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BMW showcases the new i3 and i8 Concepts, we drool! (PR)

BMW automobiles is a well known name in the automotive industry, especially when it comes to innovation. The i brand was announced for the electric division of BMW automobiles earlier this year. The launch of the sub brand comes hand in hand with the two concept electric cars.

The i3 Concept

The i3 will drive 150km on a full charge, acceleration is about 0-60mph in around 8 seconds, while buying the vehicle owners will be able to opt in for the range-extending motor aptly named “REx.” The first consumer model should hit prime markets by as early as 2013. The charger will complete eighty percent charging in an hour, while a full charge could take as long as 6 hours.

The i8 Concept

The i8 on the other hand is highly aerodynamic and has a hybrid diesel-electric drivetrain, while consumption will remain around the region of 2.7 liters per 100km, while it will speed up from 0 to 62mph in 4.6 seconds.

[toggle title_open=”Collapse” title_closed=”Read The Press Release” hide=”yes” border=”yes” style=”default” excerpt_length=”0″ read_more_text=”Read More” read_less_text=”Read Less” include_excerpt_html=”no”]BMW Group presents mobility of the future +++ World premiere of the BMW i3 Concept and BMW i8 Concept +++ Reithofer: A milestone in the history of the company +++ Sustainability across the entire value added chain

Frankfurt a.M. / Munich. The BMW Group showcases its visions of future mobility in the shape of the BMW i3 Concept and BMW i8 Concept studies. Unveiled for the first time, these concept vehicles provide a glimpse of the first electrically powered production cars from the new BMW i sub-brand, due to be launched as the BMW i3 in 2013 and the BMW i8 in 2014.

“We are marking another milestone in the history of the BMW Group. As Chairman of the Board and an engineer myself, I am very proud of this project,” declared Norbert Reithofer, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG, at Friday’s premiere of the two vehicles in Frankfurt. “As the world’s leading premium car manufacturer, our aim is to offer customers purpose-built electric-drive cars as well,” he added.

With its zero-emission electric drive and a range of approximately 150 kilometres, the BMW i3 Concept has been specifically developed for use in an urban environment, its dynamic 125 kW electric motor and rear-wheel drive ensuring BMW-style dynamic handling. Thanks to its innovative LifeDrive architecture featuring a carbon passenger cell, the BMW i3 Concept combines an extremely low weight of 1,250 kilograms with optimal interior space and the highest crash safety levels. With four seats and a 200-litre luggage compartment, this vehicle is fully suited for everyday use.

Draeger: a revolution in car design

“This vehicle will mark the launch of the first volume-produced car featuring bodywork largely made of carbon. It’s a revolution in automotive design,” stressed Klaus Draeger, Member of the Board responsible for Development. The application of this new CFRP technology allows a weight reduction, compared to a conventional electric car, of between 250 and 350 kilos, and that means more dynamic handling coupled with a greater range. The BMW i3 does the 0 to 100 km/h sprint in less than eight seconds, while a high-speed charger achieves an 80% battery charge in just an hour.

Thanks to the emission-free drivetrain and a value added chain designed to be sustainable all along the line, life cycle emission figures for the BMW i3 are at least a third lower than for a highly efficient combustion-engine car. If the BMW i3 is run on electricity from renewable sources, the figures improve by well over 50%.

BMW i8 Concept: new-generation sports car

The BMW i8 Concept goes from 0 to 100 km/h in less than five seconds and boasts fuel consumption of under three litres per 100 km. Its plug-in hybrid drive with a system output of 260 kW allows a range of up to 35 kilometres in electric mode – sufficient for most everyday journeys. For more dynamic driving or out-of-town routes, a high-performance three-cylinder petrol engine also comes into play. The sports car has an electronically governed top speed of 250 km/h and space for up to four occupants. “The BMW i8 Concept is the sports car for a new generation – pure, emotional and sustainable,” Draeger underlined.

With BMW i, the BMW Group is corroborating its position as the most innovative and sustainable auto manufacturer in the world, as reflected in the fact that it has been the supersector leader in the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes for the sixth year running. With BMW i, the BMW Group is providing answers to the mobility challenges of the future while pursuing a holistic approach. In addition to purpose-built premium vehicles with electric drive, the company is also offering intelligent mobility services.

