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Volkswagen shows production E-Up! with 93-mile range and AC/DC charging
Remember the Volkswagen's E-Up! concept from 2009? The company just announced that it plans to launch a production version of the tiny EV at the Frankfurt Motor Show this fall. It's been tweaked a little since we last saw it, with proper seating for four (vs. 3+1 on the concept), a revised snout and updated wheels. Under the hood you'll find an 18.7kWh lithium-ion battery pack and a 60kW electric motor which provide a range of 150km (93 miles) with a respectable top speed of 84mph and a leisurely 0-62mph time of 14 seconds. The car supports quick-charging to 80% capacity in just 30 minutes via DC but also handles traditional AC circuits thanks to a Combined Charging System. The E-Up! will join the existing Up! and Eco-Up! (natural gas) models in Volkswagen's lineup, but it's unclear if the company plans to bring the EV to the US. Hit the source link below for the full PR and some additional photos.
Gravidi wants to put clickable hotspots on videos for iOS
At SXSW I found a kiosk showing off a beta of the app Gravidi. It allows producers to add a layer of interactivity to videos by embedding hotspots in the video, and adding other activity around it. For users, it provides a way to learn more about moments in a video, or people or objects in that video as it plays. The app is currently in beta, but they are showing it off around SXSW featuring a number of bands and their music videos. While clickable video has been tried before (I remember adding hotspots to QuickTime video a decade ago), Gravidi is offering a nicely designed experience for users and tools for producers on the back end. The app for consumers will be free, the back end for producers will cost, but no details on price were available when I spoke to them. The question, to me, will be whether viewers will want to interact with video they would normally "veg out" to. Steve Jobs once described watching movies as a "lean back" experience, versus the more interactive clicking around we do when on a computer. But since the iPad is a sort of intermediate device, I can see a point at which users are more accustomed to interacting with a video as it is playing. As with the plethora of "second screen" apps that have been appearing, time will tell whether consumers want to divide their attention. While some of this will depend on negotiations with media folks (studios who wish to add these hotspots), there are applications beyond mere entertainment. A professor could overlay hotspots at key scenes in a film for a class, or a training video could provide more information at critical points. If the tools for producers are easy enough to use, that is. Meanwhile, Gravidi has a good approach, and partnering with SXSW to work with bands is a good start. In the demo I saw, a band played through a music video, and you could learn more about the band, the director and specific moments throughout the video. Little icons designating hotspots would periodically float down from the top (to draw your eye), and land on a spot where you can click to see a pop-up screen with more info. At that point you can jump to the content or go back to the video. The experience was fast and fluid. What I felt was even more important for bands was a button up top which looked like a ticket and will bring you to a window showing a band's next performances (and presumably buy tickets). Since the production tools weren't on display, there's a question of whether producers will go through the effort needed to populate all this data. In fact, that's a huge question for educational producers. That said, what users will see is a clean interface. It's a question of changing habits for users (something a wave of second-screen apps may be changing anyway), and Gravidi is banking on them wanting to click around in a video as it plays. If Gravidi can convince content creators to add the interactivity in ways which appeal to users, they may have a winner on their hands.
The Art of Wushu: Gathering and crafting
Life skills are the central point of Age of Wushu's player economy. All useful equipment, food, and most of the useful consumables are only available through crafting, and equipment requires lengthy production chains and an injection of tradable silver in order to make it effective. This process is fairly daunting to a new player, and even experienced players go for a long time without taking advantage of the many advantages present from trade and crafting. In Age of Wushu, life skills represent a character's day job. You'll go to work gathering materials to sell or to craft into goods to sell, and then use the money from those sales to purchase things other people make and food to sustain yourself. Because we have a limited amount of space, this column will focus on production skills and production chains so that you can make the best choice about which type of goods you want to craft.
Neo Geo X production to continue, more games/peripherals on the way
This week's reports that Japanese Neo Geo X production had come to a halt are only somewhat correct, Engadget has learned. In actuality, only production of the Neo Geo X Gold Limited Edition model has ceased, which was always part of the plan. You know, it being a Limited Edition product and everything."Tommo will be continuing to support the NEOGEO X format going forward with more games, peripherals and software updates, as well as more units of the console hardware," Tommo told Engadget. "The NEOGEO X Gold System Limited Edition Collection Series that includes Ninja Masters, was always planned to be a limited edition product."Further elaborations were not made concerning what said games and peripherals might be. Considering that the original Neo Geo AES didn't really have peripherals though, save for a memory card and an adapter that let the AES play arcade cabinet cartridges, we're curious about what Tommo might come up with.
