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Hublot “Key Of Time” Watch

Posted: 26 Jan 2011 04:51 AM PST

If you aren't familiar with the movement in the La Cle du Temps, let me explain it. It starts with a tourbillon based movement, where the tourbillon juts out of the bottom side of the watch. This is called a vertically mounted tourbillon. You can see it in the picture looking like some space age propeller. The watch dial, to tell the time, is on the upper right of the dial. The lower left of the dial is a power reserve indicator (looks like 5 days worth in the manually wound movement), and above it is the selector for speeding up for slowing down the time. This is where it gets interesting, and Hublot has clearly changed the format of the dial a bit from the previous watch. Using a crown on the left of the watch you can alter the time to run fast or run slow. A fun, but gimmicky way of "controlling time." The neat part is that the movement always retains knowledge of the correct time - so you can always switch it back to "normal" mode and the time isn't all screwed up.


Beer Hour: Takara Tomy’s Beer Can Dispenser

Posted: 26 Jan 2011 04:44 AM PST

I am not really sure if beer lovers really need this kind of gadget, but Takara Tomy is ready to sell it (in Japan only – at least initially). The company has showcased the so-called “Beer Hour” in Tokyo today, a small device that’s supposed to make it easier to pour beer from cans into glasses.

According to Takara Tomy, the Beer Hour is “optimized” for the cans Japan’s four top breweries produce (I have no idea what that means). But the company also says that basically every beer can holding between 350ml and 500ml will fit, including those not made in Japan.


Takara Tomy will start selling the Beer Hour in yellow and black on May 19 (price: $25). If you live outside Japan, ask specialized online store Rinkya to get one shipped to you when the device comes out.

Via IT Media [JP]

Smartphones Top Handset Sales In Japan, Galaxy S Is No. 1

Posted: 26 Jan 2011 01:23 AM PST

Things are slowly changing in Japan, land of the super-advanced feature phones (which have always been smartphones in disguise as far as features are concerned). Market research firm Gfk Japan [JP] is reporting that no less than seven of the top 10 handsets sold in the country between January 10 and 16 were smartphones. Read the rest on MobileCrunch.


Hump Day Giveaway: ThinkFun Solitaire Chess

Posted: 25 Jan 2011 10:00 PM PST

Do you like fun? Do you like chess? Do you like being alone? Well, ThinkFun has the chess game for you. Called Solitaire Chess, the game is a cross between a puzzle and standard chess.

How it Works
• Each game begins with the pieces set on the board in specific positions. Challenges range from Easy to Expert levels.
• Pieces move as in regular Chess.
• Every move must be a capture.
• When there's only one piece left, YOU WIN!

Now, go ahead and click through to actually play the game and find out how you can win one of three iPhone/iPad apps or one of three actual board games.

So we have three iPhone versions of the game and three physical copies of the game on offer. Comment below describing the last time you left “one last man standing” and also note if you prefer the electronic or physical version of the game. I’ll pick one winner on Thursday at Noon.

Predictably (And Idiotically), Russian Media Link Airport Bombing To Modern Warfare 2

Posted: 25 Jan 2011 07:27 PM PST

I’ve run out of outrage to direct at the perpetrators of anti-video-game foolishness who pervade the media worldwide. The issue has been run down many times, by far more capable people than myself, perhaps most visibly in the furor surrounding Modern Warfare 2 and its “controversial” mission in which your character is forced to kill civilians in order to keep his cover intact. We weighed in at the time.

That particular teacup has a new tempest in it this week in the aftermath of the tragic airport bombing in Moscow, as Russia Today brings the game in as a potential cause for the event and training tool for terrorists, complete with absurd testimonials from “experts.” I think I’ll refrain from comment on how mind-blowingly ignorant and reactionary this “report” is. Discuss. Or, actually, no. Let’s not.

