Engadget http://www.engadget.com Engadget http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif Engadget http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Inhabitat's Week in Green: self-driving cars, solar parasols and the ultimate DIY Iron Man suit]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/13/self-driving-cars-solar-parasols-cardboard-iron-man/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/13/self-driving-cars-solar-parasols-cardboard-iron-man/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/13/self-driving-cars-solar-parasols-cardboard-iron-man/#comments Each week our friends at Inhabitat recap the week's most interesting green developments and clean tech news for us -- it's the Week in Green.

Image

What seems more futuristic: flying cars or self-driving cars? They both sound a bit like science fiction, but they're both getting closer to becoming a reality. In the latest chapter of Google's efforts to develop a car that uses video cameras, radar sensors and lasers to navigate through traffic, the state of Nevada just granted Google the world's first license for a computer-controlled, driverless Toyota Prius. Meanwhile, this week we also checked in on the PAL-V (which stands for "Personal Air and Land Vehicle"), a two-seat hybrid car and gyroplane that runs on gas, biodiesel or bio-ethanol. In other transportation news, the Texas Central Railroad floated a plan to build a $10-billion bullet train that would run between Houston and Fort Worth, and Toyota officially unveiled its second-generation 2012 RAV4 EV, which features a Tesla powertrain.

We also saw green technology cropping up in unexpected places this week, like the $1-billion ghost town that will be built on virgin desert land in Lea County, New Mexico to test emerging green technologies. Construction on the ghost town is set to begin in late June. Milwaukee native Bryan Cera invented Glove One, a 3D-printed glove that doubles as a cell phone. And in Tokyo, participants heaved 100,000 LED lights into the Sumida River as part of the 2012 Tokyo Hotaru Festival. Although it certainly looked cool, that's a lot of LED bulbs to literally dump in the river, and it raises some questions about e-waste. GE found a more practical use for LEDs, unveiling a new LED light bulb to replace the 100-watt incandescent.

Continue reading Inhabitat's Week in Green: self-driving cars, solar parasols and the ultimate DIY Iron Man suit

Inhabitat's Week in Green: self-driving cars, solar parasols and the ultimate DIY Iron Man suit originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 13 May 2012 21:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bacteriaBIGbio computersBioComputersCornellflying carFlyingCarfutureGEgooglegreeninhabitatinhabitatsweekingreenledmagnetsPAL VPalVscienceself driving carSelfDrivingCartechnologyteslathisweekingreentransportationSun, 13 May 2012 21:47:00 EST<![CDATA[GE's 27-watt LED replacement for 100-watt incandescent bulbs set to light up our lives next year]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/09/ges-27-watt-led-replacement-for-100-watt-incandescent-bulbs-set/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/09/ges-27-watt-led-replacement-for-100-watt-incandescent-bulbs-set/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/09/ges-27-watt-led-replacement-for-100-watt-incandescent-bulbs-set/#comments Image

As if you didn't already have enough reason to be pumped for this week's Lightfair trade show in Vegas -- GE is talking up its new 27-watt Energy Smart LED bulb that can product enough power (1,600-plus lumens) to replace a standard 100-watt incandescent bulb. The bulb, which joins 13-watt and 9-watt LED bulbs (replacements for 60- and 40-watt incandescents, respectively) offers up 25,000 hours of life, which should give you roughly 22.8 years, assuming you use it about three hours a day. It'll be hitting the U.S. and Canada in the first half of next year for an undetermined price. Check the illuminating press release after the break.

Continue reading GE's 27-watt LED replacement for 100-watt incandescent bulbs set to light up our lives next year

GE's 27-watt LED replacement for 100-watt incandescent bulbs set to light up our lives next year originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 May 2012 17:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Energy SmarEnergySmargeledled lightbulbLedLightbulblightbulbNuventixWed, 09 May 2012 17:06:00 EST<![CDATA[GE rolls out WattStation and WattStation Connect for charging EVs]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/25/ge-wattstation-wattstation-connect-charging-evs/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/25/ge-wattstation-wattstation-connect-charging-evs/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/25/ge-wattstation-wattstation-connect-charging-evs/#comments Image

GE spent the second half of 2011 teasing its WattStation solution for powering electric vehicles. Now that the company has captured your attention with that slick, Yves Behar-designed "pedestal," it's ready to deliver. In case you forgot, the WattStation Connect is a charging station / software platform developed in cooperation with Hertz that lets EV owners manage the power-up process remotely via a mobile app and the WattStation's three connectivity options: 3G, Wi-Fi and Ethernet. The app, expected to hit iOS and Android in the coming weeks, also help users locate stations and lets them virtually pay for juicing up their vehicles. While the charging platform will work its way into the hearts and homes of those who own an EV, GE will also deploy this tech to retailers and fleet owners looking to zero in on their electricity usage. It's not yet clear where the WattStations will be or are already available, but GE is apparently ready to start the rollout now. Get the full details in the presser after the break.

Continue reading GE rolls out WattStation and WattStation Connect for charging EVs

GE rolls out WattStation and WattStation Connect for charging EVs originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Apr 2012 02:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>electric carelectric chargerelectric charging stationelectric vehicleElectricCarElectricChargerElectricChargingStationElectricVehicleevev chargerEvChargergegeneral electricGeneralElectricwattstationyves beharYvesBeharWed, 25 Apr 2012 02:27:00 EST<![CDATA[GE partners with Livermore Labs to explore efficient aircraft fuel injectors (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/10/ge-partners-with-livermore-labs/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/10/ge-partners-with-livermore-labs/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/10/ge-partners-with-livermore-labs/#comments GE partners with Livermore Labs to explore efficient aircraft fuel injectors (video)What would you do with six months of dedicated access to 261.3 teraflops of computational power? As you ponder that question, consider the case of GE Global Research, which has just announced its participation with the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in an effort to design more powerful and efficient aircraft engines by way of computer simulation. Specifically, GE will partner with researchers from Arizona State University and Cornell University to study the unsteady spray phenomena that's thought to be ideal for fuel injectors. Through Large Eddy Simulation, GE hopes to discover an ideal spray pattern and fuel injector design, and reduce its number of lengthy, real-world optimization trials. While the research is initially aimed at aircraft engines, the knowledge gained from these experiments may work its way into GE's other products, such as locomotive engines and land-based gas turbines. For a glimpse into GE's current research, be sure to hop the break.

Continue reading GE partners with Livermore Labs to explore efficient aircraft fuel injectors (video)

GE partners with Livermore Labs to explore efficient aircraft fuel injectors (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 Apr 2012 06:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aircraftarizona state universityArizonaStateUniversitycornellCornell UniversityCornellUniversityenginefuel injectorfuel injectorsFuelInjectorFuelInjectorsgege global researchGeGlobalResearchjet engineJetEngineLawrence Livermore National LaboratoryLawrenceLivermoreNationalLaboratorylivermoresimulationvideoTue, 10 Apr 2012 06:09:00 EST<![CDATA[GE turns butterfly-inspired tech into cheap, accurate thermal sensors (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/15/ge-turns-butterfly-inspired-tech-into-cheap-accurate-thermal-se/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/15/ge-turns-butterfly-inspired-tech-into-cheap-accurate-thermal-se/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/15/ge-turns-butterfly-inspired-tech-into-cheap-accurate-thermal-se/#comments GE butterfly sensorWhen last we heard from GE and its Morpho-butterfly inspired sensors, all the talk was about detecting chemicals. And, with $6.3 million in funding coming from DARPA, we're not surprised. In the latest issue of Nature Photonics, however, the company's researchers show that the wing-like structures are just as good at detecting heat as they are ricin attacks. By coating them with carbon nanotubes the team was able to create a sensor sensitive to temperature changes as small as 0.02 degrees Celsius with a response rate of 1/40 of a second. The sensors could eventually find their way into imaging devices and medical equipment, and are expected to cost just a fraction of similar technologies currently on the market. Of course, since DARPA is still involved with the project, there are some potential security uses as well -- such as screening devices and fire detection. Head after the break for a video and some PR.

