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- Texas Instruments TI-83 Plus review
- OpCapita picks up GAME retail chain, plans to keep 333 stores open
- Atari Pong review (1976)
- April Fools' Day roundup: the big toys, the small toys and the cats
- Nokia 7110 review
- Qualcomm details Snapdragon S4-loaded Win8 notebooks further, will be lighter than Ultrabooks
- Screen Grabs: Vampire Diaries uses Galaxy Note to scratch out sinister signals
- World's slowest Linux computer, says 'Hello Wor...' (video)
- Weibo services 'punished' for Beijing coup rumors, comments temporarily disabled
- Ask Engadget: Best HD Camcorder for live shows?
- Mobile Miscellany: week of March 26th, 2012
- Engadget Mobile Podcast 132 - 03.31.2012
- BMW adds extra sportiness to its i-series lineup, unveils i8 Concept Spyder
| Texas Instruments TI-83 Plus review Posted: 01 Apr 2012 11:13 AM PDT  |
| OpCapita picks up GAME retail chain, plans to keep 333 stores open Posted: 01 Apr 2012 10:42 AM PDT  |
| Posted: 01 Apr 2012 09:19 AM PDT  Back in 1976, of course, things were a bit different. Pong was the height of at-home multiplayer gaming. Two dials, one button and one switch is all you had, and with your opponent sitting in extremely close proximity to you, chances are most of the heckling would be the good-natured variety. It is a vastly simplified experience versus what we have today, but in some ways a vastly superior one. Click on through to see why. Hardware Stepping back in time 36 years, one would expect for things to be rather simpler than they are today, and in that regard this Atari-made Pong console does not disappoint. New, it cost just under $100 (enough to buy an Xbox 360 and a Nintendo Wii by today's dollars), but the bargain-hunting first owner of the unit we reviewed paid just $79.95, according to the price tag that's still stuck on here. This is actually the second-generation of Pong hardware made available to consumers (aka Home Pong or the C-100), though the first iteration, released in 1975, was sold exclusively through Sears Sporting Goods. It was labeled Tele-Games Pong. Other than different colored plastics and labeling, the two units are identical. And what color are the plastics? As would become something of a trademark for Atari, this edition of Pong sports a brown and black color combination that clearly establishes its pedigree as a '70s icon. It sits up on a large base of black plastic, elevating it up off of a table or lap while a little rubber nub at each corner keeps the whole unit from sliding around too much in frantic two-player matches. It's only the very top that's actually brown, slightly lighter plastics capping and wrapping around the black. There's no faux-woodgrain here (as would later make an appearance on consoles like the Atari 2600) but parts of this system have been inspired by another organic surface: leather. No, there isn't any actual hide (nor pleather for that matter), but the black plastic on the left and right sides of the top has a distinctive texture obviously imitating something that came off of a cow and went through a tannery.  It's these two raised panels that present the most important aspects of this console: the dual knobs. These are the only real controls the system has, and naturally the only real controls the game needs. Each knob is made of cheap, hard plastic, a surface that will chafe against the hands of younger gamers whose digits have known nothing but high-quality polymers and soft-touch coatings. Even so, the plastic burrs left on the edges from the injection molding process that nobody bothered to file off are a strong indicator that this thing was made to a cost. Another hint is the bargain-basement switchgear. The power toggle is a big, mushy switch that oozes from side to side without positively engaging on either side. Next to it is an exposed metal button that is kindly labeled "PUSH START GAME." It is, we have learned, impossible to read the label on this button without slipping into a Frankenstein-like accent. And that's it for controls, but there is one port on the back. It looks like a headphone jack but we wouldn't recommend slotting your new Lou Reed Signature Edition buds in here. This is actually where the power brick connects to the console -- if you opted to buy one. Yes, the power brick was optional, juice by default coming from four D-cell batteries that rest in the bottom and give this thing an impressive heft that its flimsy plastics could never hope to deliver.  The last detail here is the solitary tail threaded out from the top of the unit. The single coax connector is all you need to connect this to your television of choice -- which hopefully still has a coax input. That said, if you're going really retro Atari supplies, a twin-lead RF adapter with the manual GAME / TV switch that readers of a certain age will fondly remember forgetting to flip back after lengthy gaming sessions, leading to confusion the next time someone wanted to watch TV. There's no separate audio output because all the various bleeps and bloops are generated by the console itself, coming from a speaker beneath the Atari logo. The Pong packaging helpfully clarifies that this can be attached to any size television, whether color or black and white. Trust us when we say it's better in color. Gameplay "Whoa" is a word you're likely to utter the first time you flip that power switch on a Pong console. That is, of course, assuming you turned on the TV first. You're presented with a rainbow of blocks that flow across the screen in unison, gradually shifting hue as they go. It's a surprisingly psychedelic, trippy effect that those in an altered state could probably stare at for hours. To start the game, you press the obvious button and away you go. There's no need to select the number of