Nikon Wants To Turn Your DSLR Viewfinder Into… A Projector

Posted: 25 Jan 2011 05:58 PM PST


This patent, filed by Nikon in Japan, is really baffling me right now. The idea is that the viewfinder or eyepiece would serve not only as a something to put your eye to and frame shots, but also as a pico projector. Isn’t that a little dangerous?

http://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&sl=ja&tl=en&u=http://egami.blog.so-net.ne.jp/2011-01-26&prev=_t&rurl=translate.google.com&twu=1&usg=ALkJrhj8zes9fdZ35MrXLV3qx4ee-O9RKw#english

At first I thought, why not shoot the image out the front? But of course there’s no way to accommodate the lens that’s on there. So I guess it has to go out the back, and you don’t want to add any more openings to the internals than necessary, so it’s got to be the viewfinder.

But really, these justifications would only be offered by an industrial designer if you put a gun to his head and told him to integrate a projector with a DSLR. No sane designer would ever want to integrate something you put your eye to with something that burns your retina. Even if you have a million failsafes, people won’t like it.

Man, can that really be what they’re patenting? The picture looks different. But the description is pretty specific.

They’ve already got a projector camera, so we know they’re crazy, but are they this crazy? At any rate, the patent is here, so make what you will of it.

[via Nikon Rumors]

First Previews Of Fujifilm X100 Start Popping Up

Posted: 25 Jan 2011 05:27 PM PST


My love for the X100 is no secret. I was excited when it was announced, ecstatic to get my hands on it, and even named it my personal best of show at CES. So I’m a little jealous (but I understand, Fujifilm, I understand) that a few photo outlets on the net are getting their units for hands-on previews. DP Review’s is practical and thorough, as usual, and Norwegian site Akam.no has put up (against Fuji’s orders) an array of sample shots showing ISO performance. That’ll probably get taken down, so check it out first.

[via Photo Rumors]

Nissan Leaf Gets European Car Of The Year, First Ever For An Electric Car

Posted: 25 Jan 2011 04:48 PM PST

Never before has an EV been European Car of the Year; this year the Nissan Leaf gets it. Similar to the North American Car of the Year, which the Chevrolet Volt won, the European COTY is chosen by auto journalists; 58 of them from 23 European countries. The contest was very close. The Leaf rang up 257 points from the journos, besting the Alfa Romeo Giulietta by only 9 points. So why did the Nissan Leaf win?

When you look at just how efficient the Nissan Leaf is you begin to understand just why EVs will become a part of our everyday life. The EPA rated the Leaf at 99 MPGe, or miles per gallon equivalent, which means that on average, the same amount of energy contained in a gallon of gasoline can propel the Leaf for 99 miles. This says a lot about energy efficiencies between the outdated internal combustion and more moden EVs. So in this sense it is quite a new approach to personal transportation.

Håkan Matson, president of the CoTY jury, said at the ceremony:

I am convinced that we will see other electric cars named Car of the Year in the future. But when we do, we must always remember that only one can be the first. And that is why Nissan LEAF Car of the Year 2011 is – and will remain – so very special.

Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn, after receiving the trophy, said:

It is a great honor for Nissan LEAF to be recognized as the European Car of the Year – the first all-electric car to receive this distinction. Like previous Car of the Year winners, Nissan LEAF is an appealing, competitive car, with no compromise on style, features, safety, performance or handling. Yet it stands apart as an innovative car that reflects a clear vision of the future of transportation – a vision of sustainable mobility

While the Volt won the North American Car of the Year for being both innovative and practical, the Leaf wins because it has zero emissions at the tailpipe. Therefore, the Leaf will be great for dense urban areas, especially LA, where smog is built up from cars and trapped between the mountains. The Leaf is the first practical EV because of its range. Most people don’t need to travel more than 100 miles per day and if they do, there is a plan.

Seattle is part of a DOE project wherein they are placing 2,500 charging stations in the Puget Sound region. Therefore, Leaf owners will always be 5 miles from a charging station. Again, this should cut back on what many are calling the Leaf’s weakness: Range Anxiety. While 100 miles, or less if you use AC and other accessories, will be enough; those who travel into cities won’t have to worry about getting back with half a battery. With enough charging stations, Leaf and other EV owners will be able to leave the car for a few hours and come back to it charged.

