Switched http://www.switched.com Switched http://www.switched.com/media/feedlogo.gif Switched http://www.switched.com en-us Copyright 2008 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[The Box-Shaped Motorcycle Concept]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/05/13/nonobject-nucleus-motorcycle-concept-makes-its-boxy-debut/http://www.switched.com/2008/05/13/nonobject-nucleus-motorcycle-concept-makes-its-boxy-debut/http://www.switched.com/2008/05/13/nonobject-nucleus-motorcycle-concept-makes-its-boxy-debut/#commentsFiled under:

It looks like Dell's not the only one that thinks boxy is in, with the folks at the NonObject design firm now also taking a decidedly hard-edged approach with their new motorcycle concept. Dubbed the nUCLEUS, the vehicle is described as a "zero emission, zero impact speed machine," albeit one that would seem to have a bit of trouble making sharp turns. That possible shortcoming aside, the concept is certainly unique enough, with it boasting an "animal-like behavior system" that allows it to get up on its "hind legs" when its in action and rest down flat when its at rest, as well as some interchangeable (but equally boxy) side panels. Of course, there's not much in the way of technical details, but you can at least get a look at it from every angle by checking out the video after the break. [Source: NONOBJECT: nUCLEUS via Autoblog Green]

Continue reading The Box-Shaped Motorcycle Concept

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>motorcycleTue, 13 May 2008 16:12:00 EST<![CDATA[10 Best Road Trip Gadgets]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/05/12/10-best-road-trip-gadgets/http://www.switched.com/2008/05/12/10-best-road-trip-gadgets/http://www.switched.com/2008/05/12/10-best-road-trip-gadgets/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Top 10 Road Trip Essentials


It's almost road trip season, and whether you're going cross country or simply cross town, you'll find a lot of tech out there to make your trip safer, more enjoyable and speeding ticket free. Here are the top 10 road warrior must-haves ... don't leave home without 'em!

Top 10 Road Trip EssentialsTomTom GO 720 GPS

It's time to toss out your archaic AAA maps and join the GPS revolution! The TomTom GO 720, like all GPS devices, uses the magic of satellites to help you easily navigate from Point A to Point B. This new model is slimmer and lighter than previous TomToms (small enough to fit in your shirt pocket) and features an improved menu for locating the closest police station, hospital or repair shop. It's also packed with TomTom's new Map Share technology, which allows its user base of 10 million drivers to instantly improve TomTom maps by adding notes accessible by all users on things such as blocked or unblocked streets, reversed one-way traffic, new street names, etc. We think TomTom's GPS devices are the easiest and most flexible we've found. Alas, the 720 doesn't come out until July, so if you need something right away, we recommend the compact TomTom ONE XL or the multi-featured TomTom GO 910.
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featuressummerfeaturesMon, 12 May 2008 19:17:00 EST<![CDATA[Revolving License Plate Helps Speeders Evade Cops]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/05/12/revolving-license-plate-helps-speeders-evade-cops/http://www.switched.com/2008/05/12/revolving-license-plate-helps-speeders-evade-cops/http://www.switched.com/2008/05/12/revolving-license-plate-helps-speeders-evade-cops/#commentsFiled under:

Be Like Bond With A License Plate Switcher
We've all dreamed of getting our hands on some legitimate James Bond-style concealed gadgets, but outside of the pen gun, Q's inventions are the stuff of pure fantasy. Well, for 800 yuan ($115), you can feel like Bond after you install a rotating license plate, just like the one used to evade Goldfinger's henchmen.

A Chinese company has been marketing the spy gadget in its home country where speeders use it to elude speed and traffic cameras. According to the authorities, half of everyone caught on camera speeding or running lights uses either fake plates or some sort of occlusion device, like the plate switcher, to get away scot-free. [Source: Autoblog]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breaking newsBreakingNewscrimeJames BondJamesBondspy gadgetsSpyGadgetsMon, 12 May 2008 18:11:00 EST<![CDATA[Geek Wheels Scooter: So Many Distractions, You're Bound to Crash]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/05/09/geek-wheels-scooter-so-many-distractions-youre-bound-to-crash/http://www.switched.com/2008/05/09/geek-wheels-scooter-so-many-distractions-youre-bound-to-crash/http://www.switched.com/2008/05/09/geek-wheels-scooter-so-many-distractions-youre-bound-to-crash/#commentsFiled under:


Not like we haven't seen capable nerds, um, nerd-ify their scooters before, but one of the geekiest forms of transportation just got even geekier. The imaginatively named Geek Wheels scooter possesses more hardware than you can imagine, with a ginormous rear-mounted antenna, Garmin GPS unit, WiFi module, OTA TV tuner / FM tuner, high-resolution webcam, full-fledged Linux-based computer and an 8-inch touch panel to boot. The most amazing part? The creators have promised to provide regular updates and a how-to guide in short order. Make sure you invest in a high-quality helmet, alright? [Source: Thought Lab]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Fri, 09 May 2008 16:26:00 EST<![CDATA[Mother's Day Gift Guide: MOTOROKR T505 In-Car Speakerphone]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/05/09/top-12-gadget-gifts-for-mom-9/http://www.switched.com/2008/05/09/top-12-gadget-gifts-for-mom-9/http://www.switched.com/2008/05/09/top-12-gadget-gifts-for-mom-9/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Whether driving to soccer practice or to the office, Mom will find the MOTOROKR T505 ($139.99) wireless in-car speaker system to be a great alternative to annoying earpieces (or worse, actual handsets) that are usually used when behind the wheel. The T505 clips easily to the car's visor and uses Bluetooth technology and an FM transmitter to make and receive phone calls through a car's stereo speakers. The T505 also has echo and noise reduction technology to make sure calls are clear, while an Audio CallerID feature lets you hear the number of any incoming caller. As an added bonus, you can also stream music from a compatible cellphone or MP3 player to the T505.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bluetoothphoneFri, 09 May 2008 09:33:00 EST<![CDATA[More Details Emerge on the Three-Wheeled Triac Electric Car]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/05/08/more-details-about-the-triac-highway-capable-three-wheel-electri/http://www.switched.com/2008/05/08/more-details-about-the-triac-highway-capable-three-wheel-electri/http://www.switched.com/2008/05/08/more-details-about-the-triac-highway-capable-three-wheel-electri/#commentsFiled under: ,


We can't help but find Green Vehicles' Triac three-wheeled highway-capable electric car anything but stupidly adorable, and it looks like it's even better than we hoped. Our friends over at Autoblog Green scored some more info on the buggy, and found that the top speed it actually 80mph, and that range is just about 100 miles on a full charge, down from 120 miles as originally estimated. The Triac will also roll with a five-speed transmission, and charge from either a 120V or 240V power source.