Report: Neo Geo X production ceases in Japan
Manufacturing and production of the confusingly irresistible Neo Geo X has come to a halt in Japan, according to Siliconera's translation of Gamer's report. Shipment of the device has also ceased, meaning that Japan's existing stock of the retro gaming handheld/console is all they're going to get.It's unclear whether this development will affect the device's availability in North America or other territories, although it has been said that the end of hardware production doesn't translate to the end of software production -- more Game Cards are reportedly on the way. We've reached out for more information and will update if new information becomes available.
Sony confirms production end for PlayStation 2 worldwide
It's not just Japan that's ending production of the PlayStation 2, apparently. Sony tells The Guardian that production is over on a worldwide scale. Of course, it shouldn't be too hard to find one anytime soon, as Sony says over 150 million units are already out in the wild. Of course, the first production run of Sony's PlayStation 3 also included full PS2 backwards compatibility, so that number's magnified even more. And then there's always the possibility that Sony will eventually put many (or most) of its PlayStation 2 games online in some form. Regardless, it's a sad day for Sony's most popular console, and we're pouring out a cold one for the console that helped birth modern gaming. We'll miss ya, dude. It was a good run.
Apple's US Mac production to go beyond assembly
We've heard more about Apple's plans to start building some Macs in the United States, thanks to a Reuters news post that delved into the remarks made by Apple CEO Tim Cook to NBC's Rock Center program. It appears that the initiative is not just limited to assembly of new Macs, but will include investment in building many of the components on American soil as well. Apple won't be building all of those components, but will be investing money in US manufacturers to help them ramp up production for Apple and other companies. Some analysts scoffed at the announcement, saying it is only a public relations stunt that won't provide all that many jobs. But Cross Research analyst Shannon Cross said that wages and other costs for product assembly in China have risen sharply in past years, erasing much of the advantage of the Chinese plants. Cross also noted that building devices in the US mitigates the risk of intellectual property theft. Apple isn't the only company that has announced that it's moving production to the US -- Chinese PC manufacturer Lenovo announced that it will be doing some manufacturing in North Carolina. But Apple is viewed as an industry leader, so a move like this might have more far-reaching effects on bringing manufacturing and jobs back to the US.
What do venture capitalists see when they look at games?
Kickstarter has gained a great deal of traction lately, but by and large new games are still funded the same way they've always been funded: by venture capitalists willing to shell out money in hopes of seeing a return on investment. That being said, the games industry looks at venture capitalists more as fountains of money than actual people, a necessary evil at best. A new piece penned by Jeremy Liew of Lightspeed Venture Partners sheds some light on what goes on behind the scenes when capitalists are approached for funding. Liew makes a point of mentioning that one of the features he looks for is the idea that the studio can turn out another good game after the first one, mentioning CCP Games and Jagex as both lagging behind. He also points out the power of community, noting that League of Legends gained much of its current popularity by completely taking over the DOTA community. While the piece is focused on gaming as a whole rather than just MMOs, fans of video games will no doubt find several points of interest within the full article.
Some new iMacs "Assembled in USA"?
Lost in yesterday's iFixit writeup of the 21.5-inch iMac was this small line in the description: "Interestingly, this iMac claims to have been assembled in the USA." Sure enough, a look at the iFixit image of the back of the iMac shows the fascinating line "Designed in California. Assembled in USA". Why is that fascinating? Apple has closed all of its US production facilities, which were in places like Elk Grove and Fremont, California and Fountain, Colorado. 9to5Mac reports that some earlier generation iMacs have come in boxes printed with "Assembled in USA" on the side. In order for a product to be marked as "Made in the USA," the US Federal Trade Commission states that "A product that includes foreign components may be called 'Assembled in USA' without qualification when its principal assembly takes place in the U.S. and the assembly is substantial. For the 'assembly' claim to be valid, the product's last 'substantial transformation' also should have occurred in the U.S. That's why a 'screwdriver' assembly in the U.S. of foreign components into a final product at the end of the manufacturing process doesn't usually qualify for the 'Assembled in USA' claim." 9to5Mac's Seth Weintraub speculates that perhaps Apple is making an early manufacturing run of the new iMacs in the USA to "get the manufacturing kinks" worked out before handing the proverbial factory keys over to Foxconn. So, if this placard on the back of a brand new iMac isn't just a typo from the silk-silkscreening process at some Foxconn plant in China, where are some of these iMacs being assembled? If you happen to have some insight into this mystery, please let TUAW know by clicking the "Tip Us" button in the top right part of this page.
