Switched http://www.switched.com Switched http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.switched.com/media/feedlogo.gif Switched http://www.switched.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[$1.6M Bugatti No Match For a Low-Flying Pelican]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/16/1-6m-bugatti-no-match-for-a-low-flying-pelican/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/16/1-6m-bugatti-no-match-for-a-low-flying-pelican/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/16/1-6m-bugatti-no-match-for-a-low-flying-pelican/#commentsFiled under:

It's official. The birds are attacking.

For the second time in a month, a single bird has defied the odds and taken down a piece of machinery many times its size. According to the Lufkin Daily News, Andy House was cruising down the roads of La Marque, Texas in his $1.6 million Bugatti Veyron last Wednesday, minding his own business and talking on the phone (which, we are sure, didn't contribute to his lack of concentration even a bit), when all of a sudden, a low-flying pelican distracted him. Startled, he swerved to avoid it, dropped his cell phone, and, somewhere along the line, hit a mud patch and skidded into a salt water lagoon. A couple of car-savvy admirers amazingly caught the entire thing on video (after the break), though the pelican [Ed note: Right. "Pelican."], like a true professional, isn't anywhere to be found in the footage.

Giggles aside, the accident is actually pretty tragic, considering that there are only 15 of these cars in the U.S. Don't worry, all may not be lost. The vehicle's owner, fortunately, runs a business called Performance Auto Sales, which specializes in exotic car repairs. We're not really master mechanics, but we have a feeling that the rehab will go along just swimmingly. [From: Lufkin Daily News, via: AutoBlog]

Continue reading $1.6M Bugatti No Match For a Low-Flying Pelican

Switched$1.6M Bugatti No Match For a Low-Flying Pelican originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 16 Nov 2009 15:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>birdsbugatti veyronBugattiVeyroncarfunnyluxurynaturetopMon, 16 Nov 2009 15:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Phoneride the Whip: Drive Your Car With Your iPhone]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/11/phoneride-the-whip-drive-your-car-with-your-iphone/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/11/phoneride-the-whip-drive-your-car-with-your-iphone/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/11/phoneride-the-whip-drive-your-car-with-your-iphone/#commentsFiled under: ,

Anybody who's anybody familiar with Bay Area rap or viral video has long known about ghost-riding the whip. If you aren't among those music or Internet dorks, though, the idea of prancing around on the hood of an unmanned car, with the shifter in drive and brakes disengaged, might strike you as dangerous, or just dumb. We know. It's because it has nothing to do with your radical new iPhone, right?

Well, lucky for you, the team at National Instruments' Waterloo Labs can show you how to whip that ghost-ride into submission, smartphone-style. In the amazingly brief video (after the break), these fine young engineers explain how to transform your hooptie into a wirelessly controlled awesome-mobile. With little more than National Instruments' LabVIEW software, a Compact RIO, a couple small motors, one wireless router, and two open-end wrenches, these young Texans cruise Austin's roadways from the roof of their Oldsmobile Delta 88 -- accelerating, braking, and steering via an iPhone.

Continue reading Phoneride the Whip: Drive Your Car With Your iPhone

SwitchedPhoneride the Whip: Drive Your Car With Your iPhone originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cardiyfunnyiphonetopwaterloo labsWaterlooLabswirelessWed, 11 Nov 2009 12:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Ford Adds Inflatable Seat Belts to New SUVs]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/09/ford-adds-inflatable-seat-belts-to-new-suvs/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/09/ford-adds-inflatable-seat-belts-to-new-suvs/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/09/ford-adds-inflatable-seat-belts-to-new-suvs/#commentsFiled under:

Seat belts are the foundation of automobile safety, and they are receiving a high-tech makeover from none other than Ford Motor Company.

According to a Ford press release, rear passengers in the company's 2010 Explorers will be the first to experience inflatable seat belt technology. The seat belts look just like traditional seat belts, but inflate within 40 milliseconds following a crash (video after the break). Ford says, "inflatable belt helps distribute crash force energy across five times more of the occupant's torso than a traditional belt," essentially expanding the protection and redistributing pressure, keeping rib cages safer and impact less direct. The increased area of protection is particularly beneficial to children and the elderly, who can find the physically jarring crash particularly traumatic.

