Tesla Model S P100D performance Easter egg & Supercharger costs

Credit: Tesla/Iulian Mitrica/Google

Tesla Superchargers are free for all Model S & Model X vehicles. But … from next year, new Tesla owners will have to pay for Supercharger use, apart from 400 kWh of free Supercharging credits per year.

Free use of Superchargers for Model 3 cars was ruled out some time ago.

Tesla will continue to honour its undertaking to provide free Supercharger use for the life of existing vehicles.

Tesla – An Update to Our Supercharging Program
https://www.tesla.com/en_AU/blog/update-our-supercharging-program?redirect=no

Wired has suggested that this is a sign of Tesla morphing from a startup to a mainstream car manufacturer.

Wired – As Tesla Grows Up, It Gives Up on Free Charging
https://www.wired.com/2016/11/tesla-grows-gives-free-charging/

On the other hand, an over-the-air software performance upgrade of the Model S P90D will require owners to work out how to enable it. I.e., an Easter egg – which is more tech-head in-joke than mainstream vehicle manufacturer.

Elon Musk tweeted about it

Looks like the Model S P100D Easter egg will allow it to do 0 to 60 mph in 2.4 sec and a 10.6 sec 1/4 mile via software update next month

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 16, 2016

Bloomberg – Tesla ‘Easter Egg’ Makes the World’s Fastest Car Even Faster
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-11-16/tesla-easter-egg-makes-the-world-s-fastest-car-even-faster / Tesla grows up free charging Supercharger Tesla gorgeous cars ludicrous acceleration Autopilot over the air updates luxury electric vehicle EV free charging automaker international network Supercharger stations Tesla customers plug in chargers add 200 to 300 miles of range per hour top up depleted battery about 30 minutes driver has a bathroom break bite to eat approach convenience pumping gas conventional car free for life new Tesla buyers plug pay up Tesla Tesla electric vehicle industry Supercharging order Tesla 400 kWh free Supercharging credits per year 1,000 miles of driving Tesla how much it will cost limit small fee cheaper than buying gas ordered charge for free for life 373,000 people $1,000 deposit reserve Model 3 order Tesla new income build new Superchargers worldwide 4605 charging points expand the network Tesla owners free lunch all you can eat buffet not unusual queue of Model S and X cars waiting busy locations August 2015 letter Tesla chided owners over-using Superchargers day-to-day charging at home something away for free harder to manage Art Wheaton studies the auto industry Cornell University’s Worker Institute small dollar amount per fill should encourage people to only take what they need help manage the lines Tesla crucial maintaining positive user experience expensive supercharger Paul Mutolo energy storage chemist Cornell University bunch of cars charging at once big spike power demand big bills from utility companies demand charges making money allow Tesla build Superchargers CEO Elon Musk vision sustainable transport solar panels batteries store energy buffer demand cutting costs at the same time more chargers are coming /

Google PhotoScan digitises your old photographs (video)

Scanning a photograph with PhotoScan
Credit: Cnet

Google has just released a phone app (iOS & Android) for scanning your printed photographs.

To scan a photograph, press the scan button. Four white dots dots will appear above the image, as shown above. Prompts appear to position the white circle over each of the white dots in turn.

Captured images are then combined, with the multiple perspectives allowing surface glare to be eliminated in the composite image.

Simple adjustments can be made before saving to Google Photos.

Results aren't as good as a flatbed scanner, but it requires no hardware apart from your phone, no set-up, & it's faster.

Google's short how-to:



Wired – Google just made it way easier to scan your old photos
https://www.wired.com/2016/11/google-photoscan-app-scan-your-old-photos/

Cnet – Google PhotoScan saves irreplaceable photos in four snaps
https://www.cnet.com/news/googles-photoscan-saves-irreplaceable-photos-in-four-snaps/

Google shows you where to get the app
https://www.google.com/photos/scan/ / Google just made it way easier to scan your old photos Google PhotoScan saves irreplaceable photos in four snaps Google Photos best photo-management tool your phone favorite photos are all in a shoebox new app built scan your prints eliminate glare taking picture stored digital form Google’s latest mobile app good news bunch packed Fotomat envelopes scanner new PhotoScan standalone app Android iOS scanning a picture manual shooting computational photography photo app recognizes four corners frame displays circular overlays each corner scanned image point phone camera each white circle robust scan image PhotoScan smartphone photo image glare shadows blown-out details four-corner scanning process eliminates reflections digital deterioration panorama app PhotoScan stitches together single image several overlapped photos eliminate glare evening out the overall exposure captured photo backed up online added to your Google Photos library app offers standard face-recognition manual enhancement tricks great showcase Google Photos’ facial recognition really good identifying same person over the course of their life computer vision old scanned photos brand-new test app’s impressive AI updates to Photos app too PhotoScan app Google announced new editing features all Google Photos users new version Auto Enhance exposure saturation levels pro photo editors new controls light and color levels new looks go beyond average Instagram filter adapting effects attributes of each photo free PhotoScan app available Android and iOS new Google Photos update /

Jaguar I-PACE electric SUV (video)

Jaguar I-PACE electric SUV concept vehicle
Credit: Jaguar Land Rover/Wired

Jaguar has just shown a concept version of an all-electric SUV which it it plans to release in 2018. No doubt, some features won't make it to production, but much of the vehicle looks production-ready.

