Jul 15
Computers are good at a lot of things. Thinking like a grown-up human being is not one of them. Not yet, at least.
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Mar 21
The Hilariously Scientific MinusIQ Pill That Makes Smart People Dumber Would Be Fun to Take
Posted in: Today's Chili
Do you ever feel like the rest of the world is so dumb? And it’s not that you’re especially smart, it’s just that people are just so dumb. Do they enjoy being dumb? Have they ever thought about being smart? Of course not! Because being dumb is fun. Being dumb means you don’t have to be self aware anymore. Being dumb means you’re never not confident. Being dumb means you get to do dumb things! More »
Sep 24
Toyota’s just-arrived RAV4 EV will soon get a much smaller cousin — albeit a very elusive one. An electric version of the iQ city car will arrive in Japan (as the eQ) and the US (as the iQ EV) this December, but the automaker is significantly scaling back its 2010 promises of several thousand cars sold per year to just 100 fleet-oriented vehicles. The charging times, costs and range of EVs “do not meet society’s needs,” vice chairman Takeshi Uchiyamada says to explain the smaller ambitions. It’s easy to understand the cautious approach after seeing the car’s final details. While they’re not out of line with the specs of other EVs, the eQ’s 3-hour fast charge, 62-mile range and ¥3.6 million ($46,130) price wouldn’t have regular customers flocking to dealerships. Most of Toyota’s energy is instead being funneled into its tried-and-true hybrids, with 21 due on the market by 2015, as well as plans to deliver the company’s first hydrogen fuel cell car by the same year. Eco-conscious drivers may be disappointed that Toyota isn’t moving as aggressively into a pure electric realm as some of its rivals, but we’d rather see smartly planned baby steps than an overly risky plunge.
Filed under: Transportation
Toyota plans dialed-back launch of eQ and iQ EV city cars in December originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 24 Sep 2012 13:17:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Aug 14
Ultrasone IQ unveiled as company’s first in-ear headphones, hybrid drivers in tow
Posted in: Today's Chili 
Heads up, audiophiles! Here’s a little gem we spotted at the Hong Kong High-End Audio Visual Show over the weekend. Dubbed the Ultrasone IQ, these turn out to be the German company’s first ever in-ear headphones, and luckily they’re more than just ordinary buds. You see, packed within each aluminum alloy capsule is a combo of a traditional dynamic driver and a balanced armature driver, with the former taking care of the bass plus lower-mids, and the latter covering the rest — specific frequency response to be confirmed at a later date. The technology isn’t new, of course, but it’s all about the fine-tuning to match the price tag — we’ve been told to expect around HK$6,000, which is about US$770. This author was fortunate enough to try the pictured prototype at the event and was left impressed by its definition, but the final product will apparently perform even better when it hits the market in late September. Just to seal the deal for hardcore users, these buds feature MMCX connectors, meaning you can swap the original cables with the bundled headset kit (for iPhone and major Android devices) or other third-party wires.
Launched alongside the IQ were the Signature DJ and two new additions to the Edition 8 line: Romeo and Juliet, which seem like a nice idea for audiophilic couples. Alas, details are light here in terms of prices and availability, but at least Romeo and Juliet will perform identically as the original Edition 8. The new DJ cups, on the other hand, await official specifications. For now, hit the gallery to take a look at all of Ultrasone’s new offerings.
Ultrasone IQ unveiled as company’s first in-ear headphones, hybrid drivers in tow originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 14 Aug 2012 15:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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