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Friday, 21 November 2008 |
Need another reason to live in America's other bastion of social liberalism and homelessness? How about a $1 billion electric vehicle re-charging infrastructure in the Bay Area? Palo Alto's Better Place is finally bringing its ambitious, city-wide electrical grid and battery exchange service home after staking plans to do the same in Israel, Denmark, and Australia. The plan just endorsed by the San Jose, Oakland, and San Francisco Mayors (without coughing up any money), is expected to result in 250,000 charging ports (for topping off charges), 200 battery-swap stations (for trips over 100 miles), and a driver service center by 2012 -- network planing and permitting will begin in 2009 with infrastructure deployment set to kickoff in 2010. Here's how it works, customers will receive a discounted price on electric vehicles when they subscribe to drive a certain number of miles -- Better Place will own the batteries. Besides clearing the way of government bureaucracy, the mayors have agreed to offer incentives for companies that install the plug-in stations. Now get this, Better Place expects to lure electric vehicles from the usual suspects like Toyota, Renault-Nissan, and GM in addition to, get this, Tesla Motors. Oh yes. Almost makes us want to hug an Upper Haight, teenage, poser hippie. Almost.
[Via San Jose Mercury News]Filed under: Transportation Better Place's $1 billion electric vehicle grid headed to Bay Area originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 21 Nov 2008 09:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments |
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Friday, 21 November 2008 |
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Okay, so this adapter doesn't directly convert a FireWire 400 socket into a USB port, but for all intents and purposes here, it does as much. You see, Scosche's Passport was designed to channel the energy from older FireWire-based iPod charging gear into the USB prongs that the newer iPhone / iPods only accept. Macworld was able to get ahold of one for review, and in testing, it found that everything worked well when toying with new iPods, and while it was designed specifically for in-car applications, critics found that it even worked (albeit inelegantly) with dock-cradle accessories. Was it worth $30? Absolutely, so long as you'd rather burn $30 than replace that mess of wires you've got behind the dashboard (and you would). Filed under: Peripherals, Portable Audio, Portable Video Scosche Passport FireWire-to-USB iPod adapter gets reviewed originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 21 Nov 2008 08:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments |
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Friday, 21 November 2008 |
Usually when we're talking about Nokia and patents, a mention of Qualcomm can't be far behind. This time however, we're looking at something entirely less boring, fascinating even: ultra-sound sensors that detect hand gestures in the air in front of the device. Now the stretch. Nokia's chief designer, Alastair Curtis, was asked at a recent cocktail party why Nokia's N-series of multimedia devices have yet to see a multi-touch interface, Curtis replied, "We've not launched what we think is right for N-series in a touch product. You'll see in the coming months, years... what we feel is right." Curtis then elaborated, "Much as I'm talking to you now with gestures." Hmm. Ok Alastair, if such devices are in the chute, as long as they don't resemble the Palm V-series... we're cool.
[Thanks, Pdexter]
Read -- Patent application
Read -- Curtis quotesNokia planning touch-less, gesture-controlled devices? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 21 Nov 2008 08:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments |
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Written by Administrator
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Friday, 21 November 2008 |
Usually when we're talking about Nokia and patents, a mention of Qualcomm can't be far behind. This time however, we're looking at something entirely less boring, fascinating even: ultra-sound sensors that detect hand gestures in the air in front of the device. Now the stretch. Nokia's chief designer, Alastair Curtis, was asked at a recent cocktail party why Nokia's N-series of multimedia devices have yet to see a multi-touch interface, Curtis replied, "We've not launched what we think is right for N-series in a touch product. You'll see in the coming months, years... what we feel is right." Curtis then elaborated, "Much as I'm talking to you now with gestures." Hmm. Ok Alastair, if such devices are in the chute, as long as they don't resemble the Palm V-series... we're cool.
[Thanks, Pdexter]
Read -- Patent application
Read -- Curtis quotesNokia planning touch-less, gesture-controlled devices? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 21 Nov 2008 08:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments |
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Friday, 21 November 2008 |
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With Chrysler pushing out an internet-connected package of its own, Mercedes-Benz is attempting to stay one step ahead with the intelligent, intuitive myCOMMAND system. Our pals at Autoblog were able to get a bit of hands-on time with the new setup at the LA Auto Show, and they were kind enough to host up a near-5 minute video showing off its most attractive features. They reiterated that what was being taped was simply a concept for now, but there's zero doubt that the automaker is looking to get this into production as soon as feasibly possible. Hit the read link for a look at the clip, but be sure and pull over first. Filed under: Transportation, Wireless Mercedes-Benz's myCOMMAND system demoed on video originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 21 Nov 2008 07:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments |
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Friday, 21 November 2008 |
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Remember that LED display board that was scheduled to be lit up at Walgreens in Times Square? You know, that 17,000-square foot one touting 12 million LEDs? Sure you do. The board, which was designed by D3 LED, was finally activated in the heart of New York City, and its creators are asserting that it's one of the most complex in existence. If you're wondering if this is worth a trip up (along with having a peek at the giant tree in Rockefeller Center), you might want to hit the read link first, but you should probably understand that almost nothing in NYC can hold a candle in terms of magnitude to downtown Dubai. Filed under: Displays Gigantic LED display board goes live at Walgreens in Times Square originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 21 Nov 2008 06:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments |
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