Like other manufacturers, Jaguar is following the Tesla model: 90 kWh, liquid cooled battery pack below the floor – motors between the wheels front & rear deliver 400 horsepower, 516 pound-feet of torque & 4WD.

Promised performance is 0-60 mph in four seconds with range of 220 miles.

Acceleration figure is realistic, but range is conservative, since Tesla is getting much better range from the same size battery right now, & Jaguar has 1-2 years of development before the promised deliver date. Read: best range possible at the time the vehicle becomes available.

And expect advertising to make much of Jaguar’s involvement in Formula E.



Wired
https://www.wired.com/2016/11/jaguar-i-pace-electric-concept-suv/

Green Car Reports
http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1107242_jaguar-i-pace-electric-suv-concept-breaks-cover-at-la-auto-show

Financial Review
http://www.afr.com/technology/jaguar-takes-on-tesla-with-longrange-electric-suv-the-ipace-20161115-gsq5jh

Many images at The Verge
http://www.theverge.com/2016/11/14/13628872/jaguar-ipace-concept-electric-car-suv-unveiled-la-auto-show-2016-photos / making cars for nearly a century Jaguar hot streak British carmaker massive sales surge new F-Pace SUV sharply designed fully electric concept SUV Los Angeles Auto Show Jaguar sports cars luxury sedans electric SUV automakers meet every stricter carbon emission regulations heavy batteries performance SUV I-Pace Bentley Porsche Lamborghini Rolls-Royce Aston Martin Audi Maserati Jaguar’s designers versatility compact electric powertrain power train space engine transmission steep windshield heavily curved glass extended wheelbase shorter overhangs proportions look sports car interior space visibility of an SUV fresh airy interior experience prodigious wood complex panel designs Jaguar launch I-Pace production vehicle 2018 liquid-cooled 90 kWh lithium-ion battery pack range 220 miles 36-module battery sits flat and low improve interior space handling lower center of gravity Formula E electric racing series research and development R&D production side dual front and rear electric motors sit between the wheels maximize both ground clearance interior space produce 400 horsepower 516 pound-feet of torque heavy SUV 60 mph just four seconds I-Pace production more fanciful design elements 12-inch virtual instrument cluster 10-inch center screen massive 23-inch wheels panoramic glass sunroof assembly line sleek aerodynamics flush drag-reducing door handles side skirts channel air more efficiently around the wheels steeply sloped rear window rear diffuser generates cleaner airflow at the rear I-Pace’s high efficiency designers /

Smartwatch powered by you

MATRIX PowerWatch with real time power display
Credit: Akram Boukai/IndieGoGo

Some smartwatches struggle to make it through a single day. Some have a two day battery life. In my use, a Pebble Time watch has a battery life up to 8.5 days. Any way you cut it, charging is an issue for smartwatches.

Except the MATRIX PowerWatch – the tiny amount of current required to power it is generated using heat from your body. Strictly speaking, the heat gradient from the back of the watch (against you wrist) to the front of the watch (in contact with ambient air).



Engadget
https://www.engadget.com/2016/11/14/matrix-powerwatch-hands-on/

Cnet
https://www.cnet.com/news/matrix-powerwatch-no-charge-claims-to-last-on-body-heat/

