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Volta's EV network gives you 30 minutes of free fast charging
If you build a free high-speed charging network, will affluent EV owners come? Charging company Volta will soon find out, as it has unveiled plans to install 150 public-access DC fast-charging stations. EV owners heading to shopping centers, supermarkets, and sports stadiums will get a free half-hour of charging, equivalent to about 175 miles of range at 100kW stations. After that, they'll be able to pay to continue the charging session.
Public Access' time is done, but a better Engadget community awaits
It's been just shy of two years since we unveiled Public Access, our grand experiment in community contribution. In that time, we've seen some excellent stories published on the platform by you, and we are grateful for those efforts. Today, however, we are moving the Engadget community in a new direction and will be shutting Public Access down this Thursday, March 9th. For those of you in the community, you can rest assured your contributions aren't going anywhere -- the links to your stories will remain live and shareable, even though your profile pages will disappear. That said, we will be removing all site navigation to Public Access stories, so you need to copy the links to your stuff if you want to be able to read and share them moving forward. And, if you have any questions, just email publicaccess at engadget dot com, and we'll answer them! While your Public Access profile will be no more, you can (and should) sign up for an Engadget account that'll let you continue contributing to the Engadget community by submitting comments and gadget reviews. We've got some new features (including new and improved profile pages) planned for our community that are coming soon, so sign up, tell us what you think, and enjoy the ride!
Confess: What is your worst tech habit?
Mine involved a Public Road Disturbance .. 8 Years ago when ever i drive to My Car Sound System is always at Max Volume no matter taxing on the road side or in the middle of Traffic Light and the music i blast can be heard from 700 meters or a mile and everyone within my range feels the Vibrations badly but yet i Ignored. Today when think about what i did back in the days , i could have caused other drivers in a road accident ...i probably even missed it if i did because it was too loud. Whisper: ~ now days i am more to maxing out my volume when watching movies in my room but Ofcus only at day time or at the right time.
GIF party: The new Public Access homepage
by09.03.2015
This week's assignment is for Public Access members to contribute GIFs on how they feel about the redesigned home page, but we thought you might also want to see some reaction GIFs from the folks on staff because, hey, we have feelings too you guys. Let the GIF party commence! When they first told me that there was a new home page in the words for Public Access, I was like: It's been a few months since we started Public Access, and we wanted to make the home page clean, functional and inviting to use. We also wanted to play around some with new sections to highlight great stories and include links to the detailed user reviews that can be found on most product pages. When the intrepid Engadget devs, Conrad and Stefan, gave me my first look at the mock up to the new Public Access home page I thought: It's nicely laid out and the Top 5 box is a great way to highlight posts (it's currently displaying the posts with the most page views). It'll look even better when the Q&A section and the tags are added (which are both on the way). When I heard there was an official launch date, I reacted a little like this: When the new Public Access home page actually went up with all the elements working flawlessly, I was stoked and also thankful to Stefan and Conrad for all their work. Just for fun I asked Stefan to share a GIF about how he felt when the page was done and up. He said this GIF pretty well sums up his reaction: Thanks again to everyone who worked on the home page! We're looking forward to seeing your reaction GIFs too, so share 'em in a Public Access post (or heck, put them up here in the comments if you'd prefer).
The best of Public Access Vol.11: Welcome home
This week, there's plenty going on from hints on the upcoming Apple event to Instagram allowing users to upload both landscape and portrait-oriented photos, but the big news in Public Access is our shiny new home page! If you've been regularly reading these 'Best of' update posts, then you already knew that we've been busy working behind the scenes on sprucing up Public Access, but now it's finally here.
