CARB found a new emissions cheat in automatic transmission Audis

Credit: Car News Maagazine

Just when you thought all of the Volkswagen group emissions cheats were out in the open, it appears that yet another has been uncovered. California’s Air Resources Board (CARB) is reported to have discovered emissions measurement evasion code in automatic transmission Audis – diesel & petrol too. Emissions testing is detected in the same way as in other Volkswagen group vehicles – by monitoring for the absence of driver steering wheel inputs. The code causes automatic transmissions to enter a low emissions shifting mode on start-up, until the steering wheel is turned more than 15 degrees. Emissions testing is normally carried out on a “rolling road”, with no steering inputs – so automatic Audis, with the emissions measurement evasion code installed, remain in low emissions mode during testing. In normal use, they enter normal shifting mode after the steering wheel is turned.

It is believed that Audi stopped installing the emissions evasion code in May 2016 – the code was detected in a vehicle built before that date.

Green Car Reports: California found a new cheat device in Audi transmissions
http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1107125_california-found-a-new-cheat-device-in-audi-transmissions-report

Jalopnik: America Figured Out A New Way Audi Cheated on Emissions Testing: Report
http://jalopnik.com/america-figured-out-a-new-way-audi-cheated-on-emissions-1788630969

Car & Driver: Another Emissions-Cheat Device Reportedly Found, This Time on Audi Gasoline & Diesel Vehicles
http://blog.caranddriver.com/another-emissions-cheat-device-found-this-time-on-audi-gasoline-and-diesel-vehicles/ / CARB found a new cheat device in Audi transmissions California Air Resources Board CARB found new cheat device Audi transmissions Volkswagen Group diesel emissions cheating scandal erupted September 2015 report automaker cars different type defeat device hide emissions testing regulators Germany’s Bild am Sonntag Reuters reported California Air Resources Board CARB discovered software automatic transmission Audi hide emissions both gasoline and diesel cars report software car laboratory testbed how much steering wheel being turned lower carbon dioxide emissions to suit transmission enters gear-shifting mode designed deliver low CO2 carbon dioxide car is started transmission switches regular mode higher CO2 levels steering wheel turned more than 15 degrees in regular driving normal driving laboratory testbed car drives zero inputs steering Bild am Sonntag report claimed Audi transmission-linked defeat device May 2016 CARB vehicle built prior to that date discovery Justice Department told VW Group refrain from making public results law firm Jones Day’s independent investigation original diesel emissions cheating scandal automaker request Justice Department keep confidential details other probes VW Group reach an agreement with regulators United States 3.0-liter diesel engines original defeat device /

Apple is reducing the price of dongles for its new MacBook Pro

MacBook Pro – not a single USB-A port or SD card slot in sight
Credit: Français Express

Apart from a 3.5mm audio socket, all i/o in Apple’s new MacBook Pro is via 4 USB-C/Thunderbolt 3 ports. That includes data (Thunderbolt (up to 40 Gbps) & USB 3.1 Gen 2 (up to 10 Gbps)) & video. Charging too.

To connect full-size USB (USB-A) devices, some sort of adapter will be required. New MacBooks also lack an SD card slot – another adapter required.

Good news is, that until the end of the year, Apple is reducing prices on adapters & USB-C/Thunderbolt 3 peripherals:

“Through the end of the year, we are reducing prices on all USB-C and Thunderbolt 3 peripherals we sell, as well as the prices on Apple's USB-C adapters & cables.” – Apple

http://betanews.com/2016/11/07/apple-cuts-dongle-prices/ / Apple MacBook Pro 13 inch 15 inch USB-C Thunderbolt 3 dongle adapter /

SkunkLock – the bike lock that fights back

It is fundamental to security that nothing is secure against a sufficiently determined & resourced attack. This applies to computer systems as well as physical security of premises & objects.

Case in point: bicycle theft.



Creators of SkunkLock believe they have a better solution: “The only bike lock that Fights Back.” – the lock is filled with a gas which induces vomiting & renders clothes unusable. If the structural integrity of the lock is compromised, the gas is released.





