Six Tesla inventions that aren’t electric cars

By Cat DiStasio

Tesla is well known for its electric cars, but you might be surprised to learn about all the other stuff the company makes. At some point in time, each of the amazing things Tesla is doing now was simply another one of CEO Elon Musk’s crazy ideas. Now the company is working on batteries that can power your home, the world’s largest building and a global network of thousands of zero-cost electric car chargers. Read on to learn about six incredible Tesla projects — aside from electric vehicles, that is.

The largest building in the world

A big part of Tesla’s evolution centers on the company’s massive battery factory, called the Gigafactory (because “mega” doesn’t sound big enough), which is under construction outside Reno, Nevada. There, Tesla will manufacture batteries for its electric cars as well as its home energy storage solutions. Only 14 percent complete at present, the Gigfactory is expected to be the world’s largest building by footprint once it’s finally complete in a few years. The factory aims to cut the cost of the lithium-based car batteries by 30 percent and is projected to nearly double the global production of lithium batteries once the factory is fully operational. If anyone ever questioned Tesla’s commitment to clean energy, the Gigafactory — which Elon Musk says could be the first of several the company builds around the world — should erase all doubt.

A battery that can power your house

When Tesla unveiled its long-awaited residential battery system this past spring, it sold out in a flash. The $3,500 Powerwall allows homeowners to store energy from solar or other renewable sources, as well as off-peak grid energy, to be used whenever desired. As with any Tesla innovation, the Powerwall system launched with lots of room for improvements, and Tesla responded to overwhelming sales by quickly ramping up development of a second-generation model to go on sale this summer. The new version, dubbed Mark II, will replace the larger capacity option for the Powerwall system, branching off into a new product line, paving the way for the future of home energy solutions.

Supercharger stations

Electric cars run on batteries that drain with use, so what’s a Tesla driver to do when the power level gets low and they aren’t at home? Tesla thought about this issue early on, and opened its first public charging station in 2012, calling it a Supercharger for its ability to charge a Tesla car battery in under an hour. Over the years, Tesla has invested more and more in the charging stations, expanding the network to include 4,157 superchargers in 681 stations worldwide as of July 2016. The chargers are open to the public and free for all Tesla owners to use.

Select Supercharger stations also have photovoltaic roofs that generate some of the electricity used to power up the car batteries, and Tesla plans to eventually power all of its stations entirely with solar power. The company has also been working for several years on deploying battery-swapping stations at many of the Supercharger locations, which would allow Tesla drivers to pick up a fully charged car battery and leave their drained battery behind in a process that takes as little as 90 seconds.

The robotic snake charger

Although this product hasn’t yet been released, we know Tesla has been working on it for some time. Musk unveiled a prototype last year for a robotic snake arm that would connect to Tesla models for easy charging without any human involvement, and the video of the arm in action is quite exciting. Like something straight out of a futuristic science fiction film, the arm curves and stretches to find and plug in to the electric car’s charging port. Musk hinted that robotic arms like this may some day be sold to private customers who could install them at their homes, making charging a breeze. It’s also possible that we could eventually see these automated charging arms installed on some of the company’s many Supercharger stations, which might make it possible for drivers to charge their EVs without even getting out of the car.

Shipping container car showrooms

Tesla may be the first car company to have a portable showroom that can be transported on the back of a flatbed truck. The “Tesla Mobile Container Store” toured the United States and Europe last summer, starting over Memorial Day weekend in Santa Barbara, California. Because Tesla doesn’t sell its vehicles in traditional dealerships, the company must open its own showrooms to give potential customers a chance to check out its snazzy electric cars in person. Tesla has showrooms in a number of states, the result of many sticky battles against state regulations and dealership owner associations, but a modern company like Tesla likes to do things a little differently. In addition to the mobile showroom, Tesla is experimenting with other methods of reaching new customers, such as putting its all-electric Model X SUV on display in a Los Angeles-area Nordstrom.

Tesla’s bright and busy future

With all of these products and projects moving forward at lightning speed, it’s clear that Tesla is evolving as rapidly as its product offerings. As the company geared up for the official grand opening of its Gigafactory last week (despite the facility being far from completion), Musk released “Part Deux” of his original master plan, now 10 years old. In the update, he revealed several of the ambitious projects that will wow the green car industry in the years to come. For starters, Musk said Tesla will release a series of heavy-duty trucks and buses as soon as 2017, and may dig deeper into the solar power industry with its bid to buy SolarCity.

