Spigen has a tether for your Apple AirPods

Apple Airpods
Credit: Macworld UK

I have a problem with wired headphones – one or other of them will frequently fall out of an ear. When this happens, the wire typically stops it before it hits the ground, or suffers some other harm.

With this experience, Apple's AirPods look like they would quite quickly suffer a potentially damaging fall &/or be lost. Many stereo Bluetooth headphones are connected, which will prevent this unless the other bud happens to fall out at the same moment.


Credit: JBL

Someone at Spigen apparently thought this was a good idea. Enter the Spigen AirPods Strap.


Spigen AirPods Strap – around $10
Credit: Tech2

Spigen website
http://promo.spigen.com/product/iphone-7-iphone-7-plus-airpods-strap-copy/ / Apple absence of the 3.5mm audio jack new iPhones iPhone 7 lightning-based headphones Apple AirPods seamless wireless audio experience newly developed W1 wireless chip access Siri single tap Apple AirPods ugly design losing them snug fit in-ear headphones add a wire to the AirPods accessory maker Spigen $10 tether wire Apple AirPods Strap latches onto Apple AirPods accessory made for an accessory Apple headphone jack on the new iPhones Spigen AirPods Strap keep AirPods secure AirPod AirPod design AirPods Strap Apple iphone 7 Spigen no 3.5mm socket /

Mercedes B250e electric MPV (video)

Mercedes has a fully electric version of the B Class – the Mercedes B250e. Robert Llewellyn (of the YouTube series Fully Charged) was very impressed – except, “... no rapid charge ability … can be charged on a 13 Amp plug ... or it can use a wall mounted car charger, but only up to 16 Amps … it takes at the minimum, 4 to 5 hours to charge it.” So, like the owner of the test car, don’t plan on any long journeys.



Autocar staff had a look & were impressed too: “In terms of all-round refinement & pace, the electric B-Class is far better than its internal combustion engine sister cars.” No surprise to anyone who has driven an electric vehicle, but interesting to see in the mainstream motoring press.
http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/mercedes-benz/b-class-electric-drive / Mercedes-Benz basedall-electric vehicle existing B-class Mercedes-Benz B-Class Electric Drive pure electric version newly facelifted B-Class all-new architecture electric vehicle EV based on standard production car minimum of amount engineering changes taking inspiration original A-and B-Class models new-generation car sandwich version rear half car’s platform Energy Space Mercedes underfloor space EV lithium-ion battery pack space natural gas-powered version B-Class spacious mainstream versions 500-litre boot generous head and legroom option fold-forward front passenger seat loads over two metres long electric drive system sourced from Tesla production car launched press Daimler disposed four per cent stake in Tesla B-Class Electric Drive three-mode operation Economy Plus constant steady-speed journeys reduces output motor 83bhp top speed 68mph Economy reduces output 132bhp Sport 179bhp Economy modes overridden full power and torque accessed driver kickdown function Collision Prevent Assist Plus system optional extra B-Class radar-assisted recuperative braking system regenerative braking system information from the radar state traffic ahead car battery-charging braking slow itself road ahead clear downhill switch sailing mode battery power fully recharging B-Class 16-amp home wall socket take around nine hours battery empty 400-volt three-phase electricity supply more common Asia Europe recharged three hours all-round refinement and pace electric B-Class far better than internal combustion engine sister cars car’s effortless torque near-silent progress category of its own refinement luxury models effortless overtaking ability most disorientating motoring excellence humble-looking baby MPV steering response ride quality electric B-Class markedly better petrol-powered B 200 handy size well-packaged nicely finished inside tablet-sized screen dashboard ideally placed graphics presentation of Mercedes-Benz sat-nav system first rate two trim levels Sport Electric Art entry-level Sport models 17in alloys climate control cruise control reversing camera smartphone integration Electric Art luxury leather velour interior bigger alloys dual-zone climate control delightful car to drive genuinely enjoyable satisfying downside limited range electric B-Class industrial three-phase electricity lengthy recharge time recharge battery overnight daily mileage less than 100 miles price government grant B 220 diesel with automatic transmission truly green MPV Mercedes-Benz B-Class Electric Drive /

New York City’s busy streets Photoshopped into beautiful desolation

Credit: Marc Yankus/ johnmcguirk.tumblr.com

As shown above, Marc Yankus photographs the buildings of New York City without all of the, often transient, distractions. See more of his work at:

https://www.wired.com/2016/10/mark-yankus-new-york-city/?mbid=nl_102816_p7&CNDID=#slide-2


How to do something similar yourself:


Credit: www.popsugar.com/ www.goodtips4life.com / Marc Yankus photography photographer uncluttered hustle and bustle that makes New York New York City The Secret Lives of Buildings shows at ClampArt Gallery in New York through November 26 /

Naked Case for the iPhone 7 & 7+

Naked Case fitted to an iPhone 7
Credit: The Gadgeteer

New phone – some are reluctant to cover that painstakingly designed shininess with plastic &/or leather. But the world is full of things apparently designed to scratch that expensive hardware. In particular, the Jet Black iPhone 7 is more susceptible than most:



One solution is the Naked Case. Contradiction in terms, of course, but at just 0.2mm thick, it’s very close.


Layers of a Naked Case – it is non-yellowing, 0.2 millimeters thick & self-healing
Credit: Naked Cases/Kickstarter

The Gadgeteer took a look: http://the-gadgeteer.com/2016/10/24/naked-case-for-the-iphone-77-review/#more-206256

Hard to see this adding any impact protection, but neither will it add any detectable bulk.

Naked Case is a Kickstarter project. As of this writing, $9,013
pledged of $11,250 goal (that’s Canadian dollars) with just 3 days to go.

If the Naked Case isn’t funded, the Spigen Air Skin is almost twice as thick at 0.36mm, but is still very thin by any normal standard. Check the Air Skin & other thin cases at iMore: http://www.imore.com/best-ultra-thin-cases-iphone-7

For something that will protect against drops too, have a look at:
http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/best-iphone-7-cases/

Or these for the 7 Plus:
http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/best-iphone-7-plus-cases/ / iPhone 7 iPhone 7 Plus Apple announced launch event San Francisco water resistance better battery life iPhone 3.5 mm 3.5mm headphone jack feels the same funky home button hands-on Apple's event water resistant water resistance demo room Apple's iPhone 7 seems bunch of upgrades no headphone jack home button solid-state Force Touch Jet black Apple's new glossy black color iPhone iPhone slim black obelisk iPhone 7 iPhone 6S same 4.7-inch screen HD Retina display 25 percent brighter last year's model pressure-sensitive 3D Touch layer buzzes slightly press and hold the screen static home button solid state physically press click pressure-sensitive taptic feedback three levels of pressure haptic feedback light or strong buzz doesn't feel like a button takes getting used to water-resistant water resistant IP67 no headphone jack Apple's new EarPods headphones Lightning connector port adaptor new funky-looking AirPods headset connects wirelessly auto-pairing worked well sounded pretty good new camera 12-megapixel camera larger aperture optical image stabilization stabilisation keeps images steadier camera sticks out more from the back second 56mm telephoto lens built-in zoom feature new front-facing camera iPhone 7's 7-megapixel front-facing camera 5 megapixels iPhone 6S auto-image stabilization stabilisation optical image stabilization digital image stabilisation stereo speakers second speaker joins Apple longer battery life greater battery capacity longer battery life 12 hours LTE browsing iPhone 7 Plus two more hours faster processor iPhone 7's new A10 Fusion chip 64-bit quad-core processor 40 percent faster last year's A9 processor two cores are high-performance two are high efficiency conserve battery while handling tasks deeper visual graphics gaming Super Mario is coming to the iPhone more storage! 32GB, 128GB, 256GB capacities colors colours color colour Glossy jet black matte black gold, silver rose gold new jet black Spigen Otterbox case scratch impact protection i-BlasonClear Halo GOOSPERY i-Jelly Case Peel Super Thin iPhone 7 Case Ringke Extreme Lightweight Cover Carved Traveler Case Burkley Snap-on Case Urban Armor Gear Monarch Series Case Dodocase Bookcase Metallics Collection Mujjo Leather Case Tech21 Evo Gem Case /

Uber’s self-driving truck makes its first delivery

Uber’s not just trialing self-driving cars – an Uber self-driving 18-wheeler just made its first delivery. Tech comes from a startup called Otto, which Uber bought recently for $680 million. At least initially, the the autonomous system will drive between cities, with a human driving the last few miles.