The focus here is on solutions for improved use of parking space, intelligent navigation systems with location-based information, intermodal route planning and car-sharing schemes such as DriveNow. Following MyCityWay, ParkatmyHouse marks the second investment by the recently launched venture capital company BMW i Ventures in a company providing internet-based mobility services. Parkatmyhouse allows private individuals to use the internet or
smartphone app to rent out their private parking spaces on a short- or long-term basis.

Both the BMW i3 and the BMW i8 will be built at BMW’s Leipzig plant in Germany. Some 400 million euros are earmarked for investment in new buildings and facilities by 2013, while 800 new jobs are to be created. Vehicle production will be CO2 neutral and will draw on renewable resources. The company is currently investigating the possibility of erecting its own wind turbines on the plant site.

The BMW Group
The BMW Group is one of the most successful manufacturers of automobiles and motorcycles in the world with its BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce brands. As a global company, the BMW Group operates 25 production and assembly facilities in 14 countries and has a global sales network in more than 140 countries.

During the financial year 2010, the BMW Group sold 1.46 million cars and more than 110,000 motorcycles worldwide. The profit before tax for 2010 was euro 4.8 billion on revenues amounting to euro 60.5 billion. At 31 December 2010, the BMW Group had a workforce of approximately 95,500 employees.

The success of the BMW Group has always been built on long-term thinking and responsible action. The company has therefore established ecological and social sustainability throughout the value chain, comprehensive product responsibility and a clear commitment to conserving resources as an integral part of its strategy. As a result of its efforts, the BMW Group has been ranked industry leader in the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes for the last six years.[/toggle]

August 1, 2011
Epic Sunday Treat : Micromax Andro A70 Unboxing and Hands On
Here it is, we got over a thousand requests for the Andro A70 Unboxing and Review, while the review process is on, check out the unboxing and hands on below.

Key Features Include
- Android 2.2 (Froyo)
- Camera Primary 5.0 MP Secondary – VGA
- 600MHz Processor
- 8.128cm Multi Touch Capacitive Screen
- M! – apps – application store by Micromax
- WCDMA 2100 MHz
- HSDPA 7.2 Mbps
- Mi-Fi Pocket Wireless Internet
- GPS
- Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g
- Battery 1450mAh
- Proximity Sensor
- Gravity Sensor
Price : Rs. 7599/-
July 31, 2011
A Solar Panel That Works Without The Sun

Solar panels have come a long way since the technology was first invented. But the major drawback of using photovoltaics on Earth is that it eventually gets dark. Researchers at MIT have developed a solution to this problem. They’ve come up with a photovoltaic cell which doesn’t need any sunlight and is built into a button sized generator that can run your smart-phone for a week.

In the image above, you have many of these generators that require a fuel, like butane, from which they generate heat. The material that the generators are made out of are pockmarked with billions of tiny (we’re taking nanometer scale here) holes. When this pockmarked surface heats up, it emits light in a few very specific wavelengths that are then captured by photovoltaic cells that are tuned to those specific wavelengths, and then you get electricity.

The basic principle of the new generators is the same as the one that feeds electricity to your house. A fuel is heated and converted into electricity. With a power plant, the heat is used to boil water to steam, and the steam is used to turn a turbine, which generates electricity. The new generators follow the exact same principle, but with no moving parts and a one step process, they are many times more efficient. Their prototype uses butane as a fuel but you can use anything that burns, coal, wood, uranium, you name it.

So as a consumer, what can you look forward to? Currently, MIT’s generator is about three times more efficient than a lithium ion battery, and since they run on butane, you just need to refill them and they’re good to go. With a little bit of work, MIT researchers say that they can triple their current efficiency, and since all this can be scaled down, you can expect a new smart phone using this technology to run for a solid week without a recharge in the near future.

July 30, 2011
Fusion Garage Attempts the JooJoo 2, calls it Grid 10

Fusion Garage is the name behind the highly unsuccessful tablet of 2010 called the JooJoo, the tablet had everything , Apps, social networking and internet fun but didn’t have a backbone or ability to do anything but surf the web. The company stopped production last year itself and has ever since been mum about it.

The company however is far from giving up and has sent a device right through the FCC for approval, and its called the grid 10. Calling it JooJoo 2 would have just been plain dumb. Grid 10 could also be the indication that the 10 app grid overlay UI they had earlier , lives on, but hopefully this time around they have a more stable OS running the guts, say Honeycomb.

