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Sunday, June 5, 2011

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Motorola Droid 3 leaks out in tutorial vids, confirms 8MP camera and 1080p recordings (video)

Posted: 05 Jun 2011 10:33 AM PDT


Verizon and Motorola have kept a tighter lid on the Droid 3 than many recent smartphones we've seen, but a nice big leak just sprang from the bottom of the pot -- startup gadget blog PhonePads obtained three tutorial videos of the five-row QWERTY slider strutting its stuff. While there's no discussion of any dual-core silicon, there is indeed an 8 megapixel camera on board, which is apparently capable of 1080p HD video recordings. Other changes include what seem to be a pair of volume keys on the right edge (instead of the usual rocker), the apparent lack of a dedicated camera button, and both micro-USB and mini-HDMI on the left edge in the Droid X2 configuration. You'll apparently still get your Swype virtual keyboard, but it's hard to say what version of Android the handset will include -- Verizon clearly states "Software Shown Not Final" on every single video. Find more footage after the break.



Gigabyte Z68XP-UD3-iSSD motherboard eyes-on

Posted: 05 Jun 2011 10:03 AM PDT

We're not normally all that stoked with motherboards, but Gigabyte's awkwardly named Z68XP-UD3-iSSD just about got our attention at Computex. The highlight here is the Intel 20GB SLC SSD latched onto the board's mSATA slot, which is right next to the LGA1155 CPU socket and the four DDR3 RAM slots (together supporting up to 32GB). Alas, Gigabyte says it won't be offering upgrade options for the SSD, though there are certainly alternatives out there in the wild if you dare to venture. But if none of this interests you, then there's always our multi-screen Angry Birds hands-on video after the break.

Droid X2 review

Posted: 05 Jun 2011 09:00 AM PDT

Would a Droid X by any other name smell as sweet? When we reviewed that phone last year we found it to be a solid performer in a solid chassis. In short: a very good phone. Now it's back with a new name, or a revised one at least, the Motorola Droid X2 offering the same basic design as its predecessor but packing a lot more heat on the inside -- a dual-core dose of Tegra 2, to be specific. Will it tickle your olfactory sensors just like the first X?

Hardware


Out of the box there's not a lot to differentiate the X2 from its postscript-free predecessor. In fact, little has changed from a design standpoint, so we won't be delving quite as deep here as we did with the first X. There's much the same sleek, slim design that's thin for most of the chassis, fattening up at the top to make room for what appears to be the same 8 megapixel sensor with dual-LED flash. This protrusion makes the whole thing a bit top-heavy and a stubborn occupant of your skinny jeans if you try to shove it in head-first, but that bit of extra junk is the only bit of flab on what is otherwise a trim handset.

At its thickest, the top, it's 9.99mm (0.39-inches). Its 65.5mm width and 127.5mm height (5- x 2.5-inches) make room for a big, bright 4.3-inch LCD up front that's moved up to qHD since the X -- an impressive 960 x 540 resolution. Viewing angles are extremely good as is contrast, making this one of the best displays we've yet seen on a handset. It doesn't quite have that look of the Super AMOLED Plus displays Samsung has been packing on phones like the Galaxy S II or the Infuse 4G, but its brightness, contrast, color reproduction, and most importantly resolution make it a very strong contender.

Situated beneath the bottom bezel are the same four physical buttons found on the original Droid X -- a nice touch but still a bit skinny and still a bit hard to press without really giving 'em a good squeeze. As on the original X that's not necessarily a bad thing, but it's certainly an unfamiliar feel if you're used to accidentally dropping to your home screen with a wayward stroke from your thumb.


On the bottom of the left side a mini-USB and micro-HDMI port are nestled, the latter curiously situated a few fractions of a millimeter lower than the former. Details. Unfortunately a swapped orientation on these takes any hopes of compatibility with the Atrix dock and throws it out the window. Up top the 3.5mm headphone jack is offset to the left, and a shiny lock / power button is situated in the middle. The right side has only a chrome volume rocker while the bottom has, well, nothing -- just the slightest hint of a chin.

