Hasta La Gadget!

General Motors may have gone through a teeny tiny bankruptcy problem, but that doesn’t mean it’s behind the times. The American motor maker’s just unveiled its latest crash test dummies — or anthropomorphic testing devices, to give them their highfalutin title — which are capable of beaming out status reports 10,000 times per second. Equipped with 70 to 80 sensors each, the new family of test devices spans a wide range of potential passengers, from fully grown males to toddlers, though it is slightly disappointing to see they all have washboard abs and perfect posture. Come now, GM, we’d hardly call a race of perfectly sculpted drones that can speak fast enough to converse with a hummingbird representative. Video and the full press release can be found after the break.

Continue reading GM’s new crash test dummies can say ‘ouch!’ 10,000 times a second

GM’s new crash test dummies can say ‘ouch!’ 10,000 times a second originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 02 Dec 2010 06:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Okay, so we’ve got to be close to a release at this point, right? After posting a WiFi-patched GM last week, Apple’s back at it again with an iOS 4.2.1 build for its iPhone Developer Program members… and let’s hope this is the very last one before it hits iTunes installations across the land. Or, you know, you can get it now if you shell out some funds in Cupertino’s direction. Your call.

[Thanks, Dave]

Apple posts iOS 4.2.1 GM seed, iPads salivate in wait originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 18 Nov 2010 15:03:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Okay, we’re no Snake Plissken, but let’s just say that DC has become something of an interesting town lately, with mock-left and faux-right wing pundits holding giant rallies, political candidates being accused of witchcraft, and various other signs of the apocalypse happening every day. We were glad to make it out with both eyes and we were glad to be doing so in the car of the future that’s finally a part of the present: Chevrolet’s $41,000 Volt. It’s actually (honestly) in proper production now, being delivered to select dealers soon, one of those production models given to us to drive from our great nation’s capital to the cultural capital of the world: New York City. We easily managed it on a single tank of gas, but what kind of mileage did we get? You’ll just have to read on to find out.

Continue reading Chevy Volt preview: escape from DC in today’s car of tomorrow

Chevy Volt preview: escape from DC in today’s car of tomorrow originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 05 Nov 2010 12:04:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Interesting news from General Motors today that’s resulted in some puzzled expressions at Engadget HQ. We’ve learned that the Volt, which Chevrolet has been making quite a fuss about calling an “extended range electric vehicle,” is actually just a traditional hybrid with some… potentially misleading marketing behind it. Since the concept stage the company has been saying how the onboard internal combustion engine was just to charge the batteries, that only the electric motors (there are two) are actually connected to the drivetrain. Indeed that’s what we were told in person when we test drove the thing back in March. We’re now learning that is not the case, that the Volt’s gasoline engine can directly provide power to the wheels in concert with the electric motors.

Is that a problem? In terms of efficiency the answer is “apparently not,” as we’re guessing the car would not have been designed this way if it weren’t the most frugal way to go. So, why all the deception? Why insist this isn’t just a hybrid when it apparently is? When the company went looking for a government bailout it was in part awarded one because of the innovation shown in the Volt. Now that we’re learning the Volt is basically just a plug-in hybrid with a bigger than average battery pack (Popular Mechanics is finding 30-odd miles of purely electric range), we’re left wondering: where’s the innovation?

Update: We’ve added some further details and analysis below, and a confirmation from Chevrolet as well.

Continue reading Shocker: Chevy says Volt’s gas engine can power the wheels, it’s just a hybrid after all

Shocker: Chevy says Volt’s gas engine can power the wheels, it’s just a hybrid after all originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 11 Oct 2010 13:17:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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With OnStar’s “Responsible Connectivity” announcement Tuesday that it’s enhancing mobile phone links and possibly adding Facebook and text messaging hooks, there’s a tacit admission that the old OnStar model – sell safety for $15 a month, sell safety, navigation, and operator services for $30 – needs updating in the era of cellphone navigation, free crash notification at Ford, and Facebook everywhere including, soon, the car. 

• News: OnStar Upgrade Includes More Mobile Links, Facebook Possible