July 30, 2011
New WiFi Standard Has A 100 Km Range

We’ve finally got a new WiFi standard to look forward to. The IEEE has officially released a new standard for 802.22 WiFi which can cover an area of over 31000 square kilometers from a single base station. You’re all probably familiar with the current standard 802.11 a/b/g/n as this is the standard that you use to connect to the Internet everyday.

The exponentially increased range is because the frequency that the WiFi network transmits on has changed. Over the last few years, analog television has seen a dramatic decrease in viewership. Using that very same frequency of 54MHz to 698 MHz the new standard gains increased range as these frequencies are very good for long range transmissions, which is why the range was used for analog TV signals.

The new 802.22 standard is not going to make your current router obsolete just yet. What it will be good for is to provide Internet access in rural areas or to provide municipal WiFi for an entire city. With a single base station having a transmission rate of 22 Mbps and a range of 100 km, it’s only a matter of time before we’re never without WiFi again. Well it’s perhaps time that we said goodbye to 3G.

July 30, 2011
Dell Streak Pro 10 Launched in China for the World
The Dell Streak never really gained popularity in India, but its successors might catch on if the timing is right. The new Dell Streak Pro 10 / 10 Pro has been launched globally with a unveiling in China yesterday. The device has interesting specs and a really good price, it is also backed by Dell’s reliable service in India.
- 1GHz NVIDIA Tegra 2 T20 chip
- 1GB DDR2 RAM
- 1,280 x 800 LCD
- Corning’s Gorilla Glass
- 5 megapixel camera
- 2 megapixel camera ( front)
- SDHC expansion slot
- 24.1WH battery
- Honeycomb 3.1
Price of the 16GB WiFi tablet plus 2GB of cloud storage for just ¥2,999 ($465) (Rs.22,000). Stay tuned while we try and contact Dell for official word on release in India.
July 30, 2011
New Gmail Android App v2.3.4 integrates Labels, custom tones and priority inbox among others

The new Gmail app v 2.3.5 available now via the marketplace update adds a lot of new features to the on system app. the most important feature is the ability to sync only priority inbox with your device allowing you to save up on battery life. The other new feature that we like is label specific tones allowing you to customize the way you receive email.

Officially What’s in this version:

1. Save bandwidth and battery by only syncing priority mail
2. Use label notifications to mash up filters, labels, and ringtones
3. Remember ‘Show Pictures’ for senders
4. Turn off sticky message actions in landscape or all orientations
5. Better TalkBack support for accessibility
6. Performance improvements

[Android Market]

July 29, 2011
How To Tie A Water Balloon In Under 10 Seconds

We’ve all played Holi at some point or another, and we’ve all tied our fare share of water balloons. Unfortunately, some people find it hard to tie water balloons. This might be for many reasons but most of the time its because the balloons are very small and the person tying them has fat fingers. Case in point – me.

Well we’ve found the perfect solution for all our balloon tying needs and its called the Tie Not. This fascinating gadget fits a standard garden hose and can fill a balloon and tie it for you too. The best part? Its amazingly simple to use. Watch the video below and then make a mental bookmark to get this for next Holi. Your friends will thank you…

July 29, 2011
MSI Releases latest GE620DX gaming laptop (PR)
MSI has just dropped the gaming bomb and is sticking to it, the company already has the worlds fastest gaming laptop and now releases the new GE620DX

Specs Include
- 2GHz quad-core Intel Core i7 processor
- NVIDIA GeForce GT 555M
- MSI Premium Sound and THX’s True Studio Pro
- 15.6-inch 1366 x 768 HD display
- 720p camera
- HDMI out port and USB 3.0
- GPU Boost feature
Along with the above specs the laptop is clad in a brushed metal aluminum finish and will go on sale sometime next month. No info on pricing.

[toggle title_open=”Collapse” title_closed=”Read The Press Release” hide=”yes” border=”yes” style=”default” excerpt_length=”0″ read_more_text=”Read More” read_less_text=”Read Less” include_excerpt_html=”no”]MSI GE620DX Laptop
Power plus performance, perfect for playing
Wed, 27 Jul 2011

MSI just rolled out its new generation GE620DX gaming notebook computer with Intel Core i7-2630QM quad core processor, top-of-the-line nVidia GeForce GT 555M discrete graphics card, MSI Premium Sound, and THX TruStudio Pro wrap around sound. You’ll have so much fun gaming, a hundred orcs won’t be able to drag you away from your laptop.

