Coal mining is a dirty, dangerous business. Even with modern safety equipment protecting workers from black lung, plenty of other dangers await them underground. Like, say, mixing easily ignited coal dust with hot machine surfaces. That’s why GE has invented a mine-car engine that keeps its cool to prevent setting off a raging inferno.
Nowadays, junk mail is pretty run-of-the-mill. You get a credit card application here, a request for a donation there—pretty mundane stuff, really. But what happens in a few years when the world’s a little bit different? What’s the future of junk mail?
You’ll still be a laughing stock if you try and dock amongst the obnoxiously monstrous private yachts in Monaco, but if you’ve always dreamed of cruising the lakes and rivers in something a little more glamorous than a canoe, the Jet Capsule will easily fill that role. And presumably at a price tag that won’t leave you bankrupt.
The smallest rock can topple even the most skilled skateboarder. And if your town is devoid of smooth, safe skateparks and half-pipes, maybe it’s time to upgrade your gear? With a set of spiked treads and a four-stroke engine, Dan Baldwin’s Ungoverned will happily plow through gravel, dirt, snow—pretty much any terrain you can think of.
Gogo is a company that provides in-flight Wi-Fi services on domestic flights in the U.S. on select airlines. Today, it announced its first ever international expansion to Japan. The company has partnered up with Japan Airlines to provide in-flight Wi-Fi service on the airline’s 77 domestic aircraft, full roll out of the service is expected to be completed in summer 2014. The in-flight Wi-Fi service will be powered by Gogo’s Ku band satellite technology, which has been built up for the purpose of international expansion. Using the same technology, Delta is also going to offer Gogo in-flight Wi-Fi on its international flights in the near future.
According to Gogo, currently there are over 2,000 commercial aircraft equipped with its service, allowing users to browse the internet in the skies. Its partners include American Airlines, Delta, Alaska, Virgin America and more. JAL’s entire domestic fleet of 77 aircraft is the first significant international expansion venture that Gogo has dived in to. The company hasn’t said where it intends to expand next. Seeing as how the service won’t be live until mid-2014, there’s still a lot of time before we can see if Gogo’s in-flight service is any better in Japan’s domestic routes than it is on domestic flights within the U.S.
Gogo Expands In-Flight Wi-Fi Internationally With Japan Airlines original content from Ubergizmo.
Tesla is a name that most of us are well versed with. After all, they have come up with some electric cars that not only look nice, but have been deemed to ride pretty well. Of course, the standard issues that are concerns surrounding electric vehicles continue to be there, but I am quite sure that as time and technology advances, we will be able to see more and more far ranging electric vehicles in addition to charging facilities to make owning one a whole lot more convenient. Company founder and CEO Elon Musk of Tesla has also publicly stated his desire to come up with a more affordable EV in addition to self driving cars. To do that, they will need the right manpower, and they have managed to snag Doug Field’s signature on the dotted line to lead the way.
Doug Field will join Tesla as the Vice President of Vehicle Programs, where his responsibility will include driving the development of new vehicles. Here is a little bit of background information on Field – he started off his career as an engineer at Ford, before ending up as the CTO of Segway prior to his last stop at Apple in 2008, where he had been the Vice President of Mac Hardware Engineering leading development on the Macbook Air, Macbook Pro and iMac. [Press Release]
Tesla Hires Former Apple Employee, Doug Field original content from Ubergizmo.
It’s easy to see how self-driving cars would benefit society. Traffic jams gone. Accidents reduced. Leisure time increased!
Hyundai And Kia To Introduce Android-based Navigational Systems In Future Models
Posted in: Today's ChiliGood news Android users, if you weren’t exactly happy that many car manufacturers had started to turn to iOS integration with their vehicles, perhaps your next car purchase could be along the lines of a Kia or a Hyundai. This is thanks to both companies announcing that future models manufactured by either car company will start to include Android-based navigation systems, although the exact specifics of such systems were not detailed yet. However given that iOS systems allow for pairing of iOS devices, as well as using Siri as a hands-free and eyes-free tool, we wouldn’t be surprised if Hyundai and Kia were to utilise Android in a similar fashion.
What is known is that these cars will be able to gain access to apps and entertainment features, although it is unclear as to whether these apps will be from Google Play, or if they will be linked to a specific app store maintained by Hyundai and Kia, where the apps will be most likely vehicle-related (after all no one really needs a fitness app to run in the background while they drive, right?). Other possible features include remote control of the car either over WiFi or a modem connection, but once again the details in that feature remain unclear at this point in time. In any case there has not been a timetable supplied as to when this Android navigational system will be implemented, so we guess we will just have to keep an eye out for it.
Hyundai And Kia To Introduce Android-based Navigational Systems In Future Models original content from Ubergizmo.
The Tesla Model S is one car that some folks would love to sit behind the wheel and drive, while others might find the idea of an all electric ride off putting, especially when you have issues like the inconvenience of charging stations as opposed to the numerous gas stations all over the place, never mind about the environment. Well, one thing is for sure – the Tesla Model S is one technologically advanced ride, and Elon Musk has even revealed over at a Munich reception that you can view above, that he himself is keeping his fingers crossed to open up the Tesla Model S’ infotainment system to third-party apps before the end of next year .
Not surprisingly, as part of the software transition, this particular all electric sedan will also be on the receiving end of Google Chrome, which would make it a big improvement over the existing browser, especially when it comes to web apps. Musk himself did not make much mention about how the local apps will eventually function, although he did take note that Tesla is “considering” an Android emulator that ought to be able to ride on the vehicle’s Linux platform. What do you think of this potential breakthrough?
Tesla Model S Could Receive Chrome By 2014 original content from Ubergizmo.
Beneath the Streets, Lost Cities
Posted in: Today's ChiliState-sponsored freeway construction can be a pain for commuters whose daily routines are upended by constant building and maintenance, but roadwork can also be a source of unexpected archaeological discovery.