Tesla Model S hacked at Beijing symposium

You may remember a recent post about the Symposium on Security for Asia Network (SyScan360) in Beijing, which offered a $10,000 prize to any symposium attendee who could hack into a Tesla Model S.

Well, one team was partly successful & has been awarded 10,600 RMB in prize money. They were able to remotely unlock the vehicle, sound the horn, flash the lights, & open the sunroof.

http://chargedevs.com/newswire/security-buffs-win-a-prize-for-hacking-into-a-tesla-model-s/ / hack hacker hacking hacked process cracking software operating system OS computer smart phone smartphone car electric cars challenge hackTesla Model S electric $10,000 prize register registers SyScan conference eligible enter competition rules Tesla Model S experts try their luck learn lessons crack its software entirely-electric Tesla websites central display screen operating major functions of the car from a remote computer web browser 17 inch screen warranty would be void high-tech nature Tesla already takes security very seriously full vulnerability disclosure program allowing users to report any flaws in the car's system ex-Apple security expert Kristin Paget improve digital security research take control of cars hitting brakes jerking the steering wheel fun and games exploited experimentally subtext very sinister advanced hacking virus viruses lessons learned /

LG Chem will supply batteries for 200 mile EV in 2016

Credit: LG Chem/Charged EVs

Both General Motors & Tesla have plans for mass market electric vehicles (EVs) with 200 mile (320 km) range for $30,000, around 2016.

Tesla has called its mass market EV the Model III. Part of the battery price reduction necessary to make the range & price targets will come from its battery Gigafactory project.

Now LG has indicated that it will be supplying batteries for an EV with 200+ mile (320+ km) range in 2016.

With GM planning to produce its next generation of EVs in South Korea, it appears to be a likely LG customer.

http://chargedevs.com/newswire/lg-chem-will-supply-batteries-for-200-mile-ev-in-2016/

EV range has always been limited by battery price. Most existing EVs have limited battery range, because more range means more battery cost, & more sticker shock. As a result, most existing EVs have 100 mile (160km) or less range. Tesla has taken the alternative route: their Model S is a superlative vehicle, with a range up to 320 miles[1] (500 km), at a significantly higher price.

When Elon Musk first announced the 2016-2017 timeframe for its 200 mile range, mass market EV, it represented a breakthrough. By 2016, Tesla may find itself in a crowded market. Two advantages it is likely to retain are the free-to-use Supercharger network & the promise of superior performance.

On the other hand, Tesla has recently opened up its patent portfolio & has suggested it is prepared to negotiate sharing its Supercharger network with other manufacturers[2].
__________

[1] http://www.teslamotors.com/en_AU/models

[2] http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2014/06/11/elon-musk-talks-teslas-supercharger-future / LG Chem CFO Cho Suk-jeh Reuters South Korean company supply batteries EV 200 miles range 2016 automaker new cells General Motors GM supply agreement former CEO Dan Akerson 200-mile EV produce its next generation of EVs Bupyeong South Korea plant GM Korea head Sergio Rocha designed from the ground up EV legacy model GM VP Doug Parks AP new EV next-generation Volt MSRP $30,000 Elon Musk LiIon lithium ion range charge recharge /

Apps that don't deliver, until you pay for an in-app purchase

Credit: Google Play/Android Police

We've all been there: you download an app on the understanding that it is free. Then you find out that its functionality is not all that was advertised, unless you pay for an "in-app purchase". Well, things are about to change for the better in the Google Play Store:

http://www.androidpolice.com/2014/07/18/after-pressure-from-the-european-commission-google-will-no-longer-call-games-with-in-app-purchases-free-on-the-play-store/ / Google representative statement European Commission consumer protection agencies Google Play user users better protections children potential changes Play Store US non-European locations consumer unrest in-app purchases free-to-play games Europe European Commission EU EU's legislative arm issued instructions Google Apple more accurately market free games instructed both companies buy virtual items real money complaints consumers Google committed stop referring games in-app purchases free hard rule very little room for interpretation European Commission's press release free games in-app purchases developing targeted guidelines app developers prevent direct exhortation children time-framed measures monitor breaches of EU consumer laws free-to-play games IAP Play Store re-labeled Google will stop referring to them as such IAP games free promotions Play Store home page Top Free list either Top Free Play Store list Android pad tablet phone game developers publishers policies buy virtual items ask their parents to United States US Play Store complaints play playing online /

Eyes on the road

Driving, or riding in, a motor vehicle is the most dangerous thing most of us do on a regular basis. Is that SMS worth dying for?