Continue reading Ford Adds Inflatable Seat Belts to New SUVs

SwitchedFord Adds Inflatable Seat Belts to New SUVs originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 09 Nov 2009 14:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>car accidentCarsFordseatbeltTechnologytopMon, 09 Nov 2009 14:18:00 EST<![CDATA[Army and EnerDel Working on Hybrid Humvee]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/08/army-and-enerdel-working-on-hybrid-humvee/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/08/army-and-enerdel-working-on-hybrid-humvee/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/08/army-and-enerdel-working-on-hybrid-humvee/#commentsFiled under: ,

With the economy the way it is, and your unemployment check the way it is, we know it's hard to maintain your douche status and keep that Hummer gassed up. But fear not. According to CNET, battery manufacturer EnerDel just signed a $1.29 million contract with the U.S. Army to design a full-sized Humvee that runs, at least in part, on electricity.

Back in August, Raser Technologies showed off a Hummer powered by a hybrid engine that, thanks to dubious methods of measuring mileage, was able to lay claim to getting 100 miles per gallon. But that Hummer was the smaller H3 consumer model. For those with real inadequacies, though, that need real overcompensation, the H3 just won't do. They need the proper Humvee. You know, the one that takes up four parking spots and blocks three lanes of interstate traffic.

Continue reading Army and EnerDel Working on Hybrid Humvee

SwitchedArmy and EnerDel Working on Hybrid Humvee originally appeared on Switched on Sun, 08 Nov 2009 15:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>carhummerhumveehybridHybrid HummerHybridHummermilitarytopSun, 08 Nov 2009 15:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Forklift FAIL Results in $150K Damage, Chaos in Vodka Warehouse]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/04/forklift-fail-results-in-150k-damage-chaos-in-vodka-warehouse/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/04/forklift-fail-results-in-150k-damage-chaos-in-vodka-warehouse/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/04/forklift-fail-results-in-150k-damage-chaos-in-vodka-warehouse/#commentsFiled under: ,

There are fails. And then there are fails.

In the following video (after the break), taken by a surveillance camera, a worker on a forklift tries earnestly to move boxes around a vodka warehouse in Moscow. (Ed. Note: Way to propagate Russian stereotypes, Moscow.) Epic calamity ensues. With one swerve of the wheel, he singlehandedly turns the place into a Jenga game gone horribly wrong. Incredibly, the guy walked away with only minor injuries, although the incident resulted in the loss of an estimated $150,000 worth of vodka and cognac (a tragedy in its own right). The entire thing has taken the world by total surprise. Heavy machinery? Vodka warehouse? Accident? Noooo way. [From: Urlesque and Huffington Post]

Continue reading Forklift FAIL Results in $150K Damage, Chaos in Vodka Warehouse

SwitchedForklift FAIL Results in $150K Damage, Chaos in Vodka Warehouse originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 12:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>topWed, 04 Nov 2009 12:41:00 EST<![CDATA[South Korea Judge Allows Cabbies to Watch TV While Driving]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/04/south-korea-judge-allows-cabbies-to-watch-tv-while-driving/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/04/south-korea-judge-allows-cabbies-to-watch-tv-while-driving/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/04/south-korea-judge-allows-cabbies-to-watch-tv-while-driving/#commentsFiled under: ,

If you're planning a trip to South Korea, it might be a good idea to pack a comfortable pair of shoes. Why? Because you'll want to avoid the country's taxis. According to BBC News, a South Korean judge ruled that it's legal for taxi drivers to continue having televisions mounted on the dashboards of their cabs. This news comes despite police reports that cab drivers who were watching TV caused 200 accidents last year, claiming the lives of three people and injuring 351 in the process.

The ruling came as a result of one Seoul driver's challenge of a $507 fine he'd been given for watching TV while driving. Seoul is notorious for its congested streets -- the reason cab drivers installed the screens in the first place. When the government first launched a broadcasting system that beamed to mobile screens in 2005, TV-watching cabbies turned into a phenomenon.

Continue reading South Korea Judge Allows Cabbies to Watch TV While Driving

SwitchedSouth Korea Judge Allows Cabbies to Watch TV While Driving originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 09:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>carcourtexpire-images:2010-11-4mobilesouthkoreataxitelevisiontopweirdWed, 04 Nov 2009 09:21:00 EST<![CDATA[MIT's AIDA: The Friendly GPS Robot for Your Dashboard]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/01/mits-aida-the-friendly-gps-robot-for-your-dashboard/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/01/mits-aida-the-friendly-gps-robot-for-your-dashboard/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/01/mits-aida-the-friendly-gps-robot-for-your-dashboard/#commentsFiled under: ,


Ever wish your GPS system could be something more than just a bodiless voice? Ever wished you had a pretty face to associate with that mellifluous, alluring car voice? Thanks to scientists at MIT, you might soon be able to entertain all your wildest robot fantasies.

