Nov 26
Sharp has unleashed some premium home cinema goodies just in time for Christmas
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Nov 26
Nikon D3x DSLR on the way?
Posted in: Today's ChiliNew prosumer DSLR flashes up on Nikon’s website
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Nov 26
Ensure your Christmas is free from The Vicar of Dibley with Stuff.tv’s guide to the hottest DVD collections for festive film fun
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Nov 26
As part of the Honda Ecological Drive System (HDAS) that will be included with the 2009 Honda Insight, drivers will be alerted to their driving habits by a color coded speedometer. When driving with a fuel efficient style, the speedometer goes green, indicating that you love the Earth etc. When some prick cuts you off on the freeway and you chase him down at 90mph, the speedometer goes blue, indicating that you despise this planet and everything on it. We’re not sure if blue is quite the deterrent Japanese engineers had in mind, but subtle gas guzzling notification is good idea that should save at least a few gallons of crude. Full details:
Honda Develops Ecological Drive Assist System for Enhanced Real World Fuel Economy
Implementation on All-New Insight Dedicated Hybrid in Spring 2009TOKYO, Japan, November 20, 2008– Honda Motor Co., Ltd. announced the development of the Ecological Drive Assist System, which combines three functions to enhance fuel economy: the ECON Mode utilizes harmonized control of the continuously variable transmission (CVT) and engine to support more fuel-efficient driving; the guidance function uses speedometer color to provide real-time guidance on fuel-efficient driving; and thescoring function provides feedback about current driving practices, as well as feedback on cumulative, long-term fuel-efficient driving. The world’s first* system to combine these three functions in a comprehensive approach to fuel economy enhancement, the Ecological Drive Assist System will be implemented for the first time on the all-new Insight hybrid vehicle in spring 2009.
Furthermore, for the Japan-market version of the Insight equipped with the optional Honda HDD InterNavi System, the Ecological Drive Assist System has an added function that enables drivers to receive advice on driving practices that enhance fuel economy.
Since driving practices have a large impact on fuel economy, Honda developed the Ecological Drive Assist System to further enhance the real-world fuel economy through controlling the CVT and engine based on the actual driving conditions and enabling the driver to learn how to drive more fuel-efficiently. In particular, the scoring function provides cumulative, long-term feedback through graphic ‘leaves’, which grow over time as drivers become more proficient in fuel-efficient driving. The joy of growing these leaves over a long time will encourage drivers to learn how to drive more fuel-efficiently.
* According to Honda in-house research< Key features of the Ecological Drive Assist System >
1. ECON Mode which applies harmonized control on the CVT and engine to support more fuel-efficient drivingFirst implemented on the all-new Odyssey, ECON Mode has been advanced with added functions to control the idle stop and regenerative braking capabilities, which are unique to hybrid vehicles. As soon as the driver presses the ECON Mode button, the system will begin operating and the harmonized control of the CVT and engine will support more fuel-efficient driving. In addition, ECON Mode automatically achieves energy-saving control of the air-conditioning unit, extends the idle stop time, and increases regenerative recharging during deceleration to achieve more fuel-efficient driving.
2. The guidance function provides real-time fuel-efficient driving guidance
To increase driver awareness of more fuel-efficient driving, the ambient meter, which is a background color on the speedometer, notifies the driver of the current driving conditions. The ambient meter displays a green color when fuel-efficient driving is being achieved: a blue-green color when relatively fuel-efficient driving is being achieved with smooth acceleration and deceleration; and a blue color while the vehicle is consuming extra fuel with bursts of acceleration or deceleration. The ambient meter enables the driver to be aware of real-time fuel consumption patterns, and encourages the driver to achieve fuel-efficient driving while trying to maintain the green color display. In Honda’s hybrid system, the motor assists during acceleration and performs regenerative recharging during braking; as a result, braking practices also have an impact on fuel economy. The ambient meter is the world’s first* function of its kind to support fuel-efficient driving by responding not just to accel ration practices, but to braking practices as well.
* According to Honda in-house research
■ Ambient Meter
Green: fuel-efficient driving Blue-Green: relatively fuel-efficient driving Blue: driving with extra consumption of fuelGreen: fuel-efficient driving
Blue-Green: relatively fuel-efficient driving
Blue: driving with extra consumption of fuel3. The scoring function provides feedback about current driving practices, as well as cumulative, long-term feedback tracking progress in fuel-efficient driving
Located in the center of the instrument panel of the all-new Insight, the Multi-Information Display offers drivers a selection of informational displays, including the scoring function, in which the number of ‘leaves’ displayed indicates the level of fuel-efficient driving performance. When the ignition switch is on, the display scores current driving performance. When the ignition switch is turned off, the ‘leaves’ in the top row display the score for the latest driving cycle (startup to shutdown), while a horizontal bar in the bottom row displays the cumulative lifetime performance. The Multi-Information Display also allows drivers to view fuel economy figures for the past three trips, as well as instantaneous and average fuel economy statistics. The world’s first* such function to provide real-time and post-trip assessments of the impact of driving habits on fuel economy, the scoring function encourages drivers to take interest in and develop fuel-efficient driving habits over the long term.
* According to Honda in-house research
4. Honda HDD InterNavi System displays detailed scoring function statistics and provides advice for further enhancing fuel economy
With the optional Honda HDD InterNaviSystem, a driver can access a full history of scoring function results and additional detailed scoring function statistics. InterNavi also adds an advice function that offers advice for further enhancing fuel economy based upon an analysis of their own the driver’s driving practices. Useful in improving fuel-efficient driving habits over the long term, these information may also be securely accessed over the Internet by InterNavi subscribers. This aspect of the Ecological Drive Assist System function will be available only for the Japan domestic model.