players because only two are supported. Though, as a fun fact, the owner's manual suggests a "Solitaire" mode described as a way to "sharpen your game or just have fun playing Pong by yourself." In fact there is no separate mode, it's just you manning both dials and trying to keep the ball from going off either side of the screen. Yes, this is the "forever alone" gameplay mode, and while it is far from compelling, it is at least an incredibly effective way to verify that your chosen dominant hand is, indeed, your dominant hand. Pong, then, is best served as a multiplayer game, one that you'll want to play against friends with whom you won't mind sitting in close proximity, since we're still a few years away from a console with proper remote controls. The two knobs are positioned just seven inches apart and, if both players are right-handed, you're going to have to get a bit cozy. Start a new game and, after a few seconds, the ball (which is, of course, square) starts moving from one side to the next. The goal is to hit the ball with the paddle on your side (which is, of course, rectangular) and send it back toward the opponent. If you manage to hit the ball in the center of your paddle it'll travel straight. Catch it on either the top or the bottom and it'll careen off at an angle. Excitingly, after a few hits, the speed increases dramatically. Should you miss the ball, your opponent scores a single point, with the winner being the first to manage 15. There are no complex rules about service to win or having to best your opponent by two points. First to 15 takes home the prize, and that prize is the exact same display of dancing blocks that you get when you turn the system on. There isn't really much of a prize, then. Indeed, we could spend the next few paragraphs talking about what this game lacks (high scores, gameplay modes, background music, lengthy single-player campaign with multiple endings and numerous NPCs with whom you can have physical relations) but we will instead talk about what this game has, and that is fun factor. Yes, Pong is fun. Shockingly so. We've played dozens of versions of the same basic theme, including various single-player brick-breaking derivatives, many of which were far flashier than what we have here. But that doesn't change the fact that batting a cube back and forth over a dotted line (the net, according to the manual) is properly entertaining. It doesn't matter that the game can be learned in five seconds flat and mastered about a minute later. A round-robin tournament of friends here could rank right up there with a four-player match of GoldenEye -- and you won't have to worry about whether your buds are peeking at your corner of the screen. Wrap-up  Of course, you'll probably get bored with it in about 15 minutes and go back to fragging foes and grinding your way to your next Prestige, but that quarter of an hour even the most ADD-afflicted gamer mind will have a blast. And trust us, if you pull an original Pong console out at a party, people will remember. |
| April Fools' Day roundup: the big toys, the small toys and the cats Posted: 01 Apr 2012 09:00 AM PDT  [Thanks to everyone who sent these in]  Let's get Google out of the way first, eh? First up is Google Racing, a partnership with NASCAR to bring autonomous driving to the racetrack, which is good news for racing drivers who need a nap or even an extra long vacation! Just to prove that the technology works, Google even threw in its very own Sergey Brin to do a few hands-free donuts -- see him in action on NASCAR's video page. Next up we have Gmail Tap, a cunning input method that replaces the keyboard's 26 tiny alphabet keys with just two big buttons: a dot and a dash. Once you're fluent in Morse code you can pretty much tap away your message without even looking at the screen, nor would you need to worry about hitting the wrong key. Power users can even try the multi-email mode where they use a second Tap pad at the top to simultaneously compose a different message -- see for yourself in the video above. Alright, now it's YouTube's turn. The YouTube Collection is pretty much a DVD subscription service for YouTube clips, and you can even fill out a comment form accompanied by either a thumbs-up or a thumbs-down, which will then get sent directly to the creators of the corresponding clips. Almost there. The final big one from Google is the Chrome Multitask Mode. As the name suggests, this lets you use more than one mouse to control multiple windows in Chrome -- just make sure that the cursors don't get too close to each other, as you'll see why in the video. Of course, Google wouldn't just walk away without leaving you some Easter eggs on its website. For instance, if you perform a search on Google.com (and strictly the .com version only), you'll notice an extra option in the time range, including "Tomorrow," "The Gilded Age," "Jurassic Era," "Cretaceous Era," "Victorian Era" and a few others. If you still want more Google, our good friends over at The Next Web's already done a fantastic job at rounding up all of the pranks from Mountain View, so do check them out.  Is that an O2 On & On smartphone in your pocket, or are you just very happy? In addition to its 1.2GHz processor, 3.5-inch LCD and eigh-megapixel camera, this Ice Cream Sandwich brick also packs a battery that'll give you 1,000 hours of talk time or 92 days of standby time. Just think of how many times you can beat Angry Birds over and over again. Some like it big, but some like it small. The folks over at Sony have announced the VAIO Q Ultrabook, a 3.66GHz quad-core Core i9 machine at "the size of a quarter" yet it also packs 8GB of RAM, two 128GB SSDs with RAID 0, and an AMD Radeon HD 6650M graphics card to drive that 1.25" x 0.75" 1080p 3D display ("LiveView" magnifying glass available in Q4). Yeah, we're totally sold. More accessories in the video above.  