Hasta La Gadget!

Google promised that iPhone users would soon be getting a Google+ app of their own, and it’s now here. Not surprisingly, it looks a lot like the Android app, including views of your main stream and nearby users, sharing via Circles, and support for the Huddle group messaging feature. It’s not a universal app, though, so iPad users are still left out for the time being, as are those with an iPod touch, for yet reasons unknown.

Update: Google’s Punit Soni notes that there was a small issue that initially caused a test version of the app to to be served from the App Store. If you grabbed the app as soon as it was available (within the first hour and 40 minutes, specifically), you’ll likely have to re-download it to get the current version (1.0.1.1809).

Google+ app for iPhone now available originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 19 Jul 2011 11:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The company says that it’s working with Galaxy Tab accessory maker Anymode to remove the company’s Smart Cover-like Smart Case from its Web site.

Originally posted at The Digital Home

Offered by a company called Nook2Android, a microSD card preloaded with Android 2.3 Gingerbread can turn the Barnes & Noble Nook color e-reader into an actual Android tablet.

Originally posted at Android Atlas

The Energy Take Classic 5.1 is the best budget speaker system we’ve reviewed, earning our Editors’ Choice Award with its outstanding sound quality and exquisite looks.

The eCortina’s drive-side uses an ingenious two-chain setup

The eCortina could be considered an electric bike, but its builder — Roy Prince — prefers to call it an “eBike hot rod.” With a motor that can take the hard-tail downhill bike up to 45mph and “lift the front wheel almost at will,” it’s easy to see why.

Prince chose the Cortina Triton as a base bike as it is designed to go downhill at speed, and — more importantly — it’s made of steel. This let him weld and clamp the motor and other necessary parts. The motor, by the way, is an Astroflight 3220. It spins up to 10,000rpm, weighs four pounds and needs to be geared way down when used on a bike. If you want one, it’ll cost you $700.

What drew my eye, though, was the two chains on the drive side. One will be familiar: it connects the pedals to the rear wheel just like any other. The second runs from a tiny chainring to a giant rear sprocket. This gear reduction is required because of the high-revving motor.

The first of two gearing reductions sits out of the way on the bike’s left side

The motor itself drives the crank from the left (non-drive side) of the bike, where the gearing is further reduced.

Both the pedal power and electric power go into a three-speed Shimano Nexus hub.

This ingenious setup exploits the freewheel. Because the pedals can stay still while the wheel turns, neither drive mechanism interferes with the other. It also lets you use the electric motor as an assist for your legs. And just as well — at 60 pounds you won’t be riding this far on human power alone.

The eCortina is actually version two of the design, improving in v1.0’s 35mph. Lord knows how fast v3 will go.

eCortina project page [RPEV via Bicycle Design]

See Also:

• 'The Beast' Electric Bike: 50mph, $33500
• Awesome DIY Electric Bikes Defy Laws, Good Sense
• Amazing Electric 'Bike' Is a Junkyard On Wheels
• Minimal Electric Bike Contained In a Single Wheel