On top of all that, Green Vehicles is apparently working on a truck called the Buckshot based on the same motor, but with a three-speed transmission that will enable it to be a "true work truck." Sure, sure -- but when can we have a Triac? Seriously, we want to hug it. [Source: Autoblog Green]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Thu, 08 May 2008 20:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft's In-Car Sync Tech to Come to Hyundai and Kia]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/05/06/microsofts-in-car-sync-tech-to-come-to-hyundai-and-kia/http://www.switched.com/2008/05/06/microsofts-in-car-sync-tech-to-come-to-hyundai-and-kia/http://www.switched.com/2008/05/06/microsofts-in-car-sync-tech-to-come-to-hyundai-and-kia/#commentsFiled under:


Once thought to be the exclusive domain of Ford, Sync-like technology looks to be coming to Hyundai and Kia cars by 2010. While Microsoft and Hyundai aren't calling the technology Sync officially, the new "music and information system" will be a voice-controlled interface that links mobile devices to car stereos, complete with remote firmware updates. Sounds a lot like Sync to us.

Interestingly, only later versions will include multimedia and navigation-related features. This is a curious omission -- why would Hyundai need Microsoft's help just to plug in some iPods? The product will be made official at a ceremony in Seoul attended by Bill Gates and Hyundai Kia Automotive Group Chairman Chung Moon-koo. Cocktail hour and family photos to follow immediately. [Source: Reuters]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breaking newsBreakingNewsmicrosoftTue, 06 May 2008 15:19:00 EST<![CDATA[MADD Wants 'Grand Theft Auto IV' Sales Stopped]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/05/02/madd-wants-grand-theft-auto-iv-sales-stopped/http://www.switched.com/2008/05/02/madd-wants-grand-theft-auto-iv-sales-stopped/http://www.switched.com/2008/05/02/madd-wants-grand-theft-auto-iv-sales-stopped/#commentsFiled under: ,

MADD Wants GTA IV Sales StoppedWith each subsequent release of the 'Grand Theft Auto' (GTA) series there is always a stir of controversy, with various concerned groups trying to ban the games. The recently released 'GTA IV' is no different, and the latest group to take issue with the game is Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD). The group takes issue with the driving aspects of the game -- specifically, the parts of driving that take place after main character Nico has had something to drink.

That's right, they don't care about shooting people, stealing cars, running down police officers, soliciting prostitutes, or any of the other fanciful and felonious things you can do in the game. They're worried about the drunk driving, and are calling on Take-Two, the game's publisher, to stop sales of the game. For its part, Rockstar, the game's developer, said this:

"For the same reason that you can't judge an entire film or television program by a single scene, you can't judge 'Grand Theft Auto IV' by a small aspect of the game."

We would tend to agree, and think that the MADD folks would have a lot more to be worried about if they actually played the game. We did, and we think it's fab -- but it's definitely not for young, impressionable types. [Source: AOL News/AP]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breaking newsBreakingNewsgrand theft autoGrandTheftAutogta ivGtaIvmaddFri, 02 May 2008 09:03:00 EST<![CDATA[Mazda Sends 4,703 New Cars to the Scrap Heap]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/04/30/mazda-sends-4-703-new-cars-to-the-scrap-heap/http://www.switched.com/2008/04/30/mazda-sends-4-703-new-cars-to-the-scrap-heap/http://www.switched.com/2008/04/30/mazda-sends-4-703-new-cars-to-the-scrap-heap/#commentsFiled under: ,

Two summers ago, a cargo freighter, the Cougar Ace, was en-route to Vancouver, British Columbia. Its cargo was a fleet of cars from Japan, mostly from Mazda, which had 4,703 autos on-board destined for Canadian and American dealerships. While exchanging ballast water in the open ocean, the cargo ship tilted badly to the side and had to be abandoned. It was later up-righted and the cars saved (most weren't even wet), but despite this save, Mazda has decided to scrap every last one of the shiny, new autos.

Mazda decided it couldn't determine what could have gone wrong with the autos after being held at an angle for so long, and with the potential future lawsuits it foresaw should any of these cars ever fail, the auto manufacturer went the conservative (though extremely wasteful) route of sending them to the dump.

The tale of the Cougar Ace was told in 'Wired' magazine, including the heroic rescue of the ship by a crew of modern-day (legal) pirates who boarded and righted the ship. The pirates lost one of their team in the process, Marty Johnson, who slipped down the heavily inclined ship and suffered a fatal head injury. The story is a fascinating read and, apparently, is set to become a movie in the not too distant future. [Source: The Wall Street Journal, via BoingBoing]
Read | Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breaking newsBreakingNewscougar aceCougarAcemazdascrapweirdWed, 30 Apr 2008 17:39:00 EST<![CDATA[Electric Cars From Norway Coming to a City Near You]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/04/29/electric-cars-from-norway-coming-to-a-city-near-you/http://www.switched.com/2008/04/29/electric-cars-from-norway-coming-to-a-city-near-you/http://www.switched.com/2008/04/29/electric-cars-from-norway-coming-to-a-city-near-you/#commentsFiled under: ,




Think Global an electric car company based in Norway, announced last week that it will ship 50,000 of its electric cars to the U.S. The new Think vehicles are plug-in electrics that look like a cross between a Smart Car and a VW Cabriolet. The electric cars are shorter than the Smart car, but taller. In addition to the convertible pictured above, Think Global will release a two seater coup model.

The cars top out around 65 miles-per-hour and get about 110 miles to the charge, which is perfect for getting around the city, but good luck taking them on a roadtrip. The Think will set you back something like $17,000 in the U.S. and, curiously, the batteries will be leased separately for about $100 or $200 each, and may even include wireless and insurance. This is significantly less than other electric cars out there, like the Tesla, which costs more than $100,000, and will hopefully bring the electric car within reach for the average man/woman.