We all know how much of an ambitious adventurer Sir Richard Branson is, but the center of the Earth is the last place we'd expect him to journey into. What we have here is the Virgin Volcanic VVS1, a drill-like vehicle that can take up to three "volcanauts" through the hot magma from any active volcano. Said service launches in 2015 and will cost you a mere $1 million deposit to reserve a seat (not sure how that translates to the new Branson currency). Sir Richard's thoughts on this project? "What can I say, I lava challenge!" [via SlashGear and VentureBeat] Razer's just announced the SnakeEyes, a wearable HUD that identifies people's gaming skills and speech as you look at them. But also, the gear's very much a nanny to help a nerd become more of a human -- specifically, it can identify foods as well as reminding him or her the daily real-life tasks. The product page does a better job than the video at explaining all this, so be sure to take a took there as well.  ThinkGeek's at it again! First we have the Electronic Hungry Hungry Hippos for iPad. Well, it's pretty much just an add-on combined with the classic game in app form (which is already optimized for the Retina Display), which will soon be followed by Hungry Hungry Hippos: Space! Not bad for $29.99.  Ah, another iPad-related The last one from ThinkGeek is this Technomancer Digital Wizard Hoodie. Just think LEDs, motion-sensing and a wizard-like costume. Watch the video to see how the different "spells" are cast. And yes, we totally want one.  AdBlock for Chrome and Safari now features "CatBlock," which shows you pictures of cats over where ads normally are. The author of the extension is even offering to make a standalone version of CatBlock if he receives enough donation. Moog releases the $0.99 BASE pack for Animoog synthesizer on the iPad. BASE meaning "Biomimetically Augmented Synthesis Expansion," but really it's just a sound pack that's closely associated with our gastric activity. Just watch the video and you'll get it (but make sure your speakers aren't too loud).  Uh oh. Tiger Direct's getting ready to release the Kube X15, the world's first home mini-nuclear generator (and a pretty good-looking one, too). Even the starter pack's plutonium will keep you going for 50 years! And the smaller bits:
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| Posted: 01 Apr 2012 07:00 AM PDT  To say that Nokia's 7110 is an easy phone to review is something of an understatement. This is the first handset to ship running the company's Series 40 OS, but it also packs a dual-band GSM modem and a WAP browser. All of that is shoved into a handset no larger than your average candy bar. Of course, for all of its technical achievements, you're likely to be too busy focusing on its similarity to the customized Nokia 8110 used in The Matrix. The spring-loaded phone in the movie was merely the fever dream of art director Owen Paterson, albeit one that's now brought to life. But is its famous exterior a boon or a burden and does all that style detract from the substance? Pop a red pill and follow us down the rabbit hole for a closer look. Hardware The 141-gram device sits comfortably in your hand and is far stouter than a Galaxy S II. The only visible controls are two shoulder buttons and the Naviroller, a clickable scroll wheel. Beneath it is the spring-loaded keypad cover and mouthpiece, which snaps down into position when you receive a call. The display isn't touch-enabled -- you'll have to get used to a backlit keyboard with dedicated answer and end-call buttons. If you can't commit to a fixed input process, you'll be missing out on keys made of heavy duty rubber. At the head of the device is an infrared sensor, but forget about using it as an IR-blaster like the Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus, it's only designed to work with 6100-series handsets and compatible printers. A 14.4kbps modem is available for use, but be warned: it'll cost you a pretty penny to use it. There's also no WiFi or Bluetooth available on this handset, and the storage isn't expandable. What this phone has going for it, however, is durability: this unit was purchased on its 1999 release day 13 years ago. It was then used for three years non-stop, before being consigned to a box for a decade and yet, if you excuse some lint that refuses to come off, some dents in the bodywork and the now geriatric slide of the keyboard cover with its broken spring, it's nearly fully functional. Display You'll be spending your time staring into this high-contrast display with a resolution of 95 x 95 pixels. That translates into six lines of text, although it will render dynamic fonts with lowercase letters. The battery and signal indicators flank the screen. Don't expect to be viewing videos, because you'd be lucky to get a .GIF working on this. That said, it more than compensates for its shortcomings when used in bright sunlight. Under the midday sun, it'll make an iPhone 4 on full brightness look anemic compared to its minimalistic green and black setup. Software This handset is the first to run Nokia's Series 40. It's certainly less capable than MeeGo or Windows Phone. There's no app store, and its applications and web browser are basic, to say the least. What it does have in in its favor is speed: boot-up time takes around 12 seconds, and there's never any lag when flicking between its on-board applications. As there's very little else to use (not even the standard ringtone composer), you'll spend a lot of time playing games, but you'll find no Angry Birds here: just old favorites Snake 2, Rotation, Tennis and Reversi. Each are controllable with keys, but are much more fluid and enjoyable if you use the Naviroller, which