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Wednesday, July 6, 2011

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Report: Japan says Pacific Ocean holds vast amounts of rare earth metals

Posted: 06 Jul 2011 02:49 PM PDT

Report: Japan says Pacific Ocean holds vast amounts of rare earth metals


Report: Japan says Pacific Ocean holds vast amounts of rare earth metals
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, Japan It's been reported that soaring demand for rare earth metals will likely drive prices way up. This concept of demand = increased prices is supported by numerous individuals and firms. First, there's the report from Metal-Pages, which indicates that the price of neodymium, an element used in electric motors, doubled in 2010....

'Flying Car' Ready to Roll

Posted: 06 Jul 2011 02:48 PM PDT

'Flying Car' Ready to Roll


'Flying Car' Ready to Roll
The first "flying car" of the 21st century is ready for the road.

Honda Civic GX missing out on loads of potential sales in California

Posted: 06 Jul 2011 02:17 PM PDT

Honda Civic GX missing out on loads of potential sales in California


Honda Civic GX missing out on loads of potential sales in California
Filed under: Hybrid, Honda, Natural Gas, USA 2012 Honda Civic GX - Click above for high-res image gallery Orchestrating the launch of the natural gas-powered 2012 Honda Civic GX to coincide with California's decision to no longer allow hybrid vehicles to drive in the state's High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes could have given Honda a sales edge, according to Automotive News (sub....

JVC's UX-VJ3 and UX-VJ5 speaker docks play (elegant) host to iPad and iPhone

Posted: 06 Jul 2011 02:17 PM PDT

JVC's UX-VJ3 and UX-VJ5 speaker docks play (elegant) host to iPad and iPhone


JVC's UX-VJ3 and UX-VJ5 speaker docks play (elegant) host to iPad and iPhone
There's not much you can do to spice up speaker docks at this point -- they're pretty much old hat. But what if that dock allowed you to plug in your iPad and iPhone, or iPod simultaneously? Ah, now we have your attention. Slated to hit the land that begot Kurosawa in mid-summer, the JVC UX-VJ3 and UX-VJ5 make their iOS connectivity a folie à deux....

ViewSonic ViewPad 7x rebranded as Camangi Mangrove 7, lands in Japan mid-August

Posted: 06 Jul 2011 01:46 PM PDT

ViewSonic ViewPad 7x rebranded as Camangi Mangrove 7, lands in Japan mid-August


ViewSonic ViewPad 7x rebranded as Camangi Mangrove 7, lands in Japan mid-August
One of the front-runners for the title of the world's first 7-inch Honeycomb tablet finally has a release date, and a prospective price, but it might not make it out of the gate as the ViewSonic ViewPad 7x. No, this Tegra 2-powered slate has been rebranded as the Camangi Mangrove 7 for a mid-August Japanese release, sporting an estimated retail price of 49,800 yen (about $615)....

Bing introduces Lasso for iPad app, does cut and paste the cowboy way

Posted: 06 Jul 2011 01:46 PM PDT

Bing introduces Lasso for iPad app, does cut and paste the cowboy way


Bing introduces Lasso for iPad app, does cut and paste the cowboy way
How's hog-tying search terms sound as an alternative to plain old cut and paste? Well, according to Microsoft, it sounds mighty fine. The software giant just announced Lasso, a new touch-friendly search tool for the Bing iPad app that allows you to rope in your internet queries by circling a word or phrase....

Video: Steve Rapp lays down record lap at Refuel Sport Electric TT for Mission Motors

Posted: 06 Jul 2011 01:15 PM PDT

Video: Steve Rapp lays down record lap at Refuel Sport Electric TT for Mission Motors


Video: Steve Rapp lays down record lap at Refuel Sport Electric TT for Mission Motors
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, On Two Wheels, Racing Mission Motors Mission R at Laguna Seca for ReFuel 2011 - Click above to watch video after the jump The recent Refuel SportElectric TT at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca not only saw the best four-wheel electric lap ever, it also offered Mission Motors the opportunity to finally show off its hawt Mission R in motion and come home with some shiny trophy hardware. Mission's 1:43.728 hot lap...

