60 Awesome Classic Cars Found Rotting in a Barn Go Up for Auction

Something of a fixer-upper, this 1923 Voisin Type C3 “warrants a most exciting reconstruction project.” A new steering wheel is a good place to start. Expected auction price: $1,700 to $2,264. Artcurial Motorcars

Something of a fixer-upper, this 1923 Voisin Type C3 “warrants a most exciting reconstruction project.” A new steering wheel is a good place to start. Expected auction price: $1,700 to $2,264.

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One of the most valuable cars in the massive barn find, the 1949 Talbot Lago T26 Grand Sport is among the most beautiful cars of its era. Expected auction price: $453,000 to $680,000. Artcurial Motorcars

One of the most valuable cars in the massive barn find, the 1949 Talbot Lago T26 Grand Sport is among the most beautiful cars of its era. Expected auction price: $453,000 to $680,000.

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This 1924 Citroën Type C 5 HP came in the popular “clover” body style, comes with a spare tire, which should come in handy. Expected auction price: $905 to $1,360. Artcurial Motorcars

This 1924 Citroën Type C 5 HP came in the popular “clover” body style, comes with a spare tire, which should come in handy. Expected auction price: $905 to $1,360.

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One of the oldest cars in the Baillon collection, this 1911 Delahaye Type 43 flatbed truck is in surprisingly good condition, mechanically complete and with the original leather interior. Expected auction price: $2,264 to $3,400. Artcurial Motorcars

One of the oldest cars in the Baillon collection, this 1911 Delahaye Type 43 flatbed truck is in surprisingly good condition, mechanically complete and with the original leather interior. Expected auction price: $2,264 to $3,400.

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A rare splash of color that can’t be described as “rusty,” this 1982 Ferrari 308 GTSi is missing its windows and most of the interior. It was bought by Baillon after a fire in 1989. Expected auction price: $5,660 to $11,300. Artcurial Motorcars

A rare splash of color that can’t be described as “rusty,” this 1982 Ferrari 308 GTSi is missing its windows and most of the interior. It was bought by Baillon after a fire in 1989. Expected auction price: $5,660 to $11,300.

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2,000 to 4,000 This Talbot Lago T11 Cadette, from around 1936, is “fairly well preserved” and has a six-cylinder engine that produces 11 horsepower. Expected auction price: $2,264 to $4,530. Artcurial Motorcars

2,000 to 4,000 This Talbot Lago T11 Cadette, from around 1936, is “fairly well preserved” and has a six-cylinder engine that produces 11 horsepower. Expected auction price: $2,264 to $4,530.

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Helen Kirby de Bagration, an aristocrat who fled her native Russia during the revolution, took delivery of this Facel Vega Excellence in 1960. Expected auction price: $68,000 to $906,000. Artcurial Motorcars

Helen Kirby de Bagration, an aristocrat who fled her native Russia during the revolution, took delivery of this Facel Vega Excellence in 1960. Expected auction price: $68,000 to $906,000.

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The most valuable car in the Baillon collection, this is a 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider once owned by Alain Delon. It’s completely original. Expected auction price: $10.8 million to $13.6 million. Artcurial Motorcars

The most valuable car in the Baillon collection, this is a 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider once owned by Alain Delon. It’s completely original. Expected auction price: $10.8 million to $13.6 million.

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This is just one of three Delahaye 135 cabriolets built at the Faget-Varnet workshop still known to survive. Expected auction price: $113,000 to $170,000. Artcurial Motorcars

This is just one of three Delahaye 135 cabriolets built at the Faget-Varnet workshop still known to survive. Expected auction price: $113,000 to $170,000.

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This completely original 1963 Porsche 356 SC has about 54,000 miles on the odometer and needs new carpets. Expected auction price: $22,600 to $34,000. Artcurial Motorcars

This completely original 1963 Porsche 356 SC has about 54,000 miles on the odometer and needs new carpets. Expected auction price: $22,600 to $34,000.