In many countries, there is a shortage of truck drivers.^1,2,3 Self-driving trucks can help in two ways:

1. a limited number of truck drivers can make more deliveries in a day if they only have to drive the last few miles

2. last-mile delivery turns interstate trucking into local work for the human driver – which may make the work a better option for more people

https://www.wired.com/2016/10/ubers-self-driving-truck-makes-first-delivery-50000-beers/?mbid=nl_102516_p3&CNDID=

DAF, Daimler, IVECO, MAN, Scania, & Volvo in Europe, have something similar in their Platooning tech.
__________

¹ The Age: “Wheels not in motion: Australia running short of truckies”, http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/wheels-not-in-motion-australia-running-short-of-truckies-20160506-goo7o5.html

² Business Insider: “There's A Huge Shortage Of Truck Drivers In America – Here's Why The Problem Is Only Getting Worse”, http://www.businessinsider.com.au/americas-truck-driver-shortage-2014-7

³ Wall Street Journal: “Wanted in Europe: More Truck Drivers”, http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10000872396390443524904577651624294475232 / Uber self-driving truck makes first delivery 50,000 beers self driving truck cab of an 18-wheeler cruising through Colorado 55 mph tractor trailer tractor-trailer tractor prime mover lorry truck $30,000 worth hardware software San Francisco startup Otto world’s first autonomous truck delivery drive mundane Fort Collins merging onto Interstate 25 Otto driver punched switch labeled engage autonomous mode engaged warning chime truck trundled 120 miles south Colorado Springs Otto Uber bought last summer $680 million technology works only on highway maintains safe following distance changes lanes only when absolutely necessary Tesla Autopilot Otto system offers true ‘Level 4’ autonomy big rig hits interstate human deal with paperwork phone catch a few Zs technology ready start commercial pilots interstate runs Otto co-founder Lior Ron continue to develop the tech ready to encounter every condition on the road make trucking a local profession local work local occupation imagine a future trucks virtual train software rail highway interstate stop at designated depots humans drive the last few miles into town drivers harbor pilots bringing the ship to port Otto’s hardware works any truck with automatic transmission retrofit three LIDAR laser detection units cab and trailer radar bolts to the bumper high-precision camera sits above the windshield hints of a human-free two red half dollar-sized buttons shut off the autonomous system steering wheel sleeper cab behind the seats on/off switch labelled Engage bank of computers turns all that data into driving directions Uber engineer autonomous cars are sexy trucks are more practical here sooner than cars industry desperately needs them trucking industry hauls 70 percent nation’s freight 10.5 billion tons annually doesn’t have enough drivers American Trucking Association shortfall 48,000 drivers hiring spree autonomous technology make the roads safer 400,0000 trucks crash each year federal statistics killing 4,000 people human error is to blame self-driving technologies improve safety reduce emissions improve operational efficiencies shipments James Sembrot handles logistics Anheuser-Busch Otto October test run Sean McNally spokesman American Trucking Association autonomous technology can improve safety efficiency turning 40-ton rig over to a computer federal government working prototype fleet trucks interstates 101 280 San Francisco Bay Area engineers push software tweaks weekly major updates monthly focusing on the basics smoothing out acceleration braking improving lane control longer-term goals include predicting how other drivers are likely to behave navigating construction zones dealing with hazards sudden bad weather go-anywhere do-anything autonomy ultimate goal tackling more complicated city environments parking foreseeable future driver will remain an essential part of the system Otto deal with the stress of driving /

Computing Division at the US Department of the Treasury, mid 1920s

Credit: Old Pics Archive

More at: http://www.oldpicsarchive.com/us-in-1890s-1930s-43-pics/9/ / many people staff mechanical calculator mechanical adding machine Computing Division US Department of the Treasury mid 1920s/

US grid-scale battery start-up looks to Australia for R&D, manufacturing

Liquid Metal Battery – notice the refractory lining – this thing runs very hot (~475°C+)
Credit: The National Law Review

In January 2015, I posted about a lecture on grid scale storage using the liquid metal battery (LMB) technology developed by a team led by Professor Donald Sadoway at MIT.

Professor Sadoway had many important insights, on chemistry, materials abundance, price, scalability, & other matters. Worth reviewing at the link above – as you will see in the included video, this man is a fabulous public speaker.

Since that time, I have quoted his insights a few times, but the batteries didn’t make any headlines, & it started to look like this one was going to sink without trace, as so many have done.

But that concern may have been premature – the technology, & the company, Ambri, are still making progress. With $50 million in equity capital, the first grid-scale LMB prototype, probably 100kWh, is expected to be built in, “about a year’s time.”

Renew Economy:
http://reneweconomy.com.au/2016/us-grid-scale-battery-start-looks-australia-rd-manufacturing-89966

Much is made of the durability of Ambri batteries. Many different cell types have been tried, but something common to all LMBs is:

“We regenerate the battery every time. The battery actually gets better with use, ’cause it purifies.” – just after the 10 minute mark in the video linked at the top.

“This is not like your cell phone battery.”

And the name Ambri? – named after CAmbridge – that’s Cambridge, Massachusetts, where Professor Sadoway began his research, at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). / US grid-scale battery start-up looks to Australia for R&D manufacturing US company promising grid-scale energy storage technology liquid metal batteries collaborative research base Australia manufacturing hub test technology at scale company Liquid Metal Batteries technology now called Ambri spun out of the research Massachusetts Institute of Technology Professor Donald Sadoway developed liquid metal chemistry team MIT Ambri raised $50 million equity Khosla Ventures Bill Gates oil company Total Swiss insurance company Building Insurance Bern GVB KLP Enterprises family office Karen Pritzker heir Hyatt hotel chain industrial conglomerate Marmon batteries comprise three self-segregating layers low density liquid metal on top high density metal bottom middle molten salt yet to be tested at a utility-scale tested extensively cell multiple-cell level highly conductive fast-responding long lasting very little capacity fade over time advantage other popular battery chemistries grid applications hero cell MIT Sadoway two years more than 1400 cycles with zero capacity fade upper metal lower metal batteries electrodes salt electrolytes battery respond very quickly deliver surges take surges from the grid plans establish collaborative R&D base University of Newcastle ARENA addition of a team in Newcastle enhance MIT’s achievements plenty of room for further innovation invention of a battery invention of a battery field Sadoway many different metals so many different salts team enhance potential manufacturing hub in Australia batteries competitive three years cater Australian and New Zealand markets grid-scale battery storage frightfully heavy don’t want to be shipping them long distances highly competitive stationary battery storage industry LMB chemistry forming company commercialise technology tested grid scale really tough game development first grid-scale LMB prototype probably 100kWh expected to be built about a year’s time tested US army base /

Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency – new TV series

Todd Brotzman (Elijah Wood) & Dirk Gently (Samuel Barnett)
Credit: Bettina Strauss/BBC America/Wired

Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency, was the creation of the late Douglas Adams – in two books.¹ After his death, BBC America made a TV series.




Now there is another TV series related to the book & earlier TV series by not much more than the title ...