Continue reading GE turns butterfly-inspired tech into cheap, accurate thermal sensors (video)

GE turns butterfly-inspired tech into cheap, accurate thermal sensors (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 15 Feb 2012 02:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>butterfliesbutterflycarbon nanotubesCarbonNanotubesDARPAGEgeneral electricGeneralElectricmorpho butterfliesMorphoButterfliesnanostructuresthermal imagingthermal sensorThermalImagingThermalSensorvideoWed, 15 Feb 2012 02:52:00 EST<![CDATA[Inhabitat's Week in Green: hydrogen fuel cell-powered laptop, hybrid buses and bioluminescent bacteria]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/25/inhabitats-week-in-green-hydrogen-fuel-cell-powered-laptop-hy/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/25/inhabitats-week-in-green-hydrogen-fuel-cell-powered-laptop-hy/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/25/inhabitats-week-in-green-hydrogen-fuel-cell-powered-laptop-hy/#comments Each week our friends at Inhabitat recap the week's most interesting green developments and clean tech news for us -- it's the Week in Green.


The newswires were buzzing with alternative energy developments this week as Inhabitat reported that Apple filed a patent for a hydrogen fuel cell-powered laptop that can last an entire week without needing a recharge. We also celebrated the warm winter holidays with a look at the world's first solar-powered menorah, GE unveiled an awesome set of 3D-printed Christmas tree ornaments, and we brought you a first look at the dazzling LED-studded 2012 Times Square new year's eve ball. We also showcased several amazing examples of paper technology as Sony flipped the switch on a paper-powered battery and Joon & Jung unveiled an alarm clock with a cute paper shell.

Eco transportation was a hot topic as well this week as Porsche unveiled plans to develop the third generation of its flywheel-boosted 911 GT3 R hybrid and the UK's new hybrid double-decker busses hit the streets of London. We also showcased plans for a greenery-filled AirTrain that harnesses Nasa-patented air purifying technology and we brought you Foster + Partner's plans for a striking new high-speed rail station in Galicia, Spain.

In other news, this week we saw Waterstudio launch plans for a floating Sea Tree skyscraper that provides habitat for flora & fauna, a scientist has harnessed bioluminescent bacteria to combat pollution in a fragile Florida ecosystem, and researchers developed a new breed of self-fixing electronics that use liquid metal capsules to heal themselves. Finally, we brought you several hot developments in wearable tech - a set of 3D printed eyeglasses, a site that uses your webcam to measure your clothing size, and the world's first pair of over-ear headphones made with sustainable materials.

Inhabitat's Week in Green: hydrogen fuel cell-powered laptop, hybrid buses and bioluminescent bacteria originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 25 Dec 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3D911 GT3 R hybrid911Gt3RHybridalternative energyAlternativeEnergyEcoEco transportationEcoTransportationGEinhabitantInhabitatsWeekInGreenInhabitatWeekInGreenNasaPorchethisweekingreenTimes squareTimesSquareWaterstudioweekingreenSun, 25 Dec 2011 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[GE's new factory will push out one solar panel every ten seconds]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/17/ges-new-factory-will-push-out-one-solar-panel-every-ten-seconds/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/17/ges-new-factory-will-push-out-one-solar-panel-every-ten-seconds/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/17/ges-new-factory-will-push-out-one-solar-panel-every-ten-seconds/#comments
General Electric is sending its troops to Colorado to conquer the thin film solar panel business. The 38th state will play home to a new facility that leverages the supermodel-thin panel know-how of PrimeStar Solar, which GE scooped up back in 2008. In traditional solar panels, sand is refined into silicon ingots, sliced wafers of which are then placed in a frame. The thin film process eliminates this, sandwiching layers of semiconductors between panes of glass -- saving time, money and, most importantly, energy. The factory will open ahead of schedule in 2012 and is reportedly capable of producing a new panel every ten seconds. You can learn all of that and more in the press release we've got for you after the break.

Continue reading GE's new factory will push out one solar panel every ten seconds

GE's new factory will push out one solar panel every ten seconds originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 17 Oct 2011 15:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ColoradoDanielle MerfeldDanielleMerfeldEcoEco-FriendlyEnergyEnvironmentFinanceGEGeneral ElectricGeneral Electric EnergyGeneral Electric SolarGeneralElectricGeneralElectricEnergyGeneralElectricSolarGreenNew YorkPhotovoltaicPowerPrimeStar SolarPrimestarSolarPVSci/TechSolar PanelSolar PanelsSolar PowerSolarPanelSolarPanelsSolarPowerThin FilmThin Film SolarThin-FilmThin-Film SolarThin-filmSolarThinFilmThinFilmSolarvideoMon, 17 Oct 2011 15:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Skype outs Freetalk Connect-Me Home Phone Adapter, does VoIP for old fashioned handsets]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/31/skype-outs-freetalk-connect-me-home-phone-adapter-does-voip-for/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/31/skype-outs-freetalk-connect-me-home-phone-adapter-does-voip-for/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/31/skype-outs-freetalk-connect-me-home-phone-adapter-does-voip-for/#comments If you're still sporting a landline as your main connection to the outside world, Skype's now offering a more up-to-date way to use that dusty old handset. The VoIP platform has just introduced two new products that will bring Skype-specific internet calling to your home phone. Billed as a "hassle-free, plug-and-play solution" the Freetalk Connect-Me Home Phone Adapter connects to your landline and broadband allowing you to make free calls to other Skype users as well as plain old landlines and cellphones worldwide (for a price). If you like your home phone with a little extra corporate branding, the outfit's also hooked up with GE to offer a Skype-approved cordless, simply referred to as The GE Digital Cordless Expandable Telephone with Skype, which offers free calling to Skype users as well as "low-cost" calls to your poor Skype-less contacts. The Home Phone Adapter comes with plans ranging from $39.99 to $59.99, while the Skype phone can be yours for between $69.99 and $89.99. Both are now available at the source link below, and full PR awaits you after the break.

Continue reading Skype outs Freetalk Connect-Me Home Phone Adapter, does VoIP for old fashioned handsets

Skype outs Freetalk Connect-Me Home Phone Adapter, does VoIP for old fashioned handsets originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 31 Aug 2011 13:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Freetalk Connect-MeFreetalk ConnectMeFreetalkConnect-meFreetalkConnectmeGEGE Digital Cordless Expandable TGeDigitalCordlessExpandableThome phone adapterHomePhoneAdapterSkypeSkype Freetalk ConnectMeSkype FreeTalk ConnectMe Home Phone Adapterskype home phone adapterSkypeFreetalkConnectmeSkypeFreetalkConnectmeHomePhoneAdapterSkypeHomePhoneAdaptervoice of internetvoice over internet protocolVoiceOfInternetVoiceOverInternetProtocolVoIPWed, 31 Aug 2011 13:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Sanya Skypump charges your EV, illuminates parking lots using wind and rays (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/24/sanya-skypump-charges-your-ev-illuminates-parking-lots-using-wi/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/24/sanya-skypump-charges-your-ev-illuminates-parking-lots-using-wi/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/24/sanya-skypump-charges-your-ev-illuminates-parking-lots-using-wi/#comments So you're the first person in town to adopt an electric vehicle (EV), even clearing room for that 240v charging station in the garage. But what do you when you venture far from home, edging past the 200 mile mark on your Tesla Roadster? Well, if the Sanya Skypump ever sees the light of day (from its 150-watt solar panel), the hybrid solar / wind turbine-powered charging station will be making its way to parking lots around the world, pairing with a GE WattStation to juice up your EV as you shop at the mall, or browse a certain tech site from the office. The WattStation can theoretically recharge your EV in four to eight hours, though we're not sure how those figures translate with this particular setup. The Skypump system is based on Sanya's Streetlamp, which you can see in all its twirling glory in the B.o.B. music video remix just past the break.