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Built on the base of an Austin-Healey Sprite, this Innocenti S cabriolet is powered by a four-cylinder engine. Expected auction price: $3,400 to $5,600. Artcurial Motorcars

Built on the base of an Austin-Healey Sprite, this Innocenti S cabriolet is powered by a four-cylinder engine. Expected auction price: $3,400 to $5,600.

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An “interesting and rare model,” this circa 1936 Audi 225 Avant comes with front wheel drive and a 2.3-liter six-cylinder engine. Expected auction price: $6,800 to $9,000. Artcurial Motorcars

An “interesting and rare model,” this circa 1936 Audi 225 Avant comes with front wheel drive and a 2.3-liter six-cylinder engine. Expected auction price: $6,800 to $9,000.

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This Singer roadster 1500 has just over 36,000 miles on the odometer, and is missing some engine parts. With two carburetors and 50 horsepower, it’s in “original condition.” Expected auction price: $226 to $905. Artcurial Motorcars

This Singer roadster 1500 has just over 36,000 miles on the odometer, and is missing some engine parts. With two carburetors and 50 horsepower, it’s in “original condition.” Expected auction price: $226 to $905.

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This circa 1927 Amilcar CGSS has its original body but a replaced engine, and was popular with racing enthusiasts. Expected auction price: $3,400 to $5,600. Artcurial Motorcars

This circa 1927 Amilcar CGSS has its original body but a replaced engine, and was popular with racing enthusiasts. Expected auction price: $3,400 to $5,600.

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Sitting on three wheels, this rare and “amazingly original” Sandford Type S cyclecar is powered by a four-cylinder engine and comes with a tool kit found behind the bench. Expected auction price: $17,000 to $22,600. Artcurial Motorcars

Sitting on three wheels, this rare and “amazingly original” Sandford Type S cyclecar is powered by a four-cylinder engine and comes with a tool kit found behind the bench. Expected auction price: $17,000 to $22,600.

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This is a very rare four-seat 1935 or 1936 Renault Viva Grand Sport cabriolet, one of just five known examples. Expected auction price: $22,600 to $28,300.

This is a very rare four-seat 1935 or 1936 Renault Viva Grand Sport cabriolet, one of just five known examples. Expected auction price: $22,600 to $28,300.

The exterior of this circa 1936 Panhard et Levasseur Dynamique Coupe Junior is eaten up by rust, but the interior was protected by covers. Expected auction price: $28,300 to $34,000.

The exterior of this circa 1936 Panhard et Levasseur Dynamique Coupe Junior is eaten up by rust, but the interior was protected by covers. Expected auction price: $28,300 to $34,000.

With just under 50,000 miles on the odometer, this circa 1952 Delahaye 235 Coach Chapron comes with well preserved upholstery and “seems to be complete.” Expected auction price: $40,000 to $51,000.

With just under 50,000 miles on the odometer, this circa 1952 Delahaye 235 Coach Chapron comes with well preserved upholstery and “seems to be complete.” Expected auction price: $40,000 to $51,000.

This extremely rare Talbot Lago T26 Saotchik cabriolet was sold to Princess Nevine Abbas Halim of Egypt and her husband His Excellency Salah Bey Orabi. It was thought lost until found in Baillon’s collection. Expected auction price: $136,000 to $170,000. Artcurial Motorcars

This extremely rare Talbot Lago T26 Saotchik cabriolet was sold to Princess Nevine Abbas Halim of Egypt and her husband His Excellency Salah Bey Orabi. It was thought lost until found in Baillon’s collection. Expected auction price: $136,000 to $170,000.

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15,000 to 20,000 Built around 1938, this is a “highly luxurious” Packard Super Eight cabriolet is an extremely rare European version of the car. Expected auction price: $17,000 to $22,600. Artcurial Motorcars

15,000 to 20,000 Built around 1938, this is a “highly luxurious” Packard Super Eight cabriolet is an extremely rare European version of the car. Expected auction price: $17,000 to $22,600.

