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Chevy Bolt EV concept hints at the future of affordable electric cars
Those rumors of GM developing its own affordable electric car? Yep, they're true. Chevrolet has unveiled the Bolt EV concept, its vision of a vehicle that can deliver 200 miles of all-electric driving for about $30,000 after tax credits. It's not as slick as a Tesla Model S, but it promises an airy, spacious design (check out that full-length glass roof) with some technological smarts. It touts multiple driving modes that adjust the steering, acceleration and suspension, and the interior's center stack is dominated by a 10-inch capacitive touchscreen. Also, you wouldn't have to spring for a BMW or Tesla to get a vehicle that can park itself -- the Bolt's smartphone app would automatically fetch and drop off the car when you're in a hurry.
The long road to self-driving cars
Automakers are big on self-driving cars this year. Audi, fresh from breaking both the autonomous speed and distance records (and driving me around a track at over 120MPH), announced the Prologue piloted-driving concept, and although Ford didn't have a new car to show, it still proclaimed it would strive to be the first to offer an autonomous vehicle "to the masses." But it's Mercedes-Benz that has stolen the show so far with its jaw-dropping, but unfortunately named F 015 Luxury in Motion concept. The F 015 is full of awesome and downright ridiculous technology. The front grille lights up to show if the car is in autonomous or manual mode, and can also project turning signals, pedestrian crossings and other information to the outside world. Its rear does something similar, lighting up to spell out words like "stop" and "slow" to tailgaters. The exterior itself resembles something between a Prius and a child's imagining of what a future car should look like, and its interior is similarly striking.
Revival talks about death, decoration, and defenses
You remember Revival, right? You know, the game funding its development by selling in-game houses? That one. The developers haven't been quiet over the holiday season, with several recent blog posts detailing the high-end concepts behind several of the game's key mechanics -- for example, dying, which doesn't simply leave you to run back to your corpse but forces you to traverse the spirit realm, fighting off malicious spirits and seeking the Mortality Gate to drag yourself back from the dead. Of course, you can stay alive longer by making use of combat mechanics like the shield wall to defend yourself from dying. You can also use your continued "being alive" status to take advantage of the decoration kits available for housing, which allow you to convert existing rooms with certain fixtures to more functional equivalents. It's all interesting stuff and worth considering if you're sorely tempted to drop a bunch of money on the promise of virtual real estate.
'Light Cocoon' is a fabric-wrapped concept car with a 3D-printed skeleton
German firm EDAG Engineering regularly conjures up both futuristic and wacky concept cars, just like the "Light Cocoon" pictured above slated to be showcased at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show. The company calls it the "ultimate in future lightweight construction," because it doesn't have the typical automobile shell. Instead, it has a 3D-printed skeleton covered in tough weatherproof fabric called Texapore Softshell that's apparently four times lighter than copy paper. (And yes, it has backlighting -- the whole design was just asking for it.) EDAG says this unusual sports car design was inspired by leaves, which have veins supporting layers of epidermis and mesophyll, as any grade school student can tell you. However, this isn't the first fabric-covered concept car we've seen. In 2008, BMW revealed the GINA Light Visionary concept that's essentially the Batmobile with a carbon fiber and metal frame wrapped in textile.
Star Citizen opens up a $350 ship for sale
Do you want to go out exploring with Star Citizen once it's actually possible to do so? It's one of the stated goals of the game, after all. If so, perhaps you'd like to do that exploration inside of the newly revealed Anvil Carrack, a ship that is available for purchase now for the not-at-all low price of $350. And you can't use it in any of the game's current modules once you do purchase it. According to the official page, the Carrack is being offered as a concept sale, which means that it is currently unavailable for use in any modules. It comes with lifetime insurance once purchased as well as decorative items for the player's hangar, although there's no ETA on when the ship will actually be available for use within the hangar. The ship is available for purchase until December 8th if you want to drop another $350 on the ongoing development of Star Citizen. [Thanks to Cardboard for the tip!]