Tesla also aims to continue improving its self-driving technology both for efficiency and increased safety, which is no surprise following the first fatality associated with the Autopilot program, as well as work to innovate other ways for Tesla drivers to benefit financially from owning cars that appear to come from the future.

Apple Launches Official ‘Rio 2016’ App Store Section

Coinciding with the first full day of competitive events at the 2016 Olympic Games, Apple this morning launched a special section of the App Store showcasing official Rio 2016 apps and games. The section reads:

The Olympics unite the world in celebration of struggle and triumph. They’re where legends are born and impossible feats come true. With the official apps, games and music, you can follow the excitement of this year’s events — and relive the glory again and again.

Three apps are currently featured – one made especially for competing athletes – and two games are also listed to help younger viewers celebrate the sporting occasion:

• The Olympics – Official App: News. Highlights. Records. Unforgettable moments. An invaluable guide to Rio and Games past.

• Olympic Athlete’s Hub 2016: Made for competitors, this app offers helpful tips, resources, and a way to connect with fellow athletes.
• Rio 2016: Get the official schedule, real-time results, medal counts, and the latest on Olympic and Paralympic sports.
• Rio 2016 Olympic Games: Go for gold against other players in six fast-action minigames, including tennis and archery.
• Rio 2016: Vinicius Run: Dash through colorful forests and beaches as Vinicius, Rio’s cheerful mascot. How far can you get?

NBC cable subscribers in the U.S. can follow live coverage of the events by downloading the NBC Sports app on iOS and Apple TV.

Meanwhile, U.K. residents can follow the action via the BBC Sport apps for iOS and Apple TV, while residents in Canada can keep track of developments through the CBC iOS app.

Earlier this week, Apple launched its official ad for the 2016 Olympic Games, which ran on Friday night during the opening ceremonies in Rio and took over the Apple homepage.

Part of its “Shot on iPhone” campaign, the ad is called “The Human Family” and uses words from famous poet Maya Angelou to celebrate diversity around the world.

Tag: Olympics
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ICYMI: Area man gets robo-legs and scientists invent brain dust

Today on In Case You Missed It: Ohio resident Lee Raisor lost all four of his limbs in an industrial accident 30 years ago but today is the proud new owner of a pair of robot legs. Just look at him go! We also take a look at UC Berkeley’s newest invention: tiny, implantable computers capable of monitoring and controlling future prosthetics from inside your skull. They’re calling it “neural dust”.

And finally, it’s Saturday so here are all the headlines you missed from earlier this week presented in rapid-fire fashion. Get ready for some TL;DR! As always, please share any interesting tech or science videos you find by using the #ICYMI hashtag on Twitter for @mskerryd.

Essential accessories for Moto Z

What are the best accessories for the Moto Z Droid?

The Moto Z Droid was only just released, but it’s never too early to start looking at must-have accessories for Motorola’s latest flagship. Here are a few that we think are worth your money.

• Moto Style Shells
• Tudia TPU Bumper Shock Absorption case
• NXET USB-C charge dock
• Bose QuietComfort 35
• JBL SoundBoost Speaker
• Moto Insta-share Projector
• Incipio offGRID Power Pack

Moto Style Shells

Moto Style Shells are the solution to when you want to change the look and feel of your Moto Z on the fly — they just snap on to the back of the phone and magnets hold them in place. You can quite literally have a day look and a night look for your phone if you feel like it.

As of this writing, the shells come in three textures, fabric, faux wood, and leather, with six varieties to choose from, including crimson ballistic fabric, washed oak, black leather, and more.

Just don’t rely on them to provide much protection, since they don’t cover the phone’s edges — they just cover the back. That being said, they do keep the phone’s back from heating up too much.

See at Motorola

Tudia TPU Bumper Shock Absorption case

The Tudia TPU Bumper Shock Absorption case is not going to give you much protection from drops, but its flexible TPU composition will give you something to hold on to, which is a good thing because the Moto Z Droid is an exceptionally thin phone.

It comes in clear, as well as several other colors, so whether you just want some extra protection that you can wrap around one of the Moto Style Shells without covering it up, or you want a different look, you have options.