Like before, the battery cover is firmly held in place by an asymmetrical series of clasps that fit into an asymmetrical series of grooves. The 1,500mAh battery requires a good tug to extract from its cubby, showing the tight tolerances at play here. An 8GB microSD can then be slipped out, and if that seems a bit paltry in these days of the 32GB chips offered in phones like the Charge, well, it is. But, an additional 4GB of user-accessible storage lies within the phone, meaning you really have 12GB here to play with. Plus, there's roughly another 1.5GB in there for apps and such.

One thing you won't find under the back cover is a slot for a SIM card. That is, of course, because this is a strictly 3G phone in an increasingly LTE world.

Performance and battery life


The 2 in X2 of course stands for the second processor core that's been tucked away inside here, Tegra 2 running at 1GHz. As a pair those cores deliver solid performance, starting with a quick boot and extending all the way through every task you can throw at it in today's Android ecosystem. It's definitely a powerhouse, evidenced by its benchmark scores. Neocore delivered 54.6, Linpack 36.229 MFLOPS, Quadrant 2,509, and SunSpider completed in just a hair over 4,000ms. Impressive numbers.

Despite that performance the phone offers respectable battery life. It's not great, not matching the Droid Charge or the Infuse (which, admittedly, are packing bigger cells), but the lack of LTE here means this phone should get you through a full day of typical usage. We made it through one earthly revolution and well into a second of casual e-mail and surfing usage before running for an AC outlet, but if boot up Google Nav and get some Google Music streaming in the background and you'll quickly be reaching for that car charger, as with every Android handset.

GPS performance, however, is quite good. The phone locked on to our location in seconds and refused to let it go, and kept a solid wireless connection whenever such a connection was available. Oh, and how is it as a phone? Again quite good. The earpiece speaker is loud and clear, as is the speakerphone built into the back.

Camera


We're not seeing any major differences in the camera hardware here since the original Droid X, so much of what we saw before still applies here. Images are a bit under-exposed at times but overall quality is quite good, and the triple-mic setup delivers great audio for video shooting. Curiously, though, recording still tops out at 720p despite the considerably improved pixel-pushing hardware on offer, and Motorola sadly chose to do away with the two-stage dedicated camera button. A shame for shutter bugs.


Software


The Droid X2 ships with Android 2.2.2 installed, but it has of course been customized by Motorola. Frankly, though, we found most customizations to be good ones. There's no heavy Blur applied to the experience, and you won't have to log in separately as in previous Moto phones. The Swype keyboard is pre-installed, but the customized multi-touch keyboard is still quite good, offering reliable predictions of what you meant to type and what your next word might be as well.

Text selection is made easy with an iOS-style popup magnifying glass, while Moto provides plenty of attractive widgets for getting the forecast, enabling the phone's various radios, and controlling media playback.

There are of course a suite of applications pre-installed that you'll have whether you want them or not. Many apps are mostly unwanted, like the ubiquitous Lets Golf 2. Some apps will be wanted by some, like NFL Mobile and Best Buy, and some are actually quite useful, like Quickoffice and Verizon's Backup Assistant. Thankfully it's not quite the onslaught of crapware we've seen with devices like the Charge or more recently the Incredible 2, and we had no problem uninstalling most of them. That said, if you're feeling noncommittal you can use the customized applications list to create a group of the apps you actually use and set the phone to display only those, hiding the whole big mess. Out of sight, out of mind, right?

Wrap-up


The $200 Droid X2 is definitely a worthy successor to the Droid X name. The design still cuts a striking profile and of course the new dual-core processor won't leave you wanting. However, the lack of LTE connectivity just might. Sure, Verizon hasn't exactly managed to get us locked in coast-to-coast with its flavor of 4G, but enough places are already online to make LTE compatibility a desirable feature. That the X2 doesn't have it has to be seen as a shortcoming.

Still, with the X2 you're getting a slim phone with good battery life and extremely good build quality. For now, it's the best Android handset on Verizon for those who aren't quite ready to commit to the fourth G.

Myriam Joire contributed to this review.

