Showing posts with label gadgets. Show all posts
Showing posts with label gadgets. Show all posts

Thursday, May 20, 2010

Is this the Start of Google Motors? Google Tech to Connect Chevy Volt Customers


General Motors has announced that OnStar will be working with Google in order to help connect the Chevrolet Volt even more.

Google has some add-ons in development for version 2.0 of the upcoming Volt app. There will be a navigation tab that uses Google Maps with a lojack-type setup, showing owners' proximity to the car (and possibly solving the Seinfeldian parking problem for good).

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Ford Hires Santos, a Virtual Soldier Turned Into Worker


After GM announced its R2 space robot, how long could it be before the Blue Oval had something futuristic to show off? Ford recently introduced Santos, a new virtual-reality stress-testing digital man.

Santos, derived from the Department of Defense's Virtual Soldier Research program, is Ford's next stage of virtual work assistance. He works in a simulated Ford factory and measures the effects of real-world stress by combining a "complete biomechanical muscular system" with "predictive dynamics".

Ford ergonomics technical specialist Allison Stephens thankfully explains it in layman's terms:

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Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Spyker C8 Laviolette LM85 Available on Forza Motorsport 3 / Xbox 360


Xbox 360 gamers are offered their first opportunity to take a virtual place behind the wheel of a Spyker supercar as the Dutch firm's C8 Laviolette LM85 is now available as the gift car of the Exotic Car Pack for Forza Motorsport 3, which was released on 11 May for 400 Microsoft Points.

"We've created something very special and unique with the LM85," said Victor Muller, CEO of Spyker and recently, of Saab Automobile as well. "It's very exciting to share our creation and passion with the Xbox and Forza Motorsport community, and we can't wait to see how players put it through the paces on the track."

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Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Infiniti Presents Limited Edition Timepiece Designed by Bell & Ross


Following in the footsteps of other premium automakers, Infiniti has announced the release of a limited edition wristwatch engineered by the Swiss specialist watchmaker Bell & Ross. Only 100 examples of the watch are being produced, and will be offered exclusively through Infiniti Centres in Europe starting from June 1st at a recommended retail price (RRP) of £2,809.97 or about US$3,576.

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Monday, May 10, 2010

Lamborghini Opens its First Boutique Store in Canada


Since most will never be able to afford a real-life example of their cars, Lamborghini folks are keen on making a profit off the rest of us through its official memorabilia. Following the openings of its new boutique stores in Los Angeles and Beijing in late 2009, Lamborghini opened its first store in Canada this past Saturday (May 8).

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Saturday, May 8, 2010

Money Well Spent: Rolls Royce Ghosts Shredded in Iron Man 2 Were Real [with Video]


There's something to be said for keeping it real. Making a movie? Keep it real. Getting interrogated by the cops? DO NOT KEEP IT REAL.

While it's obvious that a film like Iron Man requires a planet's-worth of special effects, stuff like wrecking cars usually shouldn't. We all saw how poor choice of CGI affected Ithe fourth Indiana Jones movie.

That's why it's refreshing to see that some of the fancy cars destroyed in Iron Man 2 were real. Tony Stark's Rolls-Royce getting destroyed at a race in Monaco was legit (but filmed in California).

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Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Rolls-Royce Releases Ghost App Configurator for iPhone, iPod Touch


Got an iPhone? Or maybe an iPod touch? Good, because that means you'll be able to download Rolls-Royce's first official smart phone application ever (and its free!). The app gives people the ability to customize their very own small roller, the Ghost.

If you've got the time there are a bunch of variables to choose from: 12 colors (although any color you can dream up they'll do), three kinds of wheels, and a Ghost-exclusive Silver Satin hood (although with the right investment, people could probably get it on any model they choose).

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Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Mercedes-Benz Opens Styling division, Reveals Concept Interior for Eurocopter


Mercedes-Benz Style is the Daimler equivalent to all the other fancy design houses run by auto manufacturers (think BMW's DesignworksUSA and Porsche Design). The goal is build product portfolios for more than just cars (like furniture, household utensils, etc.) using Merc's international design studios.

Mercedes-Benz design head Professor h.c. Gorden Wagener explains, "Our unique design expertise is appreciated throughout the world. We have therefore decided to establish the Mercedes-specific styling outside the automotive field too – and so far we have met with a very positive response from a great number of manufacturers in a variety of sectors."

Daimler's latest firm will both take on commissions (where the project originator is sold the styling user rights) and create original work (where the styling rights remain at MBS).

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Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Lexus Brings its AWD Hybrid Bike to the UK


Lexus has been drastically improving its designs for the past few years now, evolving from tricked-out Toyota and outdated Mercedes clone to having its own, relatively unique lines throughout its model range. Now, Lexus wants to do the same thing for bikes with its Hybrid Bicycle.

Having first shown up at the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show, Lexus brought one of two examples to the UK for the Lexus-sponsored Great British Bike Ride.

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Wednesday, April 14, 2010

GM Teams up with NASA to Create Robonaut R2 for International Space Station


NASA plans on solving the aging-astronaut problem by partnering with GM to create the Robonaut 2 (or R2), a new "permanent resident of the International Space Station".

R2 is the result of a co-op between NASA and GM to create a robotic assistant for human workers (that looks like Cobra Commander). Weighing in at 300 pounds, R2 is going into space for some zero-gravity operation and electromagnetic/radioactive interference testing within the station...BUT HE WON'T BE ALONE.

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Monday, April 5, 2010

Apple's iPad Tablet find its Way into a Car [with Video]


Apple's much-hyped iPad tablet PC was only just launched this past Saturday, April 3, yet we already have the first in-car application of the computing gadget. The people responsible for the lightning-fast installation of the iPad on a vehicle (a Toyota Tacoma, to be specific) are the guys from SoundMan Car Audio located in Santa Clarita, California.

Here's what 'SoundMan' had to say about the iPad project:

"We chose to use the iPad as the only source for the vehicles entertainment system. The dock connector will plug into a cable that runs to a Onkyo ND-S1 which will send the digital signal from the iPad directly into an Audison Bit One. The Bit One will then act as the D/A converter, and will also process the audio signal. The Bit One also has a great controller for adjusting the volume and audio settings. The amplifier we chose is the McIntosh MCC406M."

If you follow the jump, you can watch a video demonstrating the installation process.

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Tuesday, March 30, 2010

New Cadillac CTS Coupe Featured in iPad App


If anything else, automakers are fully embracing Apple's i-do-nothing-well iPad tablet. Shortly after Infiniti told us about a special version of its 'Adeyaka' digital magazine designed exclusively for the iPad, Cadillac announced the sponsoring of Cool Hunting's application for the tablet computer with exclusive content inspired by the all-new 2011 CTS Coupe.

"The Cadillac CTS Coupe serves as muse for our design and technology stories." says Josh Rubin, founder and Editor-in-Chief of Cool Hunting.

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Friday, March 26, 2010

Mercedes-Benz Launches 2011 E-Class Cabriolet Miniatures


Tying in with the European market launch of the 2011 E-Class Convertible on March 27, Mercedes-Benz has released a new series of diecast miniature models of its soft-top four-seater that are available exclusively at the firm's dealerships on a scale of 1:87, 1:43 and 1:18.

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Infiniti Embraces Apple's iPad Tablet


Like it or not, Apple's iPad tablet is coming and despite all the people who complain about it, it will be bought. So it comes to no surprise that many companies are jumping on the bandwagon for the sake of marketing. One of those companies is Infiniti that has announced the development of a special version of its 'adeyaka' customer magazine for the iPad.

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