BMW Vision ConnectedDrive concept: the car as a fully integrated part of the networked world

BMW Vision ConnectedDrive concept: the car as a fully integrated part of the networked world

Like every other object in the world, the car is about to become networked. A glimpse into the automotive benefits of our networked future will be on show at the Geneva Motor Show next month when BMW shows its Vision ConnectedDrive concept car. The concept study, in a two-seat roadster guise, presents the automobile as a fully integrated part of the networked world in both its design and technological innovations. It is with this concept that BMW presents the potential of current and future in-car technology for optimizing comfort, safety and infotainment.

The BMW Vision ConnectedDrive employs a layering principal in its design, demonstrating the bond between the driver, passenger, vehicle and the surrounding environment. This is visualized by the complex light installation which shows the path of data exchange with the driver and passenger as the start and end point of each interaction.
The interior is divided into three layers – comfort, infotainment and safety – each with a corresponding light installation. Each layer is defined by a color, rhythm, motion and texture and, through the transparent surfaces the path taken by the information can be seen via fiber optic lighting.
The BMW Vision ConnectedDrive demonstrates the interaction between the driver and the passenger and shows how networking with the environment can reach new levels.........

G-Slate tablet headed for T-Mobile spring release

T-Mobile and LG have announced the G-Slate tablet with 8.9-inch multi-touch display, Tegra 2 processor, 32GB of storage and wireless connectivity over Wi-Fi or T-Mobile's HSPA super fast mobile broadband.

 

Motorola's Xoom may have grabbed most of the Android 3.0 headlines of late but it's not the only tablet to run on Google's new tablet-optimized operating system. T-Mobile and LG have announced a spring release window for the newest member of the G-series of mobile devices, the G-Slate. The Tegra 2-powered device features 3D-capable, high definition display and can record stereoscopic HD video via its rear-facing cameras. Wireless connectivity is also given a speed boost thanks to T-Mobile's growing HSPA+ network.
In addition to being Wi-Fi-capable, the G-Slate will also be able to wirelessly connect to T-Mobile's HSPA+ network, which offers theoretical download speeds of up to 21Mbps and has already been rolled out to more than 100 major metropolitan areas in the U.S. It's not quite 4G as defined by the International Telecommunication Union (which has determined that the only LTE-Advanced and WirelessMAN-Advanced currently qualify as true 4G technologies) but it's still damn quick.
G-Slate users can view up to 720p high definition content on the 8.9-inch, multi-touch display but the screen is also 3D-capable. You will need to use glasses to view the 3D content on the display, although whether those will need to be active or passive has not been revealed. If you want to play 3D or HD video on a suitably large television then the device can output full 1080p HD video via an included HDMI-out port.
Motorola xoom will make your life more zoom to others! :)

Volkswagen to unveil 261 mpg XL1 prototype in Qatar

At the dawn of the millennium, Prof. Dr. Ferdinand Piëch, who is today Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Volkswagen AG, set his sights on creating a practical everyday use production car with a fuel consumption of 1.0 liter per 100 km (235 mpg). In 2002 a prototype VW 1-Litre was unveiled, which was followed in 2009 by the second-generation model, dubbed the L1, which boasted a combined diesel fuel consumption figure of 1.38-liter/100 km (170 mpg). As impressive as that figure is, the company has now managed to squeeze a combined fuel consumption of just 0.9-liter/100 km (261 mpg) with its third-generation VW 1-Litre prototype – the XL1.
With a combined fuel consumption of just 0.9-liter/100 km and CO2 emissions of 24 g/km, VW is calling the XL1 is the most efficient car in the world. This is achieved through a combination of lightweight construction using monocoque and add-on parts made of carbon fiber, very low aerodynamic drag (Cd 0.186) and a plug-in hybrid system consisting of a two cylinder TDI engine (35 kW/48 PS), E-motor (20 kW/27 PS), 7-speed dual clutch transmission (DSG) and lithium ion battery.