Chevrolet unveils futuristic 'Gran Turismo 6' concept car
Nissan isn't the only automaker with a real-life version of a vehicle from Gran Turismo 6. At the LA International Auto Show, Chevrolet rolled out its own: the Chaparral 2X Vision Gran Turismo (VGT). The concept car was developed as part of the Vision Gran Turismo project that includes offerings from Subaru, Toyota, Aston Martin and more. As the name suggests, Chevy's take got a hand from Chaparral Racing and includes futuristic options like driver-adjustable aerodynamics and a laser-based propulsion system. The battery-powered 671-kW laser helps churn out 900 horsepower in thrust, which helps the car top out at 240 MPH while going from 0-60 MPH in 1.5 seconds -- inside the confines of GT6, of course. "In many ways, the Chaparral 2X VGT is like racing wing suit, with a protective fuselage for 'flying' very low to the ground," says design team lead Frank Saucedo. You'll be able to pilot the vehicle via an in-game download on PlayStation 3 consoles this holiday season.
Star Citizen explains its ship design pipeline
How does a ship for Star Citizen go from a vague concept to a functional design in the game? That's a great question! It's also one with a concrete answer, as a new official blog on the site explains the whole design pipeline process for new Star Citizen ships, starting with the highest level of concept and moving on to the level where the ship is ready for everyone to take into space. The process is a fairly straightforward one, moving from initial renders and tweaks during the concept stages to having a specific internal layout and then a map of damage areas on the final model. You can also check out the blog for a complete listing of all the ships currently in planning and moving through the concept process. It's not an easy path to go from the idea to a full, working version of the ship, so if you want to get a more detailed look, check out the full breakdown.
No camouflage can hide this weird Mercedes prototype
Spy photos from our sister site Autoblog have revealed a concept car from Mercedes that looks like it was beamed back from 20 years in the future. The silver-colored vehicle sports a wedge shape, cycle fenders, an extreme cab-forward design and narrow tires -- calling to mind Volkswagen's 260MPG XL1 hyrid. Our guess? The tires and aerodynamics suggest an extreme-mileage vehicle, likely a full-on EV, hybrid or other green-tech vehicle, perhaps with a self-driving option. As for when we might see it, we'd place a bet on January at Las Vegas. That's when Mercedes-Benz CEO Dr. Dieter Zetsch will deliver his CES 2015 keynote speech, and yes, unveil an all-new concept car. For a full gallery, check the source. [Image credit: Autoblog]
Let this shape-shifting baton escort you around town
Don't you hate it when you have to constantly check your phone for map navigation, thus not able to fully enjoy the scenery while travelling? Rather than just switching to audio navigation (which can get annoying after a while), NTT Docomo believes tactile feedback is another possible solution, as demonstrated by its Yubi Navi ("Yubi" meaning finger in Japanese) concept at CEATEC. As you can see in the above GIF image, this simple handheld device can gently twist left and right to give turn directions to your thumb. But there's more: When paired with another Yubi Navi, the two users can simulate the feeling of holding hands by squeezing their own devices, as the lower part of the stick can push a bump up against the palm.
Citroen's hybrid concept car gets 115 mpg from thin air (hands-on)
With the Cactus Airflow 2L, Citroen thinks it's found a way to bring the cost of hybrid technology down to earth using nothing but air. Based on a production Cactus model, the natty, low-roofed concept car has a unique hybrid compressed air/gas engine at its core. In a regular hybrid, batteries store energy from braking and coasting downhill. It's the same idea here, but instead of storing electricity, the Airflow 2L compresses air and stocks it in a tank. It can then be released when needed, powering the car during wasteful acceleration or city driving. While that may sound wonky, the system has been tested to an rather astonishing 115 mpg or so. Still, why bother with an untested system when existing hybrid drivetrains are so mature?
