The inability to win US government approval isn’t exactly an unfamiliar issue for Huawei, which by now must be conditioned not to expect a nod from major US telecom companies. But now, The Daily Beast reports that the U.S. Commerce Department has made it very clear that the Chinese company won’t have a role in building the country’s new dedicated first responder wireless network. A spokesman wasn’t shy about the reason, either, explaining that Huawei “will not be taking part in the building of America’s interoperable wireless emergency network for first responders due to U.S. government national security concerns.” And what about those national security concerns? Well, Huawei president Ren Zhengfei’s former role as a People’s Liberation Army technologist may have something to do with it, considering it wouldn’t be unreasonable to suspect that he still has some fairly close ties to Chinese government officials. We haven’t heard a peep from the feds regarding Huawei’s invitation for US officials to investigate the company earlier this year, but it’s safe to assume that the investigation either didn’t go very well, or more likely that it hasn’t happened at all. We imagine that whole corporate espionage debacle probably didn’t help the company, either.
Huawei blocked from first responder network contract, US cites ‘national security concerns’ originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 14 Oct 2011 11:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Between your bell, safety lights and cycling computer there’s probably not much room left on those handlebars for more stuff. But, if you’re tired of having to speak up to converse with your riding partner, perhaps you’ll clear a little real estate for the HIOD One. This Bluetooth communicator lets you talk to your fellow cyclists from up to 1,300 feet away and can be used to place phone calls and listen to music on your phone. The control panel mounts on your handlebars, but the “wireless” voice unit is a bulky box best worn on an armband or clipped to your chest. While the voice unit isn’t hardwired to the controller, it does require you to plug in an earpiece and microphone to use it. Though the HIOD One has officially launched, there’s no price yet as the company is still looking for retail partners to actually sell the device. If your curiosity still isn’t satiated, there’s a gallery below as well as a video and PR after the break.
Continue reading HIOD One is a Bluetooth communicator for gadget-hungry cyclists
HIOD One is a Bluetooth communicator for gadget-hungry cyclists originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Oct 2011 04:43:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Sure, we may not see flying cars in our lifetime, but a mainstream digital dash is a definite possibility. The all-glass vehicle dashboard has been conceptualized by other manufacturers in the past, but this year it’s Panasonic’s turn to try its hand at building a multi-display system. The electronics maker brought its Cockpit prototype to the CEATEC floor, causing quite a stir among passersby. The dash itself was little more than a semi-functional mockup, presenting recorded rendered video on the main 20-inch LCD and dual 10.4-inch secondary displays. The main display’s current objective appears to be improving safety, using a series of cameras to eliminate blind spots and alert drivers to other road hazards. Real-time driving stats are displayed atop a video feed, either from the rear camera (when in reverse), or one up front.
We spent a few minutes behind the wheel of Panasonic’s mockup, which consisted only of a pair of (rather comfortable) leather seats, along with a trio of LCDs, which the company claims are currently based on panels used in other Panasonic products, but may eventually utilize custom displays. This wasn’t an actual vehicle prototype — only the “cockpit” was on hand. The main display will (hopefully) focus the driver’s attention away from distractions on those two smaller screens — the one in the center can be used to control standard vehicle settings like climate and entertainment, while a second display positioned directly in front of the passenger seat can play movies and other content.
Are we there yet? No, so you better get comfortable for the long drive ahead. Overall the setup looked like it could have potential, though Panasonic warned us not to expect anything final until the end of the decade (2018 at the earliest). Jump past the break for a Cockpit drive-by.
Continue reading Panasonic Cockpit digital dash prototype hands-on (video)
Panasonic Cockpit digital dash prototype hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 05 Oct 2011 09:52:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Ben Heck’s been busy — again. In the latest episode of his bi-weekly show he puts his considerable brain power to work on cycle safety. He uses Parallax ping sensors connected to an Arduino to measure whether you’re in any danger from nearby obstacles and traffic. The red and green LED indicators are hooked up to ambient light sensors so they don’t blind you while riding at night — looks like Mr. Heck’s thought of everything. This week’s episode also includes more secrets behind the prolific modder’s Android APK-based baby seat. Check out both projects after the break.
Continue reading Ben Heck cooks up proximity sensor for cyclists, still no substitute for keeping eyes open
Ben Heck cooks up proximity sensor for cyclists, still no substitute for keeping eyes open originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 27 Sep 2011 21:43:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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We know EVs of the future will lose their ability to silently kill, but how about replicating engine noise for the enjoyment of bonafide petrolheads? Eagle-eyed readers will note that’s a promised feature of the upcoming (but ever-delayed) Fisker Karma, but here beating it to market is BMW’s upcoming M5 — sort of. M
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Silence may be a virtue under most circumstances, but not when you’re driving around a leafy, residential neighborhood in your
Toyota Prius. That’s why the manufacturer came out with its very own vehicle proximity notification system
last year — a “futuristic,” underhood noisemaker designed to
alert pedestrians and the visually impaired to the plug-in’s presence. Now, Toyota has offered more details on its safety system, in a freshly released demo video starring the
2012 Prius V. The car’s artificial engine noise, as the company explains, only kicks in at speeds below 15 miles per hour, allowing it to broadcast its audible heads-up across parking lots or other low-speed zones. The sound itself, meanwhile, emanates from external speakers and consists of a blend of high and low frequencies that won’t be by muffled by background noise or physical obstacles. The vehicle’s pitch shift technology also enables the tone to rise in pitch as the car speeds up and to fall as it slows down, giving others an idea of how fast it’s approaching. Accelerate past the break to see the full video for yourself, while John Kerry
nods in silent approval.
