Toyota Motor Corp said on Thursday it would recall millions more vehicles in the United States, its second massive recall in four months, this time to fix potentially faulty accelerator pedals.

The following models and years are affected:

The newest recall, affecting 2.3 million vehicles, marked an acknowledgment that potential problems with dangerous acceleration on Toyota vehicles run deeper than the automaker had first announced and broadened a recall that already ranked as its largest ever.

The recalls have damaged Toyota’s reputation for market-leading quality and safety at a time when the automaker’s U.S. sales remain under pressure.

Toyota had previously maintained that there was no evidence of a mechanical fault linked to reports of unintended acceleration that prompted the recall of about 4.2 million vehicles last year.

The automaker said the recall announced on Thursday was separate from the earlier action, which Toyota said was aimed at addressing the risk that the accelerator pedals could become entrapped by loose or improperly installed floor mats. About 1.7 million vehicles are subject to both recalls.

As recently as November, Bob Carter, Toyota’s U.S. brand chief, had said there was “no evidence” to support claims that the reported safety problems could be caused by anything other than loose floor mats interfering with the accelerator pedal.

NHTSA had received reports of 100 incidents at the time of Toyota’s first recall. Those reports included 17 crashes and five fatalities possibly linked to floor mats and accelerator pedals in Toyota cars and trucks.

Toyota’s earlier recall covers the Camry and Avalon sedans, the Prius hybrid, the Tacoma and Tundra pickup trucks, and the luxury Lexus models IS250, IS350 and ES350.

NHTSA had conducted a similar investigation of floor mats in Toyota vehicles that began in 2007 and resulted in a recall of more than 50,000 cars.

That probe focused on the Lexus ES350 and concluded that grooves in the floor mat could trap the accelerator if the mat was not secured with retaining hooks.

The recall announced last year is ongoing. Toyota has started repairs on the ES350s and plans to address the Camry and Avalon next, Lyons said. Those vehicles account for more than half the vehicles subject to that recall, he said.

Toyota plans to reshape the accelerator pedals and floors in the Camry, Avalon and ES350, Lyons said.

Apple iPad turns out to be a disappointment for the tech savvy crowds that watch the Apple iPad event launch today. Here’s some reasons and why you might agree with them!

No 3G support for Verizon
One of the earliest rumors about the iPad (which I’d still rather call the iTablet) was that it would come with embedded 3G support in addition to Wi-Fi. Well, the 3G part was true (monthly pre-paid plans will start at $14 for 250MB of data, or $29/month unlimited), but alas, no Verizon; instead, we’re stuck with good ‘ole AT&T (which is either a good or a bad thing, depending on how you feel about AT&T).

More reasons here

Live coverage: Apple media event —today is Apple iPad day!

The Apple iPad was introduced today at a much-hyped press conference at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco , according to the New York Times Bits blog.

Go here to see the iPad specs and pricing details.

This week, and this week only, the Jeopardy Online test allows would-be players from around North America the chance to get closer to being on the show. Just imagine… you, Alex Trebek, and the chance to win a whole lot of cake.

To avoid people cheating, the tests are done online, in real time. There are 50 questions, and you have only 15 seconds to answer each one. And no, you don’t have to answer in the form of a question. You have to pre-register on the site, by the way, and if you’re interested, you better get moving. The first test is tonight, and you’ve already missed it. But there’s a test tomorrow evening, and one on Thursday. Each of them is recommended for people living in a particular time-zone, but it’s not a hard and fast rule. So anybody can sign up for tomorrow or Thursday’s test.

So what if you enter, and you do awesome, do you get invited to go on the show? Well, no, it’s not quite that easy. Players who do well in the online test, will be invited to an audition.

Source: Blogoncherry

The top 10 iPhone Apps list features the best iPhone applications that should be ready for your iPhone as soon as you pull the iPhone from its coveted black box.

iPhone Applications now available on iTunes.com! Shop Now!

1. Yelp

Yelp connects you to user reviews of restaurants, bars and other businesses — has some nifty features. Monocle lets you point your iPhone camera’s viewfinder in any direction for an “augmented reality” street-view version of nearby establishments. The Nearby feature shows you in both list and map format which restaurants are closest to you. Bookmarks lets you read up on the spots you want to check out, add them to your bookmark list and view their location too.

2.Mint

Mint makes budgeting fun with it’s slick interface and color coded graphs and charts. The iPhone app allows you to check in with your account on the go. You can see alerts (“You’ve spent too much on parking!”) and take a quick look at your budgetary goals, which may be just the thing to prevent that impulse buy, or remind you that $4 lattes add up really fast.