Lenovo's IdeaPad U300S flaunts its trim frame at Computex

Posted: 05 Jun 2011 08:11 AM PDT


So-called Ultrabooks were all the rage at Computex 2011, and ASUS, LG and Compal weren't the only ones to stake a claim -- this Lenovo IdeaPad U300S is another contender in the ultra-thin, sub-$1,000 notebook game. Though we hear that Lenovo wasn't disclosing exact specs or availability at the show, the company's reportedly upgraded the slick IdeaPad U260 design with Sandy Bridge chips and a 13.3-inch screen, and put the already-trim unibody laptop on a diet to attain supermodel measurements. Here's hoping the engineers also improved that three-hour battery life too, eh?

[Thanks, Sam]

Red HTC Inspire 4G now available exclusively at Radio Shack

Posted: 05 Jun 2011 07:09 AM PDT

We'd already had some indication that AT&T would soon let Radio Shack offer an exclusive red version of the HTC Inspire 4G, and that's now been made official (and available). As you can see above, you can snag the phone for $29.99 on a two-year AT&T contract (or $550 off-contract), which will buy you a 4.3-inch WVGA display, a 1GHz Snapdragon processor, an 8 megapixel camera with an LED flash, and Android 2.2 with Sense -- there's still no word on a Gingerbread upgrade for this one. Of course, Radio Shack will also sell you a black one for the same price, but we're pretty sure the red one's faster.

[Thanks, James]

Motorola Xoom hits 1.7GHz, teeters on the edge of oblivion

Posted: 05 Jun 2011 05:06 AM PDT

Just when we thought the Motorola Xoom had hit its stride at a blazing 1.504 billion operations cycles per second, the trusty Tiamat kernel has strapped on an veritable afterburner capable of 1.7GHz. What happens when your shaking hands flip that switch and give that Tegra 2 all the jet fuel it can take? Well, anecdotal cases from the XDA-developers forums suggest it'll probably just reboot anticlimactically. If you're lucky enough to have the magic silicon, however, you'll be treated to a benchmark-blitzing rig, reportedly capable of 70 MFLOPS in Linpack, 1480ms runs in SunSpider, and Quadrant scores approaching a smooth 5,000. See just how far that rainbow benchmark bar can stretch in a screencap after the break.

Update: There's a jolly discussion in comments about whether gigahertz can be directly translated to operations per second in the case of the Tegra 2 -- we'll err on the side of caution and say cycles per second instead.


Dual-armed Teutonic robot plays pool, carefully learns to hustle foolish humans

Posted: 05 Jun 2011 02:09 AM PDT

Sure, we've created interactive pool tables and digitally assisted billiards, but isn't it time we completely outsourced our pool-playing to brutally efficient robots? The Germans obviously think so, using this year's International Conference on Robotics and Automation to debut a dual-armed poolbot able to make "easier" shots about 80 percent of the time. Those misses sound a bit like hustling to us, and unlike Willow Garage's friendly PR2 robot, the German version has a suitably intimidating, industrial look. It's also a bit of a cheat, using an overhead camera to plan its shots. For the full lowdown on this shark, check the video after the break.


Newest Kinect hack: a grocery cart that loyally follows disabled shoppers (video)

Posted: 04 Jun 2011 11:10 PM PDT


Microsoft's Kinect is the gift that keeps on giving for hackers, spawning everything from glasses-free teleconferencing to Tesla coil manipulation to uh, well, Android dance parties. But Luis de Matos's wi-Go project is one of the most socially conscious we've seen: it adds a laptop and (despite its name) a Kinect to a shopping cart, enabling the cart to follow a wheelchair user. Improving on the B.O.S.S. bot we saw a half-decade ago, the wi-Go could allow anyone -- including the disabled or elderly -- to shop independently, regardless of physical capability. De Matos doesn't offer many technical details, but see the video above for a before-and-after demonstration.

Ask Engadget: should I get a 7-, 8.9- or 10-inch tablet?

Posted: 04 Jun 2011 08:59 PM PDT

We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget inquiry is coming to us from Johan, who can't seem to determine which size is sizable enough. If you're looking to send in an inquiry of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com.

"I'm in the market for a tablet, mostly for content consumption but also for checking emails and being somewhat productive when I feel like it. I've never owned one before, so I'm wondering what size is best. I could get a 7-inch, 8.9-inch or 10-inch tablet -- I'm more concerned with the size than the OS, frankly. I need it to be portable, yet still feel "bigger" than my Droid X. Any opinions from those that have used multiple sizes? Thanks!"

