China has built the longest bridge in the world… so you don’t have to dig that hole
January 12, 2011 No Comment
Yes, in addition to being one of the coolest and largest nations in the world, China now has the distinction, at least for the time being, of having the longest bridge in the world. The Qingdao Haiwan Bridge in Shandong Province is almost three miles longer than the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway in Louisiana, which was the previous record holder. The bridge took four years to build — lightning fast by American construction standards — and cost around $8.5 billion dollars. It was designed by Shandong Gausu Group and built by about 10,000 workers. China has built the longest bridge in the world… so you don’t have to dig that hole originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 12 Jan 2011 11:20:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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A few months ago, three teams split $10 million in prizes, finally claiming the Progressive Insurance Automotive X prize . They’re all at CES, and we got a chance to speak in detail with one of the men behind one of them, Edison2′s Oliver Kutter, about the design of the car and, ultimately, what’s going to come next thanks to that $5 million in cash the company walked away with. Read on for the details from that conversation, including why this tiny thing could actually be safer than a traditional car, as well as a video walkthrough, and pictures of the winner of the two-wheeled X-Tracer too. Gallery: Automotive X-Prize winners Continue reading A tour around the X-Prize winning Edison2 Very Light Car (video) A tour around the X-Prize winning Edison2 Very Light Car (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 12 Jan 2011 10:48:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Verizon Wireless turns on 16 new cell sites in NYC, we can’t imagine why
January 12, 2011 No Comment
In what can only be called an amazing example of extremely coincidental timing, Verizon has announced that it’s throwing the switch on 16 new 3G Cells in the greater New York Metro area. Alas, they won’t be spreading the LTE love across the Empire State, but with such an added signal boost in the Boroughs we’d say the company is in reasonably good shape to handle a massive influx of customers. You know, just in case. There’s a full list of all the new towers in the PR below. Continue reading Verizon Wireless turns on 16 new cell sites in NYC, we can’t imagine why Verizon Wireless turns on 16 new cell sites in NYC, we can’t imagine why originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 12 Jan 2011 10:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …PC-Aero ready to fly the Elektra One, Germany’s latest electric-powered plane
January 12, 2011 No Comment
Germany started with electric cars and bikes , and now they are taking things to the air with the PC-Aero Elektra One. This single-seat ultralight plane has a composite airframe and a 16-kilowatt motor with a range of 400 kilometers and a max flight time of three hours. At a cruising speed of 160 km/h (about 99 mph for us anglophiles), the aircraft won’t be setting any speed records , but given that it’s being designed as an eco-friendly way to enjoy “leisure aviation,” you should’ve expected to travel at a leisurely pace, indeed. The Elektra One hasn’t taken to the air just yet, but PC-Aero plans to perform the first flight test later this month, so we can look forward to seeing another electric plane flying overhead in the near future. Check the video after the break to see and hear the future of aviation for yourself. Continue reading PC-Aero ready to fly the Elektra One, Germany’s latest electric-powered plane PC-Aero ready to fly the Elektra One, Germany’s latest electric-powered plane originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 12 Jan 2011 10:15:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Ford takes us on the world’s shortest test drive in the Focus Electric (video)
January 12, 2011 No Comment
When offered a chance to take a Ford Focus Electric for a spin we jumped at it, though were admittedly a bit perplexed when told it would be on the show floor. As it turns out the company set up a loop upon which a Transit Van and Focus Electric were driving, one after the next, up a steep incline and over the heads of fellow journalists, stopping at a little dyno to see just what this thing was putting down, and then back around to where it all started. No shocking information was gleaned, and we still can’t get anyone to confirm or deny the ability for a 480v quick-charge, but it sure beat walking. Continue reading Ford takes us on the world’s shortest test drive in the Focus Electric (video) Ford takes us on the world’s shortest test drive in the Focus Electric (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 12 Jan 2011 09:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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Sorry, we can’t help ourselves. You see, we like the Prius . A lot. But it’s just so… well… boring. Not the Prius C . It’s just a Concept, but it’s a Curvy one, a Cute one, and a downright Catch. Call us anytime. Toyota. You have our number. Gallery: Toyota Prius C Toyota puts Prius C on a pedestal, we