Nintendo To Bring Pokemon To iOS And Android This Summer

Posted: 06 Jul 2011 01:14 PM PDT

Nintendo To Bring Pokemon To iOS And Android This Summer


Nintendo To Bring Pokemon To iOS And Android This Summer
Hey You, Pokédork! The every-geek's guilty-pleasure license is coming to iOS and Android. Nintendo has — quite understandably, really — avoided building games or apps for iOS or Android, focusing all of their portable efforts on their own DS platform. Alas, there's a catch. Prep yourself for a bit of bubble-bursting, then join us behind the jump. The catch: while Pokemon Say Tap?...

WebCL scores first demos, GPU accelerated apps headed to your browser

Posted: 06 Jul 2011 01:14 PM PDT

WebCL scores first demos, GPU accelerated apps headed to your browser


WebCL scores first demos, GPU accelerated apps headed to your browser
Look, WebGL is great and everything but, in the era of general-purpose GPU computing, we know our 3D chips are capable of much more than just pushing pixels. WebCL is a new standard that brings OpenCL processing to the browser, leveraging the power of your graphics card to perform complex computations....

Dodge Viper Returns for 2012

Posted: 06 Jul 2011 01:14 PM PDT

Dodge Viper Returns for 2012


Dodge Viper Returns for 2012
But Dodge won't chase volume, the Viper will go custom.

Facebook video chat and Skype 5.5 beta hands-on

Posted: 06 Jul 2011 12:43 PM PDT

Facebook video chat and Skype 5.5 beta hands-on


Facebook video chat and Skype 5.5 beta hands-on
Earlier today, Facebook and Skype got a little friendlier, making it easy to find your Facebook friends in Skype and -- more importantly -- video chat with your Facebook friends in Facebook, a service powered by -- you got it -- Skype. Since you're using Skype either way you slice it, we're not interested so much in the call quality as we are the ease of use....

Video: Japanese Company Shows 32-Inch Multi-Touch Display Powered By Android

Posted: 06 Jul 2011 12:43 PM PDT

Video: Japanese Company Shows 32-Inch Multi-Touch Display Powered By Android


Video: Japanese Company Shows 32-Inch Multi-Touch Display Powered By Android
One of Android's advantages is its versatility, as a Japanese company called SKR Technology [JP] now demonstrates: SKR has developed a 32-inch digital signage display that runs on Android 2.3 and that supports multi-touch. The display, which is a prototype but ready to be commercialized in September, features a USB and an HDMI port....

Nissan on track to sell 12,000 Leafs in U.S. by end of 2011

Posted: 06 Jul 2011 12:12 PM PDT

Nissan on track to sell 12,000 Leafs in U.S. by end of 2011


Nissan on track to sell 12,000 Leafs in U.S. by end of 2011
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Nissan, USA 2011 Nissan Leaf - Click above for high-res image gallery According to Al Castignetti, Nissan's vice-president of U.S. sales, the Japanese automaker is on track to sell 12,000 Leafs in the U.S. before the end of 2011. Of course, this jives with numbers we've heard before, but considering that automakers in Japan were hit hard by the devastating quake on March 11, it's a relief to have confirmation...

New Commodore C64 gets stacked against the original, deemed a worthy successor (video)

Posted: 06 Jul 2011 12:12 PM PDT

New Commodore C64 gets stacked against the original, deemed a worthy successor (video)


New Commodore C64 gets stacked against the original, deemed a worthy successor (video)
We know a few of you have been waiting with bated breath for the retooled Commodore C64 to arrive, so we're not at all surprised that the first people to claim one are wasting no time putting its tactile keys through its paces. In that clip you see below, YouTube user "EternalPtah" places the three decades-old original next to its Atom-powered successor, comparing everything from the beige color to the height...

Taco Bell to serve up free WiFi, in-store TV, keep you LOL'ing through Fourthmeal

Posted: 06 Jul 2011 11:41 AM PDT

Taco Bell to serve up free WiFi, in-store TV, keep you LOL'ing through Fourthmeal


Taco Bell to serve up free WiFi, in-store TV, keep you LOL'ing through Fourthmeal
The border runners at Taco Bell have fallen behind the ginger clown and his posse of hamburger-loving friends in terms of connectivity, but the fast food franchise will soon rectify that with the introduction of free WiFi at 5,600 locations over the next four years. In an attempt to keep you connected whilst stuffing your face with Beefy Melt Burritos, Taco Bell has teamed up with Indoor Direct to bring in-store...

