Hasta La Gadget!

The new V60 is billed by its creators as being a “naughty Volvo,” and while the reviews we’ve read of its sedan counterpart haven’t exactly found it to be particularly uncouth, we’re thinking the upcoming plug-in wagon version should be even more friendly. Volvo has announced it will unveil the PHEV V60 in Geneva in March before releasing it for sale in 2012. When fully charged it will offer 50km (31 miles) on pure electricity — about the same as the Volt — thanks to a 70hp electric motor mounted in the rear and driving the wheels out back courtesy of a 12kWh Li-ion battery pack. Up front, meanwhile, is a 215hp, 2.4 liter, five-cylinder turbodiesel. It remains to be seen whether there is any mechanical link between the disparate power systems or whether they remain alone, working together yet apart, but we should be getting all the details shortly.

Continue reading Volvo set to unveil V60 Plug-in at Geneva, pledges to be slightly less naughty

Volvo set to unveil V60 Plug-in at Geneva, pledges to be slightly less naughty originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 27 Jan 2011 11:07:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Given the popularity of Apple’s iPad and the veritable glut of devices coming from companies like RIM, Motorola, Toshiba, et al, it’s only logical that a site as popular as Facebook would be working on a tablet-optimized version of its site.

The social network’s CTO Bret Taylor confirmed as much during a recent interview, stating, simply enough, “We need to make a tablet version of Facebook. It’s something we’re working on right now.” Fair enough, Bret.

Now, such an admission doesn’t mean that the company is necessary working on a native iPad app (though, again, we’d be surprised if such a thing didn’t surface in the next year), but Facebook may–much to Apple’s approval, no doubt–be working an HTML5 version of the site. “Long term we think a lot of apps will be written in HTML5,” said Taylor.

Facebook has apparently been “cautious” about fragmentation–or, at the very least, having its team spread thin with a proliferation of different device platforms. “The iPad was a casualty of that internally,” Taylor added.

So, here’s a refreshing change of pace. Rather than a new set of cans coming with a superstar’s name on them, Sony’s just fine with its four-lettered label. And given the success of the Walkman, we’d say it’s still elite enough for now. The aforementioned outfit is debuting a trio of new headphones over in Japan, with the MDR-XB1000 cans offering enhanced bass and a certain level of street-cred to those who prefer over-the-ear styles. As for the other two? The MDR-XB41EX and MDR-XB21EX earbuds are both high-end affairs, with unique designs and a rainbow’s worth of color choices. Pricing remains up the air, as does the chance for these to head stateside. But hey, there’s always hope.

Sony trots out MDR-XB1000, MDR-XB41EX and MDR-XB21EX headphones originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 27 Jan 2011 10:46:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tried searching for “BitTorrent,” “RapidShare,” “uTorrent,” “MegaUpload” or even “Ubuntu torrent” lately? Good luck finding a Google domain that’ll autocomplete those results for you. Presumably caving to pleading from the MPAA and / or RIAA, El Goog has quietly begun to censor the results it shows when typing the above terms. Needless to say, the aforesaid companies aren’t too keen on the new procedures, and strangely enough, a number of other sites that would typically be grouped into this same category — MediaFire, 4shared and HotFile — remain on the cleared list. Hit the source link if you’re looking for loads of responses from companies angered with Google’s move, and feel free to reset your homepage to Bing, Yahoo or any other search engine who has yet to bend. You know, if you’re feeling rebellious.

Google begins censoring autocomplete results for BitTorrent, RapidShare and other Big Media profanity originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 27 Jan 2011 10:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Problem: You find yourself challenged to a game of ping-pong, a sport at which excel, by some punk-ass kid. You are a table-tennis master and this brat needs to be taught a lesson, dammit!

But you have no paddle, and this dumb kid sure as hell isn’t going to lend you one.

Solution: Whip out your iPhone, coated with the rubbery pimples on Incase’s Ping Pong Cover, an iPhone case that comes in red, green, blue and black. Tell that idiot kid to get to the table and proceed to wipe the floor with him, using a makeshift paddle barely bigger than your palm. Who’s the daddy now, huh?

In reality, you shouldn’t really be using your iPhone to hit a ball, however light it is. And if you’re going to be really honest, you’re pretty hopeless at ping-pong too, right? But the knobby rubber case should provide grip and offer a certain amount of protection from bumps and scratches, all whilst giving you a sporting air. Think of it as slipping the keys to your broken-down car onto a Ferrari keyring. Everyone will be super-impressed.

Ping Pong Cover [Incase via the Giz]

See Also:

• Air-Blowing Robot Makes Ping-Pong Balls Jump Through Hoops …
• Ping Pong and Smartphones at Apple SOHO
• Hand-E-Holder Turns iPad into Giant Mitten