Taipei-MSI has introduced its new GE620DX gaming laptop, featuring the Intel second generation Core i7-2630QM quad core processor (core speeds of 2.00GHz) and nVidia’s top-end GeForce GT 555M discrete graphics card. Not only does the GE620DX offer more powerful graphics performance and enhanced resolution, it supports nVidia’s PhysX and Microsoft’s DirectX 11 for great graphics with more detailed and convincing details, like cooler explosions and more realistic flowing water, to maximize your gaming pleasure.

Eric Kuo, associate vice president for global sales, MSI Notebook, points out that MSI’s superior Premium Sound and THX TruStudio Pro wrap around sound team up to offer you the perfect combination of sound and visuals for the ultimate multimedia experience. This gaming dream machine also boasts an exterior with awesome high tech lines. The letters “MSI” are emblazoned in the center of the GE620DX’ cover in luminescent white script which is set off by the metal brush finish. Not only is this machine a dream to play, it’s a dream to look at, too.

Power is the name of the game
Intel 2nd generation Core i7 quad core CPU: The GE620DX features the latest Core i7-2630QM quad core processor with core speeds of 2.00GHz. The new generation Intel Core i7 processor supports Intel Turbo Boost 2.0 and Quick Sync Video. Intel’s Turbo Boost 2.0 greatly enhances performance in each core, automatically allocating processor resources to boost core clock speeds and overall computer performance, while Quick Sync Video revs up efficiency when ripping, synchronizing, and editing multimedia files.

nVidia’s high end GeForce GT 555M discrete graphics card: The GE620DX packs nVidia’s new generation GeForce GT 555M discrete graphics card with 2GB of display memory. The nVidia PhysX technology offers the serious gamer some seriously realistic visuals. In addition, the GE620DX supports DirectX 11 for higher resolution, allowing you to see, for example, details of distant buildings for more realistic gaming.

GPU Boost: The GE620DX laptop supports MSI GPU Boost technology which automatically switches back and forth between the discrete graphics card and the graphics chip. When your computer is processing graphics-heavy applications, it automatically kicks into the discrete graphics card mode to give you superior graphics processing capabilities and when performing general word processing tasks or browsing the Internet, it cuts to the power-sipping integrated graphics chip mode, striking the ideal balance between performance and battery life.

Realistic multimedia experience
Top cinema-grade sound: The GE620DX comes with MSI’s Premium Sound to meet the need of even the most demanding audiophiles for crisp, clean sound. Now, you can experience sounds like you’ve never heard them before in an NB computer. The GE620DX also comes with THX TruStudio Pro smart surround sound technology previously found only in cinemas, which when coupled with its top-end internal speakers, reproduces any music type or frequency faithfully.

Cinema Pro technology: The GE620DX features powerful multimedia processing and MSI’s own Cinema Pro technology for superior graphics. One touch of the Cinema Pro hotkey instantly switches you to film mode for higher resolution and richer colors.

Full array of HD hardware: The MSI GE620DX sports a 720p webcam to give you high definition, smooth, bright pictures when video conferencing with friends and family. If you want something bigger than a high definition computer screen to view films, it comes with an HDMI port, so any type of high-fidelity, high-definition video can be played on your NB, but viewed via a cable on a large-screen LCD TV.

Designed with you in mind
USB3.0: The GE620DX comes with new USB3.0 ports which boast transfer speeds of 4.8Gbps-10 times faster than USB2.0, and 80% higher power transmission, providing vastly higher data transfer rates and charging speeds for external hard drives, flash drives, and other handheld electronic devices.

Shortcuts to shut off power to idle hardware: Located above the GE620DX’ keyboard are six shortcuts. With one click of the mouse, you can eject a DVD, turn off the screen, or turn on the S-Bar, Turbo Battery+, Cinema Pro, or power, so don’t waste battery power when you’re away from your computer for a few minutes.