The Guardian: Bike lock developed that makes thieves immediately vomit
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2016/oct/21/bike-lock-developed-that-makes-thieves-immediately-vomit

Digital Trends: SkunkLock is a lock that stinks when a thief tries to steal your bike
http://www.digitaltrends.com/outdoors/skunklock-bike-lock/

SkunkLock project on IndieGoGo:
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/skunklock-the-only-bike-lock-that-fights-back-bicycle/x/9010251#/ / SkunkLock the only bike lock that fights back bike lock bicycle lock make thieves vomit try to steal your bike Daniel Idzkowski inventor entrepreneur San Francisco like to ride bikes friends had our bikes stolen over and over how lock could deter thief start revolution SkunkLock put dent bicycle and motorcycle theft unique chemical deterrent released lock compromised SkunkLock wakeup call thieves with tools know any existing bike lock can be cut within a minute 1.5 million bikes are stolen each year U-Locks vulnerable even simple hacksaws crowbars electronic locks fancy technology GPS tracking app enabled zapped into submission inexpensive taser serious thieves use serious tools battery operated angle grinders blow torches cut through a quality lock SkunkLock hardened medium-carbon steel U-Lock difficult compromise strongest U-Locks surprise pressurized inside noxious chemical deterrent slams would-be thief with noxious chemicals chemicals disgusting induce vomit majority of cases elicit instinctive response run away immediately risk vs. return ratio bikes perfectly suited professional and amateur thief Daylight thefts with angle grinders common major cities half bike thefts go unreported estimated value stolen bike market 2012 well over $350 million gone up over the years because bicycle prices have risen dramatically explosion of electric bikes making your lovely new bike even more valuable crooks thieves criminals street value stolen bike only 5%-10% original worth sell $40 on the black market good bike great bike protect SkunkLock crossbar high tensile strength steel lock bar hardened medium-carbon steel deterrent high security locking mechanism pressurized chemical deterent multiple replaceable keys permanent steel safe everyday use unique protection distinctive color scheme colour scheme warns would-be thief impending trouble design does NOT incorporate electronics batteries fail GPS devices disabled RFID destroyed with simple tools no electronics means no chance for failure pressurized deterrent adversely affects the thief attempt to steal your bike likely attract attention another benefit of a lock that fights back /

Short-term off-river pumped hydro energy storage to smooth sustainable energy – update

“Storage is necessary to make renewables base load.” – Professor Donald Sadoway¹

Small-scale storage for domestic or small business use can be provided by the Tesla Powerwall or similar.

For grid-scale use, there are a number of technologies^2,3,4 – most widely deployed at the moment is pumped hydro-electricity – most of it as a secondary part of water storage for other purposes. E.g. Tasmania, & the Snowy Mountains in New South Wales & Victoria, Australia. Unfortunately, these systems require special geography on an existing river. Often, because these systems are designed primarily for water storage, the energy-storage function is compromised.

A hydro-electricity storage system designed solely for that purpose is able to avoid all of these problems – requirements are:

● difference in elevation between two water storages – e.g. at the top & bottom of a mountain, or a disused mine^5,6

● source of water for a one-time filling of the storage
● source of water to replace evaporation

To distinguish single-purpose hydro-electricity storage systems from irrigation-storage + hydro-electicity systems, the former are often referred to as, short-term off-river pumped hydro energy storage (STORES).

By contrast with the relatively uncommon special geography required for a water-storage system, sites suitable for STORES are much more common. With this in mind, & $449,000 from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), a partnership of the Australian National University, ElectraNet & the VTara Energy Group will be conducting the Atlas of Pumped Hydro Energy Storage Study for Australia.

https://eng.anu.edu.au/news/hydro-may-boost-share-renewables-electricity-grid

http://www.serree.org.au/knowledge/news/article/?id=anu-to-map-pumped-hydro-storage-potential-to-back-wind-and-solar
__________

¹ HitchHiker's Guide 2 Tech: “Innovation in stationary electricity storage (video)”, http://hhg2tech.blogspot.com/2015/01/innovation-in-stationary-electricity.html

² HitchHiker's Guide 2 Tech: “Energy storage for renewable energy”, http://hhg2tech.blogspot.com/2016/10/energy-storage-for-renewable-energy.html