AIDA, short for Affective Intelligent Driving Agent, is like a GPS-fueled Wall-E-meets-personal-assistant, a nifty little robot that can not only help you find the fastest route home, but can also learn your favorite after work activities, alert you when you're running out of gas, and adjust its directions to traffic conditions. The best part, though? It has a head that pops out of your dashboard. And it can smile. If you're nice, it'll even wink.

Continue reading MIT's AIDA: The Friendly GPS Robot for Your Dashboard

SwitchedMIT's AIDA: The Friendly GPS Robot for Your Dashboard originally appeared on Switched on Sun, 01 Nov 2009 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AIDAgpsmitnavigationresearchrobottopSun, 01 Nov 2009 08:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Your New BMW? There's an App Store for That]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/10/28/your-new-bmw-theres-an-app-store-for-that/http://www.switched.com/2009/10/28/your-new-bmw-theres-an-app-store-for-that/http://www.switched.com/2009/10/28/your-new-bmw-theres-an-app-store-for-that/#commentsFiled under: ,


iPhone apps have permeated nearly every crevice of our daily lives. From the beach to the bar to the bathroom, there's an app for nearly every basic human activity. The only frontier left for Apple to conquer, it seems, is the daily commute. That, though, may soon change.

BMW has announced plans for a new BMW App Store, which would allow Beamer drivers to buy apps specially catered to their luxury cars. If it comes to fruition, drivers would be able to download apps directly to their cars' iDrive systems, either from their iPhones or directly from their PCs. Apps under consideration for inclusion into the BMW buffet include travel guides, geowikis, games, podcasts, Facebook, Xing, and Twitter. Perhaps most innovative, though, is a potential GPS-meets-iPhone experimental app that would sync your location to a site like Facebook or Twitter, then track your location, recommend great restaurants, and -- most importantly -- display fluid traffic routes as you cruise. More basically, the store would also likely include apps that keep track of gas consumption, and recommend braking and acceleration patterns to help conserve it.

Continue reading Your New BMW? There's an App Store for That

SwitchedYour New BMW? There's an App Store for That originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 08:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bmwcariphoneiphone apptopWed, 28 Oct 2009 08:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Wesley Clark Deems Electric Cars 'National Security' Issue]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/10/26/wesley-clark-deems-electric-cars-national-security-issue/http://www.switched.com/2009/10/26/wesley-clark-deems-electric-cars-national-security-issue/http://www.switched.com/2009/10/26/wesley-clark-deems-electric-cars-national-security-issue/#commentsFiled under: ,

Retired U.S. Army General and former Democratic presidential candidate Wesley Clark has upped the ante in the ongoing national discourse on clean energy. Speaking before auto industry professionals and suppliers at a Detroit conference last week, Clark characterized the transition to electric cars as crucial to both environmental friendliness and, more surprisingly, national security. Noting the United States' desperate need to kick foreign oil, Clark described the production of electric cars as "absolutely dead-center in the bull's eye for national security." The Detroit Free Press reports that he then went on to give an economic argument for the move, comparing today's energy race to the early stages of the personal computer, the cell phone, and the Internet. Drawing a parallel to the "whole new industry" that PCs created, Clark apparently sees the potential for a similar economic boom in the nascent electric auto industry.