[Autoblog Green via Engadget]
Nov 26
We already caught a brief glimpse of Tomy’s Zink printer-equipped Xiao digital camera earlier this month, but with the Friday release date now upon us, we finally have a few more details about the would-be Polaroid successor. That includes word of a price for both the camera (¥34,800, or just under $370), and the paper you’ll need to actually print photos which, at ¥880 (or about $9) for 20 sheets, likely won’t have you plastering your walls with the 2×3-inch shots, even though they do actually have adhesive backs. Interestingly, you can also use the camera to print photos from any IrDA-equipped cellphone, but unfortunately not via WiFi or Bluetooth, which would be a tad more welcome. If that’s got you intrigued, you should have a slightly easier time picking one up when it launches internationally next spring, although by then it’ll likely also be competing with Polaroid’s own Zink-equipped camera.
Filed under: Digital Cameras
Tomy’s printer-equipped Xiao digital camera hits Japan originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 26 Nov 2008 18:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Nov 26
Doug Krone is my friend who started the dependable Japan importer Dynamism in the 90’s and he’s just launched Gizmine. Gizmine is different from Dynamism, a high end gadget site, by measure of its content type and breadth. I’d most summarily explain it as a collection of weird stuff on gadget blogs from Japan, but for sale. In fact, most of the inventory is stuff discovered on blogs and while walking through Shibuya on any given afternoon. Doug is also the man responsible for making Gizmodo Gallery possible. Below are a few of the pieces in his catalog that are my personal picks, and Doug says they’ll be adding new pieces every day til the end of the year. Not a bad place to find a gift for the geeks in your life. [Gizmine]
Common Sense Keyboard (Charges by solar panel)
Fuji Film Instax Mini 7S (Like a polaroid!)
[Gizmine]
[Thanks to REED ANNEX and thanks to our benefactor gizmine.com]
Gizmodo Gallery
Reed Annex
151 Orchard Street
New York, NY 10002
Gizmodo Gallery Reader Meetup
The reader meetup takes place across the street from the Gallery, at a place called The Annex (not to be confused with REED ANNEX where the gallery is hosted.) The address is 152 Orchard Street and we’ll be there at 9 PM SHARP on Friday December 5th.
Gallery Dates:
December 4th-7th
Times:
12/4 Thursday
12-8
12/5 Friday
12-8
12/6 Saturday
11-8
12/7 Sunday
11-4
Nov 26
You may recall a case last year involving Julie Amero, a substitute junior high school teacher in Connecticut that was arrested and threatened with a 40 year prison sentence after the computer in her classroom began to display pornographic pop-ups in front of her students. Any one with even the slightest knowledge of computers could tell you that this was completely ridiculous—especially after learning that the computer system in the school was woefully ill-equipped to handle spyware and viruses. Still, officials and the police refused to admit that they had made a mistake and pressed on with their case. Now Amero has been forced to cut a plea deal in order to avoid jail.
If that wasn’t absurd enough, this plea comes despite overwhelming forensic evidence that Amero was not responsible for the pop-ups and that the school district’s IT manager, detectives and prosecutors knowingly misled the court to cover their own asses. In the end, Amero will pay a $100 fine and give up her teaching credentials. Even though she feels vindicated by the ruling, I can’t imagine that it makes up for the 4 years of misery she has endured. One can only hope that she will be able to turn around and sue these morons into oblivion. [Courant via Boing Boing Gadgets]
Nov 26
Fact: Optimus Prime would be a badass no matter what he transformed from or to. It’s the soul of a Transformer that makes him great. Optimus Prime could save the world if he assembled from macaroni, puff paints, stringed popcorn or used baby diapers into a giant dinner, tacky sweater, festive Christmas tree thing or gross pile of refuse. The dude’s a hero. That’s just how it works. Oh, and this t-shirt will run you $14 should you be considering the purchase. [Zazzle via Geekologie]
Nov 26
Buying tech for your number one lady can be pretty nerve-wracking, especially if she loves gadgets as much as you do, but we’re here to help with the latest installment of Endgaget’s Holiday Gift Guide. We’ve tried to keep it hip with the right balance of usability, design, and functionality, but only you know what she really wants — treat this as a jumping off point and we know you’ll do fine.
P.S.- Don’t forget, we’ve also got for him and lots of other guides coming up as the days roll by — they’ll all be sorted by suggested recipient and price on the main Holiday Gift Guide page.
Continue reading Engadget’s Holiday Gift Guide: for her
Filed under: Misc. Gadgets
Engadget’s Holiday Gift Guide: for her originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 26 Nov 2008 17:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Nov 26
Street Fighter IV FightStick Tournament Edition Is $150 in February [Controllers]
Posted in: Today's Chili
Traditionally, the name “Madcatz” implies generic, a peripheral that’s cheaper than those manufactured by Sony, Microsoft or Nintendo. But the Madcatz Street Fighter IV FightStick Tournament Edition is an ultrapremium controller that will go for an ultrapremium price when it’s released on February 20th. $150. But it might be worth every penny.
You see, the FightStick Tournament Edition uses the exact Sanwa joystick and 30mm buttons found in the official Street Fighter IV arcade machines—plus, there are separate turbo controls for each button. Couple this controller with an HDTV, PS3 or Xbox 360 and surround sound and you’ll have a gaming experience better than the arcade itself…and at a much lower price than your own cabinet would cost, too. [Amazon via Gamecyte]
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