A great question. There's obviously pros and cons to each of those sizes, and your options are certainly constricted down at the 7-inch end. That said, the now-discounted Galaxy Tab and the still-growing BlackBerry PlayBook would fit the 7-inch bill, and the choices spread out significantly when creeping up to 10-inches. So, what say you?

Sony's dual-screen S2 tablet hits the FCC, boasting AT&T-ready cellular frequencies

Posted: 04 Jun 2011 08:01 PM PDT

Regardless of how you might feel about the potential dangers of electromagnetic radiation, it came in mighty handy today -- identifying this brand-new Sony S2 tablet headed to the USA. The FCC recently got a glimpse at Sir Howard's dual-screen Honeycomb clamshell, and thanks to the public portion of their reports, we've got some crucial specs: the Sony "SGPT211US" will sport 2.4GHz 802.11 b/g/n WiFi, Bluetooth, and most tellingly, 850MHz and 1900MHz 3G bands suggesting a launch on AT&T. Now, those frequencies are certainly also used by several prominent Canadian carriers, but it just so happens that this particular model tested is a US variant -- with others designated for Canada and Japan -- and this particular cellular module is the Ericsson F5521gw, which means we could even be looking at 21Mbps HSPA+ speeds. Before you start speculating, however, there's one more crucial spec to share: the prototypes apparently have a removable 3080mAh lithium-ion battery pack. Swell.

Mad Catz' exclusive Xbox 360 wireless headphones revealed: integrated voice chat, 5.8GHz base station

Posted: 04 Jun 2011 07:08 PM PDT

Remember how Mad Catz scored the exclusive rights to produce Xbox 360 wireless headphones? Here's the deal: these cans don't need to be tethered to your controller for voice chat or plugged into a wall to charge. According to IGN, the new Mad Catz Warhead 7.1 will get everything it needs from a base station connected to your console. String USB and optical cables directly from the Xbox 360 to that tiny tower above, and you'll reportedly get enough 5.8GHz bandwidth to deliver virtual Dolby surround sound to four pairs of headphones at once -- plus wireless Xbox LIVE audio chat thanks to some native support from Microsoft. What's more, the USB base station will also give you an on-screen battery readout, and if the Warhead runs out of juice, you'll find a second swappable battery pack sitting in the base station's charger. If that sounds too rich for your blood, the Devastator will ditch the surround sound and rechargeable batteries while retaining the same connectivity and 50mm drivers of its premium brother. How much that'll cost you is still to be determined, though Mad Catz told IGN they'll all ring up under $300 this holiday.

Batarang controllers to be thrown at E3, come back in October

Posted: 04 Jun 2011 06:02 PM PDT

Batarang controllers to be thrown at E3, come back in October
If multiple batmobiles, a bat-usb stick, and a bat-puter aren't enough to convince you Bruce Wayne is a vain egomaniac, maybe these Batman: Arkham City batarang controllers will give you pause. In traditional bat-gadget fashion, these Xbox 360 and Ps3 controllers boast a cheesy bat-aesthetic (such as bat-start and select / back buttons), dual rumble motors, comfort-soft grips, and seven switchable splashes of LED color. Although physically the two controllers are pretty similar, Ol' Bats seems to favor the PlayStation 3, giving its controller not only the popular Xbox 360 button / analog layout, but an internal battery, detachable charging cable, and batman-themed USB RF receiver, to boot. The Xbox variant? A dated, wired affair -- but hey, at least it's got that Xbox guide button, right? The controllers will be on display next week at E3, courtesy of Power-A, and will hit store shelves when Batman: Arkham City ships in October, leaving you little excuse not to be geared up and ready when the bat-phone rings. Hit the break for the official press release... or, you know, have Robin do it for you.
Show full PR text
Fight Crime in Batman: Arkham City This Fall with the Batarang Controller from POWER A

Batarang Controller for PLAYSTATION® 3 and Xbox 360® to Debut at E3 EXPO June 7-9 in Los Angeles