Think Global was launched in Oslo in 1991 and bought by Ford in 1999. Ford stopped leasing the cars in 2003, when California stopped requiring auto makers to produce zero-emissions vehicles. Now, Think is owned by Inspire, and its tech savvy investors hooked up with Google in 2006 to figure out what it means to be a 21st-century car company. The result is expected to hit the road by the end of the year, so pretty soon you can start spending all your gas money on your hefty electric bill. [Source: ValleyWag]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breaking newsBreakingNewselectric carsElectricCarsTue, 29 Apr 2008 07:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Suzuki Offers Up Garmin GPS On All 2009 SX4 Vehicles]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/04/27/suzuki-offers-u-up-garmin-gps-on-all-2009-sx4-vehicles/http://www.switched.com/2008/04/27/suzuki-offers-u-up-garmin-gps-on-all-2009-sx4-vehicles/http://www.switched.com/2008/04/27/suzuki-offers-u-up-garmin-gps-on-all-2009-sx4-vehicles/#commentsFiled under:

http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/26/2009-suzuki-sx4-getting-nav-system-as-standard-equipment/

Back in the day, integrated GPS units were the stuff of luxury cars, gargantuan SUV cruisers, and lost old ladies. Suzuki is looking to change all of that by including the Garmin T.R.I.P. on all 2009 SX4 Sport and SX4 Crossover vehicles -- at no extra charge. As Suzuki gleefully points out, this marks the first time a sub-$16,000 car has included a GPS unit as standard equipment. The T.R.I.P. (Travel, Real-time traffic, Information and Play) sports a flip-up 4.3-inch screen and Bluetooth connectivity. As for software, it will include real-time traffic, weather forecasts, local event listings, community-based recommendations, and a gas station finder that can filter based on fuel prices. We're still fans of portable GPS units, but there is something elegant about those big-screened integrated monsters.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breaking newsBreakingNewsgpsSun, 27 Apr 2008 18:14:00 EST<![CDATA[Life-Size 'Ghostbusters' Ecto-1 Car Wows Gamers]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/04/23/ghostbusters-pr-car/http://www.switched.com/2008/04/23/ghostbusters-pr-car/http://www.switched.com/2008/04/23/ghostbusters-pr-car/#commentsFiled under: ,



Got a game to pimp,
In your neighborhood.
Who you gonna call?
Vivendi's marketing team, apparently.

In preparation for the release of the new (and surprisingly great-looking) 'Ghostbusters' game this fall, the folks at Vivendi put together a recreation of in infamous Ecto-1. It was built from the ground-up, and from the looks of things (and trust us, gbfans.com looks pretty damn closely), no detail was spared.

Let's hope the game is equally coherent. [Source: GBFans.com]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>weirdWed, 23 Apr 2008 19:05:00 EST<![CDATA[Earth-Friendly Tech Tips]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/04/22/environment-what-can-i-do/http://www.switched.com/2008/04/22/environment-what-can-i-do/http://www.switched.com/2008/04/22/environment-what-can-i-do/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Environment: What can I do?
So you gave your buddy a high-five when 'An Inconvenient Truth' won some Oscars -- that's a good start. Too bad some of your favorite gadgets -- not to mention the TV you used to watch the Academy Awards -- use up a boatload of energy, even when you think they're turned off. That said, some technologies can actually help you save energy and use fewer natural resources. The convenient truth is that taking proactive steps towards living a greener life is easier than you think. Here are just a few.

Upgrade Your Lightbulbs

Don't be scared off by the high sticker prices of GE's fancy compact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFLs). CFLs use up to 75 percent less energy than incandescents (25 percent less than halogen), last up to 10 times longer and cost between 50 and 80 percent less to use. Only candlelight is cheaper -- but that's a fire truck on your front lawn waiting to happen.
Next >>
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breaking newsclimateenergyenvironmentfeaturesgreenrecycletopTue, 22 Apr 2008 13:04:00 EST<![CDATA[New Honda GPS System Avoids Crime, Doesn't Fight It]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/04/22/new-honda-gps-system-avoids-crime-doesnt-fight-it/http://www.switched.com/2008/04/22/new-honda-gps-system-avoids-crime-doesnt-fight-it/http://www.switched.com/2008/04/22/new-honda-gps-system-avoids-crime-doesnt-fight-it/#commentsFiled under:

New Honda GPS System Avoids Crime, Doesn't Fight ItEver been absent-mindedly following the directions of your GPS only to look around and suddenly notice that you're being guided into a particularly bad part of town? No, it hasn't happened to us either, but apparently it has happened to enough Honda engineers and executives for the company to decide to make crime avoidance a feature in the newest navigation systems for its cars in Japan.

The new system relies on crime information provided by Japanese police departments, allowing it to identify areas of high theft or vandalism to cars and steer you around them. No word yet on whether this feature will be optional or whether it will just never let you visit shady areas. Likewise, there's been no indication regarding whether this feature will ever be coming to the U.S. -- perhaps those two missing bits of information are somewhat related. [Source: AFP, via Autoblog]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breaking newsBreakingNewscrimeGPSHondanavigationTue, 22 Apr 2008 10:03:00 EST<![CDATA[New Infiniti Cars to Include Distance Control Assist]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/04/22/new-infiniti-cars-to-include-distance-control-assist/http://www.switched.com/2008/04/22/new-infiniti-cars-to-include-distance-control-assist/http://www.switched.com/2008/04/22/new-infiniti-cars-to-include-distance-control-assist/#commentsFiled under:




Technophiles, along with bad and/or lazy drivers love Infiniti: More than any other car manufacturer, it has been on the steady path of creating cars that are closer to, you know, cars that drive themselves.

Well, the car manufacturer is continuing along this road to the future. Not only will the 2009 models of its FX35 and FX50 will be available with all-around cameras to make parking and backing up a cinch (as found on last year's EX35).

But new this year is Distance Control Assist, which assists drivers in releasing the throttle and applying the brakes as needed in stop-and-go traffic; the system stays activated even after the brakes are tapped.

When approaching the preceding vehicle from behind and the distance falls below a certain threshold, DCA will signal to the driver that the throttle should be released by "pushing back" via the accelerator pedal. Initially a subtle push can be felt by the driver as a gentle reminder to maintain a more appropriate distance. If the driver continues closing in on the vehicle ahead, a more insistent double impulse from the pedal plus an audible signal will urge the driver to release the throttle immediately. Upon release of the throttle, DCA will automatically engage the brakes and decelerate the vehicle in order to reestablish a safe distance.

