Geneva 2009: Infiniti Essence Hybrid Concept

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Nissan’s Infiniti luxury division has been with us for 20 years now. The company debuted the original 278 horsepower Q45 back in 1989 via a baffling months-long ad campaign. It was filled with rocks, trees, bubbling brooks, and exactly zero shots of the car itself. Now AutoblogGreen has details on the Infiniti Essence, a concept car that the automaker debuted at the Geneva Auto Show in an attempt to evoke the marque’s history, as well as point the way to a greener future.

Infiniti insists that the styling picks up cues from Japanese calligraphy, but there’s more than a hint of Jaguar and Aston Martin in the lines as well. The highlight of the concept, though, is its 3D electric hybrid system. The motor couples with a twin-turbo, 3.7-liter V6 gas engine to generate 434 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque, with a maximum of 592 horsepower available “if the need arises,” according to the report. That’s while generating almost 30 mpg in regular city driving.

U2 Hangs up on Apple, Dials BlackBerry

U2

U2 and the ultra-cool, geek favorite Bono are all over the airwaves with the release of the band’s latest album, No Line On The Horizon.

As the group gets ready to go on tour comes the news that the band may also be giving up on its long relationship with Apple. U2 has chosen BlackBerry maker Research in Motion as the main sponsor for its tour, says CNBC.

Apple and U2’s relationship go back more than five years. Bono shared the stage with Apple CEO Steve Jobs in 2004 when the company introduced a special U2 branded edition of the iPod that included engraved autographs of each member of the band. U2, Universal Music Group (UMG) and Apple have also worked together to make the band’s songs available on iTunes.

But now it looks like U2 is ready to move on. Bono is a partner in venture capital firm Elevation Partners, which has made a hefty investment in Palm. U2’s latest tour is expected to start at about the same time that Palm launches its much anticipated new phone, the Palm Pre.  And that probably could have dimmed U2’s enthusiasm for Apple.

For RIM though, the partnership is a coup. It will lend a sheen of cool to the company’s products and should improve the brand’s visibility among a younger set of consumers. BlackBerry people, are you ready to get on your boots?

Photo: (Phil Romans/Flickr)

Olympus exec declares “twelve megapixels is enough”

The megapixel race has been declared over plenty of times before, but we’re guessing that there will be more folks than ever in agreement with Olympus exec Akira Watanabe’s recent statement that twelve megapixels is “enough for covering most applications most customers need.” In addition to that blanket declaration, Watanabe said that Olympus has “no intention to compete in the megapixel wars for E-System” (its line of DSLRs), adding that it would instead focus on other features like dynamic range, color reproduction, and a better ISO range for low-light shooting. On that latter front, Watanabe predicts that autofocus could be one of the big areas of innovation in DSLRs, with current “phase detect” systems giving way to new and improved image sensor-based autofocus systems. So, what do you think? Is twelve enough, or is the more megapixels the merrier? Sound off in comments.

[Via Ars Technica]

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Olympus exec declares “twelve megapixels is enough” originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 09 Mar 2009 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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This Aint No Rock Band: Learn How To Play Real Guitar with Fretlight

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Radiohead said “Anyone can play guitar,” but many Guitar Hero and Rock Band pros might be disappointed when they pick up a real ax and try to rock out. That’s where Fretlight comes in. The Fretlight guitar plugs into a USB outlet and lights up as a video teaches you how to become the next Clapton, Hendrix, Malmsteen, or whoever your guitar idol may be.

The concept of light up instruments is not a revolutionary thing; I was playing “Frère Jacques” on my light-up keyboard 15 years ago. Optek brought the Fretlight guitar to us a few years back, but Fretlight is back with new video features, making it even easier to learn guitar.

Take it from someone who’s tried to learn guitar a countless number of times. It’s hard to go back and forth from the guitar to a book, but the little lights helps you to place your fingers in the correct positions, while following the video on your computer.

The Fretlight guitar is a real guitar–nothing like the small, plastic Guitar Hero guitars. Just plug it into a Mac or PC USB port, and the teacher on the video guides you as LEDs light up on the guitar neck. The video player software lights up your guitar in real-time along with the video, allowing you to learn chord progressions, pull-offs, hammer-ons, bends, and all the guitar skills you need to become a rock star. Just follow the teacher, and you can practice at home whenever you want.

It’s both Mac and PC compatible. Check out the Web site for the full selection of videos and guitars. There is a free introductory lesson, but after that, prices vary with each product.