3. Gorillacam

Pretty much from nowhere, Gorillacam arrived in December 2009 from the creators of the Gorillapod tripods. It mashes together a slew of features to hugely improve an iPhone’s camera (timer, multi-shot, spirit-level, on-screen grid, ‘press anywhere’ capture), meaning you can bin a half-dozen standalone apps that offer similar things.

4. Facebook

The revised grid-based ‘home screens’ provide speedy access to regularly visited sections (news feed, notifications, and so on) and pages, and the experience is such that it in many ways beats the browser version.

Read the rest:Blogoncherry

Johnson & Johnson issued a massive recall Friday of over-the-counter drugs including Tylenol, Motrin and St. Joseph’s aspirin because of a moldy smell that has made people sick.

The recall includes some batches of regular and extra-strength Tylenol, children’s Tylenol, eight-hour Tylenol, Tylenol arthritis, Tylenol PM, children’s Motrin, Motrin IB, Benadryl Rolaids, Simply Sleep, and St. Joseph’s aspirin.

The FDA and Johnson & Johnson’s McNeil Consumer Healthcare Products said they did not know the number of bottles recalled. It included caplet and geltab products sold in the Americas, the United Arab Emirates, and Fiji.

Consumers should check the full list here to identify the recalled batches. Customers can also find instructions on returning and getting refunds for the medicines at www.mcneilproductrecall.com or by calling 1-888-222-6036.

The FDA said about 70 people have been either sickened by the odor — including nausea, stomach pain, vomiting and diarrhea — or noticed it.

Source:Blogoncherry

One of the most innovative and interesting new toys out there are the new toys from the upcoming movie by director James Cameron, Avatar. Avatar, the anticipated action-adventure film from the director of Titanic, James Cameron, and Twentieth Century FOX hits theaters December 18th.

In anticipation of this landmark film, Mattel was tapped as master toy licensee for the property, and created a line of action figures, creatures and vehicles beyond imagination. Purchase select Avatar toys, you can get a free iTag with purchase.

The toy line is the first to incorporate i-TAG technology which allows for three dimensional, augmented reality play – mixing real and virtual worlds together in real time – for a truly unique play experience.

Watch the video to see how Avatar iTag works :

Tiger Wood’s wife, Elin Nordegren, fears Tiger Woods has been having affairs and dating other women. Her fears were not without basis and the woman, Jaimee Grubbs, has herself come out with around 300 text messages and voice messages from the greatest Golf player of the last two decades.

Us magazine released the audio today catching Tiger by the tail with the words on his message: “Hey, it’s Tiger. I need you to do me a huge favor. Can you please take your name off your phone? My wife went through my phone and may be calling you. So if you can, please take your name off that. Just have it as a number on the voicemail. You got to do this for me. Huge. Quickly. Bye.”

Jaimee Grubbs, a cocktail waitress that told Us Weekly that she had a 31-month affair with Tiger Wood and has 300 text messages from him to prove it.

She has said that she had sex with Tiger Woods on several occasions and that they were in relationship for around two and half years. TMZ and US Weekly besides Radaronline have followed the allegations and have come out with proofs to substantiate these allegations.

Tiger Woods has posted an apology to his web site. In his statement he says, “I have let my family down and I regret those transgressions with all of my heart.” (Transgression: the act of transgressing; the violation of a law or a duty or moral principle.) Please see below for the full Tiger Woods’ statement.

He also rejects rumors that his wife hit or scratched him before his car accident: “The stories in particular that physical violence played any role in the car accident were utterly false and malicious.” Over the past week rumors of multiple affairs have trickled out, including the release of racy text messages and a voicemail that seems to implicate Woods.

Tiger Woods has been linked to three girls: Rachel Uchitel (a 34-year-old NY brunette girl – who has a reputation for dating married celebrities), Jaimee Grubbs and Kalika Moquin (a Las Vegas marketing manager, is the latest woman to be connected to Tiger Woods).

Rachel Uchitel

In contrast to Ms. Grubbs, Rachel Uchitel has strenuously denied the allegations that she and the world’s best golfer have hooked up. Still, that hasn’t stopped the Searches. Lookups on “rachel uchitel” and “who is rachel uchitel” have both rocked the Search box, as curious searchers seem unwilling to take her at her word. Time magazine has an interesting article on Ms. Uchitel. The 34-year-old nightclub promoter is reportedly “aggressive” when it comes to meeting celebrities (her mom claims she once dated Derek Jeter and A-Rod). However, in an exclusive interview with the New York Post, Uchitel has denied the allegations of a romance with Woods, even going so far as to offer to take a lie detector test.