We've heard the same core argument before, but discussions of national security hold more weight when they come from someone with Clark's clout and experience. To the General's liking, General Motors has already unveiled the Volt and efforts to invest in renewable energy have already created a few jobs. It's just that the rest of the world is doing more. Automakers' primary concern remains the bottom line, and their first priority is clawing their way out of the red -- especially after the financial crisis put Detroit and its teetering economic system on life support. The financial crunch also explains the Volt's $40,000 price tag. Convinced that Americans prefer SUVs to petite hybrids, Detroit doesn't consider the Volt to have the widespread consumer appeal of SUVs. While national security issues are certainly important, it's going to take a purely financial argument to convince Detroit to really start playing catch-up with overseas manufacturers. [From: Detroit Free Press]

SwitchedWesley Clark Deems Electric Cars 'National Security' Issue originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 26 Oct 2009 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>autoindustryelectric carElectricCarenergyefficientgreenNationalSecuritytopvoltWesleyClarkMon, 26 Oct 2009 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Scubacraft Lets You Conquer the Sea, for a Mere $164k]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/10/24/scubacraft-lets-you-conquer-the-sea-for-a-mere-164k/http://www.switched.com/2009/10/24/scubacraft-lets-you-conquer-the-sea-for-a-mere-164k/http://www.switched.com/2009/10/24/scubacraft-lets-you-conquer-the-sea-for-a-mere-164k/#commentsFiled under:


Hybrid automobiles may be the future of mass terrestrial transport, but their vanilla styling and performance simply do not compare to the sheer awesomeness of one new aquatic counterpart. Put it this way, we just don't see James Bond tearing through a foreign metropolis in a Prius. Put Bond in a boat/submarine hybrid in a Venice canal, however, and he looks right at home.

The Scubacraft is precisely as cool as it sounds. It is a boat capable of operating above or below the waves at the whim of its operator, and it has, in our eyes at least, rendered all other forms of aquatic transport obsolete. (We really have a thing for James Bond). While above water, the Scubacraft is propelled by a healthy 160-horsepower engine. When submerged, the craft can reach a depth of nearly 100 feet. Electric thrusters move the Scubacraft along its way while underwater. To be clear, this is not an enclosed submarine, so SCUBA gear will have to be worn in order to dive below.

Continue reading Scubacraft Lets You Conquer the Sea, for a Mere $164k

SwitchedScubacraft Lets You Conquer the Sea, for a Mere $164k originally appeared on Switched on Sat, 24 Oct 2009 10:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>boatluxuryscubacraftsubmarinetoptransportationweirdSat, 24 Oct 2009 10:25:00 EST<![CDATA[Man Pleads Guilty to Driving a La-Z-Boy While Drunk]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/10/23/man-pleads-guilty-to-driving-a-la-z-boy-while-drunk/http://www.switched.com/2009/10/23/man-pleads-guilty-to-driving-a-la-z-boy-while-drunk/http://www.switched.com/2009/10/23/man-pleads-guilty-to-driving-a-la-z-boy-while-drunk/#commentsFiled under:

Drunk driving is one of those rare, universally inexcusable offenses. Getting blasted and getting behind the wheel endangers not only the driver, but innocent bystanders. Now, apparently, getting soused and lounging in La-Z-Boy can be just as dangerous.

At least that's the case for 62 year old Dennis LeRoy from Minnesota, who recently pleaded guilty to driving drunk while cruising in his homemade motorized easy chair. LeRoy allegedly downed no less than 8 beers at a bar one fateful night last August before mounting the chairmobile, which includes a lawnmower engine, headlights and a full stereo system (but of course). He and his 0.29 blood content alcohol then proceeded to wheel into a parked car.

Continue reading Man Pleads Guilty to Driving a La-Z-Boy While Drunk

SwitchedMan Pleads Guilty to Driving a La-Z-Boy While Drunk originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 23 Oct 2009 13:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>drunkDWIfunnystupidtopFri, 23 Oct 2009 13:10:00 EST<![CDATA[OnStar Vehicle Slowdown Catches First Perp]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/10/23/onstar-vehicle-slowdown-catches-first-perp/http://www.switched.com/2009/10/23/onstar-vehicle-slowdown-catches-first-perp/http://www.switched.com/2009/10/23/onstar-vehicle-slowdown-catches-first-perp/#commentsFiled under:

OnStar Vehicle Slowdown Catches First Perp

With the advent of cheap cell phones, in-car valet systems like OnStar slowly started to fade away. OnStar is one of the few that has survived, thanks to its partnership with GM and the addition of features unreproducible by cell phones (e.g., remote unlocking and vehicle tracking). One of those features is an anti-theft system called Stolen Vehicle Slowdown. The system, which sends a signal to the car's powertrain to reduce power and gradually slow the car down, debuted this year and has finally caught its first perp.