IndieGoGo project
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/smartwatch-powered-by-you-matrix-powerwatch-watch-fitness/x/9010251#/ / PowerWatch body heat-powered smartwatch does very little don’t have to worry about charging biggest problem with smartwatches avoiding dead battery forgetting to plug them in fiddle with unwieldy magnetic disk chargers keeping a wearable juiced up not as convenient as it should be startup Matrix Industries harness body heat power smartwatches technology debut PowerWatch try out an early prototype device worked only offered very basic functions body-heat energy resource isn't new watches Seiko Thermic doesn't take much energy simply move a second hand much more is needed to run a processor PowerWatch first wearable powered entirely by warmth body heat world's lowest-power-consuming microprocessor AMBI Q earlier processors too power-hungry effective Akram Boukai founder Matrix Industries processor PowerWatch thermal technology power-efficient AMBI Q PowerWatch capable displaying the time tracking your steps sleep quality setting timers stopwatches monitoring amount energy you're generating displayed power meter circling the watch face fuller your body temperature increases exercising, creating larger difference between your skin's surface temperature surrounding air power you produce more accurate measure your calories burned calorie defined as a unit of heat energy send information to your phone via Bluetooth displaying circular charts how much energy milliamp hours data set goals distance steps most fitness apps functions first-gen wearable truly smart watch smartwatch receive your phone's notifications on your wrist company features added in future iterations of the product chunky PowerWatch prototype wrist recent demo display turn on after second or two contact with my skin four-bar power meter screen one bar provide enough energy watch's basic functions generated charging device's 200mAh battery last two years when idle device goes to sleep when you remove continues keep track of the time store your collected data fully functional prototype final version watch round 1.2-inch black-and-white black-&-white black & white display 18mm or 20mm straps available for preorder Indiegogo $99 expected delivery July 2017 price ships PowerWatch very basic proof-of-concept device at the moment Matrix Industries plans for the future hearing aids wireless earbuds powered by body heat other applications for its more efficient and reliable means of generating energy /

Roof-top-solar for rental properties

Credit: SolarQuotes

Roof-top-solar is an important part of making electricity supply sustainable. Depending on the feed in tariff, it is financially beneficial to the householder too.

Renters options are much more limited.

But, those options have just been expanded. How it works: the landlord invests in solar panels on the roof of a rental house, becomes electricity supplier to the renter. Landlord makes up to $1,200 per year (typical 6kW system), & the renter gets electricity for ~20% off. Grid & atmosphere both get a little bit cleaner. Everybody wins.

Landlords could arrange all of this themselves, or they can take advantage of a complete package of services to make this happen, from an organisation called Matter.

Sydney Morning Herald: Digital Solar opens up solar power to Australian renters
http://www.smh.com.au/technology/innovation/digital-solar-opens-up-solar-power-to-australian-renters-20160304-gnajxz.html

Matter web site
http://go.matter.solar/going-solar/?utm_campaign=solar_citizens&utm_source=email_wave1_solar_citizens&utm_medium=email_wave1_solar_citizens&utm_content=email&utm_term / Australia 2 million rental properties gaining access cheap solar power new Digital Solar scheme divides savings between landlords and tenants Melbourne-based startup Matter Digital Solar brokers deals between renters landlords property owner pay installation solar panels sell electricity tenant cheaper rate power from the grid save renters average $300 per year electric power electricity bill $1500 annual profit landlord installation costs covered four to six years untapped market solar panels roof 1 per cent Australian rental properties Matter co-founder Simon Barnes problem tenant pay put solar someone else's roof landlord pay for solar panels giving tenant free power costs 8.5 cents per kilowatt hour install rooftop solar Australia average grid electricity charge 24 cents exploit difference tenant gets cheaper clean power landlord recovers expenses gets new income stream Digital Solar system monitors roof-top solar installations tiny wireless smart meters designed work any electricity provider any brand solar equipment in-home batteries make homes completely self-sufficient reduce their reliance power grid landlords pay $9 per property per month subscription fee access Digital Solar no out-of-pocket expenses tenant pay for electricity consume solar panels grid landlord tenant strike agreement lasts length of the rental agreement Digital Solar recommends tenants receive 20 per cent discount rate from the grid tenancy laws landlords can not exploit renters charging more than grid rate system tenants monitor power usage real time helping better manage energy usage Digital Solar Matter's Hana platform analyses specifics property calculate size solar system required calculate savings monitor performance system Matter's software used electricity water providers thousands of homes across country handling complex tariffs feed-in tariffs power sold back to the grid Digital Solar smart monitors retro-fitted existing solar power systems installed with a new system Digital Solar solar panels inverters act as a broker help customers find good deal solar installation Matter plans roll out multi-tenant service support apartment blocks making solar power practical 400,000 dwellings across the country /

Supermoon tonight

Credit: Sydney Morning Herald

The Moon's orbit around the Earth is not a circle, but an ellipse. Its closest approach (perigee) is 363,104 km (225,623 miles). That's 42,592 km (26,467 miles) closer than at the furthest distance (apogee), 384,400 km (238,855 miles).¹

A Supermoon occurs when there is a full Moon at perigee, which causes the Moon to appear 14% larger & 30% brighter. Tonight, the Moon will be the closest it has been to Earth since 26 January 1948 – & it will be a full Moon – the biggest Supermoon in nearly 70 years – next comparable Supermoon won't appear until 25 November, 2034.