/ car automobile accident death road toll fatality illegal damage injury hsopital pain mobile cell phone smartphone smart phone smart-phone /

More about the third generation Tesla electric vehicle (update)

Update: Tesla will be having a Model 3 event in March 2016
http://hhg2tech.blogspot.com.au/2016/02/tesla-model-3-event-march-2016-may-show.html

Tesla's Roadster was always the first generation in a long term plan to deliver a practical mass market electric vehicle (EV). Second generation Model S has been on sale for some time, & the Model X cross over, in prototype form, has been sighted on California roads.

After a tussle with Ford over the name "Model E", Tesla has renamed their 3rd generation electric vehicle the "Model III".

As a price control measure, the Model III will make extensive use of steel, rather than aluminium, as in the Model S. It will have a range over 200 miles, & be about 20% smaller than the Model S.

When? Elon Musk has said previously, "Hopefully 2016, but I would say no later than 2017."

Performance? Tesla dropped the 40 kWh Model S because it was "sluggish" & "didn't feel like a Tesla". Elon musk has previously indicated that he, doesn't want to deliver a third gen car that "sucks". The article linked below gives further reason to hope that the Model III will have good performance.

Other major point of interest from the item linked below is that Model IIIs will have free access to the Tesla Supercharger network.

And there will be an upgraded, longer range battery for the Roadster.

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/tesla/87867/tesla-model-3-to-challenge-bmw-3-series-world-exclusive / model names Roadster Model S Model X third-generation vehicle Tesla Model III 3 mass-market vehicle Model E S-E-X Ford Model E trademark Ford sued I thought this is crazy, Ford’s trying to kill sex Model 3, we’ll have three bars to represent it and it’ll be S III X go on sale by 2017 new platform 20% smaller range of over 200 miles Tesla’s British engineering chief Chris Porritt design Supercharger network free upgraded battery Roadster boost range 245 miles 400 /

Ztylus Camera Case & Lens kit for Apple iPhone 5/5S

Probably, there are more photographs taken with cameras in mobile phones than any other class of camera. With their lack of a zoom lens, its not surprising that so many add on lenses have been developed.

Ztylus has developed case & multi-lens combinations for a number of phones, including Samsung Galaxy & iPhones. Their latest, for the iPhone 5/5S, has a unique arrangement of fish-eye, wide-angle, macro & polariser.

http://dailytekk.com/2014/07/09/ztylus-iphone-camera-case-and-revolver-lens-kit-review/

http://www.gizmag.com/ztylus-smartphone-camera-case-lens-system/32724/

http://ztylus.com/ / extra weight bulk smart phone smart-phone smartphone Ztylus stylish case protect iPhone Note 3 S4 circular mount multiple lens system attached cell mobile four additional lens options case and lens system expand photographic capability case aircraft-grade aluminum polycarbonate integrated kickstand Revolver interchangeable lens systems Samsung Galaxy S4 Galaxy Note 3 iPhone 5/5S black white circular polarizer lens /

Google Street View finds gas leaks

Gas leaks in Boston
Credit: Environmental Defense Fund

Methane is a greenhouse gas. Many times worse than carbon dioxide. Around 120 times. Being combustible, it doesn't persist long in the atmosphere. It combines with oxygen to form carbon dioxide, which still isn't good — just less bad.

Methane is the major component of natural gas. One use of natural gas is domestic heating & cooking. It gets to homes through pipes laid in the ground. As the pipes age, they start to leak. This is not normally a fire risk. But we don't want methane in the atmosphere.

Google & Environmental Defense Fund have co-operated in a pilot project to fit methane sensors to 3 Street View cars.

http://www.edf.org/climate/methanemaps

http://www.digitaltrends.com/cool-tech/google-uses-its-street-view-cars-to-sniff-out-gas-leaks/#!bgNYyN / street streets Boston Staten Island Indianapolis Google’s Street View cars collecting panoramic imagery fitted with methane sensors cars sniffing out natural gas leaks hazard affects many cities world wide US Environmental Defense Fund EDF Google Earth Outreach conduct pilot project Street View cars gathering 15 million readings thousands of leaks utility pipes beneath the streets providing officials data on pollution used to be invisible EDF’s Fred Krupp data has been added to maps Boston older city with older pipes most leaks Indianapolis newer pipes Staten Island number of located leaks immediate threat to safety utilities monitor deal with the more serious ones powerful effect on the global climate warming effect carbon dioxide climate change global warming greenhouse effect gas plug leaks leak reduce near-term climate impacts inexpensive sensors cloud computing data analysis social media transforming environmental protection /