The Droid Bionic Might Finally Be “Coming Soon”, For Real

Posted: 06 Jul 2011 11:41 AM PDT

The Droid Bionic Might Finally Be "Coming Soon", For Real


The Droid Bionic Might Finally Be "Coming Soon", For Real
When Verizon and Motorola announced the Droid Bionic back at CES, we swooned a little. Dual-core, 512 MB of ram, LTE support, on a 4.3″ display? Yes please! Then months passed. Then it was supposedly canceled. Then it was un-canceled, but taken back to the drawing board for some redesigns. Oh, then they redesigned it again....

Redesigned Droid Bionic wants to fight you, shows up in leaked Best Buy ad

Posted: 06 Jul 2011 11:41 AM PDT

Redesigned Droid Bionic wants to fight you, shows up in leaked Best Buy ad


Redesigned Droid Bionic wants to fight you, shows up in leaked Best Buy ad
Motorola has sure been taking its sweet time with the Droid Bionic. But hey -- better late than busted, right? We got some hands-on time with the LTE handset way back in January, only to get word in April that the device was going back into hiding while the company made "several enhancements." Rumors about said improvements have popped up in the meantime, and the device has made an appearance on...

Coca-Cola's green billboard consumes carbon dioxide like so much sugary soda

Posted: 06 Jul 2011 11:10 AM PDT

Coca-Cola's green billboard consumes carbon dioxide like so much sugary soda


Coca-Cola's green billboard consumes carbon dioxide like so much sugary soda
Sure, we've seen plenty of cool billboard features over the years, from facial recognition to interactive Pong games, but few have managed the dual feat of promoting a popular soft drink and making the world a slightly greener place. All of that fuzzy area you see surrounding the silhouette of the Coke bottle in the above 60 by 60 foot billboard is made up of a number of Fukien tea plants,...

BD Otomotiv to rescue Think Global from bankruptcy?

Posted: 06 Jul 2011 10:38 AM PDT

BD Otomotiv to rescue Think Global from bankruptcy?


BD Otomotiv to rescue Think Global from bankruptcy?
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Europe/EU, Th!nk (Think) Think City factory in Elkhart, IN - Click above for high-res image gallery BD Otomotiv, a sustainable transport group based in Turkey, is reportedly in advanced negotiations with the Norwegian court-appointed trustee of Think Global to rescue the automaker from bankruptcy. Earlier this week, BD Otomotiv chairman Osman Boyner, released this statement detailing the company's intentions: Our intentions are simple: to bring Think out of bankruptcy and make it...

Skype comes to Facebook, and Facebook comes to Skype

Posted: 06 Jul 2011 10:38 AM PDT

Skype comes to Facebook, and Facebook comes to Skype


Skype comes to Facebook, and Facebook comes to Skype
It ain't the first time Mark Zuckerberg has taken the stage to announce... something, but today's shindig is resulting in "something" that's a bit more exciting for the average user. As rumored, the world's most notable VoIP service is set to become exceedingly integrated with the world's most notable social network....

Google Maps 5.7 for Android brings Transit Navigation beta, updated access to directions

Posted: 06 Jul 2011 10:38 AM PDT

Google Maps 5.7 for Android brings Transit Navigation beta, updated access to directions


Google Maps 5.7 for Android brings Transit Navigation beta, updated access to directions
Good news, jetsetters -- those of you relying on Google Maps Navigation will now find it even harder to wean yourself off of it. Not like we'd ever recommend that, though. The navigators in Mountain View have just updated Google Maps for Android to v5.7, and while it's just a point update in terms of numbers, there's a healthy chunk of new material here....

Mitsubishi i-MiEV lineup expands for 2012 with cheaper "M" and extended-range "G"

Posted: 06 Jul 2011 10:07 AM PDT

Mitsubishi i-MiEV lineup expands for 2012 with cheaper "M" and extended-range "G"


Mitsubishi i-MiEV lineup expands for 2012 with cheaper "M" and extended-range "G"
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Mitsubishi, Japan Mitsubishi Motors has announced the launch of two revised versions of its electric i-MiEV for 2012, slashing the price on one and extending the range on the other to appeal to a wider swath of potential buyers of zero-emissions vehicles. One of the revised 2012 i-MiEVs, dubbed the M, boasts a sticker price of 2.60 million yen ($32,084 U.S....