Peugeot's new hybrid concept is half SUV, half sports car
If you had any lingering concerns that hybrid cars were boring, Peugeot just smashed them to bits. Its new Quartz crossover concept blends the muscular, offroad-ready profile of a small SUV with green powerplants and aerodynamics that could give better hybrid sports cars a run for their money. The 270HP turbo gas engine is nothing special, but it's mated to two 114HP electric motors that either give you a heap of extra performance or else move the vehicle by themselves. Peugeot reckons that you'd get 31 miles of purely electric driving -- that's not spectacular, but it's solid for an all-purpose ride that's equally at home on gravel roads and racetracks. The French automaker isn't giving any hints that the Quartz will reach production, so don't expect to get the keys to this exact machine any time soon, if ever. If nothing else, though, the concept is proof that you don't have to give up speed or flexibility when you're getting an eco-friendly car.
A jet fit for a (Sacramento) King: Nike's sports plane of the future
If you haven't heard of Teague, it's the Seattle-based firm that designed this year's e-bike of the future, the Pringles can and the original Xbox. The company also has a sideline aircraft cabins, and it was here that it learned of a peculiar problem facing professional sports teams. According to a 2008 study, baseball players that cross three time zones to play a game would have a 60 percent chance of losing, thanks to the lack of comfort afforded by air travel. That's why the company paired up with Nike to design an aircraft interior designed to expressly carry a basketball team from coast-to-coast without compromising their performances. That's why it comes with lie-flat beds that are tall enough for a 7-foot player, smart bathroom facilities that analyze hydration statistics and a separate chill-out zone for pre-and-post-game relaxation. Curious for a little tour of these state-of-the-art facilities? Head on down and check out the gallery.
The Daily Grind: Which MMO has best realized its concept art?
I was looking at some Mortal Online concept art the other day and marveling at how beautiful it is. Then I looked at Mortal Online itself and was sorely disappointed. This is not to pick on Star Vault's game exclusively, though, because plenty of other MMOs have also failed to translate conceptual awesome into actual awesome. Let's talk about the success stories, though. Which MMO do you think has done the best job of realizing the vision put forth by its concept art? Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!
This is the best and worst iPhone 6 concept ever
Everyone thinks they know what the next iPhone is going to look like. From supposedly leaked components, alleged case designs, and all manner of speculation from "insiders," there are a seemingly endless number of theories. And then there are the concept artists who dream up impossible designs that we all know will never come to fruition, but are simply fun to look at. This iPhone 6 concept by Pritesh Chavan is firmly in the realm of the impossible, but it also manages to be one of the best and worst iPhone fever dreams of all time. At the start it's a candy bar style smartphone that looks something like the old iPod nano, but with a larger screen. It's not all that far from the iPhone 5 (and 5s), so who knows -- it could exist, right? Wait, it folds? Hmm, ok. This isn't going to be one of those "it has a full-sized keyboard" things, I hope. Let's go ahead and unfold it a bit... I... wait, what? Ok, bendable LCDs are a thing that exist, I suppose. Now the screen is double its original size, making it a funky square, and that dude's hand is one of the stretchiest human limbs I've ever seen. It also looks like it might unfold again. Apparently that super screen wasn't done unfolding, so now it's three times the size it was originally. It's basically an iPad at this point, so there's going to be a bit of sales cannibalization going on here, but who cares when literally everyone in the world is going to buy the phone? Ok, so there's no way anything like this is going to launch within the next decade, but that's not the point. It's a concept, and concepts are allowed to be absolutely insane as long as they're cool, and this iPhone 6 certainly fits that description. Ignoring for a moment that the screen would get destroyed within your first 24 hours of ownership, and the fact that you couldn't put a case or any protective shield on it whatsoever, and the complete lack of space or things a phone needs -- like a battery -- it's pretty awesome.