Sounds pretty awesome. If there's gonna be traffic, we might as well sit in it efficiently and without thinking about it, right?
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Tue, 22 Apr 2008 08:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Bus Driver Chooses GPS Over Gigantic Road Sign, Plows Into Overpass]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/04/18/bus-driver-chooses-gps-over-gigantic-warning-sign-plows-into-ov/http://www.switched.com/2008/04/18/bus-driver-chooses-gps-over-gigantic-warning-sign-plows-into-ov/http://www.switched.com/2008/04/18/bus-driver-chooses-gps-over-gigantic-warning-sign-plows-into-ov/#commentsFiled under: ,


Okay Britons, here's your shot at ripping us Americans who've had quite a few laughs at the expense of your GPS-loving neighbors. Reportedly, the driver of a charter bus carrying a high school girls' softball team decided to casually follow the soothing turn-by-turn directions emanating from the nearby GPS unit rather than take notice of the enormous clearance sign on the overpass ahead.

As you can likely guess, the 11-foot, 8-inch-high vehicle plowed right into the 9-foot bridge -- which was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982 -- though somehow everyone on board escaped without any major injuries. Oddly enough, the driver apparently isn't alone in chipping away at the landmark, as a local even mentioned that "large trucks hit the bridge every two weeks or so," but couldn't resist noting that "this [instance was] by far the worst." [Source: Seattlepi.com]

[Thanks, Raleigh]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breaking newsBreakingNewsgpsFri, 18 Apr 2008 16:38:00 EST<![CDATA[Traffic Cams Now Playing at Facebook]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/04/18/traffic-cams-now-playing-at-facebook/http://www.switched.com/2008/04/18/traffic-cams-now-playing-at-facebook/http://www.switched.com/2008/04/18/traffic-cams-now-playing-at-facebook/#commentsFiled under: ,

Traffic Cams Now Playing at FacebookFacebook is of course one of the most popular social networking sites on the web, with millions of people connecting on there every day. Since the release of the Facebook API (Application Program Interface), the site has gained tons of functionality as well, as developers around the world were given the ability to write little applications that run within the site. Most have been somewhat silly, like the game Scrabulous that lets friends play against each other. But, a new application poses to be quite useful: enabling you to check your local traffic cams without leaving Facebook.

The Facebook app, provided by traffic cam aggregator TrafficLand, installs into your profile and gives you images of what the roads are looking like near you. Despite being captured from video sources the pictures presented to your profile are somewhat unfortunately still images, refreshed every few seconds or minutes. So, it's not exactly real-time, but it should be enough to help you guide your way home tonight. [Source: BetaNews]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Facebooktraffic techTrafficTechFri, 18 Apr 2008 06:35:00 EST<![CDATA[Circuit City Comes Through After Trashing Man's Honda Civic]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/04/16/circuit-city-comes-through-after-trashing-mans-honda-civic/http://www.switched.com/2008/04/16/circuit-city-comes-through-after-trashing-mans-honda-civic/http://www.switched.com/2008/04/16/circuit-city-comes-through-after-trashing-mans-honda-civic/#commentsFiled under:

A few weeks ago, Circuit City seriously botched the car stereo installation of VTECnical, a user posting on 8thcivic.com (a Honda Civic forum). Circuit City's installation of the Pioneer AVIC Z2 GPS went horribly wrong and severely damaged the car, burdening VTECnical with over $12,000 in damages. The local Honda dealership deemed the car unsafe to drive because it was a fire hazard.

Now according to Autoblog, however, it appears that not only has Circuit City's insurance provider come through with over $10,000 to cover repair costs, but also that Circuit City itself has paid out the remaining amount. In addition, the electronics retailer threw in a brand new $2,000 Pioneer AVIC Z2. No word if VTECnical's going to have Circuit City install it or not, though.

From Autoblog
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Wed, 16 Apr 2008 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[High School Students Build 2,843 MPG Car]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/04/15/high-school-students-build-2-843-mpg-car/http://www.switched.com/2008/04/15/high-school-students-build-2-843-mpg-car/http://www.switched.com/2008/04/15/high-school-students-build-2-843-mpg-car/#commentsFiled under: ,

Eco-Marathon Winner's Car Nets 2,843 MPG

Thought you were saving the environment by hitting 55 MPG in your Prius on your way in to work? Think again. A team of students from Mater Dei High School in Evansville, Indiana have laid the eco-smack down -- They developed a car that managed a whopping 2,843 miles-per-gallon in an eco-marathon competition sponsored by Shell. The event, consisting only of high school teams, saw submissions ranging from traditional gasoline-powered to somewhat more exotic fuels like solar and fuel cells.

The Mater Dei team wasn't the most efficient car out there, with a solar car achieving an equivalent mpg-rating of 2,861.8 (measured by figuring out how much electricity the car uses and then converting that to an equivalent fuel usage), but the teams also scored points for innovation and teamwork, resulting in the Mater Dei's gasoline-powered vehicle netting the $10,000 first prize.

Unfortunately, their contraption is more bicycle than auto, seats just one skinny high school student, and tops out at around 15 mph, so don't expect to see them on your morning commute. However, Mater Dei's final efficiency numbers were far beyond an anticipated 1,693 mpg, which means we're probably nowhere near the end of seeing just what this team can do.

From AutoblogGreen

Related Links:
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eco-marathonenvironmentalismmpgPriusTue, 15 Apr 2008 15:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Web Users Join Forces to Track and Find Stolen Car]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/04/14/web-forum-guys-join-forces-to-track-and-find-stolen-car/http://www.switched.com/2008/04/14/web-forum-guys-join-forces-to-track-and-find-stolen-car/http://www.switched.com/2008/04/14/web-forum-guys-join-forces-to-track-and-find-stolen-car/#commentsFiled under: ,

1991 Nissan Skyline GT-R

A Canadian group of car enthusiasts joined forces to conduct what was essentially an "open source" search for a Nissan Skyline GT-R stolen from a specialty dealer in Calgary.

The dealer-owner posted word of the stolen car on a blog for Canadian car fanboys, and the thread got a response that did more than lament the crime. Fellow enthusiasts went into action, with the first one of them spotting the stolen car and actually snapping a photo of the supposed perp, which he posted online. Then other readers in the area reported sightings (it is a unique looking vehicle) and narrowed the search area. Still other readers worked to narrow the search, based on location and description, to a Facebook page the perp maintains.

