Microsoft Unveils Powerful New Xbox 360 Gaming Technology

Microsoft recently unveiled a new type of technology to be incorporated into their now much more powerful Xbox 360 gaming console. 

The technology, dubbed “Project Natal” uses a camera to track a player's body movements via full skeletal mapping, in effect turning the player into the game controller.
The system is also able to recognize voices and vocal commands. 

The system makes it easier for a player to interact with a character on screen, and even has the ability to show pictures and information to other Xbox 360 players via the internet. The technology uses full body gesture tracking, in other words it is able to pick up every movement a player makes, not just hand movements for instance. 

Microsoft is also planning on integrating music streaming 'last.fm', Facebook and Twitter into its online community. 

By integrating these new technologies, it seems the $50 billion dollar gaming industry is not planning on slowing down any time soon, and by incorporating these technologies the industry is sure to attract even more users in future. 

Microsoft is also empowering Xbox Live users by being able to connect to Facebook and Twitter, without the necessity of using a computer. 

'Project Natal' as it is called, does not seem to be scheduled for release yet in 2009 however. An exact release date is not yet known at this point in time. 

Now, if we understand this correctly, playing a game like for instance tennis, on your Xbox 360 in future, may prove to be not only a source of entertainment, but also a good dose of healthy excercise. Now all we need to do is get a bigger living room for all those hard to reach shots. Anyone up for a game? :)

Nissan Co-operation to Use New Fuel Injection System

On July 14, 2009, Nissan Motor Co, Ltd announced new technology to be implemented in their gasoline/petrol engines starting early next year, 2010. 

The Dual Injector System has been designed to reduce fuel consumption, and Nissan says this is the first technology of it's kind in the world to be used in mass production cars. The new system uses a new type of distribution system to inject fuel into the cylinders.

Instead of using just one injector per cylinder, the new system uses one injector for each port. This splits the fuel distibution as it enters the cylinder, which in turn speeds up vaporization of the fuel. (Internal combustion engines need to convert fuel from a liquid form into a vaporized form before the fuel can be ignited.) 

By configuring one injector per inlet port, instead of just one injector per cylinder, the vaporization process is completed more efficiently, breaking up the fuel particles into smaller droplets. This means that less unburnt fuel is expelled, and the fuel is actually being burnt at a much more efficient rate. 

By burning fuel more efficiently, the system thereby also reduces hydrocarbon emmisions. 

In addition, the system also adds continuous valve timing control on the exhaust side, as opposed to the usual intake-side control only. This improves the engines' heat control and raises fuel efficiency by up to 4% compared to other Nissan petrol/gas-powered engines in the same class. While the system is similar to already in-use "direct injection" systems, the systems are difficult to use on smaller sized engines, because of the need for a high-pressure pump which produces problems for efficient system design, thereby making componenet design less cost efficient. 

The Nissan Dual Injector system provides fuel to the cylinders at normal pressures, reducing the cost of such a system by about 60% compared to other engines of similar size using direct-injection. 

The new system also uses half the amount of rare materials normally used in the catalyzer, but maintains the efficiency of the catalytic converter. 

Nissan says it continues to promote the "Nissan Green Program 2010" by implementing effective technologies, products and services to the market.

Source : www.nissan-global.com

Read Press release of Nissan Co.

Viewsonic to copy Apple computers :)

Viewsonic Unvails Flat Screen Monitor With Built-In PC

Now here's a product which I think is quite innovative: How about a desktop pc that is entirely built into the pc's flatscreen monitor? 

Yes, it had to happen at some point in time right? Viewsonic has introduced what in my opinion will probably become the future of the traditional desktop pc as we know it today. 

The Viewsonic VPC100 All-in-One PC is essentially a desktop pc with all of it's .essential parts - the processor, hard drive and all the usb ports designed to fit into what looks like a flatscreen pc monitor only. So, in a nutshell...pardon the punn, the entire desktop pc which used to consist of keybord, tower case, monitor and mouse, has now become the keybord, mouse and monitor. No more tower case. 

Off course something like this had to happen at some point in time, with manufacturers always exploring new avenues to make their products more compact, more user friendly. Now, having said that, one would think that the manufacturers may have compromised somewhat on performance and specs to be able to fit. Surprisingly, compromise is not a word that comes to mind when hearing about the specs of this machine. While the pc may not be classifed as one of the most powerful machines on the market today, it does not really stand back when it comes to performance. I would think that for the eveyday software and applications that most of us use, this machine would be adequate. So, what are the specs you ask? 

Well here they are: The pc features an 18.5" Color TFT Active Matrix LCD screen, with an effective display area of 16.1" horizontal x 9.1" vertical, and 18.5" diagonally. 