Growing up geek: Not so much actually
These days, I am almost always within reach of a computer. I've largely forgotten what the days were like when I wasn't switching among the screens of various smartphones, tablets, laptops and desktops. My apartment is cluttered with numerous gadgets and devices, from a barrage of home automation and mobile accessories to a beast of a desktop in the middle of a rebuild. I am the family member who gets all those fun text messages requesting tech support with printers and social media settings. (Here, let me Google that for you...) After 10 years of being a writer and editor at over half a dozen tech magazines and online tech publications (most recently here at Engadget, huzzah!), I can safely say that I am often the geek in the group. I built my gaming desktop with my own damn two hands; I have a Steam account; I am constantly testing and deleting new mobile apps; I have multiple backups in place; I am perfectly comfortable working in HTML; and I can tell you in detail what GPU, CPU and PEBCAK stand for. However, I did not grow up geek. There is a 97 percent chance that someone was yelling, "Heels DOWN!" when this photo was taken. I just wasn't a tech geek as a kid. I spent a good portion of my childhood on horseback, and aside from Lego, my toys were a fairly typical array of non-tech items like Barbies, My Little Ponies and Cabbage Patch Kids. I didn't take apart the VHS player and try to put it back together. I didn't have a yearning to understand how mechanical things worked, nor any deep desire to make software comply with my commands. My household had no gaming system until 1993, when we got an aging NES console that required a book to be wedged into the slot to keep the cartridge in the machine. We had no CD player until roughly 1995. When I first moved to San Francisco to attend college, I had a hand-me-down beige desktop PC running Windows 98 and no cellphone to speak of. So how did I get to be a geek? Bears a striking resemblance to the PC I went to college with. Via the mailroom. Oh, it's true. My geekhood began in a decidedly analog environment. After a short and disastrous stint in hospitality, I snagged a job delivering mail and packages to editors at PC World. Within eight months, I'd been booted up to editorial assistant, writing a consumer advocacy column and getting a crash course in laptops, desktops, printers, smartphones and more. While I wasn't born a tech enthusiast, being surrounded by a testing lab, gadgets aplenty and knowledgeable folks piqued my interest. Without really intending to, I picked up a variety of information and skills: from knowing how to get better Google search results, to understanding how to troubleshoot problems with laptops, and knowing the shortcuts and "secret" commands in mobile OSes. My friends started asking for my advice on which tech items to buy, and my family started calling me with support questions. In the decade-plus since I first stumbled into tech writing, my interest in and affection for technology has only grown -- I built my first desktop (and am currently working on upgrading and overhauling it), reviewed high-profile products like the first Windows Phone, attended trade shows in places both near and far, interviewed creators and CEOs, installed home-automation hardware, tested fitness and wearable devices, successfully troubleshot a variety of software and hardware issues and continued to pick up as much knowledge as possible. At the time, my mailroom job seemed like something I had just stumbled into before becoming a big-time fiction writer (which is, hilariously, what I thought I'd be when I majored in creative writing in college). However now I see it as a stroke of pure luck -- I still get to write, about a constantly changing and evolving topic that affects all areas of modern life, and I get an unparalleled education in technology. It's a privilege to get to do something I love while learning new things every day, and I am now firmly a geek at heart. Long live the geeks!
For Your App-roval - Here Are My Two Favorite Apps
There are lots of other apps that I love eg. Spotify, Instagram, Google Maps.. but it is these two that have made the greatest impact on my life. My FitnessPal I used to live a sedentary, unhealthy lifestyle which was accompanied with poor eating habits. Working in an office didn't help and I would find myself eating unhealthy snacks and drinking lots of coffee. Things came to a head when my mother passed away because of heart disease. This was smoking and weight related and it was the catalyst for me to start adopting a healthy lifestyle. A friend recommended me this app and it has virtually revolutionized my life since I incorporated it into my fitness routine well over a year ago. The app features a never ending database- some four million + items and a brilliant calorie counting feature. You can enter the types of food you are eating and sync it with your PC/ mobile device/tablet. There are exercise workouts which are varied and never boring, it keeps me motivated and has helped me make better eating choices. It has been extraordinarily transformative in many ways, I feel happier and healthier. I have lost 10.7 kgs and kicked 20 year old smoking habit. This would not have been possible if I didn't have this daily companion informing me, inspiring me and motivating me. I had joined gyms before but usually gave up after two weeks, now with this app I find myself setting goals that I am not only reaching but exceeding. This has got to be my number one app. Wally This is another fantastic app that has helped budget and prioritize my spending. Being prudent with money was never one of my strong points, in fact I was pretty reckless and would often spend on items that I didn't need. Now that I am paying rent and bills, I have to reign in my spending and prioritize my finances otherwise I would end up without a roof over my head! This app is user friendly and easy to use, Wally lets me know where my income is going, sets and adheres to budgets, balances my income and expenses and allows me to reach my financial goals. Now instead of being flat broke at the end of the month surviving on basic rations, there is enough cash in the kitty to indulge myself a little. Peace of mind and sensible money management have been the two great benefits of this app.
The best of Public Access Vol.10: Who's there?
by08.20.2015This week, we live-blogged IDF and its scary robots, reviewed the OnePlus 2, and debated the merits of Apple Music. Also: Giant robots! Space! And Knock Knock! (That's not a joke.)