Finally, one reader drove around the neighborhood where the car had last been seen and, finding it, blocked the vehicle in and called police, while also asking a friend to post a note on the online thread, which the car's owner read. He drove to the spot, called police, and the thief -- an 18-year-old high school student -- was arrested within minutes. The arrest itself was caught on video and, of course, posted on the site.

In all, the car was recovered (with minor damage) within 48 hours, thanks to the online community.

A heartwarming story.

From New York Times.
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breaking storiesBreakingStoriescrimeFacebookNissanMon, 14 Apr 2008 09:46:00 EST<![CDATA[High-Tech 'Bait' Vehicles Defeat Would-Be Car Thieves]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/04/11/tricked-out-cars-defeat-would-be-car-thieves/http://www.switched.com/2008/04/11/tricked-out-cars-defeat-would-be-car-thieves/http://www.switched.com/2008/04/11/tricked-out-cars-defeat-would-be-car-thieves/#commentsFiled under:

SUV

Police in Surrey, British Columbia, have tricked out an SUV with all sorts of remote tracking and control gadgets to catch would-be car thieves in the act.

According to an article in the latest Wired Magazine, the Integrated Municipal Provincial Auto Crime Team - or IMPACT - was formed after Surrey became essentially the car theft capital of North America. Using a combination of the teched-out bait cars and helicopter surveillance to catch thieves, car thefts in the area have dropped 50 percent.

In the test car, secretly installed GPS devices and cell phone modems help police monitor the location of the vehicle. They can control the ignition, the locks, even the horn. They don't lock people in, though, because, as the article states, there are liability issues. What do car thieves do when they can't get out of the vehicle? Freak out? Start smashing windows? Text while driving? (That would be really bad.)

From Wired.



Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>crimeFri, 11 Apr 2008 23:57:00 EST<![CDATA[Alpine's Head Unit Supports iPods and Divx Playback]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/04/11/alpines-head-unit-supports-ipods-divx-playback-and-everything/http://www.switched.com/2008/04/11/alpines-head-unit-supports-ipods-divx-playback-and-everything/http://www.switched.com/2008/04/11/alpines-head-unit-supports-ipods-divx-playback-and-everything/#commentsFiled under: ,


When you call your product a 'Mobile Multimedia Station' it had better offer up a pretty robust set of connectivity options; especially when it costs $1,100. In that manner, Alpine's new WXGA touch-screen IVA-W505 car head unit doesn't disappoint.

The 7-inch touch-controlled IVA-W505 Mobile Multimedia Station comes loaded with input options: DVD/CD/MP3/AAC/WMA/DivX AV, Bluetooth hands-free connectivity and more. The list also includes HD/Satellite radio (with iTunes tagging) and the unit supports MP3/WMA players like iPods and USB sticks. The double-DIN (a larger head unit form factor in cars) unit uses IMPRINT, a system that automatically analyzes your car's interior and adjusts acoustics accordingly. Rounding things out, the head unit can function as a dock for Alpine's PMD-B200 portable GPS unit. Sweet. The IVA-W505 is available now through authorized dealers in North America.

From Alpine
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>audioFri, 11 Apr 2008 16:08:00 EST<![CDATA[Proposed Bill Aims to Set Minimum Auto Sound Levels]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/04/10/proposed-bill-aims-to-set-minimum-auto-sound-levels/http://www.switched.com/2008/04/10/proposed-bill-aims-to-set-minimum-auto-sound-levels/http://www.switched.com/2008/04/10/proposed-bill-aims-to-set-minimum-auto-sound-levels/#commentsFiled under: ,

Fisker Karma's recently announced hybrid sports car that generates motor noise through some external speakers might have received a good bit of derision when it first made itself known, but it now looks like it may actually be a bit ahead of the game, at least if a bill expected to be introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives ever actually becomes law.

As AutoWeek reports, the bill was apparently prompted by concerns that hybrid and electric vehicles are a little too quiet, and pose a risk to pedestrians, especially the blind. To address that supposed danger, the bill reportedly demands that the U.S. Secretary of Transportation initiate a study to determine if a minimum sound level is in fact needed and, if so, require that automakers comply with it (possibly as early as 2010).

From AutoWeek Car News
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>audiolawThu, 10 Apr 2008 16:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft Introduces "Clearflow" Live Traffic Routing Service]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/04/10/microsoft-introduces-clearflow-live-traffic-routing-service/http://www.switched.com/2008/04/10/microsoft-introduces-clearflow-live-traffic-routing-service/http://www.switched.com/2008/04/10/microsoft-introduces-clearflow-live-traffic-routing-service/#commentsFiled under: ,

Clearflow traffic information from Microsoft

Microsoft has announced a new tool for drivers to avoid traffic jams. The service, called "Clearflow", calculates how tie-ups affect backups on local city streets which could mean more accurate rerouting along busy routes. There's no word yet on how this could be integrated into personal portable navigation devices.

According to a report in the New York Times, Microsoft's new Clearflow is the result of a five-year project by the company's artificial intelligence team at Microsoft Research laboratories. Clearflow predicts how "complex traffic interactions ... occur as traffic backs up on freeways and spills over onto city streets" in 72 different urban areas.

This is one more way Microsoft is trying to catch up with Google's array of online services, which do include maps with projected traffic delays, but Google's and other Web sites' traffic information is mainly limited to highways and major interchanges.

Mobile device users will be able to look up current traffic information but its still unclear if the service will soon be integrated into live traffic routing on GPS devices.

Garmin, for example, already allows its device users to connect with traffic information service provided by MSN Direct. Garmin users with a compatible antenna receive MSN Direct information which allows drivers to "find the best route through traffic, check traffic flow and receive accident warnings." It also provides information on local gas prices, movie times and weather forecasts.

Clearflow is supposed to be launched today but cursory looks at traffic route information for New York City and Chicago didn't seem to show side street information or alternative routes.

From The New York Times.


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Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gpsmapsmicrosoftroutingtrafficThu, 10 Apr 2008 13:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Trapster: Get Warnings About Speed Traps on Your Cell Phone]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/04/03/trapster-get-warnings-about-speed-traps-on-your-cell-phone/http://www.switched.com/2008/04/03/trapster-get-warnings-about-speed-traps-on-your-cell-phone/http://www.switched.com/2008/04/03/trapster-get-warnings-about-speed-traps-on-your-cell-phone/#commentsFiled under: ,

Trapster: Get Warnings About Speed Traps and Red Light Cameras on Your Mobile Phone
Law breakers continue to take advantage of the social features of the Web 2.0 revolution. The latest tool in their arsenal is a mobile application called 'Trapster.' Trapster is not a reference to drug dealing or the slightly sad Marvell Comics Villain.