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This 3.4-liter Jaguar S Type, equipped with a manual gearbox and overdrive, was regularly used by Mme Baillon. Expected auction price: $4,500 to $6,800. Artcurial Motorcars

This 3.4-liter Jaguar S Type, equipped with a manual gearbox and overdrive, was regularly used by Mme Baillon. Expected auction price: $4,500 to $6,800.

Artcurial Motorcars

Tech Time Warp of the Week: Watch Billy Idol Get Hip to the Newfangled Internet in 1993

Today, thanks to online services like Twitter, you send a note to Justin Bieber any time you like. The same goes for Lady Gaga, Rihanna, and hundreds of other pop stars.

But in 1993, when Billy Idol went online to chat with fans and promote his new album, Cyberpunk, the idea of a rock star directly interacting with the hoi polloi over the internet was unheard of. It was a bit of internet history, and you can relive it with the video above.

“This means I can be in touch with millions of people, but on my own terms,” Idol said of his fan-chat on an early online service called the Well.

In writing and recording his Cyberpunk album, Idol—who has been part of the first wave of punk rock two decades earlier—tapped journalists such as Mondo 2000 editor Gareth Branwyn and Boing Boing editor Mark Frauenfelder to advise him cyberpunk culture and ideology. He even based the opening track on a piece Branwyn wrote for Mondo. And the Well chat was meant to further tap this burgeoning universe.

But the album was was both a critical and commercial flop, and early netizens saw it as an attempt to co-opt cyberculture. Today, if it’s remembered at all, it’s remembered as a bit of early 1990s retrofuturist kitsch, along side movies like Lawnmower Man.

That said, Cyberpunk was ahead of its time. Idol recorded the album at his home studio using computers to gain more control over the production process. “I’d always really sort of worked through a team of a producer and an engineer, and in the end I think really you felt like you weren’t getting as close to your ideas as you could be,” he said.

Today’s it’s standard practice for musicians to record at least parts of their albums on laptops using applications like ProTools. But, just like chatting with fans online, this was brand new in 1993.

Yet what is now considered business as usually was dismissed as being gimmicky at the time. Sometimes we don’t recognize the future when it’s staring us right in the face.

Super Bowl Ads For Mobile Games (Probably) Paid Off Big

The first screenshot available on Game of War‘s website. Machine Zone

Besides last-minute interceptions and Left Shark, the record 114.4 million people who watched last weekend’s Super Bowl XLIX saw many commercials for videogames. These pricey ad spots were not bought up by big console games, but by free-to-play mobile apps like Game of War, Clash of Clans, and Heroes Charge.

Could it possibly be worth spending $4.5 million for 30 seconds of airtime to get people to take notice of your free-to-play phone game?

According to analytics firm Appfigures, all three games saw an uptick in downloads following their Super Bowl spots: Heroes Charge moved from an unranked position to number 86 in the iOS games category, while Game of War and Clash of Clans moved up 95 and 18 slots respectively.

Each of these games makes its money through in-app purchases that get users to pay for bonuses after they’ve started playing: an energy recharge, an extra pack of barbarians.

User acquisition—getting more people to start playing—is paramount. And it’s expensive. According to mobile market researcher Fiksu, the cost per loyal user rose steadily throughout 2014, peaking at $2.25 in September and staying over $2 ever since.

Since such a small percentage of users of free-to-play games actually pay anything, they need to draw in many, many players to keep earning money. Thus, mobile gamemakers with big ad budgets took the opportunity to reach a wider audience with the Super Bowl and other big TV spots.

“Through television, we’re seeing a ten-fold growth in our player volume, and with more than one million apps for players to choose to engage with, it’s really increased the cost to market in what is now an overly saturated area,” said Benjamin Gifford of uCool, which makes Heroes Charge, in an interview with AdWeek.

Game of War‘s ads starring a scantily-clad Kate Upton are the television equivalent of the notorious “come play, my lord” exploitative ads for the free game Evony seen across the Internet throughout the 2000s. But the ads work. Game of War‘s Super Bowl buy is part of a $40 million ad campaign that has rocketed the game to an estimated daily revenue of more than $1 million.