Panel at San Diego Comic-Con 2016




Wired: The new Dirk Gently is nothing like the books – but it’s still a blast
https://www.wired.com/2016/10/dirk-gently-bbc-america/?mbid=nl_102316_p7&CNDID=
__________

¹ Wikipedia: “Dirk Gently”, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dirk_Gently / Holistic Detective Agency new Dirk Gently nothing like the books still blast makings new cult favorite crammed with weird ideas gore crazy set pieces few charming moments enjoy it stop thinking of it Douglas Adams adaptation BBC America show premiering based book duology Douglas Adams also created Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy series basic concept holistic detective named Dirk Gently breezes around getting into weird situations ties all the threads together mixture of luck intuition TV show little in common Douglas Adams tone Douglas Adams Adams’ absurd wit stands out new show how American it all is new version Dirk Gently only British person U.S. city full of Yank archetypes snarky cops tattooed cultists badass bodyguards creepy shut-ins serial killers writer Max Landis wrote all eight episodes used Douglas Adams basic idea jumping-off point gonzo storyline creepy kidnappers indoor shark attacks bizarre diseases show will be about something completely different Douglas Adams books throw slew off-kilter ideas reader cram billion subplots into every episode wild spree works on its own terms don’t ever try to compare it work of the master first few episodes series delightfully perverse Electric Monk first Dirk Gently novel character save you the trouble of having to believe something believing it for you Douglas Adams creations often illuminate something of the weirdness and futility of humanity’s attempts to make sense of the universe clever storylines about Samuel Taylor Coleridge Norse mythology BBC America version rockstars bikers standard TV archetypes second Dirk Gently TV series in the past five years the first had minuscule fraction budget of this one aired minor UK channel written Misfits creator Howard Overman couple of Doctor Who writers new version throws a million dazzling science-fiction conceits at the viewer 2012 Dirk Gently show more of a weird detective show watching both Dirk Gently shows comparison Doctor Who Douglas Adams pilfered elements two Who scripts /

Add a headphone socket to your iPhone 7

iPhone 7 was famously released without a 3.5mm headphone jack.

Lightning headphones & Lightning-to-3.5mm adapters are available, but charging while using headphones requires Bluetooth, or a bulky adapter.

Fuze is a solution – an iPhone 7 case with a 3.5mm socket.


Credit: Fuze/Indiegogo

In common with virtually all smartphones, the iPhone 7 could benefit from better battery life. Fuze adds that too. Double the battery life is claimed.

Unlike other battery cases, Fuze doesn’t add a bulky, “chin”, at the bottom.


Left: iPhone 7 with bulky adapter allows simultneous headphone use & charging. Not shown, charging cable.
Right: iPhone 7 in Fuze case, with headphones & charging cables attached. Note that the Fuze case adds very little length.
Credit: Fuze/Indiegogo

And the 7 Plus hasn't been forgotten.

Fuze is an Indiegogo project. As of this writing, over $119,000 has been pledged, by more than 1600 backers, for over 15,500 cases. Only 6 days left if you want to back this project.

Indiegogo – “Fuze Cases: Bringing Back the Audio Jack”
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/fuze-cases-bringing-back-the-audio-jack-iphone-headphones/x/9010251#/ / Fuze Case bringing back 3.5mm audio jack plug socket Fuze first iPhone 7 case integrated Lightning to 3.5mm audio jack adapter Fuze restores 3.5mm audio jack iPhone 7 and 7 Plus doubled battery life scratch and shock protection iPhone’s compact profile bring back the jack purchase freedom of choice Fuze is an innovative case for the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus restores iPhone’s 3.5mm audio jack delivers doubled battery life scratch shock protection maintaining iPhone compact profile no dongles no adapters no problem buy Fuze case iPhone 7 or 7 Plus bring back the jack tangled mess adapters listen to music favorite headphones purchase Fuze purchasing freedom of choice iPhone 7 iPhone 7 Plus glossy surface brighter screen amazing cameras Apple decided kill standard 3.5mm headphone jack headphone socket headphones audio devices besides earbuds tech-experts recommend using case iPhone 7 restore restores iPhone 7 is missing Apple Bluetooth AirPod wireless earbuds Bluetooth earpiece expensive recharge after just five hours of use Apple packaging iPhone 7 with 3.5mm lightning adapter charge IPhone listen to music at the same time Fuze case standard audio jack Fuze industry standard 3.5mm audio out jack every previous iPhone your favorite earbuds battery case Fuze built-in battery double your iPhone 7’s battery life double battery endurance Fuze advanced Sync-Through technology sync and charge sync & charge /

Energy storage for renewable energy

Sample of the element silicon
Credit: Theodore W Gray/periodictable.com

Some time ago, I wrote about the ideas of Professor Donald Sadoway on why storage is necessary to facilitate widespread use of renewable electricity, & how to do it.¹

● “Storage is necessary to make renewables base load.”
● “The problem is the very low price point needed to penetrate this market.”
● “If price is the problem, you have to invent to the price-point.”

● “Usually, chemists pursue the interesting chemistry & leave it to manufacturers to bring the price down by volume.”

● “Confine our chemistry to Earth-abundant elements, that’s how to make it cheap.” — e.g. aluminium (3rd most abundant element on Earth) not platinum

● “To make it dirt cheap, make it out of dirt — preferably local dirt.”
● “Earth-abundant elements & simple manufacturing.”

A team of researchers from Universidad Polytechnic de Madrid has in development, a thermal energy storage system which ticks all of the boxes, with, perhaps the exception of, “simple manufacturing”.

Silicon thermal energy storage is claimed to store more than 1 MWh per cubic metre – 10 times the energy density of existing thermal storage technology using molten salts of elements including potassium, calcium & sodium.

New Atlas: Abundant silicon at the heart of cheaper renewable energy storage system
http://newatlas.com/cheap-solar-energy-molten-silicon/45833/?li_source=LI&li_medium=default-widget
__________

¹ Hitchhiker’s Guide 2 Tech: “Innovation in stationary electricity storage (video)”, http://hhg2tech.blogspot.com/2015/01/innovation-in-stationary-electricity.html

² Fred Senese: “What is the most abundant element?”, http://antoine.frostburg.edu/chem/senese/101/periodic/faq/what-element-is-most-abundant.shtml / energy storage abundant silicon cheaper renewable energy storage system Earth crust most abundant element silicon cheaper storage system renewable energy team of researchers Madrid developing thermal energy storage system molten silicon store up to 10 times more energy existing thermal storage options develop technology new generation low-cost solar thermal stations store solar energy urban centers storage current major challenge renewable energy sources wind solar viable alternatives drastic improvements store surplus energy draw energy night times sun isn't shining wind isn't blowing current battery technology develop development developed researchers industry exploring range new ideas improve energy storage commercialized solar thermal energy system stores concentrated heat Sun molten salts potassium calcium sodium nitrates converts heat electricity thermal generator salt-based systems work quite well require complex pumps pipelines heat transfer fluids generate electricity expensive vulnerable safety issues particularly abundant materials scale up plants elements researchers worldwide safer alternatives use cheaper more abundant materials silicon-based solution Universidad Polytechnic de Madrid UPM silicon world's cheapest most abundant elements proposed new thermal energy storage system heating silicon container concentrated sunlight surplus electricity generated renewable power molten silicon reach temperatures around 1,400° C 2,552° F isolated environment until energy is needed heat converted electricity silicon unique properties store more 1 MWh energy cubic meter ten times more energy density than salts key making new system work research leader Alejandro Datas thermophotovoltaic cells new technology solar panels generating electricity from heat light high temperatures silicon intensely shines same way that Sun does thermophotovoltaics convert incandescent radiation into electricity thermophotovoltaic cells conversion efficiencies over 50 percent can produce 100 times more electrical power per unit area than conventional solar cells key to the system can work at extreme temperatures ticks a lot of boxes abundant inexpensive materials store up to 10 times more energy existing solutions extremely compact quiet no moving parts researchers invention dramatically reduce cost storing producing energy thermal energy sector safe cost-effective answer renewable sector energy storage problems used for heating electricity UPM team commercialize commercialise system business project called SILSTORE started building a laboratory-scale prototype /

As of 19 October 2016, all Teslas produced will have the hardware necessary for fully autonomous driving (video)

Yes, you read that right: “All Tesla Cars Being Produced Now Have Full Self-Driving Hardware” – The Tesla Team, 19 October, 2016

and ...