E3 Expo 2011
June 03, 2011 09:03 AM Eastern Daylight Time

LOS ANGELES--(EON: Enhanced Online News)--E3 EXPO, Booth #5522 West Hall -- POWER A today announced it will debut official Batarang controllers for Batman Arkham City at the E3 Expo June 7-9 in Los Angeles. Developed by Rocksteady Studios and based on DC Comics' core Batman property, Batman: Arkham City is published worldwide by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. Batman fans will revel in the authenticity of the design of the Batarang, while gamers will appreciate the comfort and performance that POWER A brings to these one-of-a-kind controllers. The Batarang controller for PLAYSTATION® 3 is wireless with reverse analog sticks and a Batman-themed USB RF receiver. The Batarang controller for Xbox 360® is a wired controller with a 10-foot / 3m inline release cable.

"POWER A understands the high quality standard that partnering with a legendary brand such as Batman demands," said John Moore, vice president of product development and marketing for POWER A. "We are committed to making the best possible controller to amplify the experience players have with Batman: Arkham City, and the Batarang does just that. It's not just a great Batman collectible, but a high-performance controller worthy of the Batman: Arkham City game."

The Batman: Arkham City Batarang controller will be available at key retailers in conjunction with the game's October 18, 2011 North American release date.

Reserve Power: Stand Off, Part 2

Posted: 04 Jun 2011 05:00 PM PDT

Ross Rubin contributes Reserve Power, a column focused on personal perspectives and products.


Last week's Reserve Power
introduced six handset stands for propping up your miniature movie theater. This week's column takes on a half-dozen more, names my favorites, and concludes with a chart detailing which phones fit which stands.

Movaic iZel ($20)
http://www.myizel.com/

In the world of handset stands, Peter Parker might be inclined to go for the Spiderpodium, but Batman would no doubt want to tuck the rugged, rubbery iZel into his utility belt. When in its flat travel position, the iZel's widebody profile looks like a bird or bat (particularly the black and gray version above). The "wings" – which include small locking pegs -- fold in to form the cradle of the device in one of two positions that are optimized for portrait mode or landscape mode for larger devices. A third sliding leg offers a nice array of tilt adjustments for different viewing heights. The iZel was one of the most capable stands tested, one of the few that could accommodate everything from the tiny HP Veer to a Motorola Xoom. Incidentally, if you pick up a few iZels, they can be used to play a pretty challenging game of Barrel of Monkeys.

Seskimo Crabble (£6 or $4 at thinkgeek.com)
http://www.seskimo.com/crabble

Hailiing from the UK and looking a bit like a miniature grappling hook, the small but mighty and very cheap Seskimo Crabble is a deceptively simple folding piece of plastic that looks like it could barely stand up by itself -- much less hold the weight of some of the largest smartphones on the market. Incredibly, it handled every phone thrown at it in portrait and landscape orientation, topping out at a 7" BlackBerry PlayBook in landscape mode. There's no adjustable angle, but it is so small and thin that it easily slips into a wallet's credit card pocket.



Lummi iStiki (£11.50)
http://www.lummi.co.uk/iStiki.html

Lumi's iStiki is a smooth operator, but only a smooth operator. The product consists of two stacked rotating cylinders that collectively resemble a tall marshmallow. On each cylinder is a suction cup. The iPhone sticks to one, while the other is affixed to surfaces such as glass tables, tiled walls, monitors, windshields and even some dashboard surfaces. As such, it's one of the best products to use with car navigation apps on the iPhone. It's also handy for sticking an iPhone or MiFi to a window to improve cellular reception in a mobile hotspot scenario. The backs of most other handsets did not stick very well, though interestingly, the iStiki also has a tripod screw hole on its bottom. This makes it more useful for capturing photos or video as the iStiki works well with the glass surfaces of many touchscreen handsets that use the screen as the viewfinder during recording sessions.
Tiko Fold ($10)
http://www.tikoproducts.com/

Simple and slim but with a relatively spacious back support, the Tiko Fold is a large rectangle with a small lip at the bottom. Pieces of its middle fold back to create a support that includes nine adjustable positions, the most prospective resting angles of any stand tested. Along with the iZel and bulkier but narrower 3feet, the Fold was the few pocketable stands of the lot that could handle an iPad and Xoom, although the prospect was a bit dicier when dealing with the higher center of gravity of those tablets in portrait orientation.

