Acura TL sedans recalled due to fluid leak in power-steering hose

Honda has recalled 52,615 of its 2007-2008 Acura TL sedans because over time, the power steering hose can deteriorate and develop a fluid leak, leading to a loss of power steering assistance.

In addition, if fluid leaks onto a catalytic converter it can result in smoke or a fire. To date, no crashes, injuries or fires have been reported in relation to this recall.

Owners of vehicles affected by this recall can go to an authorized Acura dealer as soon as they receive notification of this recall from Acura. Dealers will replace the power-steering hose.

Notifications will be mailed to vehicle owners beginning in mid-June. In addition to the mailed notifications, consumers can see if their vehicle requires repair by visiting recalls.acura.com or by calling 800-382-2238, and selecting option 4.

Source:
Statement by Acura Regarding Power Steering Hose Recall: 2007-2008 Acura TL [Acura]

Acura TL sedans recalled due to fluid leak in power-steering hose

Honda has recalled 52,615 of its 2007-2008 Acura TL sedans because over time, the power steering hose can deteriorate and develop a fluid leak, leading to a loss of power steering assistance.

In addition, if fluid leaks onto a catalytic converter it can result in smoke or a fire. To date, no crashes, injuries or fires have been reported in relation to this recall.

Owners of vehicles affected by this recall can go to an authorized Acura dealer as soon as they receive notification of this recall from Acura. Dealers will replace the power-steering hose.

Notifications will be mailed to vehicle owners beginning in mid-June. In addition to the mailed notifications, consumers can see if their vehicle requires repair by visiting recalls.acura.com or by calling 800-382-2238, and selecting option 4.

Source:
Statement by Acura Regarding Power Steering Hose Recall: 2007-2008 Acura TL [Acura]

Consumer Reports Appoints Lane Rasberry as Wikipedian in Residence

YONKERS, NY — Consumer Reports is pleased to announce Lane Rasberry as the organization’s first Wikipedian in Residence.    Mr. Rasberry, a Wikipedia expert, will support Consumer Reports’ exploration of shared opportunities involving the world’s most widely-viewed, general information resource that was founded on principles of neutrality, openness, and public service.  He will focus primarily on sharing evidence-based consumer health information to support “Choosing Wisely,” an initiative led by the ABIM Foundation and Consumer Reports.

Mr. Rasberry will also assist Consumer Reports in understanding how patients use Wikipedia to get information on which they base decisions about the risks and benefits of health procedures. Initially, his efforts will focus on improving the quality of consumer health information on Wikipedia in support of “Choosing Wisely,” which aims to provide evidence-based information about medical tests, treatments, and procedures to both physicians and consumers.

This initiative is part of the ABIM Foundation’s goal of promoting wise choices by clinicians in order to improve health-care outcomes, provide patient-centered care that avoids unnecessary and even harmful interventions, and reduce the rapidly-expanding costs of the health care system. This initiative is built on a coalition model, with experts on both consumer issues and medical science working together for the public good. With the addition of the Wikipedian in Residence position, Wikipedia editors will have the opportunity to collaborate with Consumer Reports and over two dozen partner organizations including over nine leading specialty medical societies involved in “Choosing Wisely”.

Mr. Rasberry has been an active Wikipedia contributor since 2008, contributing to health articles, participating in various outreach programs, and working with health providers to explore how Wikipedia relates to their work. This has included conducting clinical research for the University of Washington, serving on the HIV Vaccine Trials Network’s community advisory board, and promoting open access to biomedical research through the Open Science Federation. Mr. Rasberry’s interests include access to health information in India?where he is a member of two NGOs?and human subject research ethics.

The Wikipedian in Residence position at Consumer Reports, along with related efforts to engage with Wikipedia, was established with the assistance of Pete Forsyth of Wiki Strategies.

“The Choosing Wisely” initiative shares important values with Wikipedia?a dedication to sharing evidence-based, scientific information free of the influence of special interests, and a collaborative process,” said Mr. Forsyth. “Lane Rasberry’s extensive background in both Wikipedia editing and clinical research will serve the project well.”

“I look forward to helping medical experts and Wikipedia volunteers work together toward common goals and learn from one another’s experience,” said Mr. Rasberry.

The Wikipedian in Residence model was established in 2010 at the British Museum, and has been implemented at world-class museums and archives.

The ethical issues faced in science are inextricably linked with the ethics of publication and journalism. Wikipedia represents a new approach to mission-driven publication, while Consumer Reports has deep expertise in this area through its decades of work in the public interest.  Through collaboration, both organizations hope to gain new insights and capabilities.