“... at a safety level substantially greater than that of a human driver.”

That’s the good news.

Bad news? – cars made after the 19th can do it, they’re just not going to. Adaptive cruise control & lane keeping, for example, will initially be disabled. And yes, you read that right too.

They’re going to watch the humans get it wrong for a few months.

Point of this is to gather statistics on how much better the fully autonomous system would have done it. To demonstrate how much more capable it is, the new system will be less capable, initially.

Can’t demonstrate how much better autonomous Autopilot is, if it never lets the humans make any mistakes.

One reason Autopilot is expected to be safer than a human, is that it is effectively able to see through the vehicle in front, by bouncing radar underneath. Samsung demonstrated some of the value of being able to see through the vehicle in front last year, with its impractical, “transparent safety truck”.

And if you ever thought you needed eyes in the back of your head, the new Teslas have them + the sides too – 8 cameras provide 360° vision.


Credit: Tesla

In addition to extra sensors, there has been a more than 40 times increase in computing power. This has been inevitable, ever since the comment about the effort required to, “shoehorn”, the last version of the software into the available computer hardware.

“Autonomous”? – Elon Musk has claimed that by the end of 2017 he will be able to demonstrate a vehicle capable of driving from LA to New York with no – that's none, nothing, zero, nada – input from the driver – apart from plugging in a charging cable as required.

Tesla’s announcement: All Tesla Cars Being Produced Now Have Full Self-Driving Hardware
https://www.tesla.com/en_AU/blog/all-tesla-cars-being-produced-now-have-full-self-driving-hardware?redirect=no



Road & Track
http://www.roadandtrack.com/new-cars/future-cars/news/a31237/tesla-autopilot-hardware-standard/

Thanks to Bill for a heads up on material in this item. / Tesla cars produced now have full self driving hardware Tesla Team self-driving vehicles play crucial role improving transportation safety accelerating world’s world transition sustainable future full autonomy enable Tesla substantially safer human driver lower financial cost transportation own car provide low-cost on-demand mobility low cost on demand mobility excited announce all Tesla vehicles produced factory Model 3 hardware needed full self-driving capability safety level substantially greater human driver eight surround cameras 360 degree visibility around car up to 250 meters range twelve updated ultrasonic sensors complement vision detection both hard soft objects nearly twice distance prior system forward-facing radar enhanced processing provides additional data about the world redundant wavelength seeing through heavy rain fog dust car ahead make sense data new onboard computer more than 40 times computing power previous generation new Tesla-developed Tesla developed neural net vision sonar radar processing software system view of the world driver alone cannot access seeing in every direction simultaneously wavelengths go far beyond the human senses eight surround cameras provide 360 degree visibility /

Arctic cities crumble as climate change thaws permafrost

Credit: Roger Bacon/Reuters

In the northern Russian city of Norilsk, almost 60% of buildings are impacted by foundations shifting as permafrost¹ melts. 10% of residential building have been vacated.

Most foundation movements happen slowly, & can be managed safely. In some instances more rapid movements place lives at risk, as when a roof collapsed at Norilsk blood bank, breaking both of a doctor’s legs.

Other problems include:

● craters in Siberia, which have been attributed to explosions of methane released by thawing permafrost

● a boy died after contracting anthrax from bacteria released by melting permafrost

● scientific outposts on the northern coastline are disappearing into the sea as permafrost thaws

https://www.wired.com/2016/10/thawing-permafrost-destroying-arctic-cities/
__________

¹ International Permafrost Association: “What is permafrost?”, http://ipa.arcticportal.org/publications/occasional-publications/what-is-permafrost / expensive dangerous Soviet era housing block Nurd Kamal mosque arctic Russian city Norilsk Yury Scherbakov cracks appearing wall installed two-room flat caused shoddy workmanship walls started cracking floor started incline could feel it tilt Nadezhda carry furniture out of the flat craftsman five-story building 59 Talnakhskaya Street northern Russian city Norilsk sinking permafrost thawed foundation slowly disintegrated March 2015 local authorities posted notices stairwells building was condemned cracking and collapsing structures growing problem cities like Norilsk nickel-producing centre people located 180 miles above Arctic Circle climate change thaws perennially frozen soil increases precipitation Valery Tereshkov deputy head emergencies ministry Krasnoyarsk region almost 60 percent buildings Norilsk deformed climate change shrinking permafrost zone local engineers 100 residential buildings one-tenth of the housing fund vacated damage thawing permafrost slow-motion wrecks patched prevented engineering solutions foundation shifts suddenly put lives at risk cement slabs broke doctor’s legs front steps overhanging roof Norilsk blood bank collapsed June 2015 building maintenance costs cities Russia’s resource-rich north engineers geologists technogenic factors sewer building heat chemical pollution warming permafrost Norilsk most polluted city Russia climate change deepening thaw speeding up destruction Russia establishing new military bases oil-drilling infrastructure across Arctic Greenpeace warned permafrost thawing caused thousands oil gas pipeline breaks were problems climate change Ali Kerimov engineer Foundation Research Production Norilsk study each case separately understand climate change global warming more frequent forest fires flooding across Russia impact permafrost covers two-thirds country’s territory at least seven giant craters discovered Siberia caused thawing permafrost methane explode ground 12-year-old boy Salekhard died from anthrax thawing released bacteria Arctic islands northern coastline scientific outposts disappearing permafrost thaws sea ice melts wave action increases Valery Grebenets Moscow State University department of cryolithology glaciology teaches students horror stories thawing permafrost buckling roads railways soil runoff killing fish release toxic radioactive pollutants contained frozen dams vegetation treeless tundra spots snow early storm warming built gulag prisoners city gets more than six weeks polar night 2 million tonnes snow each winter temperature drop below -51 degrees C -60F average annual temperatures Arctic rising faster anywhere else more than 2 degrees C since 1900 2015 study found increases soil temperatures Russia’s permafrost regions last 50 years soil temperatures Norilsk increased almost 1 degree C between 1999 and 2013 permafrost misnomer deeper soil remains frozen year-round active layer soil extending several feet below surface thaws summer thaws unevenly contorting warping buildings 1960s builders apartment blocks Norilsk drilling holes 100 feet deep pouring reinforced concrete piles stuck into permanently frozen soil below piles lifted building off the ground air circulation cool soil preventing further thawing engineers soil could start warming so much data Norilsk monitoring station showed active layer thawing earlier thickness increased from three feet to five feet climate change increased precipitation adding more moisture soi freezes expands crumbling concrete piles snow covers ground further warms permafrost effect climate change was not accounted for properly building falling thousands people living in buildings which have potential fall Dmitry Streletskiy professor geography George Washington University problem threatens Alaska Canada northern territories Russia has cities so far north buildings coal mining city Vorkuta damaged emergencies ministry’s Tereshkov Salekhard Nadym Dudinka port Yenisei River Norilsk Nickel ships products deformations 100,000 people living buildings critical condition across Russia’s far north Streletskiy fire protection engineer building condemned /

Do you like to vacuum? Neither does anyone else – best robot vacuums compared – update