³ HitchHiker's Guide 2 Tech: “Farming on seawater & sunshine”, http://hhg2tech.blogspot.com/2016/10/farming-on-seawater-sunshine.html

⁴ HitchHiker's Guide 2 Tech: “US grid-scale battery start-up looks to Australia for R&D, manufacturing”, http://hhg2tech.blogspot.com/2016/10/us-grid-scale-battery-start-up-looks-to.html

⁵ HitchHiker's Guide 2 Tech: “Britain's biggest rechargeable battery”, http://hhg2tech.blogspot.com/2016/05/britains-biggest-rechargeable-battery.html

⁶ “Kidston solar and pumped hydro plant clears another hurdle”, http://reneweconomy.com.au/kidston-solar-and-pumped-hydro-plant-clears-another-hurdle-96381/?utm_source=RE+Daily+Newsletter&utm_campaign=02d8cf4af3-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2016_11_08&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_46a1943223-02d8cf4af3-40335897

/ hydro boost share renewables electricity grid hydro power provide cost-effective large-scale energy storage support high levels of renewable energy Australia's electricity grid Australian National University ANU leading study map potential short-term off-river pumped hydro energy storage STORES sites enable renewable energy provide larger share generation national electricity grid lead researcher Professor Andrew Blakers ANU low cost technical maturity STORES solar photovoltaic wind energy reliably reach penetration levels above 50 per cent 100 per cent renewables water constantly flowing between reservoirs balance supply and demand STORES potential support grid stability inertial spinning reserve very fast ramp rates zero to 100 per cent in minutes STORES sites pairs of reservoirs separated altitude difference between 300 - 900 metres hilly terrain joined pipe water circulated between upper lower reservoirs closed loop store generate power South Australia possible STORES site altitude difference up to 600 metres hills east Spencer Gulf site could support development solar wind resources Professor Blakers $449,000 from Australian Renewable Energy Agency ARENA ANU partnering ElectraNet VTara Energy Group conduct Atlas Pumped Hydro Energy Storage Study develop blueprint cost model integrate technology Australia's electricity grid /

Audi is quitting Le Mans to focus on Formula E

2016 Audi R18 diesel-electric hybrid racer for the World Endurance Championship
Credit: BlogQpot

Audi has won the Le Mans 24 Hours race 13 times in the past 18 years – including diesel-powered wins 2006-2011 & diesel-electric hybrids 2012-2014.

Almost as spectacularly, last year, an Audi broke the 44-year-old lap record at Le Mans.¹ How does a lap record stand for 44 years in motor racing? In this instance, because the track was lengthened, the number of corners more than doubled, & chicanes were added to the longest straight – where speeds had previously reached 405 kph (just over 250 mph).²

With all of those successes, Audi has nothing left to prove in that arena, & their involvement with the Le Mans 24 Hour race & the World Endurance Championship, of which it is a part, will end with the current season.

Audi has long been part of the ABT Schaeffler Audi Sport Formula E team. Their involvement will be expanded, ultimately leading to a full Audi factory Formula E team.


ABT Schaeffler Audi Sport team Formula E racer

Or, as Audi Chairman of the Board of Management Rupert Stadler put it, “We’re going to contest the race for the future on electric power.”

Formula E is a good fit with Audi’s plans to offer fully battery-electric road cars starting in 2018.

The Verge – “Audi just quit Le Mans to focus on Formula E”
http://www.theverge.com/2016/10/26/13416368/audi-quit-wec-le-mans-formula-e-dieselgate

Wheels: Audi ditches WEC for Formula E
https://www.wheelsmag.com.au/news/motorsport/1610/audi-ditches-wec-for-formula-e

Audi
https://www.audi-mediacenter.com/en/press-releases/audi-with-new-motorsport-strategy-formula-e-instead-of-wec-6980

FIA Formula E
http://www.fiaformulae.com/en/news/2016/october/audi-commits-to-works-formula-e-programme/
__________

¹ WTF1: “Audi Just Broke The 44 Year Old Le Mans Lap Record”,
http://wtf1.co.uk/audi-just-broke-the-44-year-old-le-mans-lap-record/