Put Woz In All Your Favorite TV Shows

The Woz is going to dance tonight and kick everyone ass with his wicked moves, but there’s so much more TV potential in our favorite tech personality ever. Imagine the possibilities, people.

Admiral Woz Adama, Starsky and Woz, Woz jumping on Oprah’s sofa, Woz lost in Lost, Woz running with Pamela Anderson in Baywatch… the potential is so big that it is scary. This could be our finest hour ever. Or the biggest disaster in the history of these contests.

Send me your best entries at contests@gizmodo.com with “Woz on TV” in the subject line by this Wednesday at noon. Name your files with a FirstnameLastname.jpg naming convention and use JPG or PNG as your file types. And have fun with it! Now get to it.

Sky suggests UK homes could see 3D TV by the end of the year

Sky has already successfully tested its 3D broadcasting capabilities, and hinted that the 2012 London Olympics could be comin’ at ya like never before, but it now looks like the broadcaster could be set to roll out the service even sooner than many expected. According to Sky’s Chief Engineer Chris Johns, Sky now has the “capability for homes to see 3D by year-end,” although he unsurprisingly didn’t offer any firm timeline for an actual rollout, or even a confirmation of the exact type of 3D system that’d be used, saying simply that they’re continuing to test different systems and that he envisions it to be “glasses-based in some form.” He also added that Sky is focused on building a content library “over the coming year,” so that would seem to suggest that an actual launch would come very near the end of the year, if not later.

[Via Register Hardware, thanks SK]

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Sky suggests UK homes could see 3D TV by the end of the year originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 09 Mar 2009 17:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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How Do You Opt Out of Verizons Information Sharing Plan?

Is Verizon Wireless sharing your personal information?

The mobile carrier re-iterated on Monday that it does not share your data with third-parties. Unless you opt out, however, that info will be passed along to other Verizon companies.

Since 2007, Verizon has sent pamphlets to new customers explaining this policy, and telling them they have 45 days to opt out. For those who actually notice the insert, however, opting out can apparently be somewhat of an arduous process.

Verizon addressed the issue in a blog post two years ago. But the issue came up again this weekend after several bloggers who were new to Verizon Wireless posted about the pamphlets they received, as well as the difficulties they had opting out or finding information about the process on the Verizon Web site.

Verizon responded by saying this procedure is nothing new.

“Some attention to CPNI appeared over the weekend, which echoed similar buzz back in 2007,” spokesman Jim Gerace wrote in a blog post. “My comment and explanation then still applies today. But I wish to add: nothing has changed; all new customers get this mailing.”

How do you opt out? BoingBoing Gadgets took some screen shots and walks you through the opt-out process.

Netbook-based robot takes popcorn orders via-Twitter


In the far-out, sci-fi future of 2009, robots are doing some pretty amazing things, like capturing prowlers, assembling communications networks, and playing Rock / Paper / Scissors. Now, with a little help from RoBe:Do and Twitter, robotics has achieved what may be its crowning achievement: couch-side popcorn delivery. Coppa is a $1,649 software-ready robot (you supply the machine’s netbook brain) that arrives with native support for a plethora of languages and tools (including C / C++ / C#, Flash AS3, Java,Microsoft Robotics Studio, .NET, and Visual Basic), and ships with a 12V rechargeable battery, autofocus webcam, and a sonar system. Optional accessories include motion, heat, and humidity sensors, and servo-driven grabbing actuators. The video below shows one such unit that’s been programmed to take popcorn orders via-Twitter, timed to deliver the goods when the operator arrives home from work. Couch surfing may never be the same.

[Via SlashGear]

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Netbook-based robot takes popcorn orders via-Twitter originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 09 Mar 2009 16:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Roswell watch: Time for the Truth?

Roswell Truth Watch

Are we seeing things or are those little alien skeletons popping up from the watch face? And tire treads? Are those tire treads?

(Credit: A Blog to Read)

We’re not really sure what truths the “Truth About Roswell” watch conveys, but they appear to have something to do with …

Stanton’s intros two DJ-worthy USB turntables

Photo of the Stanton t.92 USB turntable.

The Stanton t.92 turntable brings direct drive playback to the USB crowd.

(Credit: Stanton)

Turntables with USB output offer an easy way to rip your records to MP3s, but most models can’t hold up to DJ abuse. If you need a USB-equipped deck that’s tough enough to …