With the right infrastructure, car manufacturers can fully get rid of the increasingly rare petroleum and scale down battery size — lithium isn’t exactly easy to obtain either. The Leaf is a great start to a less oil-driven future; while many of the plastics are indeed made from petroleum, at least it isn’t burning it all day long. And that is why the Europeans love it. Now, if only Ford came out with their Focus Electric a bit earlier.

Press Release

01.24.2011 , PARIS, France

100% ELECTRIC NISSAN LEAF PICKS UP EUROPEAN CAR OF THE YEAR 2011 TROPHY

The trophy recognizing the revolutionary Nissan LEAF as Europe’s Car of The Year 2011 was handed over to Nissan Motor Co.’s President and CEO Carlos Ghosn in a special ceremony at the Pavillion Gabriel in Paris.

To win the award, the 58 CoTY members – leading motoring journalists from 23 European countries – placed Nissan LEAF ahead of six conventional new cars on the shortlist. It is the first time in CoTY’s 48-year history that the annual award has been won by an electric vehicle.

“I am convinced that we will see other electric cars named Car of the Year in the future. But when we do, we must always remember that only one can be the first. And that is why Nissan LEAF Car of the Year 2011 is – and will remain – so very special,” said Håkan Matson, president of the CoTY jury, speaking at the ceremony.

“It is a great honor for Nissan LEAF to be recognized as the European Car of the Year – the first all-electric car to receive this distinction. Like previous Car of the Year winners, Nissan LEAF is an appealing, competitive car, with no compromise on style, features, safety, performance or handling. Yet it stands apart as an innovative car that reflects a clear vision of the future of transportation – a vision of sustainable mobility,” said Ghosn after receiving the trophy.

Nissan LEAF is powered by an in-house developed compact electric motor and inverter in the front of the car driving the front wheels. The AC motor develops 80 kW of power and 280 Nm of torque, enough for a maximum speed of 145 km/h (90 mph). The electric motor is powered by an advanced laminated lithium-ion battery with a power output of more than 90 kW. Developed by the Automotive Energy Supply Corporation (AESC), a joint venture between Nissan and electronics giant NEC Corp., the breakthrough battery has the capacity to store twice as much energy as the previous generation battery.

The zero-emission car is fully equipped with features such as regenerating braking, air conditioning, satellite navigation and a parking camera. Innovative smart phone connectivity will allow an owner to heat or cool the interior of the car remotely via a mobile phone. The single option is a solar panel mounted in the rear spoiler.

Pre-orders for Nissan LEAF have reached more than 27,000 units globally. The zero-emission car is currently built in Japan, but will also be manufactured in the United States and United Kingdom when new manufacturing facilities there open in late 2012 and early 2013 respectively. Deliveries to individual customers in Japan and the US began in December. In Europe, deliveries will start shortly to Portugal, the Republic of Ireland, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands followed by more markets later in the year.

The Renault-Nissan Alliance aims to be a global leader in zero-emission mobility and is taking a comprehensive approach encompassing both the product and the infrastructure required to support the mass marketing of electric vehicles. To date, the Alliance has entered into more than 90 partnerships with governments, municipal authorities and companies worldwide to prepare the markets and infrastructure for the successful adoption of electric vehicles.

* The current version of the coveted marble trophy, introduced in 2004, was created by Emmanuel Zurini, a French artist famous for his automotive sculptures. Zurini was a leading Grand Prix photographer in the 1960s before turning to sculpture in 1975. It is the third specially created trophy in the history of the Award.

Nissan has won the CoTY award before. In 1993, the Micra became the first Japanese-badged car to win the accolade and started Europe’s love affair with the little car that continues today with the recent launch of the latest generation Micra in late 2010.

Nissan Zero Emission Website
http://www.nissan-zeroemission.com

HTC Flyer Specs: Sense UI, HSPA, Dual Cameras

Posted: 25 Jan 2011 04:12 PM PST

HTC’s upcoming tablets hve been peeking out from various non-official sources over the last few weeks, starting with a trademark request, then a few supplier leaks. And now someone has leaked what they claim is more or less the full spec sheet for the 7″ device.

