Hasta La Gadget!

There are many ways to get your phone’s tunes to your system’s speakers, and now thanks to XtremeMac, you have two more. At $80, the InCharge Home BT is just $20 cheaper than an Apple TV, and it only lets you stream audio over bluetooth (vs. video, and WiFi for the Apple TV). Its on-the-go counterpart, however — the InCharge Auto BT (also $80) — is a much easier sell, beaming music and phone calls to a car stereo without a need to tether your handset to your receiver. Despite the company name and ubiquitous “Made for iPhone” branding, XtremeMac has confirmed that both devices offer identical functionality with non-Apple handsets as well, along with iPods, iPads, and other bluetooth-enabled gadgets. Available now, both devices support A2DP, connect to your speakers using a bundled 3.5mm cable, and include a 10-watt USB port for charging your devices — assuming you don’t mind cording up, on occasion.

Continue reading XtremeMac InCharge Auto & Home BT chargers stream music, phone calls over bluetooth

XtremeMac InCharge Auto & Home BT chargers stream music, phone calls over bluetooth originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 19 May 2011 14:53:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Powermat’s Power Matt proclaimed his cord-cutting capabilities to the people while bearing a striking resemblance to Superman. And now, just as the Kryptonian joined the Justice League, Power Matt has teamed up with the Wireless Power Consortium to benefit all mankind — or at least get us closer to universal contactless chargers. With the pun-loving hero embracing the power of Qi, we’re just a Touchstone away from induction charging nirvana… and the next great action flick, too.

Power Matt joins the Wireless Power Consortium, gains the power of Qi originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 14 May 2011 16:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Some day you’ll charge everything wirelessly — phones, cars, graphing calculators, all using the same basic technology. That’s the sort of utopian vision Toyota had in mind when it formed the Wireless Battery-charging Alliance with WiTricity. The young Massachusetts-based company is pushing “resonance” technology, which charges electronics without contact and is supposedly more efficient than induction-based charging — a category that includes the popular Qi standard. This new partnership ups the ante, adding electric vehicles to the list of chargeable devices, a vision of the future where Prius batteries can be filled wirelessly, while sitting in driveways and parking garages. Exxon’s engineers are no doubt working to perfect the hose-free gasoline transfer as we speak. PR after the break.

[Thanks, Paul]

Continue reading Toyota and WiTricity team up for OTA car charging

Toyota and WiTricity team up for OTA car charging originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 28 Apr 2011 14:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The biggest problem with modern society? A lack of good super villains. Seriously, today’s superheroes are getting flabby from sitting around, twiddling their powerful thumbs. Look at poor Power Matt here — dude’s clearly been working out and doing his shopping at the Justice League department store. So what is he doing with his time? Foiling bank heists or intercepting speeding missiles? Nope. He’s Powermat‘s new mascot, and he’s fielding questions about the inductive charging pad on the company’s Twitter account. Can someone please help the poor redheaded hero out and kidnap a world leader or something? Or at least steal their microUSB cable?

Meet Power Matt, Powermat’s new pun-based superhero ready to answer your tech questions originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 27 Apr 2011 12:43:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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So, you saw a Volt, Leaf, or Focus Electric and were convinced to go green, but are unsure whether your local municipality is as eco-friendly as you are. Well, Ford has done your homework for you (without even demanding your lunch money in return), and identified the “25 Most Electric Vehicle-Ready Cities” in the US. What makes a metropolis worthy of such status in the eyes of the Blue Oval boys? A utilities structure that allows off-peak charging, for starters, plus reduced red tape for getting your EV permits and inspections, incentives for offsetting up-front customer costs, urban plans for charging infrastructure, and EV-friendly city advisory committees. If your town’s lacking in those areas, perhaps it’s time to give your city council a ring — part of being an eco-warrior is political activism, right? PR’s after the break.

Continue reading Ford makes list of the 25 most EV-friendly cities, still likes selling cars to residents elsewhere

Ford makes list of the 25 most EV-friendly cities, still likes selling cars to residents elsewhere originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 22 Apr 2011 20:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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