Volvo begins producing V60 diesel plug-in hybrid, claims a world first
There are hybrids. There are diesel hybrids. But the diesel plug-in hybrid is still virtually unknown -- enough so that Volvo claims it's breaking new ground by starting production of the V60 diesel plug-in it's been preparing since 2011. The company still plans to manufacture only small numbers of the wagon at its Gothenburg factory, but it's clear all that talk in Geneva of 124MPG fuel economy and a 285HP combined powertrain has convinced enough early adopters; Volvo has already sold out of the 2013 model's tiny 1,000-car batch, and it expects to build 4,000 to 6,000 per year for the 2014 generation. While potential buyers who've been waiting for a test drive will no doubt be disappointed, the Americans of the bunch can at least take comfort in knowing that there's an eventual US launch in the cards.
New iMacs rumored to be delayed until next year
A rumor from French website MacBidouille claims Apple's new iMac models won't start shipping until early 2013. Apple has allegedly run into manufacturing problems with the all-in-one Mac and won't meet its target shipping dates of November for the 21-inch model and December for the 27-inch model. Tim Cook hinted at these production problems during Apple's recent earnings conference call when he said that supplies of the new iMac "will be constrained for the full quarter in a significant way." MacBidouille suggests manufacturing is slowed because of the complex welding required for the iMac's extremely thin aluminum frame. The new iMac is significantly thinner than previous iMac models and features a new laminated display technology that eliminates most screen glare. [Via MacRumors]
Samsung may be getting out of display supplier deal with Apple next year
A report in the Korea Times suggests Samsung will sever its contract with Apple and will no longer supply LCD panels to the Cupertino company, starting in 2013. An unnamed senior industry source told the newspaper that the company is not making enough money off the panels that it is selling to Apple. We are unable to supply our flat-screens to Apple with huge price discounts. Samsung has already cut our portion of shipments to Apple and next year we will stop shipping displays. Samsung is reportedly shipping fewer and fewer panels to Apple each quarter, with the Korean company expected to supply Apple with only 4.5 million LCD panels in the second half of the year. This is down from the 15 million panels that Samsung sent to Apple in the first six months of 2012. Samsung will reportedly turn to Amazon and its own handset division to make up for the loss of orders from Apple. Apple sources components from many companies, including displays from LG and Sharp as well as Samsung.
Microsoft reportedly building up to 5 million Surface tablets for the fall
Just how confident is Microsoft that its Surface tablets will take off? To the tune of 3 to 5 million units shipped in the fall alone, according to the Wall Street Journal's supplier contacts. While that wouldn't be much when Apple already ships more than three times as many iPads, even discounting the supposed 10 million tiny iPads coming this fall, it would represent a strong start for a company that's only just dipping its toes into own-brand computing. Microsoft isn't confirming any numbers at this stage, but the large production volume might explain that Busby Berkeley-style TV ad -- you'd want a full song and dance routine if you had that many Surfaces to sell.
Apple's supply relationship with Samsung reportedly strained
The Korea Times is reporting that Apple's relationship with Samsung's supply arm is strained. According to the infamous "industry sources," (not to be confused with "people familiar with the matter"), Samsung did not participate in the development of Apple's A6 chip, which powers the iPhone 5. Instead, the company is assembling parts only. It's believed that Samsung took part in the development of Apple's A5. Just last week, we learned that Apple added Samsung's Jim Mergard to its talented staff. Last August, Bloomberg reported that Apple and Qualcomm tried to purchase exclusive access to TSMC chip production. Considering the contentious legal relationship between the consumer products divisions of Apple and Samsung, it'll be interesting to see where their manufacturing relationship goes.
Sony stops Xperia Tablet S sales due to gaps between display panel and case
When Sony's designers put a port flap on the Xperia Tablet S in an effort to make it splash-proof, they surely didn't count on their good intentions being undermined by leaky build quality in other areas. According to Reuters though, that's exactly what has happened: a number of tablets have come off the production line with gaps between the screen and the chassis, and it must be a significant proportion because Sony has now decided to halt sales until it can get the problem fixed. The company is also promising to repair any of the 100,000 tablets that have already shipped, but doesn't expect the issue to be serious enough to dampen its earnings (which, let's face it, could already do with some time out in the sun).