I dream of robots: Get out of my dreams and into my car
by08.13.2015First off, let's clarify the title here a bit: I don't actually dream of robots. That sounds...a bit creepy actually, and if I had my druthers I'd dream about bunnies and French Bulldogs and gummy candies every night.Yep, that there's the stuff nightmares are made of... However, as a lazy human the idea of having a minion (robot or otherwise) to perform my least enjoyed tasks is a tempting offer. While there are several responsibilities that I would gladly hand off to a bot (cleaning litter boxes quickly springs to mind), the idea that seems best attuned to robotic assistance is one that is already being looked into. And that idea is robot drivers.Consider the possibilities of sitting comfortably in a vehicle, enjoying the view passing by, reading and drinking coffee. You don't have to worry about stop signs or bicycle lanes or who actually has the right-of-way at that four way stop (it's usually whoever stopped first, for what it's worth). It sounds so...relaxing.See? 60's-style technicolor Dad gets it! Now, I can already hear some of you in the back whispering about how Google is working on a self-driving car - and I know some of you are thinking "Amber, if you want a robot driver why not just take the bus or a train and get the same effect?" True enough, riding a subway or bus does relieve me of the responsibilities of driving -- while placing it into the hands of another entirely fallible human (who may or may not have a worse driving record than I do). Let me regale you about the time I was on a MUNI train that took the wrong track and wound up miles from where it was supposed to be, or the time I was on a MUNI bus that hit a taxi cab (everyone was okay). Or talk to anyone in the Bay Area during a BART strike.People are still needed to operate buses and trains and subway cars, and each of them is entirely capable of having a bad day, or a cold, or simply being short tempered at how long it takes to turn left in this city (Which is forever. And ever. And ever.).Robot drivers won't be upset if someone cuts them off. They're not going to be distracted by their smartphones; they don't have personal vendettas against lane-splitting motorcyclists; they won't drink and drive, and unlike the majority of Uber drivers, they aren't chatting me up for popularity points. All they want to do is execute their mission of getting to a destination safely.Okay, he would probably drink and drive. So in the end, maybe I do day-dream a little bit about robots - about how they can make our future safer, more efficient, environmentally cleaner, and overall easier. And maybe I'm inspired by living in an increasingly crowded city with a growing traffic problem and an aging public transportation system, but I can't see an issue with making the streets safer, one robot at a time.
Best of Public Access Vol.9: So What'cha, What'cha Want?
by08.13.2015Google is Alphabet now, in one of the more confusing rebrandings since Netflix thought that Qwikster would be a good idea. This week, in addition to trying to think of clever headlines about the Alphabet announcement, we heard back from the Def Con hacker conference, and electropop band Yacht ensured no one would ever see their album artwork when they released it via fax machine only... because there is nothing artists hate more than you actually looking at their work.
The best of Public Access Vol.7: online security and Android frustrations
Microsoft set the world on fire this week with the release of Windows 10 as a free download for existing Windows users. And in our review of the OS, we found that Edge, Windows 10's new web browser, is a sleek and speedy onramp to the information superhighway. Simply upgrading to the latest and greatest software doesn't make you impervious to harm on the internet, however, so last week we asked you to share how you stay secure online. Caroline Leopold doles out some handy tips for password management and stresses the importance of HTTPS. Meanwhile, Jess James has a bone to pick with Google's all-encompassing power over Android, and Bob Summerwill thinks we could all be more efficient at our jobs if we eliminated synchronous operations from the workplace and embraced asynchronous communication instead.
The best of Public Access Vol. 4: Mac Powerbooks, Microsoft Bob and more
The past week on Public Access has seen y'all looking both forward and back in tech history. Englishman and US resident Jess James explained how he would change the course of history (and the outcome of the US revolutionary war) with a big screen TV and some Monty Python. Meanwhile, Miné Salkin wrote of being smitten with the Macintosh PowerBook 100 as a child, and Joe Duncan explained the difficulties of selling the Tandy Video Information System in the early '90s. Lachlan Harris bridged the old and new, making the case that Microsoft's Bob software (from 1995) never actually left us and the DNA of that helping friendly program remains a part of Windows 10. And, Oded Lilos told us why speech recognition and voice assistants -- despite the sizable part they'll play in our computing future -- won't be replacing keyboards anytime soon. P.S. The homepage is coming soon! in the meantime you can check out the latest from Public Access right here. Not a member? Apply, and keep the weird alive.