Visual Factor iCarpus ($13 at Amazon.com)
http://icarpus.com/

Right out of the box, the clever iCarpus can grab you... literally. Taking a different approach from stands that feature grooves or lips to form a resting surface, the iCarpus uses a spring design and a pair of jaws that stretch wide to cradle the sides of a device. It accommodate handsets even when in cases. Without its jaw unopened, it lies flat, and even doubles as a headphone wrap. The one potential disadvantage is that, in portrait orientations, the bottom of the device will touch the surface on which it's resting. The iCarpus can be ready to go faster than other stands that require setup. Its limited jaw reach can't accommodate even small tablets, but it was able to grasp the 4.5-inch Samsung Infuse.

In Your Face ($30)
http://www.theinyourface.com/

Because of its large size relative to the other stands, I didn't include the In Your Face as a contender for best pocketable phone stand. However, it's definitely worth considering for a few scenarios. Consisting of a phone clamp at one end and a spring-based grasp at the other end joined by a gooseneck extension, the In Your Face can grab on to a variety of surface edges to raise your handset and bring it closer to a comfortable viewing angle. It is also a great product to stabilize a phone for taking photos and videos, and for video chat. The company's Web site shows how it can be an aid for those in wheelchairs or who may face other challenges getting a handset to a comfortable level and the company is planning a variation that allows handsets to be suction-mounted to windows.

And the winners? For its versatility, amazing performance, brilliantly simple design, low price, and simply being the only stand tested that can fit into a credit card walllet pocket, the Seskimo Crabble emerged as my favorite. Among the larger pocketable stands, I liked the Movaic iZel and Tiko Fold best for their ability to tilt in increments and efficiently deal with large devices, with the nod going to the former. I also admired the Visual Factor iCarpus, which maintains a thin profile and can be used as a headphone wrap (although those who care mostly about fitting the iPhone should also be happy with the simpler iAngle).

The Breffo Spiderpodium may be able to put your handset in places other stands can't, but it's a bit too ungainly to carry everywhere. Finally, the elago M1 is a good choice for those who don't care much about portrait orientation and want something they can keep on their keys.

If you'd like to check out the spreadsheet in which I tracked which handsets worked with which stands, you can see it here.



Ross Rubin (@rossrubin) is executive director of industry analysis for consumer technology at market research and analysis firm The NPD Group. Views expressed in Reserve Power are his own.

Microsoft Wireless Desktop 2000 protects that sensitive area between your peripherals

Posted: 04 Jun 2011 04:04 PM PDT

Microsoft's new wireless keyboard-and-mouse duo aims to thwart keystroke spies with full AES 128-bit encryption on over-the-air data -- an improvement on older wireless models that have proven to be easy pickings for hacker-types. You can pick up the Wireless Desktop 2000 now for $40, but that won't buy you protection from more common threats like Shandong phishmongers, nor will it make up for security loopholes in your other peripherals. Speaking of which, are you still using that seemingly innocent USB coffee-cup warmer?

Windows logo planted on upcoming Apple Store in Germany (video)

Posted: 04 Jun 2011 03:05 PM PDT

Windows logo planted on upcoming Apple Store in Germany (video)
A quick glance at the above photo might have you believing that's the site of a Microsoft Store being constructed; actually, it's an Apple Store. Yesterday, in the Jungfernstieg section of Hamburg, Germany, a group going by the name of ".WAV Collective" apparently vandalized the soon-to-be Apple retail location. They casually went up to the building posing as a team of construction workers, cordoned off a work site, and proceeded to screw pre-made panels, forming a Windows logo, to the side of the store's black veil -- all in broad daylight. Looks like the old question of Mac vs. PC just got a bit more confusing over in Europe. Don't believe us? Have a look at the collective's own video recap of the events posted after the break.