Best times to see today's Supermoon:

Sydney from 7.07pm³
Melbourne from 7.40pm³
Perth starting at 5.20pm⁴

weather permitting.

Thanks to Miemie for suggesting this item.
__________

¹ Space.com: “How Far is the Moon?”, http://www.space.com/18145-how-far-is-the-moon.html

² Sydney Morning Herald: “Clouds expected to spoil Sydney's view of the supermoon”, http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/clouds-expected-to-spoil-sydneys-view-of-the-supermoon-20161113-gsocdm.html

³ Sydney Morning Herald, “Seven things you need to know about the supermoon”, http://www.smh.com.au/technology/sci-tech/seven-things-you-need-to-know-about-the-supermoon-20161102-gsghdv.html

⁴ WAtoday, “Perth awaits supermoon phenomenon, here's the best spots to see it rise”, http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/perth-awaits-supermoon-phenomenon-heres-the-best-spots-to-see-it-rise-20161113-gso975.html

/ Supermoon Supermoon how far is the Moon Earth's moon brightest object in our night sky closest celestial body proximity making life possible here on Earth Moon's gravitational pull stabilizes Earth's wobble on its axis stable climate Moon's orbit around Earth elliptical perigee closest approach Moon close as 225,623 miles 363,104 kilometers apogee farthest away it gets Moon 252,088 miles 405,696 km from Earth average the distance from Earth to the moon about 238,855 miles 384,400 km the Moon moving away from Earth rate of about 1.5 inches 4 cm per year clouds expected spoil Sydney's view of the supermoon Sydneysiders excited much-hyped supermoon interstate friends the Bureau of Meteorology forecasting low visibility on Monday night Moon's biggest brightest display nearly 70 years 25 November 203 4 BOM forecaster Sarah Chadwick sky watchers in Sydney hoping for an occasional gap in the clouds Moon will be at its most spectacular as the sky darkens while it is close to the horizon Melbourne Planetarium astronomer Tanya Hill best viewing window evening twilight between moonrise sunset Melbourne 14 November between 7.40pm when the moon rises and 8.09pm when the sun sets Sydneysiders between moonrise at 7.07pm and 7.36pm when the sun sets best spot see it clear view eastern horizon just before sunset amateur skywatchers full moon Supermoon telescope Moon is too bright equipment you might want with you on 14 November decent camera keen-eyed observers pick out lunar landmarks maria Moon's low-lying seas darker patches Apollo 11's famous landing site eastern edge of the Sea of Tranquility. The Tycho crater and Copernicus crater lighter-coloured circles we see the moon upside down compared to northern hemisphere astronomical showstopper 25 November 2034 another supermoon next month albeit not at perigee Moon's orbit 360,390 kilometres from Earth further away from us what is a supermoon anyway Supermoon combination two things full Moon Moon at perigee orbit approaching Earth at its closest 14 November bring the moon 50,000 kilometres closer to Earth Supermoon this monster appear up to 14 per cent bigger 30 per cent brighter than average full moon travels across the night sky November 14 biggest one is almost 70 years Moon astronomically speaking close to Earth it'll be 18 years until it's this close to us again /

Jetpack Aviation's JB10 flight (video)

Despite the impression given by the inventor's extraordinary demonstration of control, jet packs are very difficult to fly. Marketing plans substantially consist of planning how to train customers to fly these things, while avoiding the bad publicity which would come from a trainee running into a building at 200kph.

And the price? Not available, but expect something between, extremely & absurdly, expensive. If that doesn't put you off, you may be interested to know that deliveries are expected to start by May 2017.

Article about an early demonstration just a year ago
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-11-11/aussie-inventor-flies-jetpack-around-statue-of-liberty/6929444

Developers website
http://jetpackaviation.com/ / successful flights Europe David Mayman Australian inventor Jetpack Aviation announced JB-10 jetpack officially on sale well qualified buyers competition let anyone fly one of these amazing things delivery in April/May 2017 JB-10 backpack two turbine engines hanging off the sides it's fast JB-9 elevate climb up to 1,000 ft (305 m) per minute endurance five to 10 minutes fuel bringing the jetpack to market finding a way to safely train new pilots two jet engines on their back Jetpack Aviation team electric tethered training facility similar flight dynamics running up hours on sensitive turbine engines pilots really hurt themselves well qualified buyers stipulation early days personal jetpack flight formative technology stopped irresponsible users splatting themselves against buildings 200 km/h another jetpack under development uses three smaller turbines per side total of six redundancy in case of engine failure Mayman test flying design automatic thrust management system requiring a whole new computer ballistic parachutes failure option Jetpack Aviation isn't announcing pricing world's first real jetpack you have to ask you can't afford it the company is running a contest win jetpack flight /