It’ll have the same Qualcomm Snapdragon processor as the Desire HD (model MSM8255), and the 7-inch touchscreen will be 1024×600. So, similar dimensions to the Galaxy Tab. The Flyer also has dual cameras, plus HDMI out. And it’ll support HSPA, the high-bandwidth 3G technology that debuted with the T-Mobile G2.

It’ll also have a new version of Sense on it, which apparently HTC has modified to be more desktop-y (not sure if I’m happy about this). The device is also listed as shipping with Android 2.3, which will put it at a distinct disadvantage to the other tablets coming out. That said, the 10-inch Flyer (or Scribe, whatever it may be called) will likely ship with 3.0.

[via Android Community]

Minimalist Swiss Block-Clock Is Beautiful, Incredibly Expensive

Posted: 25 Jan 2011 04:00 PM PST


Why is it that the coolest things are always out of my price range? Wait, don’t answer that. Let me rephrase. Why is it that the coolest things are always way out of my price range?

Case in point: this amazing Swiss wall clock from illi, which beats the seconds with its little blocks, then opens up crazily to reveal the actual time whenever you ask it to.

But what’s even cooler than this blocky clock? The matching wristwatch:

So what can you expect to pay? Well, the wall clock is a mere 90,000 Swiss Francs, so with tax and exchange monsieur is probably going to clear $100K. Yeah, I told you it was up there. Not sure what the watch costs, but I guarantee you’re not going to get it for Casio prices. Or even BMW prices, really.

[via Luxist]

So Why Should You Care About NFC?

Posted: 25 Jan 2011 01:20 PM PST

If you asked most folks what NFC means they’d probably mumble something about the Giants and wave you off. However, Near Field Communication is here to stay and if Google and Apple’s current and potential implementations are any indication, we’ll be using NFC devices in the next two years, at least in some specific environments.

First, though, what is Near Field Communication (NFC)? At its core it’s a low-power radio system that allows short-range data transfer at distances around 3 inches, or 10 centimeters. There are multiple modes, although the most important is passive mode, in which a device acts as a programmable smart card. For example, an NFC transmitter could pose as any number of RFIDs as well as interact, albeit briefly, with security systems and payment kiosks. In short, an NFC transmitter becomes both a wallet and a personal ID.

Why would you want NFC in a phone? Well, NFC is entering the common lexicon through improvements in mass transit payment systems (DC, for example, is looking into it as well as Vancouver). If you’ve ever been to Japan, you’ll remember the ubiquitous Suica penguin cards used to get into the Japanese metro.

However, given the American animus against mass transit — to the extent that in Ohio they gave up Federal cash rather than connect Columbus and Cleveland via rail — I doubt that Apple and Google are consider that a priority. However, the iPhone 5 and other NFC-capable phones will be headed to Asia and Europe and so can be used there. There are, to be sure, commuters who would love NFC in the DC, NYC, and SF metros, and that’s not a small constituency. However, it’s not enough to roll out an entire mobile infrastructure for.

Our own MG believes that NFC will make for an easy way to connect mobile devices with each other. However, NFC isn’t quite the mobile mesh personal area network we’ve been looking for. There are better and easier ways to get data from point A to point B than add an entirely new radio stack.

However, general payments seem to be the real value play here. Read this:

The main goal for Apple would be to get a piece of the $6.2 trillion Americans spend each year on goods and services, Crone said. Today, the company pays credit-card processing fees on every purchase from iTunes. By encouraging consumers to use cheaper methods — such as tapping their bank accounts directly, which is how many purchases are made via PayPal — Apple could cut its own costs and those of retailers selling Apple products.

Qualcomm is already at the forefront of this movement and the eventual move from credit cards to NFC devices with Paypal-like sign-up and cash dispersal is well on its way to launch. Why hasn’t it come yet? Well, the biggest bottleneck is the current install base of credit card machines and the associated costs of upgrading the entire credit card network at once. Presumably card readings currently supporting the Citibank Blink RFID payment system will also support future NFC standards, an important concern.

In the end, you will have to start caring about NFC simply because it is coming sooner than later. I’d estimate we’ll have general awareness of the topic by 2012 and actual adoption in the US by 2015, thereby relegating “dumb” credit cards to the junk heap of history. Apple and Google are simply looking for a way to cash in on the wave of conversions before that time comes — a noble (and shrewd) goal.