Last word: Denies affair.

Jaimee Grubbs

In Tiger’s boilerplate apology statement, he mentions “transgressions” that have let his family down. Though Tiger hasn’t named names, Jaimee Grubbs has more than volunteered to explain her part in the troublesome situation. A Los Angeles cocktail waitress and former participant on the VH1 reality show “Tool Academy,” Ms. Grubbs claims to have had a lengthy affair with Woods. Additionally, she has gone on record as saying she has pictures and hundreds of risqué text messages from the married golfer. Searches on “jaimee grubbs” and “jaimee grubbs photos” have both shot up from zip into the tens of thousands overnight.

Last word: Claims to have had affair.

Kalika Moquin

Lastly (or not?), there’s Kalika Moquin. A relative newcomer to the Tiger watch, Ms. Moquin was named in Life & Style magazine as having romantic links to Tiger. As soon as that possible connection hit the Web, searches on Moquin roared into breakout status. Though her connection to Tiger is still just a rumor, folks clearly want to know more about her. Life & Style explains that she works as a marketing manager at a Las Vegas nightclub. According to the magazine, when Moquin was asked about an alleged affair, she neither confirmed not denied it, saying, “It’s not appropriate for me to comment one way or the other.”

Last word: No comment.

Tiger Woods’ apology on his website:

“I have let my family down and I regret those transgressions with all of my heart. I have not been true to my values and the behavior my family deserves. I am not without faults and I am far short of perfect. I am dealing with my behavior and personal failings behind closed doors with my family. Those feelings should be shared by us alone.

Although I am a well-known person and have made my career as a professional athlete, I have been dismayed to realize the full extent of what tabloid scrutiny really means. For the last week, my family and I have been hounded to expose intimate details of our personal lives. The stories in particular that physical violence played any role in the car accident were utterly false and malicious. Elin has always done more to support our family and shown more grace than anyone could possibly expect.

But no matter how intense curiosity about public figures can be, there is an important and deep principle at stake which is the right to some simple, human measure of privacy. I realize there are some who don’t share my view on that. But for me, the virtue of privacy is one that must be protected in matters that are intimate and within one’s own family. Personal sins should not require press releases and problems within a family shouldn’t have to mean public confessions.

Whatever regrets I have about letting my family down have been shared with and felt by us alone. I have given this a lot of reflection and thought and I believe that there is a point at which I must stick to that principle even though it’s difficult.

I will strive to be a better person and the husband and father that my family deserves. For all of those who have supported me over the years, I offer my profound apology.”

Source:Blogoncherry

Cyber Monday 2009 deals at Amazon include the Garmin nuvi 260W for $119.99, the Archos 5 Internet Media Tablet for $199.99, and Sennheiser RS 130 Wireless Surround Headphones for $59.95. Go here to see full list of Amazon Cyber Monday deals on Amazon here.

In computers, try the Toshiba Satellite L505-S5993 TruBrite 15.6-Inch Grey/Black Laptop for $549.99, Toshiba Satellite T135-S1307 TruBrite 13.3-Inch Ultrathin Black Laptop for $549.99, and a Samsung NP-NC10-KB02US 10.1 inch Netbook Computer for $309.99.

In cameras, Amazon has Cyber Monday 2009 deals on the Flip Ultra Camcorder 2nd Generation, 120 Minutes (White) for $119, the Fujifilm FinePix J28 10.2MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom for $99.95, and the Nikon Coolpix S620 12.2MP Digital Camera for $149.95.

In TV’s, try the Viore LED24VF60 24-Inch LED 1080p HDTV for $299.99, Viore LCD19VH65 19-Inch LCD HDTV with Built-in DVD Player for $216.56, or the Panasonic VIERA S1 Series TC-P42S1 42-Inch 1080p Plasma HDTV for $999.95.

Source:Blogoncherry

Google has recently implemented a program where any webmaster can create a Sitemap of their site and submit it for indexing by Google. It is a quick and easy way for you to keep your site constantly indexed and updated in Google.

The program is appropriately called Google Sitemaps.

In order for you to best use Sitemaps, you must have an XML generated file on your site that will transmit or send any updates, changes, and data to Google. XML (Extensible Markup Language)is everywhere these days, you have probably seen the orange XML logo on many web sites and its often associated with Blogging because Blogs use XML/RSS feeds to syndicate their content.

Today RSS is known mostly as ‘Really Simple Syndication’ but its original acronym stood for ‘Rich Site Summary’. XML is only simple code like HTML and it is used to syndicate your content to all interested parties.