Update 17 October 2018

PC Mag takes a look at,“The Best Robot Vacuums of 2018”
https://au.pcmag.com/vacuums/41460/guide/the-best-robot-vacuums-of-2018

Wired review of, “iRobot’s Roomba 690”
https://www.wired.com/review/review-irobot-roomba-690/
__________

DailyTekk takes a look at the top contenders – Roomba, Neato & Dyson – is impressed with all of them, (“I sincerely believe you’d be thrilled to own any of them.”) – but manages to declare winners in the areas of:

● cleaning performance
● cleaning time
● ability to get into tight spaces
● & others



http://dailytekk.com/2016/10/06/roomba-vs-neato-vs-dyson-the-best-robot-vacuums-compared/?reading=continue


More

Choice
https://www.choice.com.au/home-and-living/laundry-and-cleaning/vacuum-cleaners/buying-guides/robot-vacuum-cleaners

Top Ten Reviews
http://www.toptenreviews.com/home/vacuum-carpet-cleaning/best-robot-vacuums/

Tom’s Guide
http://www.tomsguide.com/us/best-robot-vacuums,review-2000.html / durability reliability Roomba Neato Dyson best robot vacuums vacuum cleaner compared robot vacuums incredible extremely disappointing cheap tested three robot vacuums Roomba 980 Neato BotVac Connected new Dyson 360 Eye best of the best robot vacuum cleaners on the market utter joy watching them clean my house comparing these robot vacuums all amazing different strengths I sincerely believe you’d be thrilled to own any of them each of these vacuums perform equally all situations scenarios clear winner they’re all gems rating which bot performed best several different real-world tests results could easily vary from house to house my observations hope you find them useful right robot vacuum cleaner for you preferring recommending different bot robot different rooms furniture types requirements cleaning performance Roomba Neato Dyson tests various amounts types dust dirt carpeted floor Roomba clearly cleaned the best Neato very close second Dyson came in last video test conditions pile of dirt sitting on my carpet normal cleaning conditions I’m confident that each of these vacuums would do a great job cleaning time Dyson Neato Roomba speed test finish cleaning the test area better faster Neato and Roomba were much more thorough edges nooks furniture legs rank vacuums cover clean more of your floor places simply unreachable by any robot vacuum behind potted plants baskets bookshelves other don’t leave enough room robot robots suited different tasks types of furniture Neato Roomba slimmer profiles fit under the test couch test chairs living room Dyson too tall barely fit under chairs Dyson’s smaller width few places traverse wider bots couldn’t behind plant pots inside legs certain stools performed especially well kitchen bar stools table chairs height of the Dyson side brushes great job getting edges full width brush means it doesn’t need one Dyson’s brush doesn’t quite come in contact with the wall very small gap Neato square front fit into corners better than the other bots apps all app connected start them cleaning while you’re out of the house easily set up cleaning schedules all three apps simple attractive easy to use eco turbo mode clean the house clean a specific area remotely control it remote control Dyson app reporting feature shows you map where robot cleaned visual cleaning history several times Dyson app wouldn’t connect start cleaning pressing physical button on the bot itself Roomba app options toggling carpet boost turned on automatically edge clean Roomba make multiple cleaning passes lose Roomba hit locate button play a sound Looks Dyson Neato Roomba looks sleek modern scuffs and scratches Neato Roomba pretty deep scratches top sides while Dyson got scuffed up on it’s side price lowest priced vacuum What’s best robot vacuum cleaner? Roomba 980 definitely most intelligent capable vacuum most cleaning power Roomba is your best option costs $200 less major life upgrade for you or your family /

Clean water for the world

Care for a drink?
Credit: Emaze

Although water covers ~70% of the Earth's surface, 97.2% of it is saline.¹ Much of what remains is unsuitable for drinking because of the presence of chemical or biological contaminants.²

WaterSeer produces clean, safe water by condensing it from the humidity in the air – up to 37 litres (8.1 UK gal, 9.8 US gal) of pure water per day, with no electric or fossil fuel energy, or emissions.



More on Indiegogo: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/waterseer-water-women/x/9010251#/
__________

¹ National Ground Water Association: “Information on Earth's water”, http://www.ngwa.org/About/Pages/about.aspx

² Wikepedia: “Fresh water”, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fresh_water / every 90 seconds child dies lack clean water 2.2 billion people don't have access safe water WaterSeer alleviate chronic tragic burden access clean drinking water extracting water from the air WaterSeer purchased one sent family developing country build thriving communities start businesses improve lives save lives save lives women and girls WaterSeer create water self-sufficiency transformative force for good throughout the world abundance clean safe water drink shower bathe daily water lawns wash clothes dishes clean safe water unquestioned condition of our lives one in three people daily minimum 7.1 cups water needed to survive women children spend up to 6 hours daily collecting carrying polluted disease carrying water themselves families drinking bathing cooking worldwide child dies every 90 seconds lack of clean drinking water nearly 1000 per day daily nearly 10,000 people die dehydration waterborne disease condensation distillation condense distil condensed distillation condensation distillation condense distil condensed distillation condensation distillation condense distil condensed distillation humid humidity humid humidity humid humidity WaterSeer working clean water WaterSeer condenses pure water from the air without power chemicals green sustainable simple low-maintenance easily deployed scalable community UC Berkeley National Peace Corps Association develop device 37 liters pure water a day WaterSeer field tests ten-fold improvement all other water collection designs WaterSeer Orchard clean water entire community buy one give one engagement model send WaterSeer family developing country purchased partnership National Peace Corps Association non-profits WaterSeer deploys where it is needed most micro-finance micro-consignment families start businesses children go to school instead spending days collecting water not-for-profit initiative 100% funds improve WaterSeer communities make the most impact improve WaterSeer expand field tests multiple regions climates conduct pilots communities worldwide worldwide online community tell WaterSeer story Manufacture distribute WaterSeer change lives women children raise funding accelerate state-of-the-art water collection from the air community help raise funds awareness original WaterSeer model tested prototype UC Berkeley Gill Tract Community Farm results were excellent tested exceeded water production goals generate up to 11 gallons per day /

Coal CEO calls Tesla a “fraud" – Elon Musk fires back a challenge

Robert Murray, President of coal giant Murray Energy Corporation, claimed in a TV interview, “Tesla is a fraud ... he’s gotten $2 billion from the taxpayer ... not made a penny yet in cashflow ...”

Elon Musk tweeted Robert Murray's, “fraud”, charge:

Coal-mining CEO: 'Tesla is a fraud' https://t.co/IpQJAlAo3f via @YahooFinance

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 10, 2016

And then issued a challenge:

Real fraud going on is denial of climate science. As for "subsidies", Tesla gets pennies on dollar vs coal. How about we both go to zero?

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 10, 2016

“How about we both go to zero?” – With fossil fuel subsidies running at $10 million per minute world wide,¹ that would be a huge leap forward for the world economy, for the environment, & for humanity.