Resolution is 1366x768, with a contrast Ratio of 1000:1 (typ), 5ms (typ) response time, and a 1.3 megapixel web cam. It also features 2x3 watt speakers. An Intel Atom N270 CPU processor does all the hard work behind the uhm...scenes. Processing speed: 1.6GHz Single Core, FSB 533MHz, BGA. Chipset is an Intel 945GSE + ICH7M. Now for the interesting part - the system has a 1GB DDR2 SDRAM, Windows XP Home operating system and a 2.5", 160GB SATA hard drive. 

In addtion, you can also look forward to 4 USB 2.0 ports, 2x PS/2, RJ45 Gigabit Ethernet LAN, Earphone and Microphone jacks, and 4-in-1 card reader (XD, SD, MMC, MS). Without having listed all of the features here, we think these are pretty impressive specs considering the size of the device. So how have they done it? 

Actually, if you have ever opened up a computer towercase, you would probably have noticed something right away - a fairly large portion of unused space. I suppose we can compare it with an old 1965 model car. If you've ever checked under the hood, you would also notice the same phenomenon - a large amount of unused space inside the engine compartment. These days of course, there is hardly any space for a mouse to even move around in the engine compartments of newer model cars. 

The pc is now available at selected outlets and sells for about $500, which is surpising when one considers that any new type of technology or application of that technology is usually costly - at least at first. Not so in this case, it seems. 

If you have already purchased, or are using a Viewsonic VPC100, then why not let us and all of our other readers now what you think about it. You're welcome to let us know - simply give us your opinion by replying to the email newsletter that brought you to this page. Although we can't promise to include every single review, we'll certainly do our best to post as many of your reviews as possible. Personally, I think it is a great, innovative space saver, but let us know what you think.

Visit Manufactureer Website here

General Motors to unvail Electric SUV

General Motors will soon offer a new GM plug-in electric SUV sometime next year. GM is closing in on the gap between hybrid cars and electric plug-in SUVs that operate on battery power.

General Motors has confirmed that it will launch a new GM plug-in electric SUV next year. The sport-utility electric vehicle will be part of the 2011 SUV lineup that will include new hybrid cars and plug-in vehicles. There was no word on what mileage the new vehicle will achieve.

"I can tell you that I won't lose one day in terms of customers being able to walk into dealerships and actually purchase a plug-in," GM Vice Chairman Tom Stephens said in a statement.

Electric cars and SUVs are growing in higher demand since gas prices are up on the rise again. Although we haven't seen the type of $5 per gallon at the pump yet, financial analysts predict another price increase for oil. Consumers are seeking alternative gasoline automobiles and trucks to save money.

General Motors Skips Hybrid Cars

Hybrid cars that use a combination of battery power and a gasoline engine are already on the road today. Automakers including Toyota, Honda, and Ford have already launched their 2010 hybrid vehicles. GM wants to bypass the current technology and is set to deliver electric cars and SUV that can recharge from any standard outlet.

Chevy Volt Electric Car

GM is betting on its Chevy Volt electric car that uses a new propulsion system. The Volt will include ultra capacitors to power a fleet of extended-range electric vehicles, plug-in cars, hybrid and fuel cell automobiles. The automaker hopes that the electric vehicle will achieve a 40-mile driving range on a single battery charge.

However, the Chevy Volt electric car might be described as a full hybrid car since it will include a small gasoline engine for extended driving. In addition, the engine will help recharge the electric batteries as normal hybrids do. The other factor to compete in the new growing market is the price.

GM is expected to price the Chevy Volt at around $39,000, which is more than what the price for hybrid cars is today. The price of new lithium-ion battery packs is one of the reasons why the pricing is so high. As demand increases for the new batteries, prices are expected to drop, but there are no details how that will reflect the final price tag on the Volt.

The GM plug-in rechargeable SUV was supposed to be the Saturn Vue. Saturn was scrapped by GM as a part of its reorganization. However, the electric SUV will come from either Chevy, Cadillac, Buick or GMC.

Toyota Prius : The Hybrid Car I am loving

Since the debut of the second-generation Toyota Prius in 2003, the quintessential gas-electric hybrid has risen from a niche product to become Toyota’s third-best-selling model in the United States. The car inspires a cult-like devotion from its drivers. Satisfaction rates, consistently at about 98 percent, are unparalleled.

The third-generation 2010 Toyota Prius, officially unveiled at the Detroit auto show in January 2009, went on sale in April. The updated Prius is bigger and more powerful. The engine grew from 1.5 liters to 1.8 liters—giving a boost in horsepower from 110 to 160, and thereby reducing zero-to-60 time by a full second. In addition, the body is about four inches longer and about an inch wider. Despite the added power and size, the 2010 Toyota Prius becomes the only vehicle available today to offer 50 miles per gallon in combined city/highway driving.