Tissot Racing-Touch Watch

Posted: 25 Jan 2011 01:02 PM PST

For the last few years we have gotten a new Tissot T-Touch style watch each year. Last year it was the Tissot Sailing-Touch, and for 2011 it will be the Racing-Touch (Racing T-Touch). Here is a sneak peak as what Tissot's new T-Touch model will be all about.


Harman Kardon SB 16 Soundbar Simplifies Your Home Theater Setup

Posted: 25 Jan 2011 12:45 PM PST


Home theater aficionados probably won’t be interested in this minimal setup, but I kind of like it. The five-speaker-plus-sub thing is great if you’ve got a room for it, or can afford to outfit it correctly, but for the average apartment-dweller or someone who just doesn’t care that much about surround sound, a good soundbar like this SB 16 from Harmon Kardon could be just what the doctor ordered.

It connects directly to your TV or A/V receiver, and there’s a wireless subwoofer that you can place wherever it resonates best. The soundbar isn’t underpowered, either, with two 3-inch drivers and one 3/4 tweeter for each channel, totaling 100 watts. Add the subwoofer and you’ve got, well, adequate sound for most shows and games.

I was just watching Star Wars last night on my laptop, and even with those tinny little speakers you can still get into a movie — but I’m not a surround sound connoisseur by any means. The thing is about this soundbar, though, is it costs $600, which puts it in competition with plenty of semi-budget surround systems. It’s got a nice, convenient design and (one hopes) decent sound, but it’s putting itself out there with that price. People may not believe it’s that much better than built-in speakers on some TVs.

At any rate, you can find out more over at HK — inputs, remote settings, and such.

Razer’s Portable Ferox Speakers Shoot Sound In Every Direction

Posted: 25 Jan 2011 11:43 AM PST


A good pair of portable speakers is hard to find. Well, not that hard, but non-powered speakers that produce good sound and yet fit comfortably in a bag aren’t exactly littering the ground. Razer looks to remedy this with their new Ferox sound system, a pair of egg-shaped speakers that open up at the top and provide “360 degree omni-directional acoustics.”

We’ll forgive them for using that phrase. They have acknowledged they have an overstatement problem, and they are going to see someone about it.

So in other words, the speakers aren’t directional, which may or may not be a good thing. Filling a small room with sound will be easy, but you also can’t really be the only one hearing it, which means their usability in public is somewhat reduced. They have rechargeable batteries in ‘em, which are supposed to last 12 hours, which is nice, but also one more thing you have to worry about.

The mechanism that rises up at the top looks impressive, but who knows whether it produces decent sound? At $60 (available nowish) they’re not too much of a risk either way, but we’ll get some to review and let you know whether you should pick some up or just stick to headphones.

PS3 Slim-Style Hard Drive Enclosures Amaze, Delight

Posted: 25 Jan 2011 10:28 AM PST

1. Buy the enclosure in black, white, or blue.
2. Connect to PS3 or PC.
3. ????
4. Profit!

via HardwareSphere


Video: Captain Planet Would Be Proud Of The T-Shirt That Detects Pollution

Posted: 25 Jan 2011 09:30 AM PST

Very clever, this. It’s a t-shirt that "detects" pollution by way of changing color when it comes into contact with high carbon monoxide levels. It was designed by two NYU graduate students, who are now famous forever.

The shirt is part of a project called Warning Signs, and the next warning sign could be a shirt that contains alcohol sensors. "Hey, buddy, my shirt is changing color here, you need to lay off the booze."

"No way, man, you’re just narcing on my good time."

This I how I imagine the youth talk to each other these days.

I wouldn’t have written about this if I didn’t think it was neat, so there.


Video: Ben Heck Dazzles & Creates Mobile Phone Charger Powered By Kinetic Energy

Posted: 25 Jan 2011 09:00 AM PST

Ben Heck, the engineering whiz who makes genuinely useful stuff for the lot of us, has a new device that may interest you Android fans in the crowd. It’s a mobile phone charger that works using the mighty power of kinetic energy, the energy of motion. What a pleasant man this Ben Heck is.