is very accurate despite its limited technology. It's also used to enter text and cycle through lists, which makes it less immediate than a touchscreen, but also far less likely to engender mistakes. Wrap-up So, has history been kind to the 7110? From a hardware perspective, unequivocally, but even at the time, its software was severely limited. It straddled an awkward line, priced and aimed at business users and yet clad in a body that could only appeal to nerds. What impresses is that the flashy phone is still working today, something that probably wasn't expected at the time. There's also something intrinsically cool about answering calls with something more tangible than pressing some toughened glass -- those dents and chips are more like battle scars of a proud and noble phone, and if our smartphone died tomorrow, we'd have no qualms about taking this as a replacement -- which is surely the highest praise. |
| Qualcomm details Snapdragon S4-loaded Win8 notebooks further, will be lighter than Ultrabooks Posted: 01 Apr 2012 06:01 AM PDT  |
| Screen Grabs: Vampire Diaries uses Galaxy Note to scratch out sinister signals Posted: 01 Apr 2012 02:22 AM PDT Screen Grabs chronicles the uses (and misuses) of real-world gadgets in today's movies and TV. Send in your sightings (with screen grab!) to screengrabs at engadget dot com.  [Thanks, Mark] |
| World's slowest Linux computer, says 'Hello Wor...' (video) Posted: 31 Mar 2012 10:41 PM PDT  Evidently tired of smooth running graphics, lightning fast processing and bags and bags of available memory, programmer Dmitry Grinberg decided to go back to computing basics. And then some. As Linux was developed on a 32-bit machine with 1MB of RAM, this has always been considered the minimum system requirements to run the open source OS. Dmitry, however, put this theory to test, building a barebones set-up with just an 8-bit RISC microcontroller at its heart. Running at a somewhat sedentary 6.5KHz, with only 16KB of SRAM and 128KB of flash storage, these are specs that make most phones look like supercomputers. To get things working, Dmitry had to write an ARM emulator so that the system appeared as having a 32-bit processor with an MMU, and it looks like a 30-pin 16MB SIMM was added, plus as SD card to house the Ubuntu image. Despite all this, he was able to load Ubuntu successfully. Sure, it took four hours, and that's after two hours waiting for the bash command prompt, but hey. Grinberg claims that the system is still useable, with the command line typically responding "within a minute." So Dmitri, if you're reading this on the machine, happy new year! Check the time-lapse video after the break to see it in full, patience testing, action. |
| Weibo services 'punished' for Beijing coup rumors, comments temporarily disabled Posted: 31 Mar 2012 07:40 PM PDT  But of course, nothing actually happened. In fact, the guards at Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City were pretty relaxed when I visited on that very day. As for the rumormongers, the Chinese government announced through Xinhua that 16 websites have been shut down and six people have been detained, while local microblogging platforms Sina Weibo and Tencent Weibo have been "criticized and punished accordingly," though it didn't elaborate on the details. All we know is that comments under each weibo post are now disabled until local time 8pm on April 3rd, during which these two companies can, in their own words, clean up the mess. Well, at least we now know where to draw the line for China's April Fools'. |
| Ask Engadget: Best HD Camcorder for live shows? Posted: 31 Mar 2012 06:55 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 from is from Keith, who needs our help to become the next internet comedy sensation. If you're looking to send in an inquiry of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com.
The comedy clubs we've been in are rarely well lit, so we'll add that this camera has to have fantastic low light performance, which is going to increase the price by a hefty amount. Still, if you can think of a HD camcorder that can do the job -- and let's be honest, carving things out of stone would be better than a QuickCam Pro 9000 -- and is within the budget of a struggling artist then lob your suggestions into the river of comments below. |
| Mobile Miscellany: week of March 26th, 2012 Posted: 31 Mar 2012 06:04 PM PDT  Amazon Appstore updated to 2.3  If you prefer skirting the Play Store with Amazon's alternative, you may be glad to know that the Appstore's latest version now allows users to download applications up to 50MB in size over their mobile data connection -- a significant increase from the previous 20MB limitation. [Thanks, Drew] [Android Police] Signs of life: the Droid Bionic 2   Sprint Picture Mail, an online service once commonly used to retrieve and archive MMS messages, will be no more as of April 30th. Users must backup their data before this date, which will otherwise be obliterated like so many ones and zeroes before it. [Android Central] Nokia Reader comes to Series 40 handsets Nokia is making a big bet on its Series 40 feature phones being a hit in emerging markets, and in effort to bolster the platform's usefulness, it's now announcing the availability of Nokia Reader for users of the C2-02, X3-02, C3-01, Asha 300 and Asha 303. The app is currently in beta form, which offers notification integration and instant access to locally relevant content. Additionally, users can add their own news sources from an online directory. [Nokia Beta Labs] LTE goes live for AT&T users in St. Louis AT&T had previously tested its LTE network in the Gateway to the West last month, but now it's officially fired up its 4G service for all St. Louisan's to enjoy. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in] T-Mobile increasing Classic Unlimited 5GB and 10GB data pricing on April 4th  April 4th will bring a $5 increase to T-Mobile's promotional 5GB and 10GB data bundles. The price bump will bring the total respective cost to $35 and $65 for the subsidized plans. Users that'd signed up prior to this date will not be affected. [TmoNews] T-Mobile UK increasing current contract pricing by 3.7 percent A clause in the contracts of T-Mobile's UK customers currently allows the carrier to raise the prices of existing contracts in accordance with the British Retail Price Index. Now, T-Mobile UK has announced that it'll put this loophole into effect on May 9th for all customers that'd signed aboard prior to February 1st. Nearly all subscribers will see a 3.7 percent increase to their monthly phone bill, although Full Monty and You Fix customers won't be affected by the price increase. [The Verge] |
| Engadget Mobile Podcast 132 - 03.31.2012 Posted: 31 Mar 2012 04:40 PM PDT  Hosts: Myriam Joire (tnkgrl), Brad Molen, Joseph Volpe Guest: Andrew Munchbach Producer: Trent Wolbe Music: Tycho - Coastal Brake (Ghostly International) 00:01:48 - RIM announces Q4 2012 earnings, Jim Balsillie resigns from board, company plans to refocus on enterprise 00:04:30 - RIM CEO Thorsten Heins reportedly 'clearing house,' laying off numerous executives 00:10:00 - RIM sticking with consumer goods, just 'refocusing' on enterprise 00:18:55 - Android 4.0.4 rolls out to HSPA+ Galaxy Nexus and GSM Nexus S 00:40:47 - Samsung ships five million Galaxy Notes in just five months 00:54:04 - Conversion kit lets you push your RAZR to the Maxx for $110 00:55:30 - LG Lucid becomes official on Verizon, can be yours March 29th for $80 01:02:05 - Nano-SIM standard vote postponed while RIM accuses Apple of cheating 01:05:55 - T-Mobile's next MyTouch: Huawei Ascend G312 QWERTY hands-on 01:17:05 - Nokia Lumia 900 to hit AT&T on April 8th with $100 price tag in tow (video) 01:18:55 - AT&T confirms HTC Titan II to join Lumia 900 on April 8th for $200 (video) 01:33:37 - Samsung Galaxy S ICS-like 'value pack' upgrade officially released in Korea Hear the podcast Subscribe to the podcast [iTunes] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in iTunes [RSS MP3] Add the Engadget Mobile Podcast feed (in MP3) to your RSS aggregator and have the show delivered automatically [RSS AAC] Add the Engadget Mobile Podcast feed (in enhanced AAC) to your RSS aggregator [Zune] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in the Zune Marketplace Download the podcast LISTEN (MP3) LISTEN (AAC) Contact the podcast podcast (at) engadgetmobile (dot) com. Follow us on Twitter @tnkgrl @phonewisdom @engadgetmobile @jrvolpe @amunchbach This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| BMW adds extra sportiness to its i-series lineup, unveils i8 Concept Spyder Posted: 31 Mar 2012 03:00 PM PDT  We've swooned over BMW's i3 and i8 plug-in gasoline electric hybrids for some time now, so naturally our hearts raced today when the company announced its latest addition to the series, the i8 Concept Spyder. What you're looking at is essentially a sportier version of the i8 Coupe, with the appropriate accents and design tweaks to match. So, what's different in this variant of the nearly gull-winged wonder with a 96 kW / 131hp electric motor up front and 164 kW / 223hp gasoline engine on back? BMW notes that the vehicle features a shorter wheelbase and overall length (all while maintaining its 50-50 weight distribution), a slighter darker interior and refreshed paint job on its exterior, topless roof and even a pair of matching folded kickboards(!) that stow in the back. BMW hasn't mentioned when they'll be showing this Spyder in flesh, but as Autoblog notes, the New York Auto show is only a week way -- and we'll be sure to let you know if we spot it ourselves. In the meantime, you can zip over to Autoblog and the press release after the break for the details. BMW i8 Concept Spyder. The BMW i8 Concept Spyder with eDrive is an open-top two-seater embodying a form of personal mobility with equal sporting and emotional appeal. Under the banner of its sub-brand BMW i, the BMW Group is developing a range of purpose-built vehicle concepts and complementary mobility services which meet the changing needs of customers and redefine the understanding of personal mobility. As well as adopting intelligent technologies and innovative design, BMW i is pursuing an all-embracing approach defined to a significant degree by sustainability throughout the value chain. Following the presentation of the BMW i3 Concept and BMW i8 Concept, the BMW Group introduces the BMW i8 Concept Spyder to the mix. This third BMW i model embodies the future of cutting-edge and emotionally appealing mobility concepts. Its sporting design headlines the qualities of an open-top two-seater blending lightness, dynamic capability and efficiency with a very special aesthetic allure. The combination of intelligent lightweight design and state-of-the-art hybrid technology imbues the BMW i8 Concept Spyder with genuine sports car performance, yet its fuel consumption is no higher than you would expect from a small car. Among the most eye-catching features of the BMW i8 Concept Spyder are the upward-swivelling, windowless doors and a range of purpose-oriented on-board equipment including electric kickboards stowed under a transparent tailgate. The sports car is based around the innovative LifeDrive architecture, itself underpinned by a lightweight modular construction and the use of high-quality high-tech materials. The BMW i8 Concept Spyder is a plug-in hybrid powered by an eDrive drivetrain combining a high-performance electric motor and petrol combustion engine. The lithium-ion battery supplying the motor with power can be recharged in