The best of Public Access Vol. 3: the Atari ST, virtues of HD Audio and more
You can learn a lot from someone's personal gadget arsenal, whether at home or on the road. This past week on Public Access gave us a glimpse of your technological inclinations and taught us quite a bit. Miné Salkin's at-home gear is all about enabling multimedia storytelling and journalism, and constitutes a pretty impressive setup for creating and editing 4K video. Alexander Hohenthaner shared the gear he packs in his bag to get through his daily grind. It's not all about now, however. Nostalgia's a powerful thing, and Jess James gave us a heavy dose with fond memories of his first PC, the Atari ST. Meanwhile, Chris Carroll waxed poetic on how filming family get togethers has brought about some peculiar behavior from his relatives. P.S. The homepage is coming soon! in the meantime you can check out the latest from Public Access right here. Not a member? Apply, and keep the weird alive.
The best of Public Access Vol. 2: Robot friends, flaming Macs and more
Last week, you took us to the dark side of customer support with your worst IT nightmares, and at least a couple of your stories felt like the opening scenes of a Sci-Fi thriller. Carl Zetie took us back to the days of minicomputer, into a medical lab where he was surrounded by radioactive material, and Ed Zitron recounted his mysterious experience with a combustible MacBook. In a more emotional, if not less dramatic retelling, Brandon Côté shared his robotic aspirations as a child suffering from anxiety. P.S. The homepage is coming soon! in the meantime you can check out the latest from Public Access right here. Not a member? Apply, and keep the weird alive.
The best of Public Access Vol. 1
When we introduced Public Access just over two weeks ago, we dubbed it "community storytelling at its weirdest." It appears y'all took the "weird" to heart. You told us your stories about "Growing up geek," showed off your haiku skills with poetic takedowns of your ISPs and shed some light on everyday app addictions. I, for one, feel like I know you better than I ever wanted expected. ("Gun Waving Toddlers" anyone?) This week, we waxed nostalgic about a Commodore Amiga 2000 that runs hot and cold -- literally, it controls the heating and AC -- for Grand Rapids Public School district. Why not write a love letter to your first computer? Whether it was a love-hate relationship or a torrid affair, we've all loved and lost. We know it's hard to unpack the baggage. But we believe in you. Or you could just take a look back at best of Public Access after the break.
Russia lets anyone use Earth-sensing data from its civilian satellites
The US government has been willing to loosen its grip on satellite data, but what about the info from other countries? Don't worry, that's opening up as well. Russia has declared that the Earth-sensing data it collects from civilian satellites is now available to the public, not just the government -- if you want to track St. Petersburg's urban sprawl, you probably can. Officials are keen to tout the advantages for Russian businesses that rely on maps, but the move should also help anyone who wants a more complete picture of how the world works. [Image credit: AP Photo]
Waco, Texas launches WCCC-TV government access HD channel
Here's an interesting one. The city of Waco, Texas has just launched its very own all-digital HD channel for government access use. WCCC-TV (Waco City Cable Channel) is thought to be the first of its kind in Texas, and it can currently be viewed on Grande channel 410. Since earlier this year, the staff at the station has been "creating all new programming and numerous short segments about Waco, its people and government all in 1080p HD." Of note, the HD channel was completely funded by two cable operators (TWC and Grande, we presume) and not a dime of city tax funds were required to pay for the new studios or equipment. Nice touch!
It's on: FCC sets 700MHz spectrum auction for January 16, 2008
It's still not entirely clear how it'll be used, but there's one thing about the FCC's upcoming 700MHz auction that we now know for sure: it'll go down on January 16 of next year. The feds look to sell off a grand total of 1,099 licenses freed by the approaching end of analog television broadcasting divided into five distinct blocks. So-called Blocks A and E cover the FCC's Economic Areas, 176 distinct subdivisions of the US and its territories. Block B is divided into the smaller Cellular Market Areas category, 734 in total. Block D -- intended for use by public safety workers -- is nationwide, meaning just one license will be offered spanning the nation. Finally, the controversial Block C -- the public access spectrum everyone's been in a tizzy over -- is being offered as 12 regional covering the entire country. As with any huge FCC spectrum offage, this sale promises to generate some corporate fireworks, public discussion, and mudslinging, so we're marking our calendars and crossing our fingers that CSPAN will cover all the wild action live. [Warning: PDF link][Via Phone Scoop]Update: It turns out that the 12-region Block C is destined for open access, not the single-license Block D. Block D is intended for public safety use. We've corrected the text of the post above. Our apologies!