Continue reading Sanya Skypump charges your EV, illuminates parking lots using wind and rays (video)

Sanya Skypump charges your EV, illuminates parking lots using wind and rays (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 24 Jul 2011 19:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chargerchargingcharging infrastructurecharging stationChargingInfrastruChargingInfrastructureChargingStationelectric vehicleElectricVehicleEVGEGeneral ElectricGeneralElectrichybridinfrastructuresanesane streetlampSaneStreetlampsanya skypumpSanyaSkypumpskypumpsolarsolar powerSolarPowersunturbinevideoWattStationWattStation chargerWattstationChargerwindwind powerwind turbineWindPowerWindTurbineSun, 24 Jul 2011 19:24:00 EST<![CDATA[GE's new holographic storage burns 500GB discs at the speed of a Blu-ray]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/20/ge-holographic-storage-burns-500gb-discs-at-the-speed-of-a-blu-r/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/20/ge-holographic-storage-burns-500gb-discs-at-the-speed-of-a-blu-r/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/20/ge-holographic-storage-burns-500gb-discs-at-the-speed-of-a-blu-r/#comments Holographic disc storage may not have worked out so well for InPhase, but the folks at General Electric are still trying to make HVD work. Their latest breakthrough, shown off today at an IEEE symposium in Hawaii, is a new micro-holographic material which is 100x more sensitive than its predecessor and ups recording speed to that of Blu-ray discs. In the two years since we saw it last some of the hyperbole has apparently been lost -- no claims of "two to four years left for Blu-ray" this time around -- but manager Peter Lorraine still thinks the DVD-sized discs have a future in archival and consumer systems. That's getting tougher to imagine in a world with FiOS and Netflix streaming, but if there is ever another disc format you may be looking at it right now.

Continue reading GE's new holographic storage burns 500GB discs at the speed of a Blu-ray

GE's new holographic storage burns 500GB discs at the speed of a Blu-ray originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 20 Jul 2011 22:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>discsgegeneral electricGeneralElectricholographicholographic storageHolographicStoragehvdmicro-holographicoptical storageOpticalStoragepeter lorrainePeterLorraineWed, 20 Jul 2011 22:38:00 EST<![CDATA[Visualized: 130 years of GE innovation, accentuated with 130-year old Instagram filters]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/07/visualized-130-years-of-ge-innovation-accentuated-with-130-yea/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/07/visualized-130-years-of-ge-innovation-accentuated-with-130-yea/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/07/visualized-130-years-of-ge-innovation-accentuated-with-130-yea/#comments It may not pay any taxes, but General Electric sure knows how to use an iPhone 4 to upload photos to Tumblr. Hit the source link for a boatload of other shots that probably are as old as they look. But, not at all.

Visualized: 130 years of GE innovation, accentuated with 130-year old Instagram filters originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 07 Jul 2011 15:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>engineeringGEgeneral electricGeneralElectricinnovationinstagramphotophotosvisualizedThu, 07 Jul 2011 15:26:00 EST<![CDATA[GE announces hybrid power plant of the (near) future]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/09/ge-announces-hybrid-power-plant-of-the-near-future/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/09/ge-announces-hybrid-power-plant-of-the-near-future/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/09/ge-announces-hybrid-power-plant-of-the-near-future/#comments
GE's legacy dates back over a century, but, despite its old age, the company's got a fresh outlook on the future of energy production (at least according to its PR department). Earlier this week, the outfit announced MetCap Energy Investments' plans to build a "first-of-its-kind" hybrid power plant, tapping GE's FlexEfficiency technology, which combines natural gas, wind, and solar thermal power. The plant, planned for completion in Turkey in 2015, will produce enough energy, according to GE, to power 600,000 homes, and could lead to plant efficiency greater than 70 percent. What's more, the company promises zero liquid discharge and single-button 28-minute startup. Here's hoping this cracks up to be a better fit than NBC. Full PR after the break.

Continue reading GE announces hybrid power plant of the (near) future

GE announces hybrid power plant of the (near) future originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Jun 2011 16:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>clean energyCleanEnergyenergyenergy productionEnergyProductionFlexEfficiencygeGE FlexEfficiencyGE hybrid power plantGeFlexefficiencyGeHybridPowerPlantGeneral ElectricGeneralElectrichybrid power plantHybridPowerPlantnatural gasNaturalGaspowerpower plantPowerPlantsolarTurkeyTurkish power plantTurkishPowerPlantwindThu, 09 Jun 2011 16:24:00 EST<![CDATA[GE's new phase-change based thermal conductor could mean cooler laptops -- literally]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/16/ges-new-phase-change-based-thermal-conductor-could-mean-cooler/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/16/ges-new-phase-change-based-thermal-conductor-could-mean-cooler/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/16/ges-new-phase-change-based-thermal-conductor-could-mean-cooler/#comments
It's no secret: if your laptop sits atop your lap for an extended period of time, you're going to get burned -- okay, so maybe not burned, but you're definitely going to feel the heat. Luckily GE has been working (under contract for DARPA) on a new phase-change based thermal conductor that promises to cool electronics twice as well as copper, at one-fourth the weight. The breakthrough means big things for those of us who'd like to make babies one day, but we doubt that's why DARPA's shelling out the big bucks -- the new material functions at 10 times normal gravity, making it a shoo-in for on-board computing systems in jetliners. Using "unique surface engineered coatings" that simultaneously attract and repel water, the new nanotechnology could mean not only lighter, cooler electronics, but also an increase in computing speeds. Goodbye scrotal hyperthermia, hello cool computing! Full PR after the break.

Continue reading GE's new phase-change based thermal conductor could mean cooler laptops -- literally

GE's new phase-change based thermal conductor could mean cooler laptops -- literally originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 16 Mar 2011 17:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>changeconductorcoolcoolercoolingDARPAGEgeneral electricGeneralElectricheatheatinghigh gravityHighGravityhotlap toplaptopnanonanotechnanotechnologyoverheatingphasephase changephase-changePhaseChangeresearchtemperaturethermal conductorThermalConductorWed, 16 Mar 2011 17:59:00 EST<![CDATA[GE kicks off EV Experience Tour, promises WattStations for all]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/14/ge-kicks-off-ev-experience-tour-promises-wattstations-for-all/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/14/ge-kicks-off-ev-experience-tour-promises-wattstations-for-all/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/14/ge-kicks-off-ev-experience-tour-promises-wattstations-for-all/#comments
Last week, GE kicked off its EV Experience Tour in San Francisco, to "bring GE experts together with local businesses, industry leaders, and public sector stakeholders for educational workshops, test drives, and dialogue on the business case for EV ecosystems." The Yves Behar-designed GE WattStation EV charger was on display at the event in both mock-up and ice sculpture form. We spent some time chatting with Luis Ramirez, CEO of GE Energy Industrial Solutions, and Clarence Nunn, President and CEO of GE Capital Fleet Services about the future of EV charging. We discussed efforts like PlugShare and the recent addition to EV charging stations to Google Maps, concepts like smart parking spots with embedded inductive charging, as well as ways to accommodate folks without garages who park their vehicles on city streets. They both assured us that GE is committed to providing an EV charging infrastructure for all, starting with the installation of a bunch of WattStations in San Francisco soon -- though they didn't say exactly how "soon". In the meantime, remember that EV charging is always just an outlet away. Take a look at our gallery below and jump past the break for the press release.

Gallery: GE kicks off EV Experience Tour

Continue reading GE kicks off EV Experience Tour, promises WattStations for all

Filed under:

GE kicks off EV Experience Tour, promises WattStations for all originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 14 Mar 2011 08:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chargerchargingcharging infrastructurecharging stationChargingInfrastruChargingInfrastructureChargingStationelectric vehicleElectricVehicleEVGEGeneral ElectricGeneralElectricinfrastructureSan FranciscoSanFranciscoWattStationWattStation chargerWattstationChargerMon, 14 Mar 2011 08:57:00 EST<![CDATA[GE gets official with 2011 camera lineup: X500 bridge camera, point-and-shoots aplenty]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/06/ge-gets-official-with-2011-camera-lineup-x500-bridge-camera-po/http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/06/ge-gets-official-with-2011-camera-lineup-x500-bridge-camera-po/http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/06/ge-gets-official-with-2011-camera-lineup-x500-bridge-camera-po/#comments General Imaging is mixing some of the old in with the new here at CES, but it does look to be slowly but steadily improving its game when it comes to its GE-branded cameras. One of the standouts is the X500 bridge camera (pictured above), which packs 16 megapixels, a 15x optical zoom, an electronic viewfinder, and plenty of manual controls to go along with the usual point-and-shoot features -- all for $150 (actual image quality is another matter, of course). It's joined by the E1680W, E1450W, J1470S, A1456W, and C1433 point-and-shoots, which all pack 14 or 16 megapixels, 3x to 8x optical zooms, and varying degrees of thinness for between $80 and $160 dollars. Hit up the press release after the break for some more details, and look for all the new cameras to roll out in February or March.

