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There is a huge difference between most automatic transmissions that have a torque converter and paddle shifters and the dual-clutch automatics with paddle shifters featured on many European sports cars. A paddle shift automatic in a Ford product, like the Taurus SHO, needs about 1000 RPM to shift a gear making for a very annoying driving experience.

On the other hand, the dual-clutch transmission on something like the BMW M3 will shift gears much faster than your typical person can shift a manual. Chevrolet is going to be offering a new 8-speed auto transmission in the 2015 Corvette Stingray. However, many people were not happy when it was announced that the transmission GM made for the car isn’t a dual-clutch unit.

GMs tranny has a torque converter, but the company claims it will shift faster at wide-open throttle than the dual-clutch unit Porsche uses in its 911. GM says the 8-speed 8L90 transmission will shift gears .08 seconds faster than the Porsche gearbox. At the same time since it has a torque converter, GM says that it remains smooth and comfortable around town. The 8L90 transmissions will be offered in the standard Stingray for 2015 and the Z06 version.

“Corvette Stingray’s new eight-speed automatic delivers the comfort and drivability of a true automatic transmission, as well as lightning-fast shifts and the manual control that enhance the performance-driving experience,” said Bill Goodrich, assistant chief engineer for eight-speed automatic transmissions. “It was designed to enhance the Stingray’s driving experience, with performance on par with dual-clutch designs, but without sacrificing refinement.”

Guess we’ll have to wait to drive a 2015 Stingray to see how well the transmission lives up to its promises.

Speed. It’s a movie. It’s a drug. And it’s also something that throngs of internet users the world over cannot get enough of. Thankfully, the wizards at the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Solid State Physics and the Karlsruhe Institute for Technology have figured out a way to satisfy the unsatisfiable, announcing this week a world record in the area of wireless data transmission. Researchers were able to achieve 40Gbit/sec at 240GHz over a distance of one kilometer, essentially matching the capacity of optical fiber… but, you know, without the actual tether.

The goal here, of course, isn’t to lower your ping times beyond where they are already; it’s to give rural communities across the globe a decent shot at enjoying broadband. Distances of over one kilometer have already been covered by using a long range demonstrator, which the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology set up between two skyscrapers as part of the project “Millilink”. There’s no clear word on when the findings will be ported over to the commercial realm, but given the traction we’re seeing in the white spaces arena, we doubt you’ll have to wait long.

Filed under: Science, Internet

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Via: Physorg

Source: Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Solid State Physics

While driving off-road can be a lot of fun, it can also be a challenging and dangerous activity, especially if you’re not a skilled 4×4 driver. Well thanks to some cool technology in Toyota’s trucks you can rest a little easier when driving off-road or in challenging terrain.

I recently had an opportunity to test out a couple of Toyota’s trucks with their new five-speed CRAWL control, a technology which helps drivers focus on steering while off-road, increasing safety and driving efficiency in difficult terrain.

At the center of the system is the ability for the vehicle to automatically regulate engine speed and braking force, while all the driver needs to do is turn the wheel. So when you’re making your way across rough ground or steep grades, the truck can do almost all of the work for you.  The system works its magic by watching the wheel speed at each corner of the vehicle, and modulates the powertrain and braking system to ensure a safe and stable speed as you navigate treacherous roads.

You can use lower speeds to navigate rocky terrain downhill, while the higher speeds are best for uphill climbs on rocks, snow or gravel. Plus it works in either Drive or Reverse. And even if you’re not going off-road, the Hill-Start assist feature is very helpful if you live somewhere with steep hills. It automatically holds the car still at the top of a hill, so you don’t constantly need to keep your foot on both the brake and the gas.

There’s also a nifty mode called Off-Road Turn Assist which helps you make extremely tight turns by pulsing the rear brakes individually, depending on the direction of the steer. Think of what happens if you lock up a single wheel on a shopping cart – it pivots. This same principle is at work here, and all you need to do is turn the wheel. The truck takes care of the rest.

The five-speed CRAWL Control system is standard on Toyota’s 2013 Land Cruiser, and an option available on the FJ Cruiser’s Off-road and Trail Teams editions, as well as on the 4Runner Trail edition.

Annabelle Bennett is no stranger to Apple/Samsung litigation — the Federal Court of Australia judge has had a hand in the companies’ disputes for at least the past year. And it would appear that she’s grown a bit impatient, following a Samsung move that she’s labeled as “just ridiculous.” According to a Bloomberg report, the trial began with Samsung’s attorney stating that Apple refused to pay a fee to license three patents related to 3G data transmission. Apple’s counsel, however, explained that the company did offer to pay, but Samsung refused. Bennett responded by asking “why on earth are these proceedings going ahead?,” following up with “why shouldn’t I order the parties to mediation?” — a question she expects to be addressed by the end of the week. There doesn’t appear to be any official ruling at this point, though the trial certainly isn’t off to a great start for Samsung. Ultimately, the duo may be forced back to the negotiating table, letting Bennett move on to other cases until the next patent rouse.

Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless

Judge calls Samsung vs. Apple 3G suit ‘ridiculous,’ suggests mediation instead originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Jul 2012 10:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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