Trapster is about speed traps. Trapster lets drivers report the location of speed traps, red light cameras, and other locations where you're likely to get a ticket.

The service can use Wi-Fi or GPS to find your location and sends you audio alerts when you're approaching a ticket threat. Users report the locations of traps and are rated on their reliability. The system gives greater weight to those that are rated more reliably. Users can also customize the alerts they want, so that they only receive notice of red light cameras or the like. Information about red light cameras stays in Trapster's database indefinitely, but speed trap data is only kept for an hour, with the expectation that the officers will move on to a new location.

Trapster will work with many different mobile platforms, including Nokia's Symbian based handsets, Windows Mobile, and Blackberries. The service is available now, though the site was down when we tried to visit it.

From Comcast News

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Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>copsdrivedrivinglawspeed trapSpeedTraptraffictrapsterThu, 03 Apr 2008 11:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Giant Moscow Billboard Is Peppered with Real Cars]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/04/01/giant-moscow-billboard-features-real-cars/http://www.switched.com/2008/04/01/giant-moscow-billboard-features-real-cars/http://www.switched.com/2008/04/01/giant-moscow-billboard-features-real-cars/#commentsFiled under:

Giant Moscow billboard

This isn't so much a technology story as a super-sized, impress you with the audacity story. A giant billboard in Moscow, stretching up and across approximately 1.5 ACRES (no, not a typo), features real BMWs affixed sideways to appear as though they are racing across the advertisement's expanse.

In the Western World, we know they do things big in Texas, but this enormous ad tops anything we've seen of this type.

Stuck to the side of the billboard are a BMW Z4 M Coupe, an M3, an M5, and an M6. The headlights are on, although no one is behind the wheel.

There have been some other creative billboards mounted highways and famous byways. Just take a gander at the bright and creative ads all over New York's Times Square or London's Piccadilly Circus.

From Autoblog. (Image from English Russia.)

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Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adsadvertisingautomobilebmwcarshugelargemoscowrussiaTue, 01 Apr 2008 16:05:00 EST<![CDATA[Circuit City Botches GPS Install, $12k in Damages, Won't Pay Up]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/03/31/circuit-city-botches-gps-install-12k-in-damages-wont-pay-up/http://www.switched.com/2008/03/31/circuit-city-botches-gps-install-12k-in-damages-wont-pay-up/http://www.switched.com/2008/03/31/circuit-city-botches-gps-install-12k-in-damages-wont-pay-up/#commentsFiled under: ,


For most GPS systems, installation is as simple as sticking a suction cup on the windshield or an adhesive disc on the dash, plugging in an adapter to the cigarette lighter, and hitting the power button. But, if you want something a little more flush and integrated, you have to go with a device installed in your dash. Unless you're the adventuresome type and know what you're doing, dashboard installation is usually a task best left to the professionals. We say "usually" because we've come across a case where paying someone else to do the install was plainly the wrong call, resulting in $12,119 in damages to a 2007 Honda Civic Si.

The woefully bad install job was done at a local Circuit City store, where "qualified" technicians were attempting to install an AVIC-Z2. The installer proceeded to cut the wiring harness from the stock stereo, twist and solder together a new one, drill holes in the heating system, scratch up the front windshield, and crack all the plastic panels surrounding the thing. Sounds to us like the guy who tried to install his home satellite system with a .22 pistol could have done a better job. The install is so bad that the local Honda dealership won't release the car, saying all the shorted wires are a fire hazard.

The most irritating part of the story is that Circuit City isn't ponying up for the damages. To date, the electronics retailer has only paid $3,190, about a quarter of the total damages, and is forcing the victim in question to deal directly with his insurance company rather than just cutting him a check. That is some seriously bad customer service, which we hope will be rectified soon in light of the atrocious publicity this installation-fiasco is generating for the chain.

From Engadget

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Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AVICcircuit cityCircuitCityCivicGPSHondaMon, 31 Mar 2008 13:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Driver Crashes Car While Reaching For Cell Phone (But Saves Cup Of Coffee)]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/03/28/driver-crashes-car-while-reaching-for-cell-phone-but-saves-cup/http://www.switched.com/2008/03/28/driver-crashes-car-while-reaching-for-cell-phone-but-saves-cup/http://www.switched.com/2008/03/28/driver-crashes-car-while-reaching-for-cell-phone-but-saves-cup/#commentsFiled under: ,

Using a cell phone while driving

Modern conveniences and technology allow us to do many things while driving. We can navigate our way along unfamiliar highways, avoiding traffic and finding random points of interest. We can save fuel by motoring along on steam. We can even juice the stereo in our car to the point that it turns all components and passengers into something resembling tapioca pudding. But none of these technological advances can help us if we're still refusing to use our brains while sitting behind the wheel of a fast-moving car.

Case in point: An Oakland driver decided it was more important to reach for her ringing cell phone than keep control of her car. The result? She dunked her automobile into the Oakland Estuary. She somehow escaped injury and even saved her cup of coffee. Onlookers reported that she emerged from the car's watery resting place still clutching her cup of morning joe. No word on the cell phone, though.

May we suggest a hands-free device? Or perhaps a suspension of her license?

From AOL News.

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Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>autocarcell phoneCellPhonecrashdangerdriverdrivinghands freeHandsFreesafetywaterFri, 28 Mar 2008 17:17:00 EST<![CDATA[DASH Express Gets Live Traffic Updates From Other Drivers]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/03/28/dash-express-gets-live-traffic-updates-from-other-drivers/http://www.switched.com/2008/03/28/dash-express-gets-live-traffic-updates-from-other-drivers/http://www.switched.com/2008/03/28/dash-express-gets-live-traffic-updates-from-other-drivers/#commentsFiled under: ,

DASH Express

The long-awaited DASH car navigation devices will soon hit store shelves and the promise of shared, live traffic data will soon be in consumers hands -- or rather their cars, guiding them around traffic tie ups and obstacles that other DASH-using drivers have already encountered and relayed back through the live data system.

DASH Navigation's two-way navigation devices relay information via GPRS to and from a central computer that collects speed and location data from each user's car, then computes a live, up-to-the-minute picture of what the traffic situation is in a certain area. (GPRS is typically utilized by mobile phones to send and receive SMS messages and data for WAP browsers, a mobile phone version of an Internet browser.)