Renew Economy – Coal CEO calls Tesla a “fraud,” doesn’t mention subsidies for failing coal
https://reneweconomy.com.au/coal-ceo-calls-tesla-fraud-doesnt-mention-subsidies-failing-coal-91514

The Huffington Post – Elon Musk Burns Coal-Mining CEO Who Called Tesla A Fraud
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/elon-musk-robert-murray-fraud_us_57fbf510e4b068ecb5e0f5b2
__________

¹ Hithchhiker’s Guide 2 Tech, “Fossil fuel subsidies — $US10 million per minute”, http://hhg2tech.blogspot.com/2015/05/fossil-fuel-subsidies.html

/ Robert Murray President CEO coal giant Murray Energy Corporation called Tesla Motors fraud CNBC profit subsidies Tesla is a fraud gotten $2 billion taxpayer has not made a penny yet in cash flow subsidies Tesla founder Elon Musk Twitter Tesla pennies subsidies compared with coal industry climate science denial real fraud distortion coal subsidies Tesla $465 million guaranteed loan Department of Energy Tesla paid off in full nine years ahead of schedule earning government American taxpayers millions indirect subsidies Tesla $7,500 tax credits purchaser electric vehicles not Tesla receiving $2 billion American car buyers buy Tesla any other electric vehicle increased demand consumer-facing subsidies subsidies coal industry receives coal tax breaks coal industry benefits billions dollars tax policy loopholes ThinkProgress reported 2012 Treasury Department tax preferences coal save taxpayers $2.6 billion expensing exploration development costs coal companies expense costs locating coal deposits percentage depletion Hard Mineral Fossil Fuels tax code coal companies claim tax deduction cover costs investments mines capital gains treatment coal royalties private owners treated long-term capital gains taxed lower rate coal’s cheap ride rails coal companies benefit directly subsidized transportation America’s railways Association of American Railroads coal 47 percent of tonnage 25 percent of revenue U.S. railroads loans loan guarantees government agencies Department of Transportation Federal Railroad Administration received numerous tax incentives investments new infrastructure below market leases America’s public lands Murray’s mining operations Northern Appalachia Illinois Basin mines private lands Lila Canyon mine Utah publicly-owned lands takes advantage federal coal leasing process federal coal leasing program tantamount massive subsidy to coal companies buying coal owned American taxpayers well below market value coal-supporting subsidy figures costs borne by taxpayers climate damage local environmental health impacts mining transportation combustion disposal of coal Dr. Paul Epstein Harvard Medical School’s Center for Health Global Environment quantify how harmful coal local impacts alone total economically quantifiable costs $345.3 billion adding 17.8¢/kWh electricity generated from coal quantify externalities borne general public distortion not earning a profit coal industry is going bankrupt enormous subsidies coal companies are failing currently 52 bankrupt coal companies McKinsey and Company study United States coal industry bankrupt $45 billion funds debt employee-related reclamation liabilities billions in subsidies 52 coal companies have gone bankrupt industry as a whole worse than bankrupt owing $45 billion it doesn’t have current debts and liabilities fraud financial situation Murray Energy’s nces, Moody’s finances downgraded investment rating Murray Energy Corporation investment service wrote that the downgrade expectation company’s leverage metrics cash flow generation under stress due problems facing the coal industry government support Murray Energy Corporation receives subsidies special tax treatments company’s cash flow under stress America’s coal plants cause global warming /

20 most bike-friendly cities on the planet

Space occupied by 69 people, 69 people filling a bus, 69 people on bicycles & 60 cars
Credit: Cycling Promotion Fund (CPF)

Cities have a problem with moving people around. Part of that problem is the car. As can be seen in the image above, cars require many times more road space to move the same number of people as is required by other means of transport.

Other problems of cars include:
● resources required for their production
● resources required for their maintenance
● low efficiency – in practice ~20%¹

● low levels of utilization – societies, households & individuals invest large amounts of resources in cars, but they are parked most of the time – when in use they are mainly occupied by just one person – a car weighing 1.5-2 tonnes or more to move a single person weighing, perhaps 80 kilogrammes,² is inefficient

● resources required to provide fuel – including a significant fraction of the $10 million per minute world wide subsidy of fossil fuels³

● emissions are a major source of environmental pollution, & resulting impacts on health & costs

● cars require expensive roads compared with whose required by pedestrians or bikes⁴

● congestion caused by cars means that, in practice, a bike is often quicker, especially if cycle paths are available

● “Studies from Denmark tell us that for every kilometer cycled, society enjoys a net profit of 23 cents, whereas for every kilometer driven by car we suffer a net loss of 16 cents.”⁵

With all of the above in mind, the Copenhagen­ize Design Company’s Index, each year evaluates the most bike-friendly cities in the world. It may surprise that the top ranked city is not in the Netherlands – although the 2nd, 3rd & 8th are:

https://www.wired.com/2015/06/copenhagenize-worlds-most-bike-friendly-cities/
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¹ Wikepedia: “Fuel efficiency”, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fuel_efficiency

² BMC Public Health: “The weight of nations: an estimation of adult human biomass”,
“Average body mass globally was 62 kg. North America has the highest average body mass of any continent (80.7 kg).”
https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1471-2458-12-439

³ Hithchhiker’s Guide 2 Tech, “Fossil fuel subsidies — $US10 million per minute”, http://hhg2tech.blogspot.com/2015/05/fossil-fuel-subsidies.html

⁴ The Guardian, “For the price of a mile of highway, you too can have a bike-friendly city”, https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/oct/28/price-mile-highway-bike-friendly-city

⁵ Wired: “The 20 Most Bike-Friendly Cities on the Planet”, https://www.wired.com/2015/06/copenhagenize-worlds-most-bike-friendly-cities/

/ 20 most bike-friendly cities on the planet bicycle bike makes sense in cities rising urbanization our cities need modern mobility solutions moving around on two wheels can offer results investment bicycle infrastructure modern intelligent move research shows social economic environmental health benefits urban cycling studies Denmark every kilometer cycled society enjoys net profit 23 cents every kilometer driven car suffer net loss of 16 cents many cities how much to invest where to invest how welcoming cycling benefits it brings cities governments working toward more bicycle-friendly urban landscape infrastruc­ture planning urban design solutions anthropology design principles solely focusing engineering traditional planning 2015 Index Copenhagen­ize Design Company index most bike-friendly cities world evolves ranked 150 global cities considered cities regional population over 600,000 top 20 Copenha­gen Amsterdam dominate new cities top 20 competi­tion nails South American continent Rio de Janeiro Europe Germany Berlin Munich Hamburg Asia Tokyo Nagoya Montreal 20th North American competition Minneapolis American cities methodology advocacy bike facilities social acceptance general perception cycling safe higher modal percentage residents get around by bike car public transit 50-50 gender split cyclists infrastructure is key Denmark Netherlands century tried tested proven work established best practice protected one-way bike lanes aren’t shared by cars buses pedestrians designing streets limit number speed cars city centers making public spaces safe welcoming everyone drivers Copenha­genize Index 2015 world’s 20 most bicycle-friendly cities Copenhagen Amsterdam Utrecht Strasbourg Eindhoven Malmö Nantes Bordeaux /

Drones are making deliveries now

Credit: Zipline/BBC

Many have announced plans to implement delivery by drone, including Amazon, Domino’s, & Zookal (a textbook company in Sydney, Australia).

First to deliver (literally) is the Rwandan Ministry of Health – for supply of blood to hospitals. Technology is provided by a company called Zipline.

Drones are electric, fixed-wing, with a range of 150km.

Catapult launch improves range by supplying energy to lift the aircraft to altitude, instead of drawing it from the battery.

Similarly, dropping payload by parachute at the delivery end eliminates the energy requirement to regain altitude after a landing, & reduces infrastructure requirements.

Use of drones in Rwanda is an interesting parallel to the way that mobile communication is being used to bypass fixed communication infrastructure in many countries.