According to police reports, a pair of men were carjacked by one Alberto Romero, with the help of a sawed-off shotgun, in Visalia, California around 3 a.m. Sunday. Within six minutes of the vehicle's being stolen, OnStar had located it, confirmed that police were in pursuit, and triggered the Stolen Vehicle Slowdown system, which brought the briefly high-speed chase to a grinding halt. The suspect apparently leaped from the vehicle and darted from the scene, but fell into a swimming pool, where he was quickly apprehended -- soaking wet and embarrassed -- according to ABC News.

Continue reading OnStar Vehicle Slowdown Catches First Perp

SwitchedOnStar Vehicle Slowdown Catches First Perp originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 23 Oct 2009 09:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cargmonstarStolen Vehicle SlowdownStolenVehicleSlowdowntheftFri, 23 Oct 2009 09:24:00 EST<![CDATA[Driver Busted for Double-Fisting Cell Phones and One-Fingered Steering]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/10/19/driver-busted-for-double-fisting-cell-phones-and-one-fingered-st/http://www.switched.com/2009/10/19/driver-busted-for-double-fisting-cell-phones-and-one-fingered-st/http://www.switched.com/2009/10/19/driver-busted-for-double-fisting-cell-phones-and-one-fingered-st/#commentsFiled under: ,

It's bad enough when someone drives around with a cell phone glued to their ear. But one Australian man recently thought he could do the Average Driving-While-Calling Joe two better.

The Herald Sun reports that this man, who has not been identified by police, was pulled over by sergeant Rob Atkinson of the Chelsea Traffic Management Unit for driving while using two cell phones on Saturday afternoon. To make matters worse, after explaining that he'd had to transfer information from one phone to the other, the man explained that it was okay because he'd kept one finger on the wheel at all times.

Continue reading Driver Busted for Double-Fisting Cell Phones and One-Fingered Steering

SwitchedDriver Busted for Double-Fisting Cell Phones and One-Fingered Steering originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 19 Oct 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>carcell phoneCellPhonedumb criminalDumbCriminaldwtlawtopMon, 19 Oct 2009 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA['Python' Amphibious Car Defines Decadence]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/10/12/python-amphibious-car-defines-decadence/http://www.switched.com/2009/10/12/python-amphibious-car-defines-decadence/http://www.switched.com/2009/10/12/python-amphibious-car-defines-decadence/#commentsFiled under:

Recession? What recession? California-based company WaterCar has recently launched the Python, a sybaritic combination of hot rod and speed boat that costs upwards of $200,000. And for all those clams you won't be disappointed; as the fastest amphibious car on the market, the Python reaches speeds of up to 60 mph in the water (or 52 knots, for those of us more nautically inclined) and can top that speed on land in 4.5 seconds. That makes sense, considering that your Python's luxury innards are composed of a "state-of-the-art Dominator Jet, and the customer's choice of Corvette engine." Check out the video below to see the Python in action.

Richard Branson, eat your heart out. In 2004, the Virgin gazillionaire set the record for crossing the English Channel with an amphibious vehicle in his Gibbs Aquada, which only goes half as fast (but also costs about half as much) as the breakneck Python. But, seriously, we're definitely not thumbing our noses at any company that makes a 007-style car/boat -- we would love to do a test drive with either. Hint, hint. [From: Wired]

Continue reading 'Python' Amphibious Car Defines Decadence

Switched'Python' Amphibious Car Defines Decadence originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 12 Oct 2009 08:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amphibious carAmphibiousCarboatrichard bransonRichardBransontopMon, 12 Oct 2009 08:28:00 EST<![CDATA[Nissan's Land Glider Concept Car Leans Like a Motorcycle]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/10/10/nissans-land-glider-concept-car-borrows-from-motorcycle-design/http://www.switched.com/2009/10/10/nissans-land-glider-concept-car-borrows-from-motorcycle-design/http://www.switched.com/2009/10/10/nissans-land-glider-concept-car-borrows-from-motorcycle-design/#commentsFiled under: ,


Are you a fan of the motorcycle's ability to lean into turns but just don't feel safe riding with your body exposed like that? Well, a new concept car from Nissan has you covered, literally. According to Engadget, the Nissan Land Glider features two-in-line seats and the ability to lean at a 17-degree angle around turns. At just 3.5-feet wide, the electric car can maneuver like a bike, but it's also a zero-emissions vehicle, unlike those other hogs on the highway.