Consumer Reports is the world’s largest independent product-testing organization. Using its more than 50 labs, auto test center, and survey research center, the nonprofit rates thousands of products and services annually. Founded in 1936, Consumer Reports has over 8 million subscribers to its magazine, website and other publications. Its advocacy division, Consumers Union, works for health reform, food and product safety, financial reform, and other consumer issues in Washington, D.C., the states, and in the marketplace.

Safety 1st toilet and cabinet locks recalled due to locking failures

About 183,000 toilet locks and 685,000 cabinet locks from Safety 1st are being recalled, warned two government agencies, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada. The locks fail to keep children out of toilet bowls and prevent drowning nor do they secure household cabinets which may contain harmful home cleaners and other chemicals.

Dorel Juvenile Group, which markets the recalled Safety 1st locks, has received 110 reports of failing toilet locks and 278 incidents of failing cabinet slide locks. In one of reports, a failing cabinet slide lock enabled a 13-month old child access to a craft kit and swallow small, toxic beads. (The child was treated at a hospital and released after overnight observation.)

As with the recall of 900,000 Safety 1st cabinet locks in March, safety experts recommend that parents should keep the 24-hour hotline to the American Association of Poison Control Centers (800-222-1222) close at hand in case of such toddler emergencies.

This current safety recall involves Safety 1st Sure Fit toilet locks with model numbers 48003 and 48103 as well as Safety 1st cabinet slide locks with model numbers 12013 and 12014. (Model numbers can be found on the back of the locks.) The toilet locks and cabinet locks were sold at major national retail chains such as Home Depot, Target, Walmart and Bed, Bath and Beyond from January 2005 to April 2010 and January 2000 through March 2009, respectively. Amazon.com also sold both lock through April 2012.

Consumer are urged to stop using the recalled safety locks immediately and contact DJG (toll-free: 877-416-8105 website: www.djgusa.com) for free replacement locks. Cleaners and other dangerous household chemicals stored in now-unlocked cabinets should be kept out of reach of children and access to bathrooms should be monitored, warns the CPSC.

For more safety advice, see:

• Simple tips to keep kids safe at their grandparents’ house
• Consumer Reports’ Babies & kids section
• Consumer Reports video: Poison safety

Sources:
Safety 1st Toilet and Cabinet Locks Recalled Due to Lock Failure [US CPSC]
Consumer Product Recalls [Health Canada]
Safety Notices [Dorel Juvenile Group]

The best air conditioning for the hot summer ahead

With some of the warmest months on record, folks took to calling 2012 the year without a winter. But we’re certainly going to have a summer. Three-quarters of the nation will experience temperatures that are higher than normal from June through August, according to the federal Climate Prediction Center. To help you beat the heat, Consumer Reports has new Ratings of window air conditioners. We also have the results of our central air reliability survey in which readers told us which systems worked for them, as well as energy-saving tips so you can run your A/C without running up your utility bill.

So far this year, we’ve experienced the fourth warmest January and February, the hottest March and the third warmest April. Expect more of the same, says the Climate Prediction Center, especially if you live in places below a line that stretches roughly from the mid-Atlantic states west to southern Idaho.

Now that you’ve been forewarned, it’s a good time to check whatever cooling system you typically rely on. If you have an older window unit or central A/C system that needs replacing, you can realize big energy savings by getting a new, more energy-efficient model that meets Energy Star standards. You can save even more by taking performance and reliability into account. Our survey of 40,000 readers who installed central air within a recent five-year period revealed that Amana, Goodman and York logged the most repairs.

All of the window air conditioners we tested in our labs were excellent at cooling. What separated the best from the rest was quietness, convenient controls and the ability to keep working in brownout conditions. You can get a lot of cooling for as little as $150, the cost of the Kenmore 70051, which we recommend. Trade up in size and price and you can buy the sleek Friedrich Kuhl, $800, which is efficient, quiet and comes with panels that match your decor.

There are ways to save on hot summer days. Using a ceiling fan as part of your cooling strategy is one way. Instead of setting the air conditioner at 74 degrees F to 76 degrees F, raise the temperature to 78 degrees F and let the fans do the rest. Each degree you lower the thermostat increases cooling costs by 2 percent. And don’t waste money cooling an empty house. Program your thermostat or time your window unit to come on just before you get home.

Are netbooks a dying breed? (audio)

Netbooks could be going the way of the rotary phone: We’ve seen very few new models in the past several months, and that’s not surprising. After all, the Apple iPad and some Android tablets are much more elegant solutions for most of the tasks you’d do on a netbook, and thin-and-light laptops such as Ultrabooks are squeezing netbooks from the other end.

The Asus Eee PC Flare 1025C features a powerful processor, long battery life, and a low price. But it’s still a netbook, and it suffers from the shortcomings of the format. Senior electronics editor Donna Tapellini recently visited Into Tomorrow to discuss her review of this new netbook. Listen to our podcast for details.