Gallery: GE's 2011 camera lineup

Continue reading GE gets official with 2011 camera lineup: X500 bridge camera, point-and-shoots aplenty

GE gets official with 2011 camera lineup: X500 bridge camera, point-and-shoots aplenty originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Jan 2011 18:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>A1456WC1433camerascesces 2011ces2011E1450WE1680WGEgeneral imagingGeneralImagingJ1470Spoint-and-shootpoint-and-shootsX500Thu, 06 Jan 2011 18:50:00 EST<![CDATA[Christmas lights hack puts your IM contacts on the wall above your desk (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/16/christmas-lights-hack-puts-your-im-contacts-on-the-wall-above-yo/http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/16/christmas-lights-hack-puts-your-im-contacts-on-the-wall-above-yo/http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/16/christmas-lights-hack-puts-your-im-contacts-on-the-wall-above-yo/#comments
As you well know, if it exists it can be hacked. And what better way to ring in the holidays than by taking a string of GE Color Effects G-35 lights and -- thanks to some hand-crafted drivers and a Microsoft .NET Micro Framework embedded controller -- turning it into a IM notifier? Of course, these aren't any old Christmas lights: between the ability to change colors and the preset light shows, these guys boast a feature set that Clark Griswold would die for. And that's where a Microsoft employee named Andrej Kyselica comes in: using the Microsoft Lync 2010 Office Communications Server, our man has rigged a system that allows him to assign each of his instant messenger contacts to a particular bulb, which changes color according to each contact's status (for instance, green indicates that someone's available, white means away, and purple means out of the office). Pretty sweet, eh? Check out the video after the break for a closer look.

Continue reading Christmas lights hack puts your IM contacts on the wall above your desk (video)

Christmas lights hack puts your IM contacts on the wall above your desk (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Dec 2010 09:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>.netAndrej KyselicaAndrejKyselicachristmas lightsChristmasLightsGEGE Color Effects G-35GeColorEffectsG-35hackIMinstant messaginginstant messengerInstantMessagingInstantMessengerlightlivelyncmicrosoftmicrosoft lyncmicrosoft lync 2010MicrosoftLyncMicrosoftLync2010microsooft liveMicrosooftLivemodvideoThu, 16 Dec 2010 09:24:00 EST<![CDATA[GE forms new home energy management business aimed at bridging the 'utility-consumer gap']]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/01/ge-forms-new-home-energy-management-business-aimed-at-bridging-t/http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/01/ge-forms-new-home-energy-management-business-aimed-at-bridging-t/http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/01/ge-forms-new-home-energy-management-business-aimed-at-bridging-t/#comments
GE has obviously been in the home energy management business for some time now, but it's stepped up its game in a pretty big way this week. The company has just announced the official creation of its new Home Energy Management business (or HEM), which will fall under GE's Appliances & Lighting division and will be led by Dave McCalpin (pictured above). According to GE, the new business will focus on helping both consumers and utility companies manage electricity consumption and costs, and it will oversee a whole range of GE products related to energy management, including things like the company's GeoSpring hybrid hot water heater, various appliances, and its new Nucleus energy management system set to go on sale next year. Head on past the break for the complete press release.

Continue reading GE forms new home energy management business aimed at bridging the 'utility-consumer gap'

GE forms new home energy management business aimed at bridging the 'utility-consumer gap' originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Dec 2010 14:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Dave McCalpinDaveMccalpinenergygege appliancesge appliances and lightingge appliances lightingge home energy managementGeAppliancesGeAppliancesAndLightingGeAppliancesLightingGeHomeEnergyManagementhemhome energyhome energy managementHomeEnergyHomeEnergyManagementWed, 01 Dec 2010 14:42:00 EST<![CDATA[GE buying 25,000 electric vehicles by 2015, nearly half to be Chevy Volts]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/15/ge-buying-25-000-electric-vehicles-by-2015-nearly-half-to-be-ch/http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/15/ge-buying-25-000-electric-vehicles-by-2015-nearly-half-to-be-ch/http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/15/ge-buying-25-000-electric-vehicles-by-2015-nearly-half-to-be-ch/#commentsGE buying 25,000 electric vehicles by 2015, half of those to be Chevy Volts The General needs a new ride, and he doesn't roll light. GE has announced a plan to purchase 25,000 electric vehicles worldwide by 2015, starting with a grab of 12,000 Chevy Volts, the car we recently got very comfortable with. As we've learned that model is hardly an EV in a pure sense of the term, but it certainly offers the flexibility that a fleet like this will need while the infrastructure required to support your Leafs and the like is built up -- an infrastructure which, by the way, GE is pledging to help develop as well.

Continue reading GE buying 25,000 electric vehicles by 2015, nearly half to be Chevy Volts

GE buying 25,000 electric vehicles by 2015, nearly half to be Chevy Volts originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 15 Nov 2010 23:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chevroletchevyelectric vehicleElectricVehicleevgegeneral electricgeneral motorsGeneralElectricGeneralMotorsgmvoltMon, 15 Nov 2010 23:11:00 EST<![CDATA[GE introduces 'hybrid' bulb with both halogen and CFL elements, instant-on meets efficiency]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/21/ge-introduces-hybrid-bulb-with-both-halogen-and-cfl-elements/http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/21/ge-introduces-hybrid-bulb-with-both-halogen-and-cfl-elements/http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/21/ge-introduces-hybrid-bulb-with-both-halogen-and-cfl-elements/#commentsGE introduces 'hybrid' bulb with both halogen and CFL elements, instant-on meets efficiency We're pretty okay with waiting the second or so it takes a typical CFL to light up, but sometimes, when we're checking for monsters in closets and other inconspicuous places, it'd be nice if things were a little more expedient. For those times (and for generally impatient people) GE is introducing its Hybrid Halogen-CFL bulb. It's basically a typical CFL unit, but look closely inside those coils and you'll spot a wee halogen bulb peeking out. It's like two bulbs in one, the halogen unit powering on almost instantaneously then fading off once the CFL element gets itself all riled up. We're wondering how well the output from the two elements match, whether you'd be able to notice the transition, but we're even more curious about the cost. GE says we'll have to wait a few months to learn that bit of info, and the same holds true if you're looking for a release date more specific than "2011." Hopefully it isn't too late in the year, as LED bulbs are getting cheaper by the minute.

Continue reading GE introduces 'hybrid' bulb with both halogen and CFL elements, instant-on meets efficiency

GE introduces 'hybrid' bulb with both halogen and CFL elements, instant-on meets efficiency originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 21 Oct 2010 17:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bulbcflcompact fluroescentCompactFluroescentgegeneral electricGeneralElectrichalogenhybrid bulbHybridBulblightbulbThu, 21 Oct 2010 17:02:00 EST<![CDATA[GE goes rugged with Flip-esque DV1 HD camcorder]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/29/ge-goes-rugged-with-flip-esque-dv1-hd-camcorder/http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/29/ge-goes-rugged-with-flip-esque-dv1-hd-camcorder/http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/29/ge-goes-rugged-with-flip-esque-dv1-hd-camcorder/#comments It's tough for yet another Flip-like camcorder to stand out these days, but GE might just stand a better chance than most with its new DV1 model, which adds a waterproof, shockproof enclosure to the familiar form factor. It also doesn't look to cut too many corners when it comes to specs, with it boasting full 1080p recording and 5-megapixel stills, a SD card slot for storage, HDMI out, a 2.5-inch display and, of course, an integrated USB connector. No indication of a price just yet, but you'll apparently be able to pick this one up next month in your choice of gray, orange or green.