an extremely short space of time from any domestic power socket. Together, the car's minimised weight, low centre of gravity and finely judged balance, coupled with a combined system output of up to 260 kW (354 hp), promise unbeatable dynamic capability, exceptional efficiency and unbridled driving pleasure. Barely a year after the unveiling of the 2+2-seater BMW i8 Concept, BMW i is presenting the second variant of this innovative hybrid sports car, a machine designed to light up the path to compelling and purpose-oriented mobility. Like its Coupe sibling, the emotionally charged BMW i8 Concept Spyder combines intelligent lightweight design with the leading-edge drivetrain technology eDrive, while its open-top two-seater construction delivers an even more intense driving experience. This is a car in which outstanding performance potential goes hand-in-hand with extremely low fuel consumption and emissions. Compared with the Coupe variant of the BMW i8 Concept, the BMW i8 Concept Spyder has a slightly shorter wheelbase and overall length. With its compact dimensions and distinctive exterior paintwork, the sports car exudes a feeling of dynamism before it so much as turns a wheel, while striking features of its design include upward-swivelling, windowless doors and a transparent glass panel at the rear. Underneath this cover two electric kickboards are stowed, providing a visual showcase for the fun factor in mobility and adding another layer to the car's recreational appeal. Inside, a revised material and colour concept provides an extra dose of sportiness. Like the Coupe, the BMW i8 Concept Spyder with eDrive is a high-performance plug-in hybrid, and it fuses the specific advantages of an electric motor and combustion engine to optimum effect. Exceptional efficiency and dynamic capability are the upshot. Modular LifeDrive architecture offers a preview of the future. Like the Coupe, the BMW i8 Concept Spyder is also built around the innovative LifeDrive architecture, a fusion of independent functional units. For example, the carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) Life module gives the car an extremely lightweight passenger cell, while the Drive modules – made primarily from aluminium components – bring together all the car's operational driving functions, such as the powertrain, chassis and safety structure. Impressively extensive use of high-tech materials allows this innovative concept to chart new territory in terms of weight minimisation, structural rigidity and crash safety. This is good news not only for the car's dynamic performance, but also for its range and fuel economy. Intelligent lightweight design, encompassing the use of innovative materials, has allowed the unavoidable additional weight of the high-output hybrid drivetrain to be cancelled out in full. Plus, the LifeDrive architecture has been carefully adapted to the sports car character of the BMW i8 Concept Spyder. The front and rear axle modules are connected by an "energy tunnel", which houses the hybrid battery. This allows the engineers to give the car a low centre of gravity and ideal balance. The distinctive two-way split of the LifeDrive concept is also reflected in the car's design, which renders the basic elements of the body clearly distinguishable. Expressive surfaces and precise lines create a harmonious transition from one module into another. This overlap and interlocking of surfaces and lines – "layering" in BMW i speak – is displayed both on the body and in the interior of the new car. Latest interpretation of the BMW i design language. The BMW i8 Concept Spyder's emotion-led design vividly spotlights the car's qualities, with lightness, dynamic capability and efficiency highlighted to particularly prominent effect. For example, the two-seater embodies the perfect synthesis of technology and aesthetic appeal, and exudes unbridled driving pleasure even when stationary. Key to creating this impression of sporty dynamics are large body panels, a hunkered-down stance and numerous aerodynamic elements such as contact surfaces, spoiler lips, AirCurtains and aeroflaps. These features substantially reduce the hybrid car's Cd and enhance both efficiency and range. Dynamic front end. The front end offers a particularly revealing window into the open-top two-seater's dynamic talent. One defining element is the headlights with pioneering laser light technology, which follow the hallmark BMW i U-shaped design template. A semi-transparent "V" opens out from the front end of the flat bonnet towards the windscreen and beckons the eye to the electric motor below. A spoiler lip positioned on the windscreen frame guides the airflow over the heads of the passengers. And for journeys when the weather cannot quite be trusted, the planned two-section folding roof might well come in handy. Athletic silhouette. Short front and rear overhangs and a low-slung silhouette define the side view of the BMW i8 Concept Spyder and underline its athletic character. Alluring lines and forms generate a strong forward-surging stance even before the car powers off the line. The doors, which open by pivoting forwards around the A-pillar axis, further enhance the BMW i8 Concept Spyder's emotional impact. Below the doors, the side skirts create a powerful wedge shape which opens out towards the rear. At the same time, the open-top two-seater cuts a light and flowing figure and appears as if carved from a single mould. Striking rear. Like the front end, the rear also sits low to the road. Its headline feature is a transparent cover revealing the two folded electric kickboards accommodated below. Adopting the hallmarks of BMW i design, the kickboards are perfect for relaxed cruising along promenades and paths or around city squares. There can be few more attractive