If you’re not looking for heavy-duty protection and/or you want a clear case that shows off your Moto Z Droid Style Shell, try the Tudia TPU Bumper Shock Absorption case.

See at Amazon

NXET USB-C Charge Dock

If you’re tired of having to fuss with USB cables everywhere, then the NXET USB-C Charge Dock is for you. It doesn’t take up much space on your desk, or wherever you typically charge your Moto Z Droid, and since it’s USB-C, it will work right out of the box without the need for adapters.

While charging, your Moto Z Droid will remain totally accessible, so you can swipe through your notifications, check the time, or play some tunes one-handed. It also lets you place your phone at three different angles, so you can always find the most comfortable view for you.

It is important to note that the NXET USB-C Charging Dock does not support fast charging, nor is it a wireless charger; however, it’s a great option if you have limited space. It also supports USB 2.0 transfer speeds when connected to your computer.

See at Amazon

Bose QuietComfort 35

The Moto Z Droid does not have a headphone jack. While it does have a USB-C to 3.5mm adapter, having to lug around another cord that you can easily lose is less than ideal; a much better solution is to use Bluetooth headphones.

Featuring top-notch sound, an impressive battery life, best-in-class active noise cancellation, and extended listening comfort, you can’t do better than the Bose QuietComfort 35 for Bluetooth headphones.

The QC-35 can last up to 20 hours on a single charge, so you can keep listening all day without worrying about your headphones dying out on you, and what’s more, its Active EQ adjusts tone and balance automatically so that regardless of the volume, you’ll hear every sound with almost no distortion.

See at Amazon

Moto Mods

Moto Mods are Moto Z add-ons that add to or enhance the functionality of the Moto Z phones. They are very easy to install and use: just snap them onto to the back of the Moto Z — that’s it. They’re held in place by magnets, so mounting and dismounting them is simply a matter of breaking the magnetic seal. There are three Moto Mods as of launch-day: The JBL SoundBoost Speaker, Moto Insta-Share Projector, and the Incipio offGRID Power Pack.

JBL SoundBoost Speaker

One of the three initial Moto Mods available for the Moto Z Droid, the JBL SoundBoost Speaker snaps onto the back of the phone and turns it into a miniature boombox. Yes, party like it’s 1989, but without the acid-washed jeans, big hair, and bulky stereo.

With its two speakers pumping out sound at 3W each, you’ll be banging your head and bopping to the beat with no distortion, and with its built-in battery, you can enjoy your tunes for an extra 10 hours. The best thing? You don’t have to worry about pairing or setting these up: just snap the speaker mod into the back of your phone and listen.

Grab a JBL SoundBoost Speaker if you like to rock your tunes without headphones, or if you want to pump out the jams at home or anywhere. We won’t judge if you bring out your (or your parents’) old parachute pants or bangle-bracelets.

See at Motorola

Moto Insta-share Projector

When you want to share those photographs of your last vacation to Disney World or your expedition to Chichen Itza with your cousins, you can pop on the Moto Insta-Share Projector, another Moto Mod and voilá! You have a 70-inch projector that transforms any flat surface into a gigantic screen.

It really is that simple to use: just snap it into place, aim it at an available wall, and you’ve got a huge screen on which to display photos or watch Netflix. The kickstand it comes with can adjust to any angle, so you can position the screen however you like. You’ll also love the additional hour of projection time you get before the Insta-Share Projector starts using your phone’s battery.

Whether you want to share pictures at a family get-together, or you want to watch the latest blockbuster on Netflix with friends, the Moto Insta-Share Projector is a must-have accessory for your Moto Z.

See at Motorola

Incipio offGRID Power Pack

As our own Phil Nickinson said in our review of the Moto Z, the Incipio OffGRID Power Pack is the Moto Mod that he would buy right away. According to him, it’s well worth the money for that extra bit of juice.

The 2,220 mAh battery pack boosts the life of the phone by up to 22 hours and comes in designer options from Kate Spade New York and TUMI. I don’t think Phil gives a hoot about that, but you might care about that sort of thing. There is also one that will recharge wirelessly.

Just go out and get the Incipio offGRID Power Pack. You won’t regret it.