Every week, Consumer Reports experts produce a short audio segment that covers a wide variety of issues regarding consumer electronics and technology for “Into Tomorrow with Dave Graveline.” The recording featured on the Consumer Reports News Blog was aired on the prior weekend’s “Into Tomorrow” broadcast.

About Into Tomorrow
Now in its 17th year, “Into Tomorrow with Dave Graveline” covers the latest in consumer electronics and technology available today and into tomorrow. The show airs on more than 180 AM and FM radio stations around the U.S. and can be heard globally through various sources—including America’s Armed Forces Networks and podcasts of previous “Into Tomorrow” episodes.

Low-cost refrigerators with high-end appeal

It used to be that spending less on an entry-level refrigerator meant settling for a bare-bones design and limited features. Picture the inside of an old top-freezer, with its wire shelves, single-bulb illumination, and freezer devoid of storage compartments. But our latest report on refrigerators tells a different story, with many low-priced models boasting features once reserved for the higher-end.

Among top-freezers, we like the new 20.5 claimed-cubic-foot fridge from Frigidaire, $700, which delivered very good temperature performance and excellent energy efficiency in our tests. It’s the Frigidaire’s features that really impress, however, including its temperature-controlled meat/deli bin, spillproof glass shelves, and a full-width freezer shelf. Those add-ons help the refrigerator’s relatively roomy interior feel even bigger. Frigidaire’s slightly smaller 18.2 claimed cubic-foot top-freezer comes with the same expansive list of features for $100 less.

Our latest refrigerator tests found impressive bargains in other configurations. The French-door bottom-freezer and side-by-side categories each feature new CR Best Buys at the top of the Ratings, from Kenmore and GE respectively. There’s plenty more value to be found in our Ratings of more than 200 models. Before you dive in, spend a few minutes watching our Refrigerator buying guide video to help size up your needs and desires.

<!–

By use of this code snippet, I agree to the Brightcove Publisher T and C found at https://accounts.brightcove.com/en/terms-and-conditions/.

–>

<!–

This script tag will cause the Brightcove Players defined above it to be created as soon

as the line is read by the browser. If you wish to have the player instantiated only after

the rest of the HTML is processed and the page load is complete, remove the line.

–>

iExit Interstate Guide app takes the guesswork out of pit stops

iExit Interstate Exit Guide helps take the guesswork out of road trip pit stops, by identifying what restaurants, gas stations, hotels, and other services are available at each exit by name. Make a selection, and the smart-phone application gives the option of turn-by-turn directions or calling ahead to a business with one touch.

The app lets you search up to 100 exits ahead or even in another state for trip planning. It allows you to filter by categories and brands/company names, and even to search for campgrounds, diesel or alternative fuels. iExit even offers specialized information for RVers and truckers, including parking and where to find scales. And if all you’re looking for is a quick break, it also lists rest areas.

This can add up to a real time saver, especially if you and yours are picky about your favorite road food when traveling. Because of its narrow focus, and limited navigation aid, iExit Interstate Exit Guide is best considered a travel tool in our app arsenal, rather then an all-purpose guide.

We noticed some minor differences between Android and iOS versions of the app, but both were easy to use and helpful. The upgraded iOS version adds more filtering and customization, while removing the banner-style ads found in the free versions. You can try the free version of the app if you’re interested. If you use an Apple device and found the “lite” version useful, the upgrade is worthwhile.

What we like: iExit is easy to use, with simple menus. As long as it’s turned on, it knows where you are and what’s nearby. We found information to be reasonably current and complete, with some exceptions. But we’ve seen the same thing with GPS device point-of-interest information, or even road signs and friendly locals. iExit limits its selections to choices within a couple of miles of the highway, which can save time, but it might eliminate some favorite attractions. A map button gives the option of pinpointing selections on a map instead of a list.

What we don’t like: Like so many apps, iExit can lead to distraction and is best used by a passenger or at a standstill, especially if venturing past the basic display. (The application says as much in the user agreement, displayed upon initial start-up.) Buttons and font sizes are small, and it would be dangerous for a driver to try to use behind the wheel. And they’re not kidding by calling it iExit Interstate Guide. If you’re looking for guidance on a parkway, lesser four-lane road, or anything that isn’t part of the Interstate system, you’re out of luck. Google is the default navigation app for turn-by-turn directions, and that functionality is not available to iPhone users.

What could be improved: Voice control would be helpful. Larger icons would also be nice. Some of us experienced frequent system crashes using the app.

Compatibility: A “lite” version of iExit Guide is free for Android and iOS (iPhone, iPad), and the full version is currently $.99 for iOS.