advertisements for individual mobility. A visually imposing rear diffuser, three-dimensional air outlets and the U-shaped rear lights give the BMW i8 Concept Spyder an extremely wide appearance and emphasise its sporting credentials. Functional aesthetics: layering in the interior. The interior of the BMW i8 Concept Spyder is defined by three levels showcasing its various functions. As with the car's body, the interlocking of surfaces and lines is also one of the stand-out features of the interior design. The outer layer frames the supporting structure, while the inner "comfort" layer comprises seat surfaces and stowage compartments. The cockpit fills the third "technical" layer, bringing together the instrument panel, steering column and steering wheel with the instrument cluster, central information display and control elements. The prominent driver focus of the cockpit and the low seating position, which adds further depth to the open-top two-seater's credibility, are particularly eye-catching. All the controls are in just the right position and, like the other functional components of the interior, designed to further enliven the driving experience. An 8.8-inch (22.4 cm) screen displays all the relevant driving information in three-dimensional, high-resolution quality. The colour and materials concept also provides some stand-out touches. The Spyder's interior is defined by a mixture of plastic, carbon and leather, with the off-white of the outer layer and the bold orange tone of the naturally tanned leather generating a sporting atmosphere rich in contrast. The cockpit and centre console also show slight modifications over the Coupe. The overall effect of the interior is one of quality, purity and emotional appeal. Plug-in hybrid: the perfect alliance of dynamic capability and efficiency. Like the Coupe, the BMW i8 Concept Spyder with eDrive is a plug-in hybrid combining two different power sources and employing the specific advantages of its electric motor and combustion engine to optimum effect. The hybrid drivetrain's key components gel together with outstanding smoothness, allowing it to offer peerless dynamic capability and maximum efficiency. In other words, the open-top two-seater produces the performance of an out-and-out sports machine yet posts the fuel economy of a small car. The 96 kW (131 hp) electric motor on the front axle works in tandem with a turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine sending 164 kW (223 hp) through the rear wheels. Both units are in-house BMW Group developments and generate an aggregate system output of 260 kW (354 hp) and peak torque of 550 Newton metres. That is enough to accelerate the BMW i8 Concept Spyder from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in five seconds on the way to an electronically governed top speed of 250 km/h (155 mph). Despite this performance, the two-seater burns just three litres of petrol per 100 kilometres (equivalent to fuel economy of 94 mpg imp) in the European test cycle. The electric motor sources its energy from a lithium-ion battery which can be fully charged from a domestic power socket in less than two hours. The high-output battery is located in the energy tunnel between the front and rear axle modules in order to keep the car's centre of gravity as low as possible – and therefore to maximise the car's dynamic performance. The space-saving and well-balanced packaging of this and other drive and chassis components gives the sporting two-seater ideal 50:50 weight distribution. With its battery fully charged, the BMW i8 Concept Spyder can cover up to 30 kilometres (19 miles) on electric power alone. As such, far from filling in as a bit-part player, the electric motor plays a role equal to that of the petrol engine. If required, a high-voltage alternator hooked up to the combustion engine generates extra power, which is then stored in the hybrid battery. This range-extending function during the course of a journey allows the two-seater to travel further between charging stations. Another special feature of the BMW i8 Concept Spyder is the ability to send power through the front, rear or all four wheels at the same time. Intelligent control electronics ensure that the optimum drive configuration is available for the situation at hand. The driver can view the driving mode currently engaged and monitor the activity of the two drive sources on the large information display in the cockpit. Furthermore, the electronic systems ensure maximum energy recuperation under braking or when coasting. All of which means that the driver can enjoy maximum dynamic performance, unbeatable directional stability and minimal consumption and emissions at all times. Connectivity: the perfect link between mobile living environments. BMW i sums up the idea of mobility geared to the demands of the future and the needs of its customers. To this end, BMW i drivers will have a new generation of driver assistance systems at their disposal which significantly enhance both safety and comfort. For example, the camera-based proactive Collision Warning system, Parking Assistant and Traffic Jam Assistant ensure all on board can enjoy a safe and relaxed journey. In addition, BMW i is developing an array of innovative connectivity functions which provide a seamless link between its models and their owners' lives outside the car. Remote functions accessed via a smartphone help users to locate their car in large car parks (CarFinder), show nearby charging stations, allow the battery to be charged at pre-set times and inform drivers on the current status of their vehicle. Plus, the battery and interior can be brought up to peak operating temperature before the driver sets off on a journey. The Last Mile Navigation function, meanwhile, assists drivers after they have parked