² Snap|Lap: “Top 5 fastest Le Mans cars”, http://www.snaplap.net/memories-top-5-fastest-le-mans-cars/ / Audi 18-year involvement 24 Hours of Le Mans withdrawing end of the current season World Endurance Championship WEC Le Mans Prototype LMP prototype endurance racing factory participation support motor sport Audi World Endurance Championship WEC race Le Mans enduro prototype LMP1 category Ingolstadt car maker wildly successful LMP1 programme 13 Le Mans victories WEC drivers manufacturers titles strategic realignment Audi's motor sporting focus VW Volkswagen emissions cheating scandal Audi all-electric Formula E Championship Abt-Schaeffler squad change of emphasis Audi chairman Rupert Stadler production cars electric motorsport cars Audi's technological spearhead contest the race for the future on electric power electric-power competition Audi sports car racing innovative technology WEC Le Mans Audi Formula E technology-driven series Jaguar Formula E promoting Audi's all-electric production vehicles leading premium car manufacturers Dr Stefan Knirsch board member technical development responsibilities motor sport electric vehicle EV Dr Knirsch latest developments Audi Formula One Audi prototype sports car racing reduce its motor sport budget Audi acknowledgement considerable financial impact last year's global dieselgate Audi Sport Audi Motor Sport post-dieselgate decline sales turbodiesels technology Audi WEC Audi Sport development of production vehicles Audi decision Volkswagen Group brand Porsche WEC LMP1 Audi Sport customer racing R8 LMS GT3 TT Cup successful, profitable business Audi Sport product RS 3 LMS touring car primary focus Formula E more technical resources budget Abt Schaeffer team's Formula E programme full-on factory attack boss Audi Motorsport Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich Audi hasmotor sport test and develop new technologies subsequent use in production Audi quattro drive revolutionise rallying set standards circuit racing Formula E control chassis battery pack manufacturers limited development 24 Hours of Le Mans Audi first manufacturer victories TFSI engine TDI hybrid race car fully electric racing LMP1 category WEC Porsche Toyota Porsche versus Toyota fight /

Magsafe for USB-C devices

For a large number of years, Apple has protected its laptops from a catastrophic fall while charging, with its MagSafe charging cables: the laptop end of the charging cable is held in place magnetically. Any sudden impact to the cable, such as from a tripping accident, disconnects the magnet, rather than dragging an expensive laptop to the floor.

More recently, Apple has begun to abandon its proprietary MagSafe for industry standard USB-C – first in the MacBook 12" – now in the just-announced MacBook Pro.

Some regret the loss of MagSafe from MacBooks, & some others would like to add it to the emerging USB-C devices, including Google’s Pixel Chrome laptops & some Android phones. Griffin Technology has a solution in its BreakSafe Magnetic USB-C Power Cable.


Griffin Technology BreakSafe Magnetic USB-C Power Cable
Credit: MacRumors

MagSafe was designed for laptops, which at the time, were significantly heavier than Apple’s current line of laptops. As a result, MagSafe had magnets strong enough to ensure a good electrical contact, while still disconnecting before a trip or other impact dragged the connected laptop to the floor.

Some reviewers have criticised the strength of the magnets in Griffin’s BreakSafe. The problem appears to be that Breaksafe has been designed to protect today’s much lighter laptops, & even phones, by using weaker magnets – which are not strong enough, in some use cases, to reliably provide a good electrical contact.

Some enthusiasm at Wired: “Missing the MagSafe charger in the new MacBook? Here’s your dongle”
https://www.wired.com/2016/11/first-dongle-new-macbook-needs/?mbid=nl_11216_p3&CNDID=