DASH goes well beyond the current traffic guidance systems already used by in-car GPS makers, which compute historical traffic data (such as average speeds and rush hour changes). Some GPS devices also receive an RDS-TMC (Radio Data System Traffic Message Channel), which in many metro areas collates live traffic conditions through the ClearChannel system. Typically an RDS-TMC receiver adds about $100 to the price of a GPS device. Also, the information over RDS-TMC requires lots of human input and interpretation. DASH's system is more automated.

The DASH Express device doesn't just receive traffic information, but also acts as a transmitter, sending out constant information about its own situation on the road. This means the more DASH Express units that are deployed in a certain region the better the traffic information will be. According to our friends over at Engadget, who have put the new DASH Express through its paces already, the device and the traffic monitoring system work exceptionally well.

Traffic conditions along the routes they were traveling were reflected in the actual driving experience. While many traffic information services are good at helping navigate main highways and thoroughfares, the DASH system also lends itself to making your way through local streets. As long as a few cars with the DASH Express are on the road in your area, you should get up-to-date information. Plus, the information you and fellow DASH-using drivers gather is saved and integrated into the historical traffic data. So, in a sense, this is a system that is constantly getting smarter.

The company says consumers should not be worried about being monitored on the road or tracked by authorities. All data gathered will be anonymized and aggregated, so "Big Brother" can't snag you if you happen to be speeding or driving erratically.

The DASH Express also comes with a live Internet connection to Yahoo! Local search. Plus, you can send address information from Microsoft Outlook or a Web browser straight to your device -- or even have someone else do it for you if you're already on the road. Also, when new maps come out, the device is automatically updated via the GPRS signal.

What's the downside? According to Engadget, it's the initial price of $399 plus the monthly $13 fee required to receive the traffic data and local information. Even with a two-year service commitment, which drops the monthly fee down to $10, it adds up to a $640 initial outlay.

DASH's traffic solution has been the talk of many tech types for more than a year now while the company has been conducting tests near its Sunnyvale, Calif., home base. Now that its really on the market it will be interesting to see how many people decide to spring for this capable new device.

The DASH Express is shipping this week.

From Engadget.



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Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ClearChannelDASH ExpressDashExpressgpsin-car navigationIn-carNavigationRDS-TMCtraffictwo-wayFri, 28 Mar 2008 14:11:00 EST<![CDATA[New Smart Brake Lights Could Improve Safety]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/03/27/new-smart-brake-lights-could-improve-safety/http://www.switched.com/2008/03/27/new-smart-brake-lights-could-improve-safety/http://www.switched.com/2008/03/27/new-smart-brake-lights-could-improve-safety/#commentsFiled under:

Smart Brake Lights Change Color for Safety

Getting rear ended sucks. Chances are it's happened to you, and maybe you've even done it to someone else. Quite often these fender-benders are caused when someone stops suddenly. If you happen to be paying attention close enough that you can stop in time to avoid the person in front of you, there's a good chance the person behind you wasn't, meaning you get creamed.

To improve auto safety in these kinds of situations, some students at Virginia Tech have developed a brake light system that could help make hard-stopping cars stand out from the steady red glow of the other cars, alerting absent-minded drivers that they need to get on the brakes.

The system uses a row of multi-colored LEDs to indicate the severity of the braking that a given driver is applying. Gentle pressure results in a yellow glow, while firm pressure means flashing red. In the luxury German car segment, it's already not uncommon to find cars that will automatically flash the hazard lights during a quick, panic stop. But, this hasn't exactly trickled down to the more economical autos out there.

Until then, keep your head up, put down the cell phone, and keep your eyes on the road.

From Engadget

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Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brake lightsBrakeLightscarscrashrear-endingThu, 27 Mar 2008 11:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Yes, 100 MPG Cars Are Coming -- Sometime (Video)]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/03/26/yes-100-mpg-cars-are-coming-sometime/http://www.switched.com/2008/03/26/yes-100-mpg-cars-are-coming-sometime/http://www.switched.com/2008/03/26/yes-100-mpg-cars-are-coming-sometime/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Move over, Prius. Next-generation lithium-ion-based plug-in hybrids and all-electric cars promise three-figure fuel economy and the comforts of a full-sized car... if they can get off the drawing board. We got a closer look at the current crop while walking the floors of this week's New York Auto Show. Take a look!
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breaking+newselectric carsElectricCarshybridsnew york auto showNewYorkAutoShowtopWed, 26 Mar 2008 12:03:00 EST<![CDATA[Cell Phone + Car Crash = $5.2 Million Settlement]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/03/25/cell-phone-car-crash-5-2-million-settlement/http://www.switched.com/2008/03/25/cell-phone-car-crash-5-2-million-settlement/http://www.switched.com/2008/03/25/cell-phone-car-crash-5-2-million-settlement/#commentsFiled under: ,

Cell Phone + Car Crash = $5.2 Million Settlement

Some states, like New York, have banned hand-held cell phone use while driving outright. Others are just relying on existing laws or passing new ones that, in more general terms, prohibit drivers from doing anything distracting while driving. Back in 2006 Georgia had no specific law against hand-held cell phone use, but that didn't stop a woman from recently being awarded a $5.2 million settlement in the state after tragically losing her arm in a traffic accident that year.

The woman was traveling on the highway at 77 miles-per-hour when she was rear-ended by an employee of International Paper Co. Her car rolled and her arm was wedged between the car and the pavement. It ultimately had to be amputated below the shoulder.

Georgia has since passed a law specifically banning hand-held cell phone use, but whether or not it's illegal in your state is something drivers should consider before making that call on the road.

From textually.org

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Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>carscell phonesCellPhonescellphones and drivingCellphonesAndDrivingdrivinglawlawsuitsTue, 25 Mar 2008 16:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Clear Channel Pushing For Restrictions In Sirius / XM Merger]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/03/25/clear-channel-pushing-for-restrictions-in-sirius-xm-merger/http://www.switched.com/2008/03/25/clear-channel-pushing-for-restrictions-in-sirius-xm-merger/http://www.switched.com/2008/03/25/clear-channel-pushing-for-restrictions-in-sirius-xm-merger/#commentsFiled under: ,

Clear Channel Pushing for Restrictions in Sirius / XM Merger
The Department of Justice approved the controversial merger between Sirius and XM Satellite radio yesterday. Now it's the FCC's turn to take a shot at the only two satellite radio providers in the country, which aim to become one monopolistic company.

