Inhabitat's Week in Green: turbines, rubber circuits, and cola-powered cars
We're happy to introduce The Week in Green, a new item from our friends at Inhabitat. Each week they'll recap the week's most interesting green developments and clean tech news for us. Welcome!
First off, design star Philippe Starck brought haute design to clean tech with two novel designs for home wind turbines. Starck's high-profile products have made him a household name, so we're interested to see if his latest creations kick off a trend towards "designer" wind power.
We were also impressed by researchers at Princeton University who recently found a way to integrate piezoelectric chips into flexible, durable rubber-based circuits. We've seen piezo power sources before, but applications for the new chips are sure to put bounce in your step: energy generating shoes, movement-powered microsurgical devices, and self-charging pacemakers are right around the corner.
Interest in green transportation is building as Florida rides high on the government's recently announced grants for high speed rail -- the sunshine state is set to blaze a trail with $1.25 billion in funding. And for those with a soda habit, Takara Tomy's cola-powered RC car is one sweet ride. The biobattery-powered car can convert any sugary liquid to energy, so pour in some Jolt and you're good to go.
Finally, love it or hate it -- the launch of Apple's iPad has dominated the newswires all week. While we appreciate the device's toxin-free, recyclable construction and impressive battery life, we have to ask: is it really green?
www.engadget.com/exclude/green anybody?
:)
@Jonathan K Kidding, btw.
@Jonathan K
Obviously, 'green' isn't even a tag.
@Jonathan K
This is the perfect example of why that stupid little link doesn't work. ENGADGET PUTS THE DAMN IPAD IN EVERY FREAKING ARTICLE!
Just stop. Let the iPad articles be iPad articles, and the others be what they were intended to be.
It's like you're fucking with us, Engadget. Just stop it. Your "solution" does no good, and to all the people who keep spamming that /exclude/ link: THE LINK! IT DOES NOTHING!
@Mike10010100
Does it really bother you THAT much? I don't get why people can't just overlook it. I couldn't care less about the iPad now that it's been unveiled, but I'm not having a panic attack every time I read the word. It's more annoying that so many people are getting so worked up about.
@Amatatomba
Believe me. One article doesn't get me riled up. But when EVERY ARTICLE has the iPad in it, that's when it becomes unbearable.
I mean, come on. First when people complained about so many iPad stories, Apple fanboys would post that link, and then say: "Shut up about it." But the link doesn't actually work. That's the worst part. I don't care for your product placement, Engadget. I will not buy an iPad.
@Jonathan K
iPad is bullshit, and so is aids
@Mike10010100
I think...Engadget...just learned to troll...
and judging by the comments and dichotomy of "highest ranked" and "voted down into oblivion" I'd say they're pretty damn good at it!
Troll of the year goes to Engadget! Though maybe I should wait for them to continue pumping stuff out for the next few weeks.
For everyone wondering why Engadget is putting ipad in every single article...
http://www.quantcast.com/engadget.com
New way to make money on the internet
1) create a blog
2) blog non-stop about iPad
3) ???
4) profit
@Mike10010100
For Engadget fairness , this article is written by Inhabitat.
@Jonathan K
Yep, and there's a good reason for that: what if next time they post about THIS?
http://www.inhabitat.com/2010/01/31/7-wacky-upcycled-circuit-board-accessories-including-a-pair-of-undies/
Since when are there posts by non-engadget editors? That's awesome, maybe you could replace all the editors with TUAW editors and nobody would notice.
@AndroidRokz
My thoughts exactly!
@KingJustin
They hadn't?
I'm not sure we need a weekly "green" article. Monthly, maybe.
I'm all for this so long as its not full of phony global warming propaganda. But I notice they just had to slip in the i-word. Gee, I hope this site isn't getting all "douchey" on us..
@psycros: No kidding. There is a difference between energy conservation with renewable resources and shoving an absolutely disgusting carbon tax down our throats.
Considering this is a gadget blog, I expect the former to be discussed more. Unless someone makes a point of sale terminal you use to pay your daily breathing carbon tax.