The first iteration of the mobile charger works with a simple hand crank. In case you find yourself on a deserted island, as Mr. Heck[endorn] tells us, all you have to do is crank away. Almighty electricity!

The second iteration uses the power of the locomotion of your legs. (Note: this will require walking, so be sure to ask your doctor before performing any new exercise regiment.)

Does it work? Tune in to find out~!

And yes, you can win the charger by entering some sort of contest, which is sorta like a bonus.

Audi A6 Will Be Launched With Internet-Powered Nav, Google Maps And Inrix For Traffic

Posted: 25 Jan 2011 08:49 AM PST

Audi was once known as the German car that came with all-wheel-drive. That notoriety is changing and Audi is becoming a huge player in the tech game; their interfaces are fantastic and run with exceptional speed and style. And now, they are bringing the internet to their navigations systems: the Google maps of navs, if you will.

With the new A6, Audi plans to integrate internet delivered traffic, rather than satellite, from sources like Inrix and Google Maps. Unlike previous systems powered by Sirius Traffic, the new internet-based systems can tell traffic information every 20-30 feet, rather that the old mile-by-mile. This is increasingly important in urban areas with many traffic lights — instead of knowing which block of blocks are slow, you will now be able to zero in down to the block.

With all this information comes great direction. The nav system in the Audi will now take you through the fastest route — perfect for getting in and out of cities with ease.

The system is launching with the name Audi Online Services and will use a data plan to to deliver traffic, road conditions and other information to the system. In Europe, the data will be accessed by a SIM card reader — european customers can often have their cards cloned. In the US, data will be accessed from a Bluetooth enabled smartphone. In addition to the traffic and nav routing, the data connection can be used for Google-searching points of interest. Expect greater search capabilities with up-to-date results, than from previous in-car systems.

All other manufacturers, please take note of this. The Germans are bringing the technology we are already familiar with and that we really want. Rollout will begin with the A6, followed by the A8, A4 and Q7.

Press Release

PALERMO, Italy, Jan. 24, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Audi AG and INRIX, the leading provider of traffic and driver services, announced Audi has selected INRIX’s XD™ Traffic to help further the company’s Audi Connect strategy with real-time traffic information for its navigation systems starting with the mid-2011 model year.  At a launch event today for the 2011 Audi A6, the automaker demonstrated how Audi vehicles connected to the Internet via Audi Online Services will use XD Traffic to provide motorists with real-time traffic information, traffic-influenced turn-by-turn directions and alerts to accidents and other incidents along their route.”Audi is continuously looking for ways to harness the benefits of the latest technologies to improve the driving experience for our customers,” said Ulrich Beeskow, Head of Development for Connected Navigation, Audi AG. “Traffic is no exception.  The combination of INRIX’s XD Traffic and Connected Services platform helps Audi become the first car manufacturer in the world to deliver a high quality and reliable connected navigation systems our customers can count on to always find the best route and avoid unforeseen delays along the way.”

“Audi and INRIX are known as technology innovators so it’s only natural that we’re collaborating on the design and delivery of a highly advanced traffic-powered navigation solution for their customers,” said Bryan Mistele, INRIX president and CEO.  ”The accelerated development and integration of XD Traffic with Audi’s MMI navigation system fuels Audi navigation with the best pan-European real-time traffic information available.  Our collaboration advances the automaker’s reputation as an industry leader in bringing the latest technical breakthroughs to drivers everywhere.”

INRIX XD Traffic debuts on the new Audi MMI with Online Traffic available with today’s launch of the 2011 Audi A6.  The announcement represents the first product launch in the collaborations between Audi, INRIX and the automaker’s hardware and software suppliers to deliver real-time traffic information to Audi’s connected navigation systems.  Delivered via INRIX’s Connected Services platform, the service will be available initially in select European countries as part of an options package that includes Bluetooth mobile phone connectivity.