Clear Channel is taking the unprecedented step of pressuring the FCC for stricter enforcement of decency standards, specifically making them applicable to satellite broadcasts. Currently satellite radio is not subject to the same standards that govern terrestrial radio broadcasts and television. In 2004 Clear Channel, the largest conglomerate of radio stations in the U.S., was slapped with well over half a million dollars in fines for indecent and started pressuring shock jock Howard Stern to clean up his act. Stern found a new audience Sirius, and now it seems that Clear Channel is looking to extract revenge on the satellite radio industry for stealing away one of its prime properties.

Among the qualifiers Clear Channel is seeking for the merger are the enforcement of decency standards for satellite broadcasts, opening up part of the satellite radio spectrum for a possible commercial competitor, five percent of the spectrum being set aside for public interest uses, and that the new unified Sirius / XM Satellite Radio be forced to integrate HD radio technology into its receivers, which Clear Channel is an investor in.

We find it quite interesting that Clear Channel is perfectly willing to support decency standards and public interest reforms... at least for its competitors.

From Ars Technica and AOL News

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Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>clear channelClearChannelfccgovernmentlawregulationsatellite radioSatelliteRadiosiriusxmTue, 25 Mar 2008 15:19:00 EST<![CDATA[High Schoolers Create Car That Gets 1,693 Miles-Per-Gallon]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/03/24/high-schoolers-create-car-that-gets-1-693-miles-per-gallon/http://www.switched.com/2008/03/24/high-schoolers-create-car-that-gets-1-693-miles-per-gallon/http://www.switched.com/2008/03/24/high-schoolers-create-car-that-gets-1-693-miles-per-gallon/#commentsFiled under: ,


Warning: This article may cause serious arousal in environmentally-conscious individuals and/or anyone distraught at the current price of gasoline.

Engineering students from high schools all over Indiana are preparing to enter their automotive creations into an annual mileage competition. The majority of entries achieve fuel economy that most people only fantasize about, with many cars breaking the 1,000 miles-per-gallon (mpg) mark. That's right, 1,000-mpg.

The annual Super Mileage Challenge is hosted by the Indiana Mathematics, Science, Technology and Education Alliance (IMSTEA) and takes place on April 28 at O'Reilly Raceway Park in Indianapolis. Last year's winner, Mater Dei High School from Evansville, produced a vehicle capable of doing 1,345-mpg. That's not bad, but they weren't satisfied. Mater Dei went back to work and quickly upped their creation's fuel economy to 1,693-mpg.

Please excuse the rest of us while we sob at the wheel of our "economy" cars. 30-mpg now seems so very Hummer-like. Damn you, brilliant teenagers. By damn you, of course, we mean congratulations on your absurd brilliance.


From Newsvine.com


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Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breaking+newsgreen carsGreenCarstopMon, 24 Mar 2008 17:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Justice Department Approves XM / Sirius Merger]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/03/24/justice-department-approves-xm-sirius-merger/http://www.switched.com/2008/03/24/justice-department-approves-xm-sirius-merger/http://www.switched.com/2008/03/24/justice-department-approves-xm-sirius-merger/#commentsFiled under: ,

Following a year of review, the U.S. Department of Justice just announced that it will allow the merger of XM and Sirius, the two leading U.S. satellite radio providers. Interestingly, the Department of Justice does not see the merger as anti-competitive. Engadget explains:

The deciding factor appeared to be the proprietary hardware needed to receive both XM and Sirius; since consumers who shell out aren't likely to switch, the DOJ doesn't think the marketplace is all that competitive to begin with, which makes the impact of a merger relatively small. In fact, the DOJ says the merger could actually benefit consumers, who might see lower prices as the result of more efficient operations, broader programming options, and faster rollouts of new technology.

Although the Justice Department's decision is important, the merger won't happen without the approval of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) -- the next stage in the process.

From Engadget and CNN


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Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fccradiosatellitesiriusxmMon, 24 Mar 2008 16:46:00 EST<![CDATA[Chrysler to Offer Wireless Internet Access In Its Cars]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/03/24/chrysler-to-offer-internet-access-in-its-cars/http://www.switched.com/2008/03/24/chrysler-to-offer-internet-access-in-its-cars/http://www.switched.com/2008/03/24/chrysler-to-offer-internet-access-in-its-cars/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Chrysler to Offer Internet Access in Its CarsChrysler is looking to pick up its sagging sales by being the first to offer in-car Internet access in the U.S. Later this year, an unspecified mobile broadband (read: cellular data) radio will be offered as an option on Chrysler vehicles, with the goal of making it standard on all of the company's cars down the road.

Inside the new cars, a Wi-Fi router will be installed to allow any Wi-Fi-enabled device to take advantage of the connection. That means no wasting your cell phone battery or messing with add-on cards to get your laptop online from the road. You'd simply connect to the car's Wi-Fi as you would to your home network.

At least initially, charges for a cellular data plan will apply.

From Engadget

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Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3gchryslerinternetmobile broadbandMobileBroadbandwi-fiwifiMon, 24 Mar 2008 10:28:00 EST<![CDATA[Cab Drivers Rally For Right to Use Cell Phones on Duty]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/03/21/cab-drivers-rally-for-right-to-use-cell-phones-on-duty/http://www.switched.com/2008/03/21/cab-drivers-rally-for-right-to-use-cell-phones-on-duty/http://www.switched.com/2008/03/21/cab-drivers-rally-for-right-to-use-cell-phones-on-duty/#commentsFiled under: ,



Cars and cell phones are two pieces of modern technology go incredibly well together, which is why, earlier this week, New York City cabdrivers rallied, demanding that the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) allow them to use (hands-free) cell phones while on duty -- something made illegal last year.

"In all professions workers have some form of communication that they carry around," said Bhairavi Desai of the New York Taxi Workers Alliance. "It could be their cellphone, it could be a walkie-talkie, a CB radio, -- or it could be a telephone at their desk. Why are taxi drivers expected to work 12 hours a day, without any live communication, like a cell phone?"

The NYC TLC's response has been less than agreeable, however: "Unfortunately, cell phone abuse has resulted in many instances of drivers leaving their passengers feeling improperly served and downright unsafe, which studies agree is a true concern."

Of course, this hasn't yet turned into a full-blown strike, which might sway their opinion a bit more.

From Textually


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