GE goes rugged with Flip-esque DV1 HD camcorder originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Sep 2010 02:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>camcorderdv1flipgege dv1GeDv1pocket camcorderPocketCamcordervideo cameraVideoCameraWed, 29 Sep 2010 02:02:00 EST<![CDATA[GE stuffs DLP projector into 14MP PJ1 point-and-shoot camera, we go hands-on]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/23/ge-stuffs-dlp-projector-into-14mp-pj1-point-and-shoot-camera-we/http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/23/ge-stuffs-dlp-projector-into-14mp-pj1-point-and-shoot-camera-we/http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/23/ge-stuffs-dlp-projector-into-14mp-pj1-point-and-shoot-camera-we/#comments It ain't the first point-and-shoot to emerge with a beamer within, but it's the first from GE's General Imaging branch. Boasting a 14 megapixel sensor, a vanilla enclosure and a DLP projector, the PJ1 was seen making its debut here at Photokina in Germany. The highlight of the device is obviously the 854 x 480 resolution projector that's somehow stuffed within the casing, while the most impressive part to us was just how thin it remained with such a unit inside. In other words, the projector itself was certainly lacking, and with just 15 lumens, we felt that the darker-than-dark test room (shown in the video just past the break) still wasn't dark enough. On the capture side, there's a 7x optical zoom, SD / SDHC card slot and support for 720p movies; thankfully, GE's not planning to include too hefty a premium for the projector, as we were told to expect it for "around €250 ($334)" when it lands in Europe next February.

Gallery: GE PJ1 projector camera hands-on at Photokina 2010

Continue reading GE stuffs DLP projector into 14MP PJ1 point-and-shoot camera, we go hands-on

GE stuffs DLP projector into 14MP PJ1 point-and-shoot camera, we go hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Sep 2010 12:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cameracompactdigicamdlpGEgeneral imagingGeneralImaginghands-onphotokinaphotokina 2010Photokina2010PJ1point and shootpoint-and-shootPointAndShootprojectorprojector camprojector cameraProjectorCamProjectorCameravideoThu, 23 Sep 2010 12:15:00 EST<![CDATA[GE's 'Create by Jason Wu' digital cameras get 2GB model, no more enthralling]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/15/ges-create-by-jason-wu-digital-cameras-get-2gb-model-no-more/http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/15/ges-create-by-jason-wu-digital-cameras-get-2gb-model-no-more/http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/15/ges-create-by-jason-wu-digital-cameras-get-2gb-model-no-more/#comments Look out, Wu fans -- Mr. Jason is at it again. But if you were expecting an entirely refreshed lineup of branded cameras from General Imaging, you'll be sorely disappointed here. In fact, the only thing Wu's bringing to the masses here in September is a more affordable lineup, with the 'Create by Jason Wu' collection now being available in a 2GB model (as opposed to 4GB). Thankfully, the inbuilt USB plug remains, and the barrier to entry has been ratcheted down to $129.99 (a $50 savings over the big brother, if you must know). After all -- when you've got style, who needs capacity?

Continue reading GE's 'Create by Jason Wu' digital cameras get 2GB model, no more enthralling

GE's 'Create by Jason Wu' digital cameras get 2GB model, no more enthralling originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 15 Sep 2010 05:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>createdigicamdigital cameraDigitalCameraGEGE CREATEGeCreategeneral electricgeneral imagingGeneralElectricGeneralImagingjason wuJasonWupoint and shootpoint-and-shootPointAndShootWed, 15 Sep 2010 05:46:00 EST<![CDATA[GE closes last US factory making incandescent light bulbs]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/13/ge-closes-last-us-factory-making-incandescent-light-bulbs/http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/13/ge-closes-last-us-factory-making-incandescent-light-bulbs/http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/13/ge-closes-last-us-factory-making-incandescent-light-bulbs/#comments There may still be plenty of competition among potential successors to the incandescent light bulb, but there's little question that the traditional light bulb is on the way out -- a fact now further backed up by GE's closing of the last major factory making the bulbs in the US. GE had apparently considered a $40 million investment to retrofit the plant -- located in Winchester, Virginia, and employing some 200 workers -- to manufacture compact fluorescent light bulbs, but it says that bulbs made at the plant would have cost 50 percent more than ones from China, which is where the vast majority of CFLs are made. Of course, that shift hardly happened overnight -- be sure to hit up the Washington Post article linked below for a brief history of what led to this point, and a closer look at the plant itself.

GE closes last US factory making incandescent light bulbs originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 13 Sep 2010 10:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cflcflscompact flourescentCompactFlourescentgeincadescent light bulbIncadescentLightBulbincandescentincandescent light bulbsIncandescentLightBulbslight bulblight bulbsLightBulbLightBulbslightingMon, 13 Sep 2010 10:12:00 EST<![CDATA[Visualized: GE's exoskeleton from a heavy metal past-future]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/13/visualized-ges-exoskeleton-from-a-heavy-metal-past-future/http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/13/visualized-ges-exoskeleton-from-a-heavy-metal-past-future/http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/13/visualized-ges-exoskeleton-from-a-heavy-metal-past-future/#comments
Sure, plastic is light, durable, and easy to mold, but there's something so raw and medieval about a metal exoskeleton -- built long before anyone could call it steampunk -- that it makes us want to strap on our hard hat, hop in the Engadg-O-Matic Time Machine, and travel back to a bulkier past where we could give this big guy a painful hug. Check the source link for all sorts of adorable / frightening prototype illustrations of General Electric's army-commissioned "Hardiman force amplifying exoskeleton" from 1967, and feel free to drift off to happier times in the process. Just come back at some point, cool?

Visualized: GE's exoskeleton from a heavy metal past-future originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 13 Sep 2010 08:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>armyexoskeletongegeneral electricGeneralElectricretrosteampunkvisualizedMon, 13 Sep 2010 08:19:00 EST<![CDATA[GE lands $6.3 million DARPA grant to develop 'bio-inspired' sensors]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/12/ge-lands-6-3-million-darpa-grant-to-develop-bio-inspired-sens/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/12/ge-lands-6-3-million-darpa-grant-to-develop-bio-inspired-sens/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/12/ge-lands-6-3-million-darpa-grant-to-develop-bio-inspired-sens/#comments
Do butterflies hold the key to the next generation of chemical sensors? DARPA apparently thinks they might, and it's just awarded GE a $6.3 million grant to further develop a project that the company's research division began three years ago. That project was sparked by the discovery that the nanostructures from the wing scales of butterflies have acute chemical sensing properties, which GE has since been working to replicate in a sensing platform that could instantly detect a wide variety of chemical threats. What's more, GE says that it's sensors could eventually be made in "very small sizes, with low production costs," which would let them be used for everything from emissions monitoring at power plants to food and beverage safety monitoring at home. Full press release is after the break.

Continue reading GE lands $6.3 million DARPA grant to develop 'bio-inspired' sensors

GE lands $6.3 million DARPA grant to develop 'bio-inspired' sensors originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 12 Aug 2010 21:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bio-inspiredbutterfliesbutterflychemicalchemical sensorchemical sensorsChemicalSensorChemicalSensorsdarpagege global researchGeGlobalResearchnaturesensorThu, 12 Aug 2010 21:03:00 EST<![CDATA[Intel and GE form healthcare joint venture, sluggish Atom-powered home servants on the way]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/04/intel-and-ge-form-healthcare-joint-venture-sluggish-atom-powere/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/04/intel-and-ge-form-healthcare-joint-venture-sluggish-atom-powere/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/04/intel-and-ge-form-healthcare-joint-venture-sluggish-atom-powere/#comments Okay, so maybe we're only half-kidding about the prospective of having home health robots that can barely multitask, but we're hoping that Intel and GE at least have the heart to equip any domicile servants with a Core i3 or stronger. If you haven't heard, the two aforesaid companies have joined hands this week to create a 50/50 joint venture, one that'll result in the creation of a new healthcare company "focused on telehealth and independent living." Financial terms aren't being disclosed, but the goal is pretty simple: "to use technology to bring more effective healthcare into millions of homes and to improve the lives of seniors and people with chronic conditions." It's a bit unclear at this point what all the duo will be creating, but we wouldn't be shocked to see medical tablets, Core i7 980X-based "medical monitoring PCs" and Moorestown-powered "I've fallen and I can't get up!" neck pieces surface in the near future.