As a key component of a unique suite of Audi Online services, XD Traffic combines real-time traffic information from INRIX’s Smart Driver Network of more than 4 million GPS-enabled vehicles and mobile devices with insights from hundreds of public and private sources to recommend the best routes as well as provide reliable travel journey times and ETAs.  Covering major highways, motorways, city streets and secondary roads in countries across Europe and North America, XD Traffic continuously monitors traffic conditions along drivers’ routes delivering up to the minute alerts to accidents, road works and other incidents as well as recommending how to best navigate around them.

About INRIX

INRIX® is a leading provider of highly accurate traffic and driver services, with more than 120 customers and industry partners including the Ford Motor Company, Toyota, Audi AG, MapQuest, Microsoft, NAVIGON AG, TeleNav, I-95 Corridor Coalition, Tele Atlas, TTI, deCarta, TCS, Telmap, ANWB and ADAC. INRIX’s strategic partnerships across Europe extend the delivery of the highest quality data and broadest coverage available for personal navigation, mapping, telematics and other location-based service applications in the car, online and on mobile devices.

INRIX Traffic Services leverage sophisticated statistical analysis techniques, originally developed by Microsoft Research, to aggregate and enhance traffic-related information from hundreds of public and private sources, including traditional road sensors and the company’s unique network of more than 4 million GPS-enabled vehicles and cellular devices. INRIX delivers highly accurate real-time and historical traffic information today for 20 countries across North America and Europe. To experience the traffic technology revolution behind the next generation of navigation and location-based service applications, visit www.inrix.com.

About Audi AG

In 2010, The Audi Group sold more than 1 million Audi automobiles.  In 2009 the company achieved sales of Euro 29.8 billionan operating profit of Euro 1.6 billion. Audi produces vehicles in Ingolstadt and Neckarsulm, Gyor (Hungary), Changchun (China) and Brussels (Belgium).  Aurangabad in India saw the start of CKD production of the Audi A6 at the end of 2007 and of the Audi A4 in early October 2008. Production of the new Audi A1 has been running at the Brussels plant since May 2010. The Company is active in more than 100 markets worldwide.

AUDI AG’s wholly owned subsidiaries include AUDI HUNGARIA MOTOR Kft., Automobili Lamborghini Holding S.p.A. in Sant’Agata Bolognese (Italy) and quattro GmbH in Neckarsulm. Audi currently employs around 58,000 people worldwide, including 45,500 in Germany. Between 2010 and 2012 the Audi Group is planning to invest around Euro 5.5bn, mainly in new products, in order to sustain the Company’s technological lead embodied in its “Truth in Engineering” slogan. By 2015, Audi plans to increase the number of models in its portfolio to 42.  Complete results for the 2010 fiscal year for Audi AG will be shared at the company’s annual press conference on March 8, 2011 in Ingolstadt.

Audi’s commitment to “Truth in Engineering” has for long been true on many levels.  This extends to the company’s social responsibility efforts focused on delivering a better tomorrow for future generations. Environmental protection, resource conservation, international competitiveness and a sustainable human resources policy therefore form the procedural basis for the sustained success of Audi. The environmental commitment of AUDI AG is also reflected in the Audi Foundation for the Environment.

HP Files New Tablet Trademarks

Posted: 25 Jan 2011 08:47 AM PST

What’ll it be, then? TouchSlate? TouchCanvas? DuoPad? That’s what HP is thinking about calling its new slate line. They’re probably reserving those names for their best and brightest WebOS and Win7 devices.

Not much else to say beyond what we already know about the Palmpad. Should be an interesting few months once the Playbook and these guys start launching.

Need to check out that mole on your arm? Just buy this $1,500 iPhone case

Posted: 25 Jan 2011 08:38 AM PST

You’ve got a funky mole growing on your arm, but you’re too lazy to go get it checked out by a Doctor? Don’t be silly. Go to the Doctor. Funky moles can kill you dead.

You’ve got a funky mole long diagnosed as harmless, and you want to get up-close-and-personal with it? Oh, and you’ve got fifteen hundred bucks and an iPhone? Perfect. Check out the handyscope, a plug-and-play conversion case for the iPhone 4 that turns Cupertino’s finest into an on-the-go dermascope. Just like you always wanted!

Read the rest at MobileCrunch >>
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