Alright, so the Land Glider doesn't give you as much street cred as a Harley Davidson, or even this other electric motorcycle. But it's still amazing to see a car, albeit a small one, lean into those turns (see the video after the break). One can only imagine what it'd feel like sitting behind the wheel. Come to think of it, the Land Glider will debut in a few weeks at the Tokyo Motor Show. Maybe we could "borrow" the Glider while security is distracted. [From: Engadget]

Continue reading Nissan's Land Glider Concept Car Leans Like a Motorcycle

SwitchedNissan's Land Glider Concept Car Leans Like a Motorcycle originally appeared on Switched on Sat, 10 Oct 2009 10:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>carconceptconcept carConceptCardesignelectric carElectricCargreenmotorcyclenissantopzero emissionsZeroEmissionsSat, 10 Oct 2009 10:29:00 EST<![CDATA[BMW Revives C1 Scooter in Electric Form]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/10/09/bmw-revives-c1-scooter-in-electric-form/http://www.switched.com/2009/10/09/bmw-revives-c1-scooter-in-electric-form/http://www.switched.com/2009/10/09/bmw-revives-c1-scooter-in-electric-form/#commentsFiled under:

BMW has resurrected the epically failed C1 scooter as a one-off concept vehicle, equipping it with one substantial modification. It's electric. The original C1 never quite caught on, due in part to some confusing helmet and bike laws in both Sweden and the U.K., and perhaps also due to its motorcyle-meets-golf-cart aesthetic. Its new electric replacement, the C1E, is almost identical in design, with the same roll cage, windscreen, and seatbelt. The lithium ion-powered electric engine tops out at 62 mph, but can reach nearly 50 mph in seven seconds.

The purpose of the old C1 was to provide a safe alternative to cars in traffic-clogged cities. This time around, BMW has added environmental friendliness to the mix. Although the company claims this model will probably never see the market, it likely wouldn't sell much in the U.S. even if it were released to the masses. In its current design, it's looking a little more Segway than Vespa. [From: Wired]

SwitchedBMW Revives C1 Scooter in Electric Form originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 09 Oct 2009 15:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bmwelectric carElectricCargreenscootertopFri, 09 Oct 2009 15:18:00 EST<![CDATA[SmartCap Could Save Lives by Keeping Sleepy Drivers Awake]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/10/08/smartcap-could-save-lives-by-keeping-sleepy-drivers-awake/http://www.switched.com/2009/10/08/smartcap-could-save-lives-by-keeping-sleepy-drivers-awake/http://www.switched.com/2009/10/08/smartcap-could-save-lives-by-keeping-sleepy-drivers-awake/#commentsFiled under:

Obviously, hats are typically employed as fashion accessories, idealistic symbols, sun blockers, and security blankets for insecure, attention-seeking guidos. Australian company CRC Mining, though, has reportedly created an invaluable hat which may actually save lives.

Directed by Dr. Daniel Bongers, researchers equipped the Smart Cap wonder hat, which is currently being tested on operators and drivers of Anglo American machines and trucks, with brain monitoring sensors that can actually determine if the wearer is falling asleep. If the cap detects signs of fatigue, it relays a signal to a screen in the truck's cab which emits a warning alert and advises the driver to pull over and rest.

Continue reading SmartCap Could Save Lives by Keeping Sleepy Drivers Awake

SwitchedSmartCap Could Save Lives by Keeping Sleepy Drivers Awake originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 08 Oct 2009 09:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>asleep at the wheelAsleepAtTheWheeldrivingSmartCaptoptruckingThu, 08 Oct 2009 09:24:00 EST<![CDATA[Pay Off Your Mercedes-Benz? There's an App for That]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/10/07/pay-off-your-mercedes-benz-theres-an-app-for-that/http://www.switched.com/2009/10/07/pay-off-your-mercedes-benz-theres-an-app-for-that/http://www.switched.com/2009/10/07/pay-off-your-mercedes-benz-theres-an-app-for-that/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Pay Off Your Mercedes-Benz From Your iPhoneEveryone has an iPhone app nowadays. The Hut, Starbucks, our friends of TUAW, even car sharing service Zipcar are now part of the club. So who was left sitting around without a cheaply and poorly developed, multi-touch doodad, that they could slap their brand on? Apparently Mercedes-Benz, and as expected, the luxury car maker couldn't wait any longer to hop on the bandwagon. This isn't the first car company to release an iPhone app, but it is the first to even attempt to do something useful with one. Last October, Ford released its Flex app, which lets you manipulate snapshots taken with your iPhone, but seems to have very little to do with the Flex Fuel vehicles it was supposed to be promoting.