Continue reading Intel and GE form healthcare joint venture, sluggish Atom-powered home servants on the way

Intel and GE form healthcare joint venture, sluggish Atom-powered home servants on the way originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 04 Aug 2010 06:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>businessdigital healthDigitalHealthgege healthcareGeHealthcaregeneral electricGeneralElectrichealthhealthcarehome healthhome healthcareHomeHealthHomeHealthcareinteljoint ventureJointVenturemedicalmedicinepartnerpartnershipTelehealthWed, 04 Aug 2010 06:13:00 EST<![CDATA[Did the Fifth Circuit just make breaking DRM legal? Not quite.]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/26/did-the-fifth-circuit-just-make-breaking-drm-legal-not-quite/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/26/did-the-fifth-circuit-just-make-breaking-drm-legal-not-quite/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/26/did-the-fifth-circuit-just-make-breaking-drm-legal-not-quite/#comments
Down with DRM logo
The world of digital copyright law is a busy place this morning -- not only did the Library of Congress hand down new exemptions to the DMCA that allow smartphones to be jailbroken and short portions of movies to be ripped, but a new decision out of the Fifth Circuit has caused some major waves because it seems to say breaking DRM is legal. Except, well, maybe not.

Here's the deal: an uninterruptible power supply company called MGE sued GE in 2004 for using hacked-up copies of its software to maintain its clients' power systems -- the software was only supposed to work when a hardware dongle is plugged into the system, but GE engineers were using cracked software. After a lengthy trial, the jury awarded MGE $4.6m in damages for copyright infringement, misappropriation of trade secrets, and -- you guessed it -- violating the DMCA by circumventing the protection on the software. On appeal, the Fifth Circuit -- which was reviewing this kind of DMCA claim for the first time -- noted that MGE's hardware dongle only protected access to the software, not copying it, and that the DMCA is only effective when the protections in place guard something more than simple access. Here's the money quote from the decision:
Merely bypassing a technological protection that restricts a user from viewing or using a work is insufficient to trigger the DMCA's anti-circumvention provision. The DMCA prohibits only forms of access that would violate or impinge on the protections that the Copyright Act otherwise affords copyright owners... The owner's technological measure must protect the copyrighted material against an infringement of a right that the Copyright Act protects, not from mere use or viewing.
Broadly read, this means that breaking DRM just to look at or use a copyrighted work is fine -- it's when you break DRM that expressly protects activities reserved for copyright owners (like, say, making copies) that you get into trouble. That's a tiny little step back from other DRM-related decisions in other circuits, which have generally held that any DRM-breaking is illegal, but it's not completely without precedent -- since this was the first time the Fifth Circuit looked at this type of lawsuit, it looked to decisions from other appellate courts and found similar rulings on which to rely.

Let's get back to what this means in practical terms, though -- although many are breathlessly reporting this to mean that breaking DRM is now legal, that's actually not the case at all. First of all, Fifth Circuit rulings are only directly effective in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas, so this isn't the law across the US yet -- that's going to take a Supreme Court decision. (We'll get to that in a second.) Second of all, the crux of the decision is that DMCA lawsuits are only valid if the DRM systems actually protect against copyright infringement, as opposed to merely controlling access, and that's only a slight narrowing of the law. Think about it: the number one thing forbidden by copyright law is making unauthorized copies. There's nothing in this ruling that suggests anyone can make copies of works without the explicit permission of the copyright owner -- it's still very much illegal to strip copy protection DRM off a video in order to transfer it to a portable media player, for example, since you're making an unauthorized copy. It's a subtle, but extremely important distinction.

All that said, most of the other appellate courts in the US that have looked at DMCA issues have generally found that breaking DRM for any reason not covered in the exemptions is illegal, so the Fifth Circuit's decision here has set up what's called a "split in the circuits" -- different interpretations of the law in different parts of the country. That's the sort of situation the Supreme Court is there to resolve, so it's possible we'll see MGE appeal this one all the way to the top and DRM law will drastically change in one way or another. In any event, it's clear that the legal tide is slowly starting to turn against DRM, and that's definitely a good thing -- regardless of how small each individual step might be.

Did the Fifth Circuit just make breaking DRM legal? Not quite. originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Jul 2010 14:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>access controlAccessControlbreak drmBreakDrmbreaking drmBreakingDrmcircumventcopyrightcopyright lawcopyright lawsuitCopyrightLawCopyrightLawsuitdmcadrmGElawlawsuitlegalMGEPMIPMI GEPmiGeUPSMon, 26 Jul 2010 14:11:00 EST<![CDATA[Yves Behar-designed GE WattStation electric vehicle charger spruces streets, juices cars]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/14/yves-behar-designed-ge-wattstation-electric-vehicle-charger-spru/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/14/yves-behar-designed-ge-wattstation-electric-vehicle-charger-spru/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/14/yves-behar-designed-ge-wattstation-electric-vehicle-charger-spru/#comments We've dug deep within the mind of Yves Béhar, and when that man designs something, we take notice. Particularly when the object of reference is an all-new electric vehicle charger that looks good enough for the sparkling streets of Minneapolis. Introduced today, the GE WattStation is a beautifully engineered EV charger designed to "accelerate the adoption of plug-in electric vehicles," and furthermore, allow "utility companies to manage the impact of electric vehicles on the local and regional grids." We're also told that it's capable of handling Level 2 (240V) charging, and if all goes to plan, it'll be available globally next year. Oh, and if you're considering a move to the inner city just to be near one, hold your horses -- a specialized home version will be available later in 2010. Hop on past the break for a little showboating from Yves himself.

Gallery: Yves Behar-designed GE WattStation electric vehicle charger

Continue reading Yves Behar-designed GE WattStation electric vehicle charger spruces streets, juices cars

Yves Behar-designed GE WattStation electric vehicle charger spruces streets, juices cars originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Jul 2010 03:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>artcar chargerCarChargerchargechargerdesigndesignereco-friendlyelectric vehicleelectricityElectricVehicleenergyevGEgeneral electricGeneralElectricgreenplug-inplug-in electricplug-in electric veh...Plug-inElectricPlug-inElectricVeh...videoWattStationYves BéharYves BeharYvesBéharYvesBeharWed, 14 Jul 2010 03:01:00 EST<![CDATA[GE's early 20th century pallophotophone recorder decoded, Thomas Edison speech uncovered]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/20/ges-early-20th-century-pallophotophone-recorder-decoded-thomas/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/20/ges-early-20th-century-pallophotophone-recorder-decoded-thomas/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/20/ges-early-20th-century-pallophotophone-recorder-decoded-thomas/#comments
In 1922, General Electric developed a machine for recording audio called the pallophotophone, which recorded sound on 35mm film. It is thought to be the world's first multitrack recording system (and it predated magnetic tape multitrack recording by about 20 years). The device never really made it to the big time, however, and until very recently, almost no one bothered to think about it anymore. Then Chris Hunter, curator of the Schenectady Museum in Schenectady, New York discovered 12 canisters of the film in his archives. Though none of GE's original pallophotophone machines seem to have survived, current GE engineer Russ DeMuth became involved in the project, and spent two years building a modern pallophotophone based on GE's original sketches, out of modern materials, dubbing the new one the Gizmotron. The modern device plays the original films just fine, and included in their canisters were a couple of real gems -- what's thought to be the earliest recording of the NBC chimes, and a speech given by Thomas Edison commemorating the 50th anniversary of the invention of the incandescent lightbulb. A photo of the modern Gizmotron and its inventors is below -- hit up the source for the full story and hear the Edison audio.

Continue reading GE's early 20th century pallophotophone recorder decoded, Thomas Edison speech uncovered

GE's early 20th century pallophotophone recorder decoded, Thomas Edison speech uncovered originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 20 Jun 2010 19:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chris hunterChrisHunterfilmfilm recordingFilmRecordinggegeneral electricGeneralElectricGizmotronmultitrackmutitrack recordingMutitrackRecordingnew yorkNewYorkpallophotophonerecordingsruss demuthRussDemuthrussell demuthRussellDemuthSchenectadythomas edisonThomasEdisonvoice recorderVoiceRecorderSun, 20 Jun 2010 19:04:00 EST<![CDATA[Wind farm announced for Lake Erie, could produce 1,000 megawatts by 2020]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/24/wind-farm-announced-for-lake-erie-could-produce-1-000-megawatts/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/24/wind-farm-announced-for-lake-erie-could-produce-1-000-megawatts/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/24/wind-farm-announced-for-lake-erie-could-produce-1-000-megawatts/#commentsWind farms have started popping up around the states -- including one off Rehoboth Beach -- and if the Lake Erie Energy Development Corp has its way, twenty megawatts of power will be generated off the coast of Ohio beginning in late 2012. The direct drive wind turbines, each generating four megawatts of power, will be supplied and maintained by General Electric, who designed them especially for off-shore use. Subsequent projects are also in the works by the dynamic duo, with the eventual goal of 1,000 megawatts by 2020 -- by which time the Insane Clown Posse will be eligible for the Rock'N'Roll Hall of Fame and the United States will have its first Juggalo President. PR after the break.