See at Motorola

We want to know what you think

We’ve shared our favorite accessories for the Moto Z, but what about you? Let us know in the comments below!

Moto Z and Moto Z Force

• Our Moto Z review!
• Moto Z specs
• Moto Mods custom backs
• Moto Z and Moto Z Force will be Verizon exclusives until the fall of 2016
• The latest Moto Z news
• Discuss in our Moto Z forums

Motorola
Verizon

Pokémon Go goes live in Taiwan, the Philippines, Singapore, and more Asian countries

Developer Niantic Labs has once again expanded the reach of its hugely popular augmented reality game Pokémon Go. It has officially gone live in 15 Asian countries, including Taiwan, the Philippines and Singapore.

Here’s the full list of new countries that can now download and play Pokémon Go:

• Brunei
• Cambodia
• Indonesia
• Laos
• Malaysia
• Philippines
• Singapore
• Thailand
• Vietnam
• Taiwan
• Papua New Guinea
• Fiji
• Solomon Islands
• Federated States of Micronesia
• Palau

Even with this new expansion, Niantic has yet to launch Pokémon Go in several major markets in Asia, including India, China and South Korea.

Pokémon Go

• Join our Pokémon Go forums!
• How to deal with GPS errors in-game
• Which team should you choose?
• How to play without killing your battery
• The Ultimate Pokémon Go Game Guide!
• Listen to the Pokémon Go podcast!

Homido’s V2 headset shows mobile VR doesn’t have to be basic

Virtual Reality’s main players might be household names (or owned by them), but scratch under the surface, and there’s a bustling bevy of lesser-known names jostling for your attention. Usually these fall into two camps, those with quirky features, or deluxe versions of Google Cardboard. Homido’s first headset was more the latter, with the distinction of having its own app hub for VR movies and games, and IPD (Inter Pupil Distance) controls, something even Gear VR doesn’t have. The French company’s back with a new version (called V2) that’s sleeker and compatible with more phones. What makes it interesting is the “family” of accessories that will complement it, including a Kinect-like motion sensor — making Homido’s little slice of virtual reality more than just a bourgeois take on bare-bones VR.

The good news is, the improved V2 costs the same as the original Homido VR headset. The less good news, if you’re on a budget at least, is that the original cost $80. Not the most expensive mobile VR headset, but still a jump if you were looking to get an upgraded cardboard viewer. The new design promises to be more comfortable, with better ventilation and a more premium feel along with an all-important capacitive button (no more pressing play, then quickly shoving the phone in the viewer). It’ll also support large phones including the iPhone 6s Plus.

Homido doesn’t want to just be known as a fancy phone holder, though. It’s Homido Center app might not be quite the same as Samsung’s Gear VR in terms of razzle-dazzle software stores, but it’s a start. Despite not having the influence of the Korean giant, CEO Mathieu Parmentier tells me his goal is to offer the best mobile VR experience possible. “We’re the only company to focus this hard on mobile VR and nothing else, and that’s how we’ll stay. We’re specialists.”

Parmentier also argues that making a headset that works well with many phones is actually more of an accomplishment. “It seems simple, no electronics etc., but actually the challenge is much harder than making a Gear [VR] for three Samsung smartphones, without adjustable IPD.”

The reveal of new accessories for the V2 is proof Parmentier wants to make Homido more of an ecosystem. The new additions include a 360-degree camera ($200), Bluetooth game controllers (Android/iOS costing $40/$60 respectively) and an as-yet-to-be-announced motion sensor. The controllers aren’t all that remarkable, but the addition of a 1080p/30fps VR camera plus app for converting videos into a Facebook or YouTube-friendly format (handy in its own right) would make Homido an easy entry introduction to VR video and photos.

As for the motion sensor, less is known. This would be something of a first for a headset at this price, though. Earlier this year, the company demoed it at MWC, allowing users to interact with games physically — like boxing with your fists. Rumours suggested the sensor might debut alongside the V2, but it looks like this might have been delayed. Once it does arrive, though, this would make Homido an unusually complete, if unconventional little VR ecosystem. That said, only the V2 is available now, everything else will follow “soon.”

Source: Best Buy

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These Steamcrate subscriptions deliver 10 games a month to your inbox (57 per cent off)

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Build apps for the upcoming iOS 10 with this complete development bundle

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