Oct 25
Before Air Force One, presidents (namely FDR, Truman, and Eisenhower) traveled the country in U.S. Car Number 1, an armored railcar. Here’s what it was like.
Oct 25
Losing your PlayStation account to malicious hackers doesn’t have to be the end of the world. Here are the steps you can take to protect your account.
Oct 25
Bryce Dallas Howard. Yaddle. These are two names, which would seem to be at the far ends of some inscrutable continuum, but have now become inextricably linked forever after the unfathomable announcement that the star of the Jurassic World movies will be playing the Jedi in the animated Star Wars anthology series …
Oct 25
An adorable African penguin at the New England Aquarium in Boston has gotten a new lease on life, thanks to special sandals that help her walk as she recovers from a foot condition.
Oct 25
This Multifunction Battery Seems Like a Must-Have Travel Accessory for the Nintendo Switch
Posted in: Today's Chili
The Nintendo Switch is a great travel companion, but with a battery that can tap out after as little as four hours of gameplay, it might not be with you all the way. The console sometimes needs a helping hand, and if you’ve got room for a backup battery in your luggage, the Enerjoy looks like it will go above and…
Oct 25
Dating app Hinge is planning to introduce a video profile verification feature to the platform, according to a report from Wired. The change is intended to combat the rise of sham and bot accounts on the app. These faux accounts often use fake photos to lure in marks and then attempt to scam actual users out of money…
Oct 25
Eisner Award-winning cartoonist Liniers has teamed up with Angelica del Campo for a new YA graphic novel about “ghosts, pirates, stolen treasure, seashells, swimming, and a young lighthouse keeper.” It’s titled The Ghosts of Wreckers Cove, has a Harriet the Spy-meets-Spirited Away vibe, and io9 is happy to showcase…
Oct 25
As promised, Ken Block has released his first Gymkhana video with an electric car — and this time, the vehicle is almost as important as the hooning. The “Electrikhana” sees Block drift around Las Vegas landmarks in a one-of-a-kind Audi S1 Hoonitron. It borrows design cues from the well-known Sport Quattro S1 while using a dual-motor system (with an 800V architecture), a carbon fiber shell and FIA-grade safety measures. Think of it as a souped-up cousin to the E-tron GT. Audi is shy on the exact performance figures, but it’s safe to say they’re enough for donuts around hotel lobbies and boxing rings.
And the video itself? It brings Ken Block’s signature antics to Sin City, including drifts in tight spaces and plenty of tire smoke. The lower center of gravity inherent to EVs certainly hasn’t affected the handling, as Block has no problems maneuvering in some tricky situations. However, what’s most notable is what you don’t hear — the switch to an EV means the noises are largely limited to tire squeal and the S1 Hoonitron’s strange motor whine.
The video is a not-very-subtle plug for Audi’s lineup and racing heritage, and you certainly won’t be recreating these feats away from a track. However, it represents a milestone for the cultural acceptance of EVs. Where electric cars used to be associated mainly with eco-conscious drivers, they’re quickly becoming the machines of choice for performance-minded enthusiasts thanks to their instant torque and supercar-beating low-end acceleration. Block’s Electrikhana helps show that EVs are viable for twists and turns, too.
Oct 25
The long running will-they-won’t-they tango between Elon Musk and Twitter appears to finally be coming to a close, and Twitter employees are not happy about who their new boss will be. Musk previously disclosed to investors his plans to axe 75% of the company’s workforce, and Twitter employees have responded in a…
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