Continue reading Wind farm announced for Lake Erie, could produce 1,000 megawatts by 2020

Wind farm announced for Lake Erie, could produce 1,000 megawatts by 2020 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 24 May 2010 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>energygegeneral electricGeneralElectricgreengreen powerGreenPowerjuggaloLake Erie Energy Development CorporationLakeErieEnergyDevelopmentCorporationLEEDCooffshorewind farmwind powerWindFarmWindPowerMon, 24 May 2010 14:01:00 EST<![CDATA[GE's LED light bulbs look cool, last forever, cost a lot]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/13/ges-led-light-bulbs-look-cool-last-forever-cost-a-lot/http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/13/ges-led-light-bulbs-look-cool-last-forever-cost-a-lot/http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/13/ges-led-light-bulbs-look-cool-last-forever-cost-a-lot/#commentsGE's LED light bulbs look cool, last forever, cost a lot Citizens of the Earth, you're looking at the lightbulb of the future. In the coming years and decades our lives won't be illuminated by simple spheres or coils of white. Oh no; future bulbs will have cool fins and flares that make them look almost worth the $40 to $50 we'll pay for the things. That's what GE plans to ask for its Energy Smart LED bulb when it ships sometime in the next 12 months, and while that is a lot compared to the exiting options, look at the benefits: GE's bulbs will last a whopping 17 years when used four hours a day, and they give off light in all directions -- not focused in one spot like previous designs. But, most importantly, they're very efficient, using nine watts to give off the equivalent amount of light of a 40 watt incandescent bulb. That's 10 percent less than a 40 watt equivalent CFL, and there's no mercury or other toxic goop involved here either. It's the future, folks. Start saving.

Gallery: GE Energy Smart LED bulb

GE's LED light bulbs look cool, last forever, cost a lot originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 13 Apr 2010 09:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>energy smartenergy smart led bulbEnergySmartEnergySmartLedBulbgege energy smart led bulbGeEnergySmartLedBulbgeneral electricGeneralElectricledled bulbLedBulblight bulbLightBulbTue, 13 Apr 2010 09:27:00 EST<![CDATA[NBC-Comcast deal comes under Justice Department, FCC scrutiny]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/12/nbc-comcast-deal-comes-under-justice-department-fcc-scrutiny/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/12/nbc-comcast-deal-comes-under-justice-department-fcc-scrutiny/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/12/nbc-comcast-deal-comes-under-justice-department-fcc-scrutiny/#commentsWe can't say we didn't warn you. Looks like the kids at Comcast have to answer some questions over at the Justice Department -- and the FCC -- before they get their hands on NBC. Both agencies have pledged to "examine the transaction closely," says AP, being ever-vigilant as they are to protect consumers and competition in this free market society of ours. The review could last upwards of a year, but if that means that 2011 could see the debut of NBC-Universal's "Comcastic!" theme parks, it will all have been worth it.

NBC-Comcast deal comes under Justice Department, FCC scrutiny originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 12 Mar 2010 10:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>buyoutcomcastfccgegeneral electricGeneralElectricjustice departmentJusticeDepartmentmergernbcnbc universalNbcUniversalvivendiFri, 12 Mar 2010 10:24:00 EST<![CDATA[PMA 2010... and that's a wrap, folks]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/26/pma-2010-and-thats-a-wrap-folks/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/26/pma-2010-and-thats-a-wrap-folks/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/26/pma-2010-and-thats-a-wrap-folks/#comments We had a great time in Anaheim this past weekend checking out the Photo Marketing Association's trade show spectacle. Hundreds of cameras and thousands of pictures later, we're finally back and getting settled. Let's take a look back at all that we saw this week, and then kind of wrap up a few loose ends.

GE's 'Create by Jason Wu' camera collection unveiled, we go hands on
Joby Gorillapod Magnetic flexible tripod hands-on
Nikon CoolPix 'Style' and 'Life' series hands-on
Pentax's rugged W90, ultra-zoom X90 now all but official
Samsung TL500 and TL350 hands-on
Samsung PMA roundup: hands on HMX-U20, eyes on AQ100 and SL605
Sony Alpha ultra-compact concept hands-off: leaves much to the imagination
Sony's ultra-durable DSC-TX5 hands-on: ice, ice, baby
Sigma trio espied at PMA, COO expresses interest in supporting 'mirrorless camera systems'

Gallery: Casio Exilim EX-S7 and EX-Z35 hands-on

Gallery: Panasonic PMA 2010 roundup

Gallery: Fujifilm PMA 2010 roundup

PMA 2010... and that's a wrap, folks originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 26 Feb 2010 07:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aq100casiofine pixfinepixfp3fuifilm xp10FuifilmXp10fujifilmgegorilla podGorillaPodgorillapod magneticGorillapodMagnetichmx-u10hs700jason wuJasonWujobyjoby gorillapodJobyGorillapodmagneticnikonnikon coolpixNikonCoolpixpentaxpentax w90PentaxW90pmapma 2010Pma2010samsungsamsung tl350samsung tl500SamsungTl350SamsungTl500sigmasl605sonysony alphaSonyAlphatl350tl500tm700ts2xp10zr3Fri, 26 Feb 2010 07:30:00 EST<![CDATA[GE's 'Create by Jason Wu' camera collection unveiled, we go hands on]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/22/ges-create-by-jason-wu-camera-collection-unveiled-we-go-hand/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/22/ges-create-by-jason-wu-camera-collection-unveiled-we-go-hand/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/22/ges-create-by-jason-wu-camera-collection-unveiled-we-go-hand/#comments Keep it simple, stupid. There's no better way to describe the "Create by Jason Wu" collection unveiled at PMA by General Imaging (a.k.a. GE). The fashion designer's point and shoot could not be easier: you can shoot, choose flash, and view galleries. That's it -- and in fact, if you need a cue, the shooter reminds you to "hold still" while taking a shot. You're definitely picking this up for style over substance, but still it's pleasantly light and captures surprisingly decent images. As for the nitty-gritty specs, we're looking at 12 megapixels, 3x optical zoom, and a 2.7-inch LCD. The battery charges via wall adapter or the retractible USB plug, which is also how you movie images to your computer of choice. Color options? White, black, gold, red, yellow, blue, green for a metal finish; and white, black and grey for leather. A 4GB version is $180, and 8GB is $230 -- no memory cards accepted here, folks. Look for the camera to debut, of all places, via Home Shopping Network on March 16th. Press release after the break, shots below -- and while you're looking, we've also got an eyeful of the rest of GE's point-and-shoot PMA collection.

Gallery: GE's 'Create by Jason Wu' camera collection hands-on

Gallery: General Imaging's PMA collection hands-on

Continue reading GE's 'Create by Jason Wu' camera collection unveiled, we go hands on

GE's 'Create by Jason Wu' camera collection unveiled, we go hands on originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 22 Feb 2010 17:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>createcreate by jason wuCreateByJasonWugegeneral electricgeneral imagingGeneralElectricGeneralImaginggihands-onjason wujason wu createJasonWuJasonWuCreatepmapma 2010Pma2010point and shootpoint-and-shootPointAndShootwuMon, 22 Feb 2010 17:28:00 EST<![CDATA[GE outs PMA 2010 range: X5, E1486TW, E1480W, J1455 and waterproof G5WP]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/21/ge-outs-pma-2010-range-x5-e1486tw-e1480w-j1455-and-waterproo/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/21/ge-outs-pma-2010-range-x5-e1486tw-e1480w-j1455-and-waterproo/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/21/ge-outs-pma-2010-range-x5-e1486tw-e1480w-j1455-and-waterproo/#commentsNot sure if anyone clued you in, but there's a reasonably large camera show going on in Anaheim, and the shooter news is flowing hot and heavy. General Imaging (or GE, as it were) has just busted out its 2010 range of point and shoot cameras, and while none of 'em are particularly mind-blowing, there are a few here worth paying attention to. The waterproof G5WP (ships in late Q2 for $179.99) is a natural successor to last year's G3WP, offering up a metal enclosure, 4x internal zoom, a 12.2 megapixel sensor and your choice of gray, red or blue color schemes. The $149.99 X5 megazoom offers up a 15x zoom lens, a maximum ISO of 3,200 and a Q2 ship date, while the J1455 brings a 14.2 megapixel sensor, 5x optical zoom lens, image stabilization and a multitude of color options for $129.99. The 'Power Series' is seeing two new additions today in the 0.83-inch thick E1486TW ($179.99) and E1480W ($149.99), both of which include HD movie modes, optical image stabilization, a 14 megapixel sensor, an 8x optical zoomer and a 3-inch rear LCD. The company's low-end C- and A-series cameras are also seeing updates today, all of which are detailed in the linked presser.

