StoreDot promises 30 second phone charging by 2016 (video)

http://www.androidauthority.com/storedot-flash-charge-battery-365628/ / phone battery capacity full HD display power hungry components battery life capacity charging rate Israel startup StoreDot develop development developing technology breakthrough battery design storage display manufacturing tiny particles organic material peptides molecules amino acids Tel Aviv University self-assemble tiny spheres 2 nanometers store energy organic quantum dots toxic expensive battery organic quantum dots conventional lithium electrodes supercapacitor organic layers store energy release lithium layers limited terms capacity size flash-charging batteries /

Microsoft pulls the plug on XP

http://amuno.hubpages.com/hub/The-New-Life-Of-Windows-XP-Service-Pack-3-After-2014-And-The-End-Of-Patch-Tuesday

Open source gives new life to old Windows XP machines.

http://theconversation.com/open-source-gives-new-life-to-old-windows-xp-machines-25317?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Latest+from+The+Conversation+for+8+April+2014&utm_content=Latest+from+The+Conversation+for+8+April+2014+CID_6d78353ab23d4cd5bf44f32d9ca5d942&utm_source=campaign_monitor&utm_term=Open%20source%20gives%20new%20life%20to%20old%20Windows%20XP%20machines / Windows XP service pack 3 unleash zero day exploits retirement Patch Tuesday XP S3 end extended support security updates patches enterprise Windows XP SP3 provide security patches experts Arkon France rolling out ExtendedXP expansive security solutions legacy OS operating system Windows 2000 registered 4 service packs SP Windows XP variants daily anti malware definition updates flagship antivirus software Microsoft Security Essentials enterprise customers daily anti malware definition updates System Centre Endpoint Forefront Client Security Forefront Endpoint Protection Free and Open Source Software FOSS operating system PC older hardware newer versions of Windows 7 8 8.1 dispose potential security threats software components distributions users download Linux kernel robust\ performance security broad support low cost dominant operating system Internet sites Google Facebook YouTube Android phones tablets televisions,\ home routers devices /

Pressy — the almighty Android button

Credit: Pressy/Wikipedia
Update 30 May 2014 — broken link replaced

Pressy is a programmable button for Android devices that fits in the earphone socket. Available actions include take a photograph, start recording voice or video, turn on the flashlight function, send current location, toggle WiFi or Bluetooth. Pressy can respond to patterns (14 in total) including click & long click, so several actions can be available simultaneously.

Two of the more valuable uses I see for Plessy are:
● restore use of a non-functional hardware button
● quick photograph from standby mode

Kickstarter is no longer an option, but you can pre-order from the same production run at:

http://get.pressybutton.com/

Get more detail from the Kickstarter website:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/556341540/pressy-the-almighty-android-button?ref=live / touchscreen touch screen flashlight photograph photo send your location simple actions flashlight wake your screen unlock exit current running app app you want to use launch action actions maintain eye contact screen perform action device perform action smartphone most intuitive input click clicking button saving time effort tiny physical button connect your phone headphone jack free Pressy app easily customize favorite everyday actions set click-combination plug headphone jack download free app 3 pre-set actions customize clicking behavior quality assurance production process test each button several devices designed /

Racing hybrids in the Le Mans 24 Hours

Credit: Toyota/crash.net

Like Formula 1, Le Mans racers are hybrids now.

Audi R18 Etron Quattro

http://www.wired.com/2014/03/audi-r18-etron-quattro-2014

Nissan Electric ZEOD Racer

http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1089942_nissan-reveals-tiny-engine-for-electric-zeod-le-mans-racer

Porsche 919 & Toyota TS040

http://gas2.org/2014/03/30/2014-lemans-lmp-super-gallery/ / LMP battery capacitor lithium ion LiIon charge dynamic braking energy recovery kW kWh prototype efficiency World Endurance Championship regulations fastest car F1 efficiency efficiently energy lap Porsche Toyota Audi’s podium governing bodies endurance racing WEC Automobile Club de l’Ouest innovation cylinder counts air restrictors restrictions gasolene gasoline petrol gas diesel fuel empty energy storage batteries hybrid flywheel megajoules energy 2.0-liter V4 8MJ hybrid 6MJ 3.7-liter V8 Audi R18 e-tron quattro 2MJ diesel engine Audi Sport head Wolfgang Ullrich flywheel energy recovery system store braking energy rear axle front wheels energy recovery system power exhaust gases weight distribution /

Getting more done

Scott Hanselman, a program manager at Microsoft has an interesting take on how to get more done: "Dropping the ball is sometimes the right answer. Let a ball drop. Tell people, 'I'm just not going to do that.'"

https://zapier.com/blog/scale-yourself-scott-hanselman/?utm_source=pocket&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=pockethits / don't worry drop the ball counterintuitive advice productivity practices author blogger speaker right answer encourage discourage burning the midnight oil day job balance blog record podcast engage Twitter and attend speak speaker speaks conferences author co-author books productive productivity I must dance can't stop little boy excitement excited the less that you do the more of it that you can do standard law of scale scale yourself South by Southwest Interactive productivity practices one email rule reasoning for reading Robert Scoble's blog tips immediately actionable productivity practices share shares /

VW e-Golf review — updated 06 April 2014

Robert Llewellyn reviews the soon-to-be released VW e-Golf.

Something for the future: brief mention of the 204 hp (152 kW) Golf GTE plug-in hybrid at the 8:30 mark. Likely to put an end to the, "slow & boring", tag on hybrids.

Update 06 April — John Voelcker of Green Car Reports takes a look too:

http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1090855_2015-volkswagen-e-golf-drive-report-first-u-s-sale-details / Volkswagen electric vehicle EV LiIon lithium ion charge range anxiety recharge Fully Charged quick-charging stations chemical processes rapid rapidly charging cell battery charges range recharge mileage electric cars Level 2 recharging DC quick charge 80 percent capacity fast charging fast charged winter high summer temperatures driving /

Nissan Leaf second generation

Robert Llewellyn reviews the second generation Nissan Leaf in Norway.

A couple of things to note:

At the 0:30 mark, Robert is parking the test Leaf. Count the number of other parked Leafs & iMieves in that shot.

Norway has 98% renewable electricity!¹ Big news for the renewable energy doubters.
__________

¹ Some authorities claim 98.5 or 99%: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renewable_energy_in_Norway / Nissan Leaf electric vehicle EV LiIon lithium ion charge range anxiety recharge Fully Charged quick-charging stations chemical processes rapid rapidly charging cell battery charges range recharge mileage electric cars Level 2 recharging DC quick charge 80 percent capacity fast charging fast charged winter high summer temperatures driving /