Fuel efficient 9 & 10 speed auto transmissions coming from GM & Ford

Credit: Ford/ GM/ Green Car Reports

As has been reported here previously, one way of overcoming the abysmal efficiency of the internal combustion engine is more gear ratios.  Previously, this had reached a maximum in the ZF 9 speed auto.  Now, Ford & GM seem to be inching their way toward the extreme numbers reached in 1960s 50 cc racing motor cycles.

http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1083540_fuel-efficient-9-and-10-speed-auto-transmissions-coming-from-gm-ford / transmission ratio speed gear box gearbox gears speeds efficiency cars SUVs trucks crossovers car SUV truck crossover vehicle vehicles efficiency performance fuel emission pollution regulation development costs economies of scale parts commonality manufacturers software engine characteristics /

No jailbreak for iOS 6.1.3

http://www.funkyspacemonkey.com/no-jailbreak-for-ios-6-1-3 / iOS Apple iPhone iPod iPad Cydia jail break Pod2g member evad3rs announced Twitter team not working iOS 6.1.3 jailbreak too much efforts effort minimal update waiting for a major release iOS 7 6.2 /

NVIDIA CEO promises next-gen mobile graphics will equal current PC games (video)

NVIDIA's CEO has told an investor meeting that their new mobile graphics chip, Kepler Mobile will deliver the same graphic performance as its desktop graphics cards, including high dynamic range lighting & active shadows.  Check out the video:

http://bgr.com/2013/04/12/nvidia-kepler-mobile-graphics-433742/ / NVIDIA executive quote quoted mobile devices perform performance outperform Xbox 360 PlayStation 3 company company’s chief executive, Jen-Hsun Huang proof statement NVIDIA investor meeting earlier this week CEO company next-generation mobile chip, Kepler Mobile mobile devices able play high-end PC games Battlefield 3 multiple years ahead of the competition worth the sacrifice VentureBeat made strategic decision delay other projects move Kepler Mobile forward iPad capable games vintage 1999 chipset can handle high-dynamic-range lighting active shadows features not found in today’s mobile games /

Gibson Min-ETune • Perfect tuning at the touch of a button (video)

Press the button, strum & the battery powered robot guitar tuner does the rest.

http://the-gadgeteer.com/2013/04/12/gibson-min-etune-perfect-pitch-at-the-touch-of-a-button/ / new Gibson Min-ETune guitars guitar back headstock battery-powered battery powered robot tuner accurately tune six strings simultaneously standard tuning seconds press button strum you’re done choose 12 popular alternate tunings six 6 program yourself 11 eleven classic guitars Min-ETune SG Les Paul models prices price range from $1499 up to $3199 musicians lazy built in /

Tesla's Elon Musk promises more Superchargers, better service, cheaper EVs that "don't suck"

Elon Musk, Tesla CEO
Credit: Engadget

Regular readers of these pages will be aware that Tesla representatives have been making infrequent, casual references to a Tesla mass market car for some time.  Now things are getting just a little more concrete.  Elon Musk has told Engadget that Tesla will produce a, "third-gen car".  It will be somewhat smaller &, "will sell for half as much as a Model S".  When?  "Hopefully 2016, but I would say no later than 2017."

http://www.engadget.com/2013/04/05/elon-musk-interview/ / EV electric vehicle LiIon lithium ion battery  cell charge recharge performance acceleration Roadster Model S X economy halve half 50% reduce reduced price /

Take Apple out of your iPhone

Smartphones come  bundled with a selection of software that makes them a functional smartphone right out of the box.  Although functional, some of the bundled apps on the iPhone are a long way from best in class, most notoriously, Apple Maps in iOS 6.  Calendar & Safari only see service on my iPhone when they are called up by Mail.  Check out Calendars+ & the Atomic, Dolphin & Mercury browsers.

Some alternatives to bundled apps are reviewed in the linked article.  Perhaps the most intriguing app mentioned is Fleksy.  It's as close as Apple, being Apple, is ever going to let you come to a replacement keyboard under iOS.  Try typing "apple" as "sookr", (i.e. every letter wrong, 1 key to the right or left) & Fleksy will get it right.  Try the same thing, typing "banana" as "nsmsms".  Don't use it myself, but this app is an amazing feat.

http://www.techhive.com/article/2032894/take-apple-out-of-your-iphone.html / Google Maps Fantastical Mailbox Mail Calendar Evernote Notes  Camera Awesome Clear to do list Tasks  Reminders iOS iPhone iPad iPod device /

Free sample copy of Arc, the new digital magazine from the publishers of New Scientist

Cover of 4th edition
Credit: Arc/ New Scientist

Download PDF version
http://email.newscientist.com/cgi-bin1/DM/t/nCwcM0eMgLE0BcD30rrCx0EI

ePub version
http://email.newscientist.com/cgi-bin1/DM/t/nCwcM0eMgLE0BcD30rrCy0EJ

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http://arcfinity.tumblr.com/ / digital magazine /