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• Lexus HS 250h first impressions

• TeleAtlas starts offering photorealistic GPS nav imagery

• VW dealers will sell Garmin GPS nav devices

• Audi R8 convertible, EV on the way?

• Tesla does a recall, makes housecalls

Though they required minor editing, this file converter quickly and easily converted our PDFs to Word, Excel, and other file formats. We were, however, disappointed by its double-whammy of a trial limitation.

Able2Extract PDF Converter has a sleek and professional-looking user interface. Intuitive commands and navigational buttons reside at the top of the window. Novice users will especially appreciate the tips and the step-by-step guide it employs to walk you through the conversion process. The process was extremely easy and fast. Once we located our PDF, it was simply a matter of selecting the text we wanted to convert, and … Read more

We appreciated this program's wizard-like approach to converting PDFs to Word and Excel files. Though it ultimately converted several PDFs to Word, Excel, Image, and PostScript files, we did hit a few bumps along the way.

Docsmartz PDF Converter Pro has a very easy-to-use interface. Simply browse for the PDF (or multiple PDFs), select the destination folder, and click on the file format command button. The program comes with several conversion modes that allow you to convert the PDF as is, text only, and images only. Similar programs give you the ability to select specific text, but unfortunately, Docsmartz … Read more

Audi loves its R8 variants. So far, we've seen V-8 and V-10 gasoline engines and V-12 TDI concept. Now, if rumors are to be believed, Audi is poised to introduce two more variants of the R8 supercar at the International Motor Show in Frankfurt: a convertible and a zero-emissions electric version.

The convertible has been spied testing by German publication Auto Motor und Sport, so it is all but guaranteed to be unveiled sometime in the near future. However, the electric version is something of a dark horse, subject to speculation. No one knows if it will be full … Read more

This program will convert PDFs to a wide variety of file formats, but we found it lacking some conveniences found in similar programs. We also had to spend a considerable amount of time reformatting and editing the converted text.

ABC Amber PDF Converter has a crowded user interface. The process of converting the PDF was a little confusing because the commands seemed to be out of order. But once we found our bearings, we were able to open our PDF. Unlike similar PDF conversion programs, ABC does not include the ability to select specific text. Instead, you can only select … Read more

With the poorly selling SC 430 on the chopping block, Lexus found itself in need of a sexy luxury convertible to generate some excitement around the brand.

The IS sedan is about the same size as the SC and much better-looking. In IS 350 trim, it also extracts more horsepower from its 3.5-liter V-6 than the SC can from its 4.3-liter V-8. So, rather than update the aging SC, Lexus transplanted an updated version of its three-panel aluminum folding roof onto the IS sedan and, with a little massaging, the IS C was born.

The IS C goes from hardtop to topless in 20 seconds, which is 5 seconds faster than the SC 430.

With the exception of the new roof and two fewer doors, the IS C looks identical to the sedan. Upon closer inspection, we can see that the aesthetics have been tweaked to better fit the IS C's sporty open-air attitude. In fact, we're told that the IS and the IS C share almost no sheet metal. Of course, this is most notable around back, where the IS' tail lamps have been reworked and its rump raised to accommodate the retractable hardtop.

On paper, IS C still seats four passengers. In reality, passengers will find that the rear seats have been shifted forward by 5 inches, compromising leg room.

In the cabin, an optional Mark Levinson audio system sounds fantastic, thanks to a tweaked version of Automatic Sound Leveling that not only adjusts volume for vehicle speed, but also adjusts the equalizer to compensate for the loss of bass that comes with open-air listening. Perhaps it was our ears playing tricks on us, but the IS C's stereo actually sounds better when the vehicle is rolling than it does at a stop, which is quite an impressive feat.… Read more

9-Toolbox is a collection of ten calculators, converters, and other mini-tools (nine tools plus one bonus) that can help you with everything from divvying up a restaurant bill to measuring an incline while you're rappelling down an icy precipice.

9-Toolbox provides a utilitarian but surprisingly friendly interface for each of its tools, which include a Currency Converter (straightforward and automatically updating), Date Calc (to help you track the distance between dates), Days Until (a simple countdown tool), Holidays (major holidays by year for seven countries), Inclinometer (a flexible leveling tool with results in degrees, slope, and pitch), Loan (lets … Read more

The minor quibbles we have with Free YouTube to MP3 Converter have nothing to do with its functionality. This effective freeware is ready to go right out of the box, but can be easily customized by the user.

No effort has been made to dress up the program's utilitarian interface, which consists of seven large buttons, a few fields, and a drop-down menu. A plain text box advises users to paste URLs in the field, and this is all the onscreen guidance you'll need. Once you see the video title in the field, you click Download and the … Read more