidia 3D Vision kit with active shutter 3D glasses. The rest of the features are pretty much standard, as the notebook comes with wifi, Bluetooth, 5-in-1 Memory Card Reader and a 500 GB hard drive.

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In the last 50 years, the world has witnessed a massive revolution in terms of technology, so much so that, the theoretical futurists are now depicting nearly unbelievable technological breakthroughs in the times to comes. This incredible progress curve has been made possible due to the relentless efforts of numerous scientists, researchers etc. who have envisioned a more advanced and much more sophisticated way of living for the future generations.

During the height of the historic ‘Cold War’ between the United States of America and Russia (former Soviet Union), the two countries set their eyes on a place that, had been largely unknown and unexplored. Both the U.S and the Soviet Union initiated massively funded projects, with the sole aim of conquering the cold, dark depth of the other space. Though at that time, these initiatives were more of militaristic in nature, yet this relentless race to establish a hegemony over the outer space led to more civilized and cooperative venture, that has now poised the world at a point, where venturing into space is no longer a dream anymore. So much so, that this incredible human feat is now fast taking the shape of a commercial entity, which we call, Space Tourism. Some of the biggest names in the field of aerospace, such as Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Virgin etc. are working day and night to develop this slow growing trend, into a full blown commercial vertical.

Keeping in mind the incredible innovations and developments taking place in the field of Space Tourism, here is our pick of the ‘Top Ten’ developments, that have had a tremendous impact on this field.

• Starchasers to offer commercial space travel options:  One of the companies that stand out among the rising number of names in space tourism, Starchasers, is reportedly planning to conduct it’s maiden commercial orbital flight in the year 2015. The company owners Steve Bennet and the leading astronaut Matt Shrewbridge, have already acquired two guests for the flight, with each seat booked for a whopping $395,375. This incredible journey will take the passengers in to the earth’s orbit as they achieve escape velocity and give them a once in a lifetime of view of the entire planet from hundreds of miles in to the orbit.

• The world’s first ‘Commercial Space Station’: Two Russian aerospace companies, Orbital Technologies and RSC Energia, have now joined hands to design and develop the world’s first Commercial Space Station, that would especially cater to the needs of the space tourists. Apart from offering a hotel and other features, this incredible facility slated to be completed by 2016, will also be used as an orbital laboratory. The commercial space station will be able to house up to seven occupants and prices for the trip and the stay will be solely dependent upon the type of launch vehicles, as well as duration and purpose of missions. The commercial space station will fly in an orbit about 62 miles (100 km) from the International Space Station orbit and will have an operation life span of 15 years.

• Introducing the all new ‘Space Beer’: Get ready to feel that tingling zap of a refreshing beer on your next orbital vacation, as Astronauts4Hire, a non profit space research corporation is gearing up to conduct tests on the first of its kind, a space beer. This incredible new alcoholic beverage will has been developed by, Saber Astronautics Australia and the Australian 4 Pines Brewing Company and has been designed especially for microgravity environments, meaning zero gravity. The tests for the space beer will include tasting and recording of biometric data on body temperature, heart rate and blood alcohol content, in a heavily modified Boeing aircraft, operated by the Zero Gravity Corporation.

• Virgin Galactic to begin commercial space travel by 2012.  One of the foremost and highly successful entrepreneurs, Sir Richard Branson, who is also the owner of the Virgin empire has stated that, his company would begin its commercial space services in the next 18 months. Furthermore, these service will take off under the Virgin Galactic banner, the company will then be focusing on the space hotel concept as well. In the month of March this year, Virgin Galactic had recorded the successful maiden flight of the orbital craft, Spaceship Two. So far, the company has already accumulated $45 million from 330 people, who have pre-booked their seats the for the company’s orbital services.

• Boeing to ferry tourists to the ISS: One of the biggest names in the aerospace industry in the U.S, the Boeing Corporation, has now announced its intentions of jumping into the space tourism vertical. However, compared to the services offered by other companies, that take the passengers to the every edge of space and back, Boeing, on the other hand has plans to ferry tourists directly to the International Space Station (ISS). Boeing and the Bigelow airspace after having won a highly lucrative $18 million contract, are now working together to design and develop an all new space capsule, that can carry seven passengers and is expected to be ready for launch by the year 2015. This all new capsule will carry a flight crew of four NASA astronauts and three commercial passengers, while Boeing is hoping to get Cape Canaveral in Florida as the launch platform.

• The future of Space Travel & Tourism: If one gives heed to the futuristic outlook for space and travel & tourism through the eyes of the well renowned space architect, John Spencer, then you would find that, the future holds immense advances and achievements. The man behind the interiors of the International Space Station and the Aquarius Underwater Laboratory in Florida, now envisions the development of an all new conceptual project called, Mars World. This incredible simulated Martian landscape will mimic the designer’s vision a human colonized Mars in the year 2088. Mars World will be located in Las Vegas and is expected to attract as many as 6.5 million visitors in its first year. One finished, the Mars World will house dining and nightclubs and for out door recreational activities, this geo-dome will have Martian landscape like terrain, that can be explored by tourists including, rover races and tram tours.

• U.K Space Agency to develop a faster and cheaper spacecraft for space tourism: With the formation of the UKSA, the British space agency, Britain has now officially entered in to the space race and its first step is the proposed plans to design and develop a plane that can launch into space from a runway. The ‘Skylon’ when developed would be completely unmanned and the space plane will be devoid of any external fuel tanks or rockets. Skylon has been conjured up especially to give a boost to the space tourism industry and each flight will cost UKSA a whopping $9.96 million. This incredible orbital craft will have maximum capacity of 24 passengers and the designers have stated that, the Skylon will be ready for space based operations by the year 2020.

• The discovery of an earth like planet in the Gliese 581 system: One of the dreams that mankind has had in the 21st century is the colonization of other planets. When we talk about space tourism, our imaginations inadvertently drift away to a scenario, where we picture ourselves enjoying the sights and sounds of an entirely new planet. Now, that dream could have gotten a head start as, astrophysicists have now claimed to have discovered an earth like planet in the Gliese 581 system, that could in fact be able to sustain eco systems and life. However, inspite of this being a phenomenal discovery, yet one of the biggest hurdles in achieving the colonization goal is posed by the way travel to space and back nowadays.

• NASA’s experimental Advanced Space Launch System: The road to space is constantly evolving with the emergence of new technologies and one of the foremost space agencies in the world, NASA, has now set its eyes upon a proposed Advanced Space Launch System (ASLS), that calls for a horizontally launched space craft powered by scramjet engines. The plan envisions the space craft to take off from a two-mile-long, electrified or gas-powered track and reach the upper atmosphere at astounding speed of Mach 10. Once the designated altitude is achieved, the ASLS delivery system will then be thrust into orbit via a capsule and on the return journey, the craft would simply land on a runway like any other conventional aircraft.

• Curacao commercial airport to be turned into a spaceport: In an effort to give a significant boost to the space tourism phenomenon, XCOR Aerospace, a start up company specializing in manufacturing of space planes, is now vying to acquire rights to the International airport of Curacao and turn it into a spaceport and as per the company’s plans the proposed spaceport should be ready for commercial purposes by the year 2014. This highly ambitious plan from XCOR coincides with FAA’s (Federal Aviation Administration) decision to release grants to various companies in an effort to increase the number of spaceports in the U.S, with the grant money reaching the amount of half a million dollars.