[Thanks, Toni]

Mercedes-Benz completes hydrogen-powered F-Cell World Drive, but had to bring its own fuel

Posted: 04 Jun 2011 02:03 PM PDT

At January's Detroit Auto Show, Mercedes-Benz eagerly showed off its hydrogen-powered F-Cell car, vowing to prove the viability of fuel-cell vehicles by driving three of them around the world. And now, 18,641 total miles later, it's completed that circumnavigation, arriving safely home at the company's Stuttgart headquarters. Does this prove fuel-cells are ready for prime time? Well, the trip took 70 driving days to cover four continents, and the vehicles' range topped out at just over 400 miles -- in Kazahkstan. But M-B admits there are only 200 refilling stations worldwide; in most cases the F-Cells had to rely on a tag-along mobile refueling unit. The company hopes its demonstration will spur development in a refilling-station infrastructure: having a fuel-cell car you can't easily refuel must feel like owning a flying DeLorean in 1885. To get the full breakdown, see the Mercedes-Benz PR after the break.
Show full PR text
F-CELL World Drive
Mercedes-Benz F-CELL World Drive – the finale.

Successful finish: F-CELL World Drive reaches Stuttgart after circling the globe

- Three B-Class F-CELL drive more than 30,000 km around the world
- Impressive proof of everyday usability of fuel-cell technology
- Reliable operation even under tough conditions
- Initial impetus for establishing hydrogen infrastructure
- 90,000 km covered with zero emissions

The "Mercedes-Benz F-CELL World Drive" – the first round-the-world drive with fuel-cell vehicles - successfully concluded on schedule today in Stuttgart. After more than 30,000 kilometers, three Mercedes-Benz B-Class F-CELL vehicles with zero local emissions drive lines crossed the finish line in front of the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart. The hydrogen-powered B-Classes and their support vehicles set off from Stuttgart at the end of January on the occasion of the official 125th birthday of the automobile, and on their way have crossed through 14 countries on four continents.

"With the F-CELL World Drive we have shown, that the time for electric vehicles with fuel cell has come. Now the development of the infrastructure has to pick up speed," said Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Management and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars. "For only an adequate number of hydrogen fueling stations enables car drivers to benefit from the advantages of this technology: high range, short refueling times, zero emissions.

Hydrogen infrastructure challenge

Within the scope of the F-CELL World Drive, the Mercedes-Benz B-Class F-CELL was functioning as an ambassador for a new, zero-emissions auto-mobility of the future. At the same time, Mercedes-Benz was lobbying extensively for the establishment of a comprehensive network of hydrogen fueling stations – a crucial factor for the market success of this technology. So far, there are only approximately 200 fuel stations worldwide at which fuel cell vehicles can be refueled. According to expert calculations, a network of around 1,000 fixed fuel stations would be sufficient for basic nationwide coverage in Germany. A central aim of Mercedes-Benz is to see to it that, in future, drivers all over the world will be able to refuel with hydrogen – just as they do today with gasoline and diesel fuel.

The exclusive partner for hydrogen supply on the F-CELL World Drive was the Linde Group. Thanks to its hydrogen expertise and global presence, it was able to guarantee fuel supply throughout the entire world trip. A jointly developed mobile refueling unit based on a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter accompanied the tour – the only way to ensure fuel supply even on the most remote stretches.

Proof of the everyday usability of fuel-cell drive

During the F-CELL World Drive, Mercedes-Benz was able to provide an impressive demonstration of the qualities of its fuel cell vehicles in terms of performance and robustness. The World Drive vehicles drove not only in downtown areas, on country roads and lengthy stretches of highway, but also proved their capabilities driving on unfinished surfaces, for example on stages in Australia and China.

Even a no-fault accident in Kazakhstan was unable to stop the B-Class F-CELL. On the route from Almaty to Balkhash, the number-three B-Class F-CELL was rammed on its rear left fender. The rear axle and bumper of the fuel-cell car both sustained damage. However, the fuel cell vehicle was repaired in a nearby workshop and continued its way around the world. Only a small dent in the bodywork bears testament to this single incident.