GE outs PMA 2010 range: X5, E1486TW, E1480W, J1455 and waterproof G5WP originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 21 Feb 2010 13:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>A1255A1455C1033C1233cameracamera phoneCameraPhonedigicamdigital cameraDigitalCameraE1480WE1486TWG5WPGEGeneral ImagingGeneralImagingJ1455pmapma 2010Pma2010point and shootPointAndShootwaterproofX5Sun, 21 Feb 2010 13:19:00 EST<![CDATA[InPhase out of business, assets seized for back taxes]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/08/inphase-out-of-business-assets-seized-for-back-taxes/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/08/inphase-out-of-business-assets-seized-for-back-taxes/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/08/inphase-out-of-business-assets-seized-for-back-taxes/#commentsIt's been something like five years that we've been eagerly waiting for InPhase to finally release that revolutionary holographic storage solution, and while there has been plenty of drama in the way of release dates promised and pushed back, and even some layoffs to keep things interesting, the company has been pretty, pretty quiet lately. As it turns out, this has been due to the fact that employees have been busy enough updating their resumes. "We were expecting it for a long time," said one employee, among the sixty or so who picked up their final paychecks last week. "So it wasn't a big surprise." To put a finer point on things, it's been announced that the Colorado Department of Revenue has seized the company's assets for non-payment of taxes. According to The Register, the state has changed the locks and announced that everything on the premises will be auctioned off, down to the fixtures and furniture. This is certainly an ignominious end to a once great idea, but as you know every cloud has a silver lining: If you're looking to get into the holographic storage business, drop us a line. We've heard that some equipment is becoming available soon -- and at a great price.

InPhase out of business, assets seized for back taxes originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 08 Feb 2010 10:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>300rbankruptbankruptcydelaydelayedgeholographicholographic storageHolographicStorageInPhaseInPhase technologiesInphaseTechnologieskaputout of businessOutOfBusinessTapestryTapestry 300Tapestry 300rTapestry300Tapestry300rvaporwareMon, 08 Feb 2010 10:36:00 EST<![CDATA[Poll: How do you feel about Comcast buying NBC?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/06/poll-how-do-you-feel-about-comcast-buying-nbc/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/06/poll-how-do-you-feel-about-comcast-buying-nbc/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/06/poll-how-do-you-feel-about-comcast-buying-nbc/#comments Comcast has agreed to take a controlling interest of NBC from GE and whether the company has a can of Raid waiting for Hulu or not, there's a lot of potential reactions to this new deal. Some have the opinion that another team to take on the Disney-ABC-ESPN combination could help keep prices down for everyone, while others can't see how the government should allow so many media and communication outlets to be controlled by one company. So let's have it, what were you thinking when you heard about the buyout?

View Poll

Poll: How do you feel about Comcast buying NBC? originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 06 Dec 2009 14:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>buyoutcomcastfccftcgegeneral electricGeneralElectrichdnbcnbc universalNbcUniversalvivendiSun, 06 Dec 2009 14:31:00 EST<![CDATA[Comcast takes control of NBC, promises not to crush Hulu]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/03/comcast-takes-control-of-nbc-promises-not-to-crush-hulu-like-a/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/03/comcast-takes-control-of-nbc-promises-not-to-crush-hulu-like-a/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/03/comcast-takes-control-of-nbc-promises-not-to-crush-hulu-like-a/#comments
As expected, Comcast announced its buyout of NBC this morning, and we have a few details of interest to Engadget readers and fans of rom-coms alike. Essentially, Comcast now owns 51 percent of NBC-Universal to GE's 49 percent and will manage the entity -- leveraging the newly acquired content with their infrastructure. On an investor call (reported by All Things Digital) a short time ago, Comcast CEO Brian Roberts emphasized that the company bought "a bunch of profitable cable channels" and "some theme parks, too" (we think that last part was a joke). Not so funny, of course, is the film studio that's seen better years and the broadcast network that's been described elsewhere as "faltering." When asked about TV Everywhere and Hulu, Comcast COO Steve Burke notes that "NBC has been careful not to put too much cable content on the Internet. We think that's a smart strategy... We think that going forward, you're going to continue to have free broadcast stuff on Hulu, and cable stuff on TV Everywhere." As for rumors of Hulu Premium? "That's certainly not in the cards." Web-based TV fanatics will be pleased to note that Roberts appears to be in your court: "We love Hulu and have no intent to crush it like a bug." That's all well and good, but as we know nothing's final until the government has its say: the FCC, the Federal Trade Commission, and the Justice Department are all sure to have strongly held opinions on the matter. PR after the break.

Update: The "crush it like a bug" comment was actually just some editorializing from Peter Kafka at All Things Digital -- but we're certain Steve Burke has only love in his heart for Hulu.

Continue reading Comcast takes control of NBC, promises not to crush Hulu

Comcast takes control of NBC, promises not to crush Hulu originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 03 Dec 2009 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>buyoutcomcastgegeneral electricGeneralElectricmergernbcnbc universalNbcUniversalvivendiThu, 03 Dec 2009 11:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Comcast deal to buy NBC is done, will be announced Thursday]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/01/comcast-deal-to-buy-nbc-is-done-will-be-announced-thursday/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/01/comcast-deal-to-buy-nbc-is-done-will-be-announced-thursday/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/01/comcast-deal-to-buy-nbc-is-done-will-be-announced-thursday/#comments We told you we had a feeling this thing was happening -- less than a day after GE consolidated ownership of NBC Universal in preparation to spin it off and sell a controlling stake to Comcast, CNBC is reporting that the deal is actually done and will be announced Thursday morning. As rumored from the start, Comcast will now own 51 percent of NBC to GE's 49 percent, and the new company will fold in Comcast's various content assets, which means the new NBC will rival Disney in size. That's a big enchilada, and it should make the future of Comcast initiatives like TV Everywhere extremely interesting. Of course, all this still has to go through the FCC and FTC, and we wouldn't expect anything to be approved and finalized for a year, but none of that takes away from the magnitude of this deal. We'll obviously know more in a couple days, stay tuned.

Comcast deal to buy NBC is done, will be announced Thursday originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01 Dec 2009 18:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breaking newsBreakingNewsbuyoutcomcastgegeneral electricGeneralElectricmergernbcnbc universalNbcUniversalspinoffTue, 01 Dec 2009 18:10:00 EST<![CDATA[Comcast inches closer to buying NBC]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/01/comcast-inches-closer-to-buying-nbc/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/01/comcast-inches-closer-to-buying-nbc/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/01/comcast-inches-closer-to-buying-nbc/#comments It's been over a month since we last heard anything about the rumored Comcast takeover of NBC, but things are slowly starting to move forward: Bloomberg says that NBC parent company GE has bought out Vivendi's 20 percent stake in the broadcaster for $5.8b, with up to a $2b refund due back if the Comcast deal isn't done by the end of 2010. That's no small gamble -- Comcast will have to clear a "gauntlet" of federal regulators from the FCC and FTC, who will scrutinize everything from the transfer of TV broadcast licenses in New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles to the effects on competitors like Dish Network and Verizon, who will still want access to NBC's huge stable of content and programming. Big challenges, to be sure, but we get the feeling this deal is going down one way or another -- get ready for a rocky 2010.

Comcast inches closer to buying NBC originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01 Dec 2009 13:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>buyoutcomcastgegeneral electricGeneralElectricmergernbcvivendiTue, 01 Dec 2009 13:51:00 EST