their car, with route instructions transferred directly onto their smartphone directing them along the last leg of their journey on foot – to a museum or restaurant, for example. And the Intermodal Route Planning function effectively integrates the car into the local public transport network and provides information on current parking availability at the driver's destination. Interface design aids intelligent mobility. Two large displays inside the BMW i8 Concept Spyder make up the interface between the car, its passengers and the outside world. Positioned alongside the instrument cluster behind the steering wheel, the central information display flags up all relevant information and assists the driver in the use of connectivity applications. A third display shows the automatic climate control settings currently engaged. All the screens display their information in 3D, and the cutting-edge, visually appealing graphics are also impressively clear. Instrument cluster. The instrument cluster displays important driving data using two variable-form ellipses. Positioned alongside the digital speedometer, the efficiency display allows drivers to view how much energy they are currently using – or recovering through the recuperation process. Added to which, the display also contains extra navigation details and information on the car's range when running purely on electric power, its range when powered by the combustion engine alone and its range using both power units in tandem. If the driver switches to energy-saving ECO PRO mode, the display turns blue in colour to signal the shift in functional emphasis, and the ellipses now also vary in form. By the same token, moving into SPORT mode treats the driver to an emotional orange hue. As well as the changes in colour, the displays also provide information tailored to the driving mode selected and to assisting the driver as effectively as possible. Central information display. The central information display in the BMW i8 Concept Spyder makes a key contribution to intelligent mobility. It allows the driver to view the current status of the hybrid system, provides a platform for menu navigation and route guidance, and uses innovative connectivity functions to offer drivers a gateway into their lives outside the car. This ensures drivers remain up to speed at all times on how the combustion engine and electric motor are being used, while also being able to monitor the energy flow within the system. Forward-thinking analysis of the driving situation. The car's power electronics are linked up to intelligent navigation and traffic guidance systems to enable the hybrid drive system to work at maximum efficiency. In this way, information on route profile, speed limits and unavoidable traffic congestion are incorporated into the calculations of the energy management system so that the hybrid system's operating strategy can be adapted accordingly. For example, proactive charging of the hybrid battery allows the BMW i8 Concept Spyder to negotiate a traffic tailback on the road ahead using electric power alone – and therefore without producing any emissions. In addition, handy displays such as fuel consumption history allow interesting reflections on past journeys and help to optimise the driving style of the individual at the wheel. Perfectly prepared at all times thanks to diary synchronisation. Intelligent connectivity functions open the door to a host of other practical solutions when it comes to preparing the BMW i8 Concept Spyder for its daily workload. One example of this is automatic diary synchronisation with the driver's smartphone. The system registers upcoming appointments and, when plugged into a power socket, ensures that the battery is topped up overnight so that the car is ready for action with a fully charged battery the following morning. The BMW i concept. BMW i is about the development of visionary vehicles and mobility services, inspiring design, and a new premium perception strongly guided by sustainability. Under the banner of the young sub-brand, the BMW Group is developing purpose-built vehicle concepts which redefine the understanding of personal mobility. Key elements include groundbreaking technologies, intelligent lightweight design and the innovative use of materials, all with the aim of creating vehicles with extremely low weight, the greatest possible range, generous interior space, poised and authoritative driving characteristics, and exceptional safety. The BMW i8 Concept Spyder follows in the tyre tracks of the BMW i3 Concept and BMW i8 Concept Coupe as the third concept car created under the BMW i sub-brand. Sustainability plays a paramount role in the BMW i concept. It is an issue that runs like a thread throughout the value chain – all the way from purchasing, through development and production to sales and marketing. And when it comes to the efficient manufacturing of its vehicles, BMW i goes a step further still. The Leipzig production plant will see an additional 70 per cent reduction in water use and 50 per cent drop in energy consumption per vehicle over the years ahead. And the energy that is used will be sourced 100 per cent from renewable sources. Specifications: BMW i8 Concept Spyder Length/Height/Width: L 4480 mm, H 1208 mm, W 1922 mm Wheelbase: 2650 mm No. of seats: 2 Kerb weight: 1630 kg Top speed: 250 km/h (155 mph) electr. governed Acceleration: 0-100 km/h (62 mph) 5 s 80-120 km/h (50-75 mph) 4.0 s System output TwinPower Turbo engine: 260 kW / 550 Nm 164 kW / 300 Nm Fuel consumption (EU cycle): 3 l/100km / 94 mpg imp eDrive output electric motor: 96 kW electric range: approx. 27-30 km (17 – 19 miles) battery charge time: standard: 1.45 h for 100% charge approx. Luggage compartment: 100 litres |
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