So what exactly can you do with the new Mercedes-Benz app? Well you can pay your bill, see when your bill is do due (Ed. note. Thanks, Chris), and see how much you've spent so far in your quest to own a shiny transport box that will inevitably be worth about one-tenth of the purchase price by the time you finish paying it off. Mercedes-Benz also included some basic concierge type features that can direct you to a local Mercedes dealer (in case you need a second E-Class Coupe), help you shop for auto insurance, get you room upgrades at hotels, and lastly, connect you with a customer service rep.

Continue reading Pay Off Your Mercedes-Benz? There's an App for That

SwitchedPay Off Your Mercedes-Benz? There's an App for That originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 07 Oct 2009 09:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>app storeAppStorecarcarsiphone appIphoneAppMercedes Benzmercedes-benzMercedesBenztopWed, 07 Oct 2009 09:31:00 EST<![CDATA[Nissan iPhone App Helps You Win the Grand Prix -- of Eco-Driving]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/10/07/nissan-iphone-app-helps-you-win-the-grand-prix-of-eco-driving/http://www.switched.com/2009/10/07/nissan-iphone-app-helps-you-win-the-grand-prix-of-eco-driving/http://www.switched.com/2009/10/07/nissan-iphone-app-helps-you-win-the-grand-prix-of-eco-driving/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

nissan e1 grand prix ceatec

The iPhone may not be as big in Japan as it is in the States, but that hasn't stopped Nissan from developing an app that shows the residents of Yokohama City, Japan how to drive better.

The new program is part of a trial service called E1 Grand Prix. Here's how it works: The app connects to your car's On-Board Diagnostics (OBD), and extracts information in real-time to determine how efficiently you're driving (you know, from a saving fuel perspective). Step on the gas and then break too much, and you'll get a low score; accelerate just enough to coast to the corner before the light turns red, and you'll get high marks. The app connects to your OBD via in-car mobile Wi-Fi, and then spits back your results on your iPhone screen and via e-mail. The results are also uploaded to an online site, where you essentially compete with other folks to be the most 'eco-efficient' driver -- hence the 'Grand Prix' name).

Continue reading Nissan iPhone App Helps You Win the Grand Prix -- of Eco-Driving

SwitchedNissan iPhone App Helps You Win the Grand Prix -- of Eco-Driving originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 07 Oct 2009 07:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>carsceatecceatec2009e1grandprixecodrivingiphoneappsmobileappsnissantopWed, 07 Oct 2009 07:06:00 EST<![CDATA[Scammers Expose Thousands of Hotmail Passwords, Microsoft Confirms]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/10/05/scammers-expose-thousands-of-hotmail-passwords-microsoft-confir/http://www.switched.com/2009/10/05/scammers-expose-thousands-of-hotmail-passwords-microsoft-confir/http://www.switched.com/2009/10/05/scammers-expose-thousands-of-hotmail-passwords-microsoft-confir/#commentsFiled under: ,

Just today, news broke that an anonymous user of PasteBin.com, a legitimate site marketed to software developers, posted more than 10,000 Hotmail addresses and passwords to the site last Thursday. According to NeoWin, most of the addresses appear to belong to European users, and all seem to be authentic. As shocking as it may be to find out that a benign site like PasteBin could host (albeit unwittingly -- reports have come in suggesting that the PasteBin user account was hacked) such grossly illegal content, TheNextWeb tells us we shouldn't be particularly surprised. A recent blog post on the site reports that a quick Google search will yield several PasteBin posts containing the passwords for thousands of Hotmail, Yahoo!, and even Gmail accounts.

NeoWin has alerted Microsoft to the problem and PasteBin has taken down the original Hotmail posting. Still, we should all stay on our toes. Today would be a good day to change that e-mail password. It'll only take a couple minutes, and might save you a lot of grief. [From: NeoWin, via TheNextWeb]

SwitchedScammers Expose Thousands of Hotmail Passwords, Microsoft Confirms originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 05 Oct 2009 17:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>emailgmailhackhotmailsecuritytopYahooMailMon, 05 Oct 2009 17:12:00 EST