Aljazeera:
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/10/rwanda-turns-drones-deliver-vital-blood-supplies-161014095632407.html

BBC:
http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-37646474

Zipline webpage:
http://flyzipline.com/product/ / Rwanda drones drone deliver vital blood supplies Rwanda launches drone delivery programme transport medical product remote parts country Rwanda launched launch drone delivery network transport vital blood supplies far-flung areas country project unmanned aerial vehicles drones deliver small packages parachute bypassing traffic washed-out roads country dubbed Land of a Thousand Hills introduced Friday Rwanda Rwanda's Muhanga district expand country early 2017 on demand drones make around 150 deliveries blood 21 facilities day Zipline company behind the project health professionals order emergency packages text message deliveries made approximately 30 minutes speaking launch President Paul Kagame use commercial drones transport essential medical products considered milestone Rwanda technology becomes relevant meaningful works for people addresses challenges they face President Kagame launching Zipline medical delivery drone Muhanga drones shaped like fat-bellied miniature plane two-metre wingspan battery-powered range 150km weigh 13kg carry cargo 1.5kg three bags of blood drones launched fired into the air using catapult deliveries biodegradable parachute Rwanda population 11 million people majority live hard-to-reach rural areas economic gains past decade most citizens still poor /

Google Pixel vs. Apple iPhone 7

Pixel is slightly larger & 5 grammes heavier, than iPhone 7, but has a larger screen
Credit: New Atlas

Google's Pixel is arguably better packaged, in that, while it is 6mm taller, 3mm wider & 0.2mm deeper, its 5" screen is 7.6mm larger diagonally than the iPhone’s 4.7" screen. In the phablets, comparison is more direct – both have 5.5" screens, & the Pixel XL is shorter, narrower, same depth, & 20 grammes (10.6%) lighter.

iPhone is IP67 water resistant, while the Pixel squeezes 35% more pixels into each square inch of its AMOLED display, while the iPhone 7 screen is IPS.

Of course, after having read everything above & below, for many, buying decisions will be based on prefernce (or loyalty) to Android or iOS.

New Atlas (formerly Gizmag)
http://newatlas.com/iphone-7-vs-google-pixel-comparison/45862/

Digital Trends
http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/google-pixel-versus-iphone-7/


Phablets – Pixel XL vs iPhone Plus

New Atlas
http://newatlas.com/iphone-7-plus-vs-pixel-xl-comparison/45885/

Macworld UK
http://www.macworld.co.uk/review/iphone/iphone-7-plus-vs-google-pixel-xl-comparison-review-3647510/

Android Central
http://www.androidcentral.com/first-comparison-google-pixel-xl-vs-iphone-7-plus

PC Mag
http://au.pcmag.com/smartphones/44039/feature/google-pixel-xl-vs-iphone-7-plus-premium-phablet-showdown


Benchmarks

http://www.redmondpie.com/google-pixel-pixel-xl-vs-apple-iphone-7-7-plus-benchmarks-comparison/ / Google Pixel XL verses iPhone 7 /

New technology for Apple keyboards

Programmable function keys with programmable key-tops
Credit: Trusted Reviews

Update: the programmable function keys (above) made it into the new MacBook Pro announced at the Apple event in October 2016.

A source, with some claims to credibility, has revealed that Apple will soon release an updated MacBook Pro with programmable function keys, as shown above. Also claimed to be in the works is an Apple Magic Keyboard with programmable keycaps. Apple is in the process of acquiring a startup called Sonder which developed the technology. Check the video:



Boy Genius Report – This video might be our first look at a new Apple device no one even knew was in development
http://bgr.com/2016/10/12/macbook-pro-2016-rumors-magic-keyboard-2/

Trusted Reviews – Is this Apple’s new MacBook keyboard design?
http://www.trustedreviews.com/news/apple-new-macbook-keyboard-design-leaked-sonder / Apple new MacBook keyboard design Sonder spokesperson confirmed TrustedReviews Trusted Reviews company recently attend Foxconn Innoconnn demo day Sonder procurement contracts third-party laptop companies integrate technology products Apple spokesperson Sonder discussions Apple’s procurement board Sonder’s laptop module Foxconn International Holdings E Ink Holdings strategic partners Sonder Design Pty. Ltd. assisting discussions Apple comment Foxconn confirmation Sonder’s claims Apple introduce customisable keyboard tipster from China Reddit user posted intimate details new keyboard design rolled out future MacBook laptops poster Foxconninsider chief Apple supplier Foxconn secret Apple designs Tsinghua University campus China user Taiwanese manufacturing giant Foxconn hosted demo day campus Australian start-up Sonder Sonder hit headlines revealing smart keyboard module feature backlit e-ink display shortcut language-swapping users claims executive Foxconn Apple’s Procurement Board Office closing an acquisition Sonder company Foxconn invested DFT design for testing versions new MacBook keyboard module Apple 2018 E Ink Magic Keyboard moderators /r/Apple subreddit verified identity Reddit user confirm information provided post Apple accurate Sonder’s technology quick demonstration technology Sonder keyboard performance design right at your fingertips Sonder website meticulously designed engineered Sonder keyboard final product advanced elegant keyboard transparent keys bespoke display work of art state of the art Apple MacBook Magic Keyboard feature technology Apple plans invest company designs genuine Apple products report healthy degree scepticism MacBook redesign launch later this month rumours Apple plans replace top row function keys MacBook touch-friendly OLED display secondary screen show notifications customisable buttons recent reports asked Apple Sonder comment article response /

Samsung pulls the plug on the Note 7

Fire in a Jeep Grand Cherokee has been attributed to a Note 7 charging on the dashboard
Credit: Fox News/news.com.au

After the recall of the incendiary Note 7 smartphone, some customers found that the replacements were also prone to burst into flames. In response, Samsung has permanently ceased production & recalled all Note 7s.

Next problem – Note 7s still pose a fire-risk, so how to protect all those involved in the return?

Samsung has created a “Note 7 Return Kit”, which includes a, “Recovery Box”, that's lined with non-flammable ceramic fiber paper – it’s essential to avoid surrounding a Note 7 with fuel for a potential incendiary incident.

Next problem – some people have a bad reaction to the ceramic fiber paper, so protective gloves are included in the kit.

Samsung advises customers to do the usual data back-up, & complete a factory reset to delete personal information before returning Note 7s. Given the history, this is a potentially risky operation – place the phone on a non-flammable surface in a well-ventilated area, & wear eye-protection. Anyone who thinks such precautions are not warranted, check the image at the top of this item.

Compensation is offered to customers, in the form of replacement with S7, S7 Edge (with cash adjustment) or complete refund.

And if you are thinking, “Mine seems OK. I'll see how it goes,” check the image at the top of this item again. They all seem OK, until they start belching fire & smoke.

Ars Technica – Samsung ships flameproof boxes for Note 7 returns
http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2016/10/heres-how-to-return-your-note-7-without-blowing-up-the-mail-service/

ABC – Samsung Galaxy Note 7 production permanently discontinued
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-10-11/samsung-galaxy-note-7-production-permanently-discontinued/7923988

Samsung:
http://www.samsung.com/us/note7recall/ / Samsung Galaxy Note 7 production permanently discontinued Samsung permanently discontinuing production Galaxy Note 7 smartphones halted global sales devices reports replacement devices catching fire South Korean regulatory filing stop manufacturing Note 7s consumer safety Samsung struggling regain consumer trust recall recalls prompted criticism faulty devices company's handling of the problem global halt sales Note 7 multiple reports exploding batteries major retailers stopped selling phones Samsung recalled devices initial recall identified manufacturing defect batteries battery top-of-the-line smartphone shipping new Note 7 phones safe safer reports replacements catching fire Samsung announcement announce stopping sales devices Monday Tuesday Wednesday South Korean firm comment identified cause of the fires replacement devices officials in Seoul several possibilities including batteries more difficult analyse cause accidents various patterns of the accidents official Korean Agency for Technology and Standards met with Samsung experts company offering exchange Note 7s other products refund them Note 7 could cost Samsung $17 billion analysts Samsung's decision pull Note 7s off the shelves raises fresh doubts about firm's quality control huge financial and reputational costs analysts permanent end Note 7 sales cost Samsung $17 billion tarnish other phone products minds consumers carriers investors wiped nearly $20 billion off Samsung Electronics market value Tuesday local time shares gadget /

Tesla events 17 & 28 October

Tesla product unveiling on the 17th (unexpected by most), followed by Tesla/SolarCity on the 28th

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 9, 2016

Tesla CEO, Elon Musk, tweeted about a, “product unveiling on the 17th”, recently. Looks like the event promised for the second part of the Model 3 unveil, “later in 2016.” In June, he said this second part of the unveil would be, “the obvious thing.”