D-Link brings the Boxee Box remote to PC, Mac users

Posted: 06 Jul 2011 10:07 AM PDT

D-Link brings the Boxee Box remote to PC, Mac users


D-Link brings the Boxee Box remote to PC, Mac users
Boxee users on PC and Mac should no longer feel ignored, with promises of updated software on the way and now the option to use a Boxee Box remote from D-Link. The two sided QWERTY design is unchanged and the included RF dongle means your HTPC can stay safely out of sight while you enjoy some branded remote control action without selling out for a one-size-fits-all box....

Spotify is coming to the US, invites are open now

Posted: 06 Jul 2011 09:36 AM PDT

Spotify is coming to the US, invites are open now


Spotify is coming to the US, invites are open now
It's happening. The music streaming service that has won over the collective heart of Europe is finally making the puddle jump that we've been waiting for. Spotify just threw up a US landing spot, inviting eager Americans to jump in line for a table at the party. Meanwhile, we just received confirmation on our own end that things are finalizing for testing here in the States, and we'll be sure to...

iPad makes up one percent of global web browsing, magic

Posted: 06 Jul 2011 09:36 AM PDT

iPad makes up one percent of global web browsing, magic


iPad makes up one percent of global web browsing, magic
This is surely the sort of thing Apple likes to see -- it might not be the prettiest graph in the world, but it certainly drives home the fairly consistent growth of the iPad's global web browsing share. Back in April of last year, we reported that the company's "magical" tablet had nabbed 0.03 percent of global web traffic in its first week....

Video: Infineon Raceway shows off its flock of 3,000 lawn-mowing sheep

Posted: 06 Jul 2011 09:05 AM PDT

Video: Infineon Raceway shows off its flock of 3,000 lawn-mowing sheep


Video: Infineon Raceway shows off its flock of 3,000 lawn-mowing sheep
Filed under: Etc., Racing Flock of sheep at Infineon Raceway - Click above to watch video after the jump Infineon Raceway outside of Sonoma, California, has turned to a shepherd, a sheep dog and 3,000 sheep to mow its grass and remove its unsightly weeds, thus reducing fire hazards. About those 3,000 sheep: they're a decidedly low-tech way to keep the grass short....

Soundfreaq unleashes Sound Step wireless speakers for audio-loving multitaskers

Posted: 06 Jul 2011 09:05 AM PDT

Soundfreaq unleashes Sound Step wireless speakers for audio-loving multitaskers


Soundfreaq unleashes Sound Step wireless speakers for audio-loving multitaskers
Soundfreaq made quite the first impression last year with its Sound Platform SFQ-01 audio system, which is why our ears perked up when we heard about the company's newest creations -- the Sound Step and Sound Step Recharge compact wireless speakers. Compatible with all iOS, Android and BlackBerry devices, these Bluetooth-enabled docks allow users to remotely stream audio directly to their speakers, which feature a set of 2.75-inch, Kevlar-reinforced balanced drivers,...

comScore: Android Still Leads The Pack While RIM Continues To Slide

Posted: 06 Jul 2011 09:05 AM PDT

comScore: Android Still Leads The Pack While RIM Continues To Slide


comScore: Android Still Leads The Pack While RIM Continues To Slide
Well, what do you know? Android is still on top, with a 38 percent U.S. market share in May, according to comScore's latest numbers. This should come as no surprise, as we've been hearing the same story for the past few months. Android leads the pack, with Apple's iOS holding strong in its second place position, while the rest fade into the background. With a 38 percent market share, Android is up...

500,000 surveillance cameras to oversee Chongqing, China

Posted: 06 Jul 2011 09:05 AM PDT

500,000 surveillance cameras to oversee Chongqing, China


500,000 surveillance cameras to oversee Chongqing, China
Whoa, Nelly -- this one's not going to sit well with a certain sect. While the Chinese city of Chongqing has been planning this initiative for some time, we're just now starting to understand the sheer magnitude of what'll be built over the next two to three years. Cisco and HP -- two names that are no doubt familiar to those reading this page -- are apparently in cahoots with the...

BMW Motorrad E-Scooter concept revealed [w/VIDEO]

Posted: 06 Jul 2011 08:34 AM PDT

BMW Motorrad E-Scooter concept revealed [w/VIDEO]


BMW Motorrad E-Scooter concept revealed [w/VIDEO]
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, BMW, On Two Wheels, Germany BMW Motorrad E-Scooter - Click above to watch video after the jump BMW have lifted the veil on its BMW Motorrad E-Scooter concept. Although it sports camouflage to disguise the contours of its bodywork, the company doesn't hold much back on its performance and inner workings....