Continue reading Toyota demos Prius’ proximity notification system, touts ‘futuristic’ purr (video)
Toyota demos Prius’ proximity notification system, touts ‘futuristic’ purr (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 23 Sep 2011 07:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Leave it to James Dyson to give your ordinary household appliance a new spin. Tonight in New York City, Mr. Dyson took to the stage in order to properly unveil his latest gizmo — the $399.99 Dyson Hot AM04. As its name suggests, this is the company’s latest
fan Air Multiplier, but with a ceramic coal heating element to keep your toes toasty. On those muggy summer days, you’ll be able to get your room down to a frigid 32 degrees Fahrenheit, and when the the winter’s bitter cold hits, you’ll be able to hit 99 degrees —
caliente. The unit is designed much like a jet’s wing, bringing air in from its bottom grills and amplifying it six times as it soars out through the ducts.
Interestingly enough, we’re told that the heating element stays at one preset temperature, measuring the room until it reaches the level you tell it to. As you’d expect, an inbuilt safety mechanism flips the whole thing off if it tips over. With its tiltable base or an included IR remote, you’ll be able to change the temperature, choose between ten fan speeds and set it into an oscillation mode. Better yet, the remote magnetically clings to the top of the unit — perfect if you’re prone to losing things. It’s currently available in white or silver directly from Dyson (though a remote-less version is tipped for those looking to save a few bucks), and you’ll find more details in the PR past the break.
Continue reading Dyson intros Hot AM04, aims to change the home heating game (video)
Filed under: Household
Dyson intros Hot AM04, aims to change the home heating game (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Sep 2011 21:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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The
Frankfurt Motor Show is underway in Germany, where
Volvo has just taken the wraps off the Concept You — a new luxury sedan that features some pretty nifty, touch-based controls. Directly behind the car’s steering wheel lies a monitor that digitally displays your basic driving information, including speed and a map of your trajectory. The wheel also features some sensor enhanced panels, which you can use to adjust your radio or cruise control settings. A touch interface on the center console, meanwhile, uses an infrared sensor to pick up on any hand or eye movements before activating to bring up the system’s infotainment control mode, which boasts an unreleased FreshAir subwoofer from Alpine. From here, you can surf the web, swipe through radio stations, check for safety alerts or control your air conditioning, using only your fingers or customized gestures. Plus, there’s an extra touchscreen placed between the two rear seats, meaning your kids won’t be left out of the action, either. Cruise past the break for an exclusive video of the Concept You’s so-called smart pad technology, along with the full PR.
Continue reading Volvo unveils Concept You luxury sedan, dripping with touchscreens (video)
Volvo unveils Concept You luxury sedan, dripping with touchscreens (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 13 Sep 2011 04:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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It’s a big day for the forward-thinking folks at Ford. Over in Frankfurt, the American auto giant showcased electric bike and cloud car concepts, and several timezones away at TechCrunch Disrupt in San Francisco, the company talked up its new partnership with Bug Labs. The result is OpenXC, a platform that promises to deliver increased integration for third-party software and hardware, like new audio interfaces, safety products and environmental sensors, plugged into Bugs’ hardware and software modules. According to Ford, OpenXC makes developing for Ford vehicles far simpler than before, while lowering the cost and installation difficulty for car owners interested in adding on to their vehicles. More info in the press release after the break.
Continue reading Ford / Bug Labs partnership makes SYNC look like old news
Ford / Bug Labs partnership makes SYNC look like old news originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 12 Sep 2011 18:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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We all remember kicking it in anonymous chat rooms masked behind the safety of a screen name, but today Fring announced a new way to engage with randoms — this time with video. Playground lets users start their own video chat or join an existing room based on topic, with friends or complete strangers. We’ve seen four-way video from the app before, but the new feature takes it a step further — similar to joining a Hangout in Google+, only on a mobile phone. Although it does sound creepily Chatroulette-ish, it’s free (unlike Skype’s group video calling) and works on iOS and Android Phones — so go ahead, take a peak and see what’s actually going on in “Voldemort’s Death Eater” channel. Check out the demo and full PR after the break.
Continue reading Fring launches Playgrounds for group video chat with friends or randoms (video)
Fring launches Playgrounds for group video chat with friends or randoms (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 09 Sep 2011 08:40:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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