Round the world with hydrogen – the tour in figures

Over a total of 70 driving days, participants in the F-CELL World Drive collected an abundance of travel notes documenting the multi-faceted aspects of the tour and, at the same time, underscoring the everyday usability of the fuel cell technology on board the B-Class F-CELL. The record distance of 648 kilometers, split between two stretches of more than 300 kilometers each, was covered on the drive from Almaty to Balkhash in Kazakhstan. Another likely record is the number of inhabitants in the places visited by the tour, ranging from no more than twenty in Balladonia, Australia, to an impressive 19 million in Shanghai, China. Due to the still insufficient hydrogen infrastructure, the mobile unit, which has been developed in cooperation with the Linde AG, was used around 130 times to refuel the B-Classes. Along the route, the B-Class F-CELL vehicles were also refueled in just a few minutes at two hydrogen fueling stations.

Mercedes-Benz long-distance drives – in the tracks of Bertha Benz

With the now historic F-CELL World Drive, the first round-the-world drive with fuel cell vehicles, Mercedes-Benz is adding to a long history of legendary long-distance drives. Examples include the first crossing of Africa in a car in 1909 and the longest diesel marathon - the "E-Class Experience" - run in 2006 over 14,000 kilometers from Paris to Beijing.

As far as its objective was concerned, the F-CELL World Drive has a direct connection to the world's very first long-distance drive – the pioneering endeavor of Bertha Benz, who, in 1888, completed the first cross-country drive with the Benz Patent-Motorwagen from Mannheim to Pforzheim. She faced in principle the same challenge as her successors with the B-Class F-CELL – she, too, could not exactly roll into the next fuel station and top up.

In the early days of the automobile, drivers had to buy their fuel from the pharmacy, which is why Bertha Benz stopped at the town pharmacy in Wiesloch. That was the only place she could acquire the light gasoline "ligroin" – which was actually intended for domestic use as a stain remover, but also worked as fuel. First gradually, then with increasing speed, the fuel station network expanded into the worldwide infrastructure we know today. That was a defining factor in the triumphant procession of the combustion-engine-powered automobile invented in 1886 by Daimler and Benz. With new drive systems the motto is: alternative drives need alternative infrastructures. In the case of the B-Class F-CELL, this means hydrogen fueling stations. It is for this reason that Mercedes-Benz, as the inventor of the automobile, together with partners from commerce and politics, is lobbying heavily for the establishment of a comprehensive infrastructure – both for electric cars with fuel cells and for those with battery-electric drive.

MobileNotifier dev snapped up by Apple to work on iOS framework?

Posted: 04 Jun 2011 01:04 PM PDT

We said that MobileNotifier unobtrusive notifications might be the single best reason to jailbreak your iOS device, and it sounds like Apple may agree -- Redmond Pie reports that lead developer Peter Hajas has been spirited away by the Cupertino computer company to work on iOS itself. Hajas wrote that he was taking a break from MobileNotifier, and some newfangled detective work dug up the rest -- a thinly-veiled reference to Steve Jobs, a tweet mentioning a California "fruit" company, and finally an alleged screenshot of Hajas' entry in Apple's employee database. We're feeling slightly bittersweet about the whole thing, to tell the truth, as while we'd rather not have to smash our iPhone chains, the notion that this is all happening now suggests we won't see greatly improved notifications in iOS 5, come Monday.

[Thanks, Jeff]

Eee Pad Transformer caught playing nice with PS3 controller (update: hands-on video)

Posted: 04 Jun 2011 12:09 PM PDT

Earlier this week the Eee Pad Transformer scored itself a sweet upgrade in the form of Android 3.1, and with it came USB host support. When we did our hands-on with the Honeycomb update we couldn't demo the feature because, well, the Xoom doesn't have any USB ports. But that Transformer keyboard dock has a pair of 2.0 jacks and someone was kind enough to post a YouTube vid of a PS3 controller and the ASUS tablet getting their game on. Theoretically, this should work with any USB gamepad, including those for the Xbox 360. The only drawback? You've got to be wired in -- no Bluetooth support here. Follow the break to see it in action and satisfy your Android-loving curiosity.

[Thanks, Ben]

Update: We managed to have a quick go on the same setup at Computex, and the tethered PS3 controller worked perfectly. Unsurprisingly though, we had no luck with the Bluetooth connection. Quick hands-on video after the break.



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