go back for more originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 12 Jan 2011 08:46:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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Blue Microphones’ Yeti Pro a ‘lil rich for your blood? Have a gander at Samson Technologies, who is also introducing a new USB microphone to usher in the year 2011. The company’s foldable USB mic — better known as the Meteor Mic — looks a lot like any number of retro mics you might find in an older recording studio, or any number of brand new ones designed to look just like the old ones we just mentioned. There’s also a stereo 1/8-inch headphone output for no-latency monitoring, not to mention a headphone volume control and a trio of legs to tinker with. There’s even a microphone mute switch for those who prefer to grumble while the boss blabbers on, and it’ll be out and about in Best Buy this April for $99. Demonstrative video is just past the break, if you really need to enlighten yourself further. Gallery: Samson’s USB Meteor Mic packs retro flair, $99 price tag Continue reading Samson’s USB Meteor Mic packs retro flair, $99 price tag Samson’s USB Meteor Mic packs retro flair, $99 price tag originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 12 Jan 2011 06:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Intuit now offering GoPayment service without fees through February, also throws in a free card reader
January 12, 2011 No Comment
Perhaps just to show that it is not hip to be a Square , Intuit has rolled out a serious incentive for businesses to jump on the GoPayment bandwagon. Since we last saw the mobile payment service , the company has decided to offer customers a free card reader (while supplies last) and no monthly service fees in an effort to expand its user base. Primarily aimed at those processing low sales volume, the deal includes $0.15 per-transaction fee. That’s half the $0.30 fee for high-volume users, who still get the complimentary reader for signing up, but have to pay $12.95 monthly for the privilege. The offer is exclusively available to new customers, and the gratis reader only works with some phones (far fewer than the number of phones that work with the app itself), but hey, free is free. Let’s just hope Intuit’s system doesn’t suffer from the security problems of its rival . Continue reading Intuit now offering GoPayment service without fees through February, also throws in a free card reader Intuit now offering GoPayment service without fees through February, also throws in a free card reader originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 12 Jan 2011 05:54:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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Iogear has just revealed one wireless keyboard to rule them all, and it’s aptly (albeit not creatively) named the Multi-Link Bluetooth Keyboard with Touchpad, or GKM611B for short. While the device’s name is unwieldy, it does have quite a few slick features, particularly the ability to mate with six separate Bluetooth devices up to 30 feet away, customizable hotkeys, and a relatively svelte curb weight of 1.9 pounds. In the redheaded-stepchild department (though nothing against stepchildren, or redheads for that matter), the company also debuted the new 2.4GHz Wireless Compact Keyboard (aka GKM681R), which we feel safe to say got its moniker courtesy of a diminutive 10.25 x 4.4 x 1-inch profile. In spite of the bantam size, the ‘board packs an optical trackball and 16 dedicated hotkeys. For those in the market for such things, the Bluetooth model goes on sale in late Q1 for $79.95, and the 2.4GHz offering will cost just $59.99, which is quite a bit cheaper than the ouftit’s other compact keyboards . Gallery: IOGEAR Bluetooth Keyboard GKM611B Continue reading Iogear drops two new wireless keyboards, one with Bluetooth Iogear drops two new wireless keyboards, one with Bluetooth originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 12 Jan 2011 05:16:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Samsung Vibrant 4G appears in leaked docs, touts 21Mbps HSPA+, front-facing camera
January 12, 2011 No Comment
Samsung did say it’s ready to supply all US carriers with 4G phones , not just Verizon , and we may already be looking at one of those devices before us. Billed as a T-Mobile exclusive, the Vibrant 4G looks to be a gentle refresh of the current Vibrant handset, with the notable upgrades being the inclusion of 21Mbps-capable HSPA+ connectivity — to speed your mobile broadband up into T-Mobile’s definition of 4G speeds — and a front-facing camera paired to Qik video chat software. The onboard version of Android is 2.2 and internal specs seem to generally match the earlier-released namesake. Speaking of the original Vibrant, these leaked docs also show it’s sold over one million units in its time in the US and is the nation’s best-selling Galaxy S variant. Great, now can someone please leak it to Samsung that Android 2.3 is already out? [Thanks, Brian] Samsung Vibrant 4G appears in leaked docs, touts 21Mbps HSPA+, front-facing camera originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 12 Jan 2011 04:26:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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