Purported iPad Mini parts leak as WSJ reports production has started
Hey look, another round of purported iPad Mini parts has surfaced, this time courtesy of Ukrainian iPhone. Conveniently enough, the Wall Street Journal also happens to be reporting that its sources have confirmed "mass production" of the still unannounced slate has begun by Apple's "Asian suppliers." This time we're looking at an anodized black version of the familiar back plate, alongside a separate digitizer in white, hinting that we'll see the final device in the same colorways as the iPhone 5 . As 9to5Mac points out, the casing houses a SIM card tray, similar antenna spacers to the current iPhone crop and a layout akin to the current iPod Touch. WSJ further notes that its sources state this tab's LCD screen is indeed 7.85-inches, being sourced from both LG and AU Optronics. Naturally, pricing is almost definitely set to be cheaper than the full-size iPad -- here's to waiting for an invite to the supposed unveiling event set for this month.
Tesla behind on Model S production goals, aims for extra cash with stock sale
Sure, topping off a Model S in 30 minutes with a Supercharger is awfully handy, but production delays of the sedan will keep some future owners away from quick charge times -- and most importantly -- their cars for a little while longer. In a freshly published filing with the US Securities Exchange and Commission, Tesla revealed that it hasn't reached its goal of producing 400 Model S vehicles a week, which places them four to five weeks behind their 2012 delivery expectations. To date, just 255 of the autos have rolled off the assembly line, 132 of which have made their way to new homes. According to the Palo Alto-based outfit, ramping up production has been slower than expected for a number of reasons, including supplier delays and taking a deliberately measured pace for quality assurance purposes. Before the year draws to a close, Musk and Co. anticipate meeting their goal of churning out 400 cars each week, and a total of 20,000 by the end of 2013. Currently, the automaker has racked up around 13,000 reservations and thinks it'll be working to fulfill even more throughout 2013. As a result of the manufacturing lag, the firm has slashed its revenue forecast by as much as $200 million, estimating it'll rake in anywhere from $400 million to $440 million this year. In an effort to add cash to its coffers, the company is putting up roughly 5 million shares of stock for sale. Who's buying, you say? Tesla mentioned its CEO Elon Musk is interested in putting down a cool million bucks.
Anarchy Online's director leaves the game
Parting is such sweet sorrow, and fans of Anarchy Online are receiving a full dose of that sorrow. Fia Tjernberg, the game's current director, has announced in a forum post that she is leaving her post as director due to the deteriorating health of a family member and the numerous Funcom layoffs. As she puts it, her departure ensures that the existing staff will have less pressure to reduce its numbers, which she feels is better for the health of the game in the long run. Tjernberg stresses that the team behind Anarchy Online has completed or nearly completed a number of wonderful projects that improve the overall game experience, including the graphical revamp, which is slated to be released in the near future. At this time there has been no announcement of who will be the game's next director. This comes in the wake of Tjernberg's previous statements regarding the layoffs and Anarchy Online and last week's announcement that senior content designer Brad McAtee is departing the game. [Thanks to David for the tip!]
Canon and Panasonic halt production in China amid anti-Japan protests
Canon could be facing a costly drop in production of both its digital cameras and laser printers, following reports that widespread protests in China have forced it close most of its factories in that country. It's a similar story at Panasonic, which is said to have had one of its plants "sabotaged" by Chinese workers. The anti-Japan protests concern the status of disputed islands in the East China Sea and were triggered by the Japanese government's move to purchase some of the land in question -- check the More Coverage link below for a more detailed explanation.
Avid Studio for iPad gets renamed, free on the App Store for a limited period of time
Avid Studio for iPad arrived back in February, priced to coax iPad filmmakers away from Apple's in-house iMovie. Since then, however, the company sold its consumer business arm to Corel, leading it to re-brand the package as Pinnacle Studio for iPad. The editing app has gained a bunch of features that users were clamoring for, including 1080p support, integrated uploads to Box and a raft of stability tweaks. As part of the change, it's being offered free for a limited time, so if you own an iPad (or plan on getting one in the future), we suggest you jump-cut to the App Store pretty quickly.