UemeU shows off concept video and screenshots
If you want to roll your own game these days, you're certainly not lacking in tools to do so. UemeU is another game aimed at giving players the ability to do whatever they want, whether they'd like to build a huge, sprawling online game or just a nice house to settle down and call your own. The official reveal trailer past the break explains the goals of developer Omnigon Games in detail: The game is meant as a sandbox allowing players to create their own servers, structures, rules, and settings as they desire. Lead developer Jeremy Hindle explains that the game will allow players to both create and play, with creation governed by a simple set of basic shapes that can be combined as players wish. Players will be able to create and modify abilities, change the rules for servers, and create a robust series of interactions via the use of action triggers. Check out the full video just past the cut if this sounds right up your alley. [Souce: Omnigon Games press release]
Blocks' modular smartwatch concept is ambitious to a fault
As one of the Blocks smartwatch team reminded us today, modularity has played an integral role in modern computing. A desktop PC is only a collection of components, after all, which can swapped out and upgraded based on what you need from that particular machine (a process Razer hopes to simplify with Project Christine). Recently, Google and others have been working out how to bring the same level of customization to the smartphone. With smartwatches and fitness trackers a burgeoning tech category, both in terms of consumer interest and product development, the Blocks team sees no reason why wrist-worn technology can't benefit from being modular, too. It's in the process of creating such a gadget and today we caught up with the team at a London event, hosted by the Bluetooth Special Interest Group, to talk about its progress and check out an extremely early prototype.
New Apple patent brings insane concept videos one tiny step closer to reality
Back in 2012, a local Fox affiliate ran a news story showing off what they thought was the iPhone 5. In reality, it was a concept video with non-existent features like holographic images and a projection keyboard. The internet laughed and we all went on with our lives. Now, Apple has filed a patent that brings one of those mythical features a small bit closer to reality. The patent, titled "iPhone Frequency Sensor/Magnifier Application" describes a system that, with an iPhone laying on a flat surface, uses various acoustic signals and vibration readings to effectively turn that surface into a functional touch panel. The surface in question can then be split into various regions that, when touched, could be used for various input. The patent specifically calls out the possibility of such technology being used for keyboard input, game control, or for navigating and playing music from the iPhone. There's even a mention of being able to print out a paper keyboard that could be used in conjunction with the iPhone's sensing capabilities, as well as the idea that the iPhone itself could project the keyboard or other input grid onto a surface. It's a wild idea, and while we've seen virtual keyboards in the past, they're typically clunky and usually not accurate enough to rely on for long periods of time. The technology described in Apple's patent seems much more advanced, so on the small chance that we ever see an iPhone that actually utilizes it, that futuristic concept video might not have been so crazy after all. [via Patently Apple]
Toyota's LED-lit concept car lets your kids customize the hood
If you complained about your family's drab-looking car when you were a kid, you're going to love the latest incarnation of Toyota's Camatte concept. The vehicle lets children (and creative adults) customize the look by translating their drawings to nearly 7,000 LED lights on the hood; you could change styles at a moment's notice without having to swap panels (as with the 2012 Camatte) or break out some paint. There's no word on the possibility of this technology reaching production models, although we wouldn't count on it in the near future -- even if higher energy consumption isn't a factor, a light-up hood could get quite expensive. Still, Camatte raises hope that cars will one day be as unique as their drivers.
3D-printed corset turns see-through the more time you spend online
Corsets are typically used to squeeze torsos into shape, but designers Xuedi Chen and Pedro Oliveira had other ideas in mind. Instead of making another waist-pinching underwear, they've designed a 3D-printed corset that demonstrates how the internet has rendered us naked and vulnerable... by turning more and more transparent while the wearer stays online. The whole corset, aptly named x.pose and pictured above, represents a town, and each patch (connected to an Arduino board) stands for a neighborhood. Once the accompanying location software determines where the wearer's accessing the internet from, it communicates with the Arduino board using the phone's Bluetooth connection. The corresponding patch on the corset then pulsates and loses opacity the more data the user shares.
Gun company figures out how to shoot around corners using Google Glass
TrackingPoint is a startup that's building smart weapons, like rifles with targeting scopes that'll turn a rank amateur into a crack sniper. Now, the company is working on ShotView, a system that'll separate the user form the sight entirely, which is what's being demonstrated in this concept video. Pumping live video from the gun to nearby WiFi devices, the company wants smartphone, tablet and Google Glass users to be able to point their weapon around corners and over obstacles, "blind" firing with deadly accuracy. We just hope someone makes the Diane Von Furstenberg frames a mandatory accessory, or future battlefields are going to be sorely lacking in style.