Related:
Waze – Free navigation app with traffic and potential for unnecessary distraction
GasBuddy app can help save money on gasoline
Navigon updates iPhone, Android navigation apps

Sprint HTC EVO 4G LTE has great features that you can’t use yet (review)

The HTC Evo 4G LTE should be a fine phone, once it actually reaches consumers and the network technology to support it is up and running. That’s my take on this new Sprint phone after using a press sample for a few days.

It was slated to be available today from Sprint for $200 with a two-year contract, but apparently the Evo 4G LTE has been delayed in customs. Sprint has told those who pre-ordered the phone that they will still be among the first to receive their HTC EVO 4G LTEs, but the company offered no word on when it will be available. (Buyers also have the option of selecting another product or canceling their order by calling 866-789-8292.)

The phone uses a new voice-quality enhancement called HD Voice, and is among the first phones to run on Sprint’s new LTE-based 4G network. Unfortunately, neither of those technologies are yet online. Atlanta, Baltimore, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, and San Antonio will be the first cities to have Sprint’s LTE network later this year.

The lack of 4G network support means the phone will run on Sprint’s 3G network for now. It can’t even handle map and Web searches while it’s on a phone call, as can Sprint phones that are based on WiMax, a 4G technology Sprint is quietly phasing out. While I haven’t yet seen Sprint’s LTE network in action, I was impressed with HD Voice technology when it was demonstrated to me at a press event back in April.

What I could check out on this new EVO was impressive enough. The phone boasts a 4.7-inch HD display, a 1.5GHz dual-core S4 processor by Qualcomm, and the same intriguing 8-megapixel camera HTC put on its One series of smart phones. Despite the large display, the phone measures a palm-friendly 5.3 x 2.7 x 0.35 inches. And the EVO 4G LTE weighs a reasonable 4.7 ounces, despite such advanced hardware as a 2000mAh embedded battery (it’s not removable).

This EVO comes preloaded with Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich), which did away with a permanent Google search button—an odd omission on a phone whose operating system is touted for working well with the search engine known as Google.

Here are the details:

The display. The EVO 4G LTE’s 4.7-inch Super LCD display has a resolution of 720 x 1280 (about 310 pixels per inch), which is sharp enough to reveal the most minute details on any Web page or document. Though colors didn’t appear as dazzling to me as on the Super AMOLED screens that adorn the Samsung Galaxies and Nokia Lumia 900, they do appear quite natural. I also think reading e-mails and other text in sunlight was easier on the EVO’s LCD than on the AMOLEDs.

The camera. The EVO’s 8-megapixel camera has a short shutter lag, and I truly appreciated the feature that lets you snap stills while shooting video. But overall quality seemed just OK for photos shot in bright light, while details became noticeably muddy in low-light conditions. Ditto for videos shot at full HD in low-light conditions. And the high dynamic range (HDR) feature, which is supposed to balance exposure when the subject is sandwiched between bright sun and shadows, produced photos with a bluish tint.

In preliminary tests of the HTC One S on T-Mobile, which has the same camera, our engineers failed to find anything exceptional in performance. Still-picture quality at ISO settings up to 800 was good, and the quality of video recorded at 1080p was only adequate compared to the better HD pocket camcorders (see our sample video below). The camera can also shoot a sequence of photos in rapid-fire succession, a.k.a. burst mode.

Audio. As with many other HTC smart phones, The EVO 4G LTE comes with Monster Cable’s Beats Audio app, which is claimed to enhance music quality, particularly when paired with optional Beats-branded headphones ($100 to $300). I tried listening to music with the Beats app using a $100 pair of in-ear Beats headphones, as well as the $50 Philips set I use every day. Both sounded equally good.

The app appears to boost bass, which did make rap, house, rock, and other percussion-dependent music sound better. The improvements were less noticeable for jazz and softer music genres. You can’t (legally) add Beats “technology” to a phone that doesn’t have it; at CTIA, an HTC spokesperson told me that’s because the phone’s hardware had to be calibrated to work with the app at the factory. Whatever.

Battery life. I found that I could get a full day of heavy use out of the EVO 4G, spending 75 percent of my time on Sprint’s 3G network and the remaining time on Wi-Fi. The real test will come when Sprint’s LTE network finally is up and running. In New York, where I’m based, that may be a year away.

Bottom line: The HTC EVO 4G LTE seems well-equipped to assume the top spot in Sprint’s impressive lineup of phones. But having a 4G phone in your pocket without a 4G network to connect to is like driving a Ferrari on a dirt road—a bit limiting

Sprint Confirms HTC EVO 4G LTE Delay [GottaBeMobile]

Fried Food and Your Heart – from Consumer Reports

We hear time and again fried food isn’t a wise choice — they come at a coronary cost, right? Perhaps not! From the May ’12 issue of Consumer Reports on Health. Fried Food – CR Podcast