Toyota achieved this level of fuel efficiency by keeping the vehicle’s weight down, maintaining the best aerodynamics of any production vehicle in the world, and re-engineering the powertrain to extend the range of all-electric gas-free driving. (Despite rumors over the past year, the new Prius does not offer plug-in capabilities and continues to use nickel metal hydride batteries, rather than switching to lithium ion batteries.)

Prius Exterior

Toyota added a slightly sportier feel and more aggressive stance to the 2010 Prius—perhaps to disarm criticism that the Prius looks like a corrective appliance on wheels. The logo shifts from the hood to the top of the point of the grille. The crease in the doors has shifted lower, but a more pronounced angle is added above the door handles. The overall effect is to make the 2010 Prius stand taller—not as rounded and squat—as its predecessor.

The distinct space-age shape of the Prius is still apparent: a deliberate effort by Toyota to maintain the Prius’s essential and iconic appearance. Its large, diamond-cut headlamps and snub-nose front-end are the starting point for the Prius’s quasi-flying saucer appearance. The angled hood seamlessly flows into the windshield, then to a flowing roofline that is sleek and low. Short overhangs and a sawed-off rear section finish off the hybrid’s futuristic hatchback character.

Of course, beauty is subjective, so the Prius continues to receive mixed reviews on outward show. There are many who think the Prius looks gimmicky, if not entirely ugly. But for many hybrid owners, the distinctive look of the Prius sends a message, which declares that we must take steps to reduce our voracious thirst for oil—with all its negative consequences in terms of the environment and geo-politics. For this camp, the Prius is like a middle-finger-on-wheels aimed at Hummers, Suburbans, Escalades, and the like.

In 2006, the toy and game-maker Hasbro added a game token in the shape of the Toyota Prius to the “here and now” version of Monopoly. In other words, the Prius is an official icon of our times.

Bells and Whistles

The previous Prius had loads of gizmos—including keyless entry, joystick shifter, high-tech energy monitor, and a rear-view camera system. Toyota throws even more technology at the new model.

For the first time, the Prius offers a moonroof and heated seats. The sliding glass moonroof, packaged with a slick-looking solar panel, provides power to a new ventilation system that doesn’t require help from the gas engine. Not only does the AC system keep the interior air temperature from heating up when the vehicle is parked (thus reducing the time/energy needed to cool things down), the system can be operated remotely to heat or cool the cabin before getting into the car. (That’s a neat trick even if the rooftop solar panels don’t produce enough energy to power the wheels.)

Three driving modes are now available: Power, Economy and EV. Power improves throttle response; economy reduces throttle response for better gas mileage; and with a flip of the dashboard EV button, the car can go about one mile at low speeds without using any gasoline.

An optional radar system using advanced millimeter waves enables “Lane Keep Assist” to help the driver stay safely within the lane, and the “Pre-Collision System” retracts seatbelts and applies the brakes in certain conditions when a crash is unavoidable. Intelligent parking offers settings to help guide the Prius into parking spaces. A backup monitor, which provides a view of rear obstacles when reverse is engaged, is available with an optional voice-activated navigation system.

The new touch sensor system on the steering wheel helps keep the driver’s eyes on the road. Images of the switches and their positions are shown on the instrument panel directly in front.

Prius Interior

The past success of the Toyota Prius has been its ability to combine great fuel efficiency and utter practicality. Five adults can fit comfortably, with more than 16 cubic feet of cargo room left over in back. The 60/40 split rear seats also can be folded flat, creating a surprisingly large cargo space for hauling groceries, strollers, large boxes, and gardening supplies—all at the same time.

Short and tall drivers should feel equally comfortable behind the wheel. The back seat is roomy, beating the Toyota Camry by a few inches and providing a little more legroom than the Civic Hybrid—and a lot more than found in the Honda Insight.

Interior storage spaces are abundant and flexible. The sound system is adequate, but not groundbreaking compared to other cars in this class. The stereo's most-used functions are easy to see, read and use. Many of the Prius’s standard features are either optional or unavailable on comparably priced competitive vehicles.

Some Prius drivers complain that the hatchback design limits the visibility through the rear window. They refer to this drawback as the "Prius blind spot."

You have to take a test drive to see how it feels to you. The new generation's rear view has improved a bit, even if the backseat headrests and spoiler continue to partially obstruct the view. Hatchback visibility makes some people crazy and is a non-issue for others. Take a test drive to see what you think.

If you're thinking about buying a Toyota Prius, you might also consider a Toyota Camry Hybrid or Ford Fusion Hybrid. Click here Compare these vehicles.