And the interested party in this case is Google. By creating Sitemaps, Google is really asking webmasters to take charge of the indexing and updating of their sites. Basically, doing the Googlebot’s job!

This is a ‘Good’ thing! With the steady influx of new web sites growing rapidly, indexing all this material will become a challenge, even with the resources of Google. With Sitemaps, websmasters can now take charge and make sure their site is crawled and indexed.

Please note, indexing your site with Sitemaps WON’T improve your rankings in Google. You will still be competing with the other sites in Google for top positions. But with Sitemaps you can make sure all your pages are crawled and indexed quickly by Google.

There are some other big advantages of using Google’s Sitemaps – mainly you have control over a few key variables, attributes or tags. To explain this as simply as possible, your XML powered sitemap file will have this simple code for each page of your site:

< url> < loc>http://www.yoursite.com/< / loc> < priority>1.0< /priority> < lastmod>2005-07-03T16:18:09+00:00< /lastmod> < changefreq>daily< /changefreq> < /url>

Along with ‘urlset’ tags at the beginning and end of your code, and an XML version indication – that’s basically your XML file! File size will depend on the number of webpages you have.

Taking a closer look at this XML file:

location – http://www.yoursite.com – name of your webpage

priority – you set the priority you want Google to place on that page in your site. You can prioritize your pages: 0.0 being the least, 1.0 being the highest, 0.5 is in the middle. This is ONLY relative to your site. It will not affect your rankings. Why is this important? You have certain pages on your site that are more important than others, (home page, high profit page, opt-in page, etc.) by placing high priority on these pages, you will increase their importance in Google.

last modified – when you last modified that page, this timestamp allows crawlers to avoid recrawling pages that haven’t changed.

change frequency – you can tell Google how often you change that particular page. Never, weekly, daily, hourly, and so on – if you frequently update your page this could be extremely important.

Why do I need a XML Generator?

In order for this XML sitemap file on your site to be constantly updated, you need a Generator that will spider your site, list all the urls and automatically feed them to Google. Thus constantly updating your site in Google’s massive index or database. Keep in mind, Google also gives you the option of submitting a simple text file with all your URLs.

Now there is already a flood of these generators popping up! Different ways of generating your XML powered sitemap file. More are probably appearing as you read this. For your convenience, three ways to generate your XML Sitemaps file are listed below:

Difficult – Google’s Python Generator

That’s a relative term, if you know your server like the back of your hand and installing scripts doesn’t scare the bejesus out of you, you’re probably smiling at the word difficult. Google supplies a link to a generator which you can download and set up on your server. It will cough up your sitemap XML file and automatically feed it to Google. Google XML Generator https://www.google.com/webmasters/sitemaps/docs/en/sitemap- generator.html

In order for this Generator to work, Python version 2.2 must be installed on your web server – many servers don’t have this. If you know what you’re doing, this will probably be a good choice.

You don’t need a Google Account to use Sitemaps but it’s encouraged because you can track your sitemap’s progress and view diagnostic information. If you already have another Google Account gmail, Google Alerts, etc. just use that one to sign in and follow directions from there.

To submit your Sitemap using an HTTP request, issue your request to the following URL:

www.google.com/webmasters/sitemaps/ping?sitemap=sitemap_url

Hard – A PHP Code Generator

This is a php generator that you can place on your server. This generator will spider your site, and produce your XML sitemap file. Download the phpSitemapNG and upload it to your server. Run the generator to get your XML sitemap file and send it to Google. PHP Generator http://enarion.net/google/

Again, this is only hard to do if you don’t know your way around PHP files or scripts.

Easy – Free Online Generator

These Generators are popping up everywhere, and Google now keeps a list of these ‘third party suppliers’ of generators on their site. Find them here: http://code.google.com/sm_thirdparty.html

One of the easiest to use is http://www.xml-sitemaps.com/ and you can index up to 500 pages with this online Generator very quickly and it will give you the sitemap XML file Google needs to index your site. It will go into your site, spider it and index all your pages into an XML sitemap of your site. You can download this file, Compressed or Non- compressed and make minor changes such as setting the priority, changing frequency, etc.

Then upload this file to your site as sitemap.xml to the root directory of your server i.e. where you have your homepage. Then notify Google Sitemaps of your XML file and you’re in business.

Of course, the only drawback, if you constantly add pages to your site you will need to also add these pages to your XML sitemap file. This won’t be much of a problem unless you’re daily adding pages to your site – then you will need something like the PHP or Python generator to do all this for you automatically.

Google is still the major search engine on the web so getting your pages indexed and updated quickly is the major reason to use Google Sitemaps. If you want your site to remain competitive it’s probably the wisest route to take.