French court rules that it's illegally anticompetitive for Google to provide free maps

Only good news here is that your eyesight is not defective, nor are you hallucinating. The heading really is that irrational.

Bad news is that the heading is also true.

http://boingboing.net/2012/02/02/french-court-rules-that-its.html

http://mobile.theverge.com/2012/2/2/2766485/google-maps-anti-competitive-fine-france

 

/ damages Bottin Cartographes OpenStreetMaps API /

Why Aussie Galaxy Nexus won’t Get Ice Cream Sandwich updates direct from Google

http://www.lifehacker.com.au/2012/02/why-aussie-galaxy-nexus-wont-get-ice-cream-sandwich-updates-direct-from-google/#more-415263

/ Telstra /

Does it make sense to buy a $100 off-brand Android tablet?

http://www.tested.com/news/does-it-make-sense-to-buy-a-100-off-brand-android-tablet/3530/

Is sugar worse for you than alcohol?

http://www.lifehacker.com.au/2012/02/is-sugar-worse-for-you-than-alcohol/

/ alcohol toxicity processed obesity epidemic /

Holden Commodore EV

In its January 2012 edition, the Australian motoring magazine, Wheels, has a progress report on the EV Engineering consortium project to develop an EV Holden* Commodore.  The consortium consists of Bosch, Continental, Air International & GE.  Holden is providing engineering support & use of its Lang Lang testing facility.  Funding has been provided, in part, by the Australian Federal Government in the sum of $A3.55 million.

• Similar performance to a 6 cylinder Commodore.
• Range 160 km.  Real world 80-140 km.
• Battery in the space previously occupied by the engine, transmission & driveshaft.  In the current fitting, it is bolted from below, although a Better Place compatible quick swap system is in development.
• Electronics replace the fuel tank.
• Motor is attached to a modified rear subframe.  Standard mounting points are retained
• 150 kg added mass, though little change in weight distribution.
• Heating is provided by the standard Commodore heater with the assistance of a small, electric water heater.
• Quite a bit of room remains under the bonnet, although the fuel tank has been removed, so a range extender will be problematic.

Holden is "interested", although a commercial product marketed by them is highly unlikely with the Volt extended range EV planned for release late in 2012.

* Holden is General Motors in Australia.

This Is NASA’s cancer-sniffing mobile phone sensor

Tricorder anybody?

http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2012/02/this-is-nasas-cancer-sniffing-mobile-phone-sensor/

Manage your diabetes with Diabetes Pilot

http://the-gadgeteer.com/2012/02/01/manage-your-diabetes-with-diabetes-pilot/

/ insulin injection glucose /