Existing solar installations mount solar cells above a conventional roof. Consensus appears to be that, “Tesla/SolarCity on the 28th”, will be a solar roof, in which the roof itself is composed entirely of solar cells.

Inverse – 3 theories about Tesla’s surprise product announcment
https://www.inverse.com/article/21957-new-tesla-product-is-coming

Wired – Tesla to unveil 'unexpected' product next week
http://www.wired.co.uk/article/tesla-event-october-17-elon-musk

Electrek – Tesla CEO Elon Musk announces unexpected product unveiling Oct. 17th & Tesla SolarCity event Oct. 28
https://electrek.co/2016/10/09/tesla-ceo-elon-musk-announces-unexpected-product-unveiling-oct-17th-tesla-solar-city-event-oct-28/ / Elon Musk promised new product electric car company Tesla tweeted unexpected product launched company 17 October 17 launching two new products this month new unknown product solar roof battery created Tesla SolarCity Tesla product unveiling Tesla/SolarCity 28th tweet launched could second part Tesla's Model 3 launch March revealed most affordable electric car Model 3 more than 400,000 preorders high-quality electric vehicle range over 215 miles range greater than 215 miles reach 60mph six seconds support Tesla Supercharger network car launched May Elon Musk big event second part car's launch later 2016 Code Conference June Musk second event for the car would unveil "the obvious thing" 28 October 28 Tesla SolarCity reveal solar roof integrated Powerwall 2.0 battery Tesla charger billionaire new energy efficient roof publicly seen first time San Fransisco Bay 28 October 28 roof made entirely solar cells integrate products Musk's electric car company integrated home battery Powerwall 2.0 Tesla charger customise design fit specific housing design new roof sustainable energy sustainable renewable environmental energy /

Tesla in New Zealand in 2017

Tesla Powerpack utility & business energy storage
Credit: electrek

To date, Tesla has not marketed in New Zealand. They plan to change this in 2017, with a Tesla Store, service centre & sites for Superchargers. Product range will include cars, Tesla Powerwall & Powerpack.¹ Orders will be taken on-line from this November, & local recruiting will begin immediately.

Although not “marketed”, there have been accounts of private imports. https://teslamotorsclub.com/tmc/threads/how-many-teslas-in-new-zealand.46754/

EVs are a particularly good match for a country where around 73 percent of electricity is generated from renewable sources: hydro (60%), geothermal (10%) & wind (3%). Solar is less than 1%. Wave & tidal are in design & testing.²

NZ Herald – Tesla coming to New Zealand next year
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11723975

Stuff – Tesla confirmed for NZ launch in early-2017
http://www.stuff.co.nz/motoring/news/85061582/tesla-confirmed-for-nz-launch-in-early2017
__________

¹ Tesla: “Powerpack”, https://www.tesla.com/en_AU/powerpack?redirect=no

² consumer.powerswitch: “Green energy – Answers to questions about renewable & non-renewable energy sources”, https://www.powerswitch.org.nz/powerswitch/site-info/powerswitch-faqs/green-energy / Powerpack bi-directional inverter inverter converts AC grid power DC Powerpack storage converts DC power AC grid interconnection Powerpack Controller onsite computer interface creates control signals relays commands inverter DC combiner integrated application control software control signals relayed SCADA system Powerpack Combiners combiners allow for multiple Powerpacks wired controlled together software state of the art battery management software controls performance cell pod pack level built in control software dispatch locally hosted interface direct Modbus DNP3 connection scheduled autonomous operation additional software integration demand response peak shaving microgrid installations utility-scale grid integration Tesla customer testimonies customer testimony commercial Powerpack Powerpacks Tesla Energy energy management operational efficiency renewable energy systems Advanced Microgrid Solutions Tesla Energy Tesla Model 3 available New Zealand customers overwhelming demand Model 3 enthusiasm owners imported Tesla Tesla New Zealand future site Tesla Store Service Center sites Superchargers Tesla Powerwall Powerpack products begin taking orders online recruiting local talent New Zealand launch Tesla topped sales estimates Elon Musk boost staff raise profit ramp up production Model 3 /

Tesla Model S racer for Electric GT World Series makes an appearance

Electric GT
Credit: Electric GT/The Verge

News of a racing series for Tesla Model S cars first began to appear in March of this year. Now, more news has emerged, including a car & a driver.


Interior gutted, wheel replaced, central screen retained
Credit: Electric GT/The Verge

Compared to Formula 1 (3 day event – race not over 305 km (189.5 miles), nor more than two hours), Formula E is a compact format – an entire event – practice (1 hour sessions), qualifying (1 hour), & race, are packed into a single day. Electric GT will be even more compact, with a 20-minute practice, 30-minute qualifying, & two races of 60 km (37 miles) each.

Unlike Formula E, which uses street circuits, all Electric GT races will be held on traditional race tracks.

A seven race series will start in 2017.

Leilani Münter,^1,2 ARCA^3,4 racer, environmental activist, vegan, biology graduate, & hippie chick, has been contracted to drive. She is credited as the author, of the maxim, “Never underestimate a vegan hippie chick with a race car,” an insight which is rarely challenged.



The Verge – How to start a racing series with Teslas — an interview with the CEO of Electric GT World Series
http://www.theverge.com/2016/10/1/13124944/electric-gt-tesla-world-series-fia-interview-ceo

Green Car Reports – Tesla Model S race car for Electric GT shown
http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1106347_tesla-model-s-race-car-revealed-for-electric-gt-series

Electric GT World Series home page
http://www.electricgt.co/#closer
__________

¹ Wikipedia: “Leilani Münter”, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leilani_Munter

² “leilani.green Official Site of Leilani Münter”, http://www.leilani.green/

³ Wikipedia: “ARCA Racing Series”, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ARCA_Racing_Series

⁴ ARCA Racing Series: http://www.arcaracing.com/ / Tesla Model S racing series Electric GT World Series grid modified Model S zero-emissions GT road car based racing championships begin 2017 car grid Tesla Model S P85+ new championship Electric GT World Series seven-race season 2017 races Europe America Asia organisers tracks used Barcelona Spain Donington UK Mugello Italy Estoril Portugal 10 teams team two modified Tesla Model S P85+ road cars power unit control software unchanged standard road car 416hp horsepower 601Nm torque changes aerodynamics suspension brakes more suitable for racing car's weight reduced tearing out unneeded upholstery battery's cooling system improved drivers foot on the throttle longer Agustin Paya professional racing driver promoter Electric GT World Series P85+ rear-wheel-drive newer P90D all-wheel-drive chosen more suitable for racing easier to fix in a pinch drivers prefer RWD track future Formula E plan Electric GT World Series allow range different cars grid Tesla Model S one of the best cars ever made best 100 percent electric cars luxurious super tourer made for racing weight distribution low centre of gravity considerable mass more than two tons allows unbelievable cornering speed unending torque add up great racing car testing Barcelona Catalunya F1 Circuit Madrid Jarama circuit Model S GT champion Electric GT pull in the punters Formula E engine noise Model S much larger battery Formula E cars car-switching battery back swapping races last more than 100 or 150 miles Tesla racing exciting techies Teslaphiles tune in favourite car electric race car racing car lithium ion LiIon battery charge recharge range Electric GT Holdings race series Tesla Model S electric car electric vehicle EV Electric GT Formula E fastest longest-range longest range electric road car production Model S Model S P85+ high performance Model S dual motor all wheel drive D variants /