Contextual Awareness: What’s All the Fuss About?

WIRED

One of the hallmarks of recent technology is the way it is designed to respond to the people who use it. Easy examples of where we already see that happening are Google Now Cards (or Waze) that follow the user’s travels, notifications of the user’s upcoming appointments, app preferences, and accurate contact selection when the user enters only a few letters. In the industry, this responsiveness is known as “contextual awareness,” where a given computing device uses user-specific data, like location-based technology and sensors to determine their users’ circumstances. Then it seems as if the device “knows” where the user is and what he or she needs.

It goes without saying that, even though desktop computers make use of this technology to some degree, mobile devices are the greatest providers of contextual awareness.

The mobile keyboard has come a long way from its humble push-button origins. If once the keyboard was an unresponsive piece of unintelligent hardware, the latest versions feature software touchscreens seemingly capable of anticipating and responding to your needs before you’re even aware of them.

Users have already come to expect a certain level of proactive responsiveness from their keyboards. Be they word predictions that change according to the person you’re interacting with, or auto-learning the names, locations and slang that you frequently use in your texting, contextual-awareness, albeit a very limited form of it, is already a standard requirement in any self-respecting keyboard app. However, that’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the value-adding capabilities that AI-based contextual-awareness could potentially provide.

How can a keyboard do all that? Well, let’s take a step back and consider the way keyboards store information for the sake of sophisticated AI-based analysis, and we’ll understand how the future is nearly here.

The simplest form of language processing is the kind of one-to-one ratio of meaning that appears in stilted, mechanical, bad translations. In the past, even more sophisticated attempts at language processing depended on inputting vast amounts of data, including rules that governed manipulation of the content entered as well. The results may have been functional, but were not natural.

Using AI for translations should improve upon that kind of language by recognizing the way words are being used repeatedly, including when they are used in different ways. The AI “machine learning” uses algorithms that examine vast amounts of real-world examples, and then derive the rules that govern that natural language. These statistical inferences determine the best possible match for the word in question, and they are much more successful at generating language that sounds like that used by real live human beings. Indeed, in the best case scenario, the computer seems to be learning the language from its users and responding as if it has human understanding.

In using the algorithms that study natural language and creating new language that mirrors natural use, AI breaks every sentence down into definable segments that function as commands, and in turn determines what action is an appropriate response to those sentences. The idea of these smart keyboards is comparable: they will study users’ keystrokes and the order of events that follow from them and be able to apply that “knowledge” in the future, when those same keystrokes are made.

Let’s consider the following scenarios:

• You text a friend to meet you for lunch. In doing so, of course, you have used your smartphone’s keyboard. If your keyboard were contextually aware, it would process your sentence and send an invitation to your friend, suggest locations for you to meet, recommend restaurants, provide directions, make a reservation, and more.


• You begin typing the letters of a particular client’s company name. Now, your keyboard recognizes those keystrokes and calls for the previous correspondence and other history with that client.


• On Mother’s Day, you open your contacts list to reach your mother, and your contextually aware keyboard suggests sending flowers to her.


• Your users type in your product’s name, and you are able to target their attention with advertisements that draw on those keystrokes.

As keyboards are programmed to incorporate contextual awareness, the possibilities of their usefulness will become nearly boundless. The amount of time saved by the simple act of the keyboard recognizing your need to set up an appointment and then responding proactively with an open calendar app is just one low-hanging example.

Moreover, as you use your smart keyboard, it will analyze your input and adapt to your usage. Once the software is in place, it falls to you, the user, to increase the degree of sophistication in its suggestions and recommendations for you. That is, the more you use it, the more attuned and nuanced it will become.

The development of contextually aware keyboards will draw on the sophistication of AI, and as it is built into widely used products like smartphones and used with regularity, the user experience will be personally tailored beyond anything we have seen thus far. It is exciting to realize that future is almost here.

Oded Lilos is the CMO of Ginger Software, a mobile keyboard app developer.