*goes on http://www.engadget.com/exclude/iPad/*
*looks at first article*
"oh boy, new article!!!"
reads first sentence
"ARE YOU ####### SERIOUS?!!!"
@Kamil R
i hope you realize how un-green the nexus one is...
see what i did there?
@glenskey
Quite.
@glenskey
Ha, I wonder how many emissions and toxic waste are emitted by the production of the iPad/Nexus-One? It took the sacrifice of five whales to complete this iPad, luckily it is now recyclable.
@Kamil R
So there I was when this really cool thing happened, you see this hot chick walked up to me and... but before that I was thinking about the iPad. You see it was in my head because of how paddish it is. And I was thinking about the scr..? What? Main story? Oh yeah, blah blah blah, iPad.
@Kamil R They have to be getting their lulz farking with us LOLing in tears over there.
@Kamil R
Blog trolling its own readers = time to remove from favourites.
Well, we already knew cola was about as good for human consumption as gasoline.
@Electromodo You do know engadget didn't write the article? Grow up and stop complaining.
Tell me something. You think anyone gives a shit about how their wind turbines look? This guy is seriously a joke.
@Jeff
Actually, if you knew what you were talking about at all you would know that looks is a MAJOR sticking point with many people, including HOA's and city/county commissions . So yes, looks might make a huge difference, as would one that runs extremely quiet.
@Jeff
You do know who he is, right? Mr. Stark makes Johnny Ives looks like a freshman in art school.
Personally, I thank him daily for the Method dish soap bottle design, and would kill my own mother for a pair of authentic Ghost chairs.
It looks like part of a jockstrap left over from a Gay Pride parade.
Finally! A totally iPad-free article... oh wait they managed to stick the word in there multiple times. So close!
So the iPad is Green huh. Thanks for sneaking that link in there Inhabitat whoever you are.
I at first didn't mind, and never really did mind that there were a lot of iPad articles. I mean, I understand that when there's a release of a new product, especially when that product has had years of rumors behind it, that there must be a bunch of articles. I find them all fine and not really a problem to read (except for maybe Gartenburg's article.)
Now I am starting to get annoyed because as many articles as you make on the iPad, the moment you start mentioning the iPad in an article which has absolutely nothing to do with the damn thing, that crosses the line. I wont use that "exclude" thing of yours because I feel like that would be silly to exclude a certain piece of technology on a tech blog but honestly, why here did you have to mention it?
@MeisterDon
iPad articles are sprayed across Engadgets pages like a metaphorical ejaculation of apple juice. Some articles are like large drops and some are like a fine mist, sprinkled all over the other (non-apple) articles.
No one likes getting ejaculate in their eyes but here it seems unavoidable. When we exclude apple posts the editors still manage to tap a few drops into our eyes via other random mentions.
All I have got from the last week is that most readers are disappointed with the device, most editors are disappointed with the device, and this site is trying to counteract its shortcomings by making in notorious and therefore popular. I would ask that the editors sheath themselves for a while and if they want to masturbate (metaphorically of course) over a device to take 5 minutes, go to the Engadget mens room with a picture of the iPad tucked under their arm, and (metaphorically of course) do it there rather than on the virgin pages of this fine blog. We are not all open mouthed fans ready to swallow our daily Apple communion; even if it IS rich in protein and vitamins.
Seriously, when I see the government supporting the "Green" movement, I can only feel, greatly concerned. All things mentioned, the only notable thing was the cola-powered RC but even then, you need to buy cola...
Someone needs to seriously re-create the water fuel cell. Long live Stanley Meyer...
Cola powered cars? Sounds like something Franky would make
@Luffy Lol, sure does.
VAWT .. FTW!
hmmm, Inhabitat site isn't loading for me...
It is loading for me now...
of course the iPad isn't 'green'. It's whole thing is creating a 'new category' of device - i.e. yet another lump of finite-resource-derived metal and plastic for people to tote around in order to feel like they're doing something cool over a latte...