Not impressed at Gizmodo: “This MagSafe ripoff cable sucks”
http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2016/06/this-magsafe-ripoff-cable-sucks/ / new MacBook Pro Touch Bar Touch ID more power space grey variant significant loss exclusively embracing USB-C Apple abandoned MagSafe charging technology magical magnetism protects saves tripping accident expensive laptop off the coffee table MagSafe industrious accessory maker recreated experience USB-C MagSafe Griffin introduced BreakSafe Magnetic USB-C Power Cable appeal to buyers sans-MagSafe MacBook two parts tiny nubbin plugs into your laptop’s USB-C port cable that attaches magnetically manner similar to MagSafe break off cleanly saving you from catastrophic trips and tugs BreakSafe clever usefulness limited MacBook Apple’s revamped entry-level laptop only one USB-C port source of power and connectivity new MacBook Pro four USB-C ports entry model BreakSafe BreakSafe looks like a reasonable MagSafe facsimile MagSafe Apple’s patented tech BreakSafe isn’t reversible use the BreakSafe cord exclusively little donglet juts out slightly from your laptop perpetual wart MacBook’s best feature pale imitation beats no imitation at all true value of MagSafe peace of min /

There is a new MacBook Pro – reviews have been mixed

MacBook Pro – 13 & 15 inch screens
Credit: Medium

In the 13-inch MacBook Pro, Apple has crammed the capabilities of the Pro line into the space occupied, for all practical purposes, by the MacBook Air (now available only in the 13 inch size). Look at the dimensions:

13-inch MacBook Pro
Height: 1.49 cm (0.59 inch)
Width: 30.41 cm (11.97 inches)
Depth: 21.24 cm (8.36 inches)
Weight: 1.37 kg (3.02 pounds)

MacBook Air
Height: 0.3–1.7 cm (0.11–0.68 inch)
Width: 32.5 cm (12.8 inches)
Depth: 22.7 cm (8.94 inches)
Weight: 1.35 kg (2.96 pounds

Smaller in every dimension but two: the Pro doesn’t have the taper, but the height is less than the Air at the thick edge. My experience has been that the taper doesn’t make any practical difference to the space the Air can be fitted into.

And the other dimension where the Pro is bigger? Weight. The Pro, at 1.37 kg is 0.02 kg (0.06 pounds) heavier. That’s around the weight of 5 sheets of A4 photocopier paper.

Argument for the Air has always been: trade processing power & ports for portability. Price has varied – the very first MacBook Air was way too expensive. Now, lower price is its only remaining advantage.

Real, “sacrifice power for small size & weight”, option is now the MacBook 12".

In addition to processing power & small size, the new MacBook Pro adds the security of the iPhone’s TouchID – Secure Enclave included.

Wired: “The MacBook Pro’s Most Important New Feature? Touch ID”
https://www.wired.com/2016/10/macbook-pro-touch-id-secure-enclave/?mbid=nl_103016_p3&CNDID=

Medium is doubtful: “Apple just told the world it has no idea who the Mac is for”
https://medium.com/charged-tech/apple-just-told-the-world-it-has-no-idea-who-the-mac-is-for-722a2438389b#.xb9g2ejxf / Apple’s new MacBook Pro thinner faster silver space grey color colour OLED touch emoji Photoshop shortcuts most important MacBook Pro upgrade much more easily secure your digital life new MacBook Pro includes Touch ID fingerprint scanning technology iPhone fingerprint identification staple all flagship smartphones log onto our mobile devices now enterprise laptops deployed comparable biometric security measures for years Touch ID MacBook Pro represents significant advancement security Apple fans entire industry change how you use your MacBook Pro Touch passwords too hard to remember too easy to crack massive corporate server breach Myspace fans suffers deficiencies your fingerprint Touch ID unlock your Mac pay for items online replace passwords altogether recognize multiple fingerprints secure simple access multiple profiles same device huge boon for authentication Thomas Reed Mac security firm Malwarebytes stronger than password easy for even a novice to use good password manager improve user’s online security potential use cases are limitless logging on Apple push Apple Pay onto the web Touch ID more and more payments both safer more convenient bank apps already Touch ID-compatible most retailers protects them from embarrassing damaging leaks password manager 1Password MacBook Touch ID upgrade Touch ID improvement ease of use fingerprints are stored biometric information stays on your device potentially vulnerable server somewhere Touch ID similar biometric systems asymmetric cryptography Stephanie Schuckers director Center for Identification Technology Research Clarkson University no shared key MacBook Pro server you’re connecting to private key keep secret, stored on the device can’t be seen by the app service on the other end use Touch ID for your fingerprint won’t wind up on any computer but your own nearly impossible to hack direct access to your device other big addition MacBook Pro Secure Enclave /