MSI S-Bar: Just one click of the GE620DX’ S-Bar hotkey calls up all functions onto the screen, so you can control everything from the webcam, projector, network, and Bluetooth to volume control, screen brightness, and standby mode.[/toggle]
July 29, 2011
Samsung Galaxy SII coming in White August 15 : A Savior to the Race

One of the most successful smartphones of the year, the Samsung Galaxy S2, will now be available in White starting August 15 in the UK. The device is expected to hit India around the same time. The Samsung Galaxy S2 has been the most sought after cellphone in India, right after the iPhone 4 and above the LG Optimus 2X and HTC Sensation.

Samsung hopes to continue to sell the device through december, when a newer Galaxy with a 2Ghz dual core processor is supposed to be announced for 2012.

July 29, 2011
The Future Of Shopping Has Arrived

In China, SK Telecom has begun pilot testing of a new shopping cart system dubbed the Smart Cart. These carts basically have an integrated tablet which is running a proprietary software that communicates with a shoppers smart phone through an application developed for this purpose.

Once users have downloaded the Smart Cart application to their phones, they can search for product information, discounts, coupons and they can even make a shopping list. When in the supermarket, the users phone is synced to the aforementioned tablet, which has a positioning sensor which can determine a shoppers location to 1m within the store. This allows users to get information about that section of the store and also allows store owners to provide targeted advertisements.

Upon checkout, the tablet shows a list of purchased items as well as any membership points and coupons earned. SK Telecom elaborates:

We expect that ‘Smart Cart’ will become a more personalized smart shopping service when combined with customer information– like shopping history and usage pattern– managed by existing retailers. Customers will shop conveniently through product recommendations based on analysis of user’s shopping history and location information; manufacturers will be able to carry out targeted marketing for customers located in the store; and retailers will secure a new marketing channel that enables integrated and seamless communication with customers.

July 29, 2011
Skypump – The Green Charging Station

The Sanya Skypump is a wind powered charging station for electric vehicles and it has been developed by Urban Green Energy in collaboration with General Electric. While still in the conceptual stages, the Skypump combines a GE Wattstation with a urban green wind turbine which can capture up to 4KW of wind energy.

The turbine is 13m high and can easily be installed in parking lots, rest stops and other areas. As it is attached to the grid, once the station is fully charged and a vehicle is not plugged in, the Skypump will keep pumping electricity back into the grid. The company is also producing a version of the charging station for domestic use. The domestic version will be using a wall mounted GE Wattstation which can charge an electric car in four to eight hours. There is no news on whether the Skypump will offer similar efficiency.

July 29, 2011
Smart Pebbles – A Cool Spot For Your Phone

Every now and again we find a product which we look at and go, “That’s cool, I want one”. Well the smart pebbles are one of those products. These colourful pebbles created by Korean designer Kijin Shin of Designmaxx provide a comfortable resting spot for your phone, tablet, laptop or any other device that you want. They can also be used as a wrist support while you’re using the mouse. To use the pebbles, simply press them in the center and you can then proceed to place your phone, laptop or tablet on them. The pebbles are available for 15 USD for a pair.

July 29, 2011
The Festo Smart Bird – A Miracle In Aviation

We’ve all seen Wile E Coyote trying to flap some ACME wings to take off from a cliff to catch the Road Runner and failing every single time. Well sadly, like the coyote, man has had the greatest trouble trying to design a machine that can fly like a bird. Until today, we have not had the materials or the scientific data to unravel the mystery of flight. And it’s not for a lack of trying. Many engineers and scientists have, over the years, tried to achieve this goal but have failed time and time again.

After many centuries of observing bird flight and analysing its motion and studying the anatomy of birds, man has enough data to replicate the way a bird flies. Researchers at Festo, a global leader in the fields of pneumatic and electrical automation technology, have developed a prototype that they’ve dubbed the Smart Bird. Watch the video below and see it take its first flight.

July 29, 2011
Exclusive : Bold 9900 Coming to India August 2nd week , August 22nd in UK

The carbon fibre loving, touchscreen boasting, fastest smartphone from Blackberry is coming to India in August. The steel frame device is already set to launch in the UK on 22nd August. The device will initially be available only in the black color , but RIM promises to release a chic white version in October sometime. The device is the biggest upgrade to the Bold lineup from RIM in the longest time since the 9700.

We also have exclusive news that the device will be priced at 32,500/- with a 1.5 year warranty.

The company is also planning to release the Torch 2 sometime later this year.

July 29, 2011