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[2009-10-30] Ford unveils open-source Sync developer platform

October 29th, 2009

“When Ford and Microsoft opened up their joint Sync platform for its own applications and updates, we wondered when the day would come that third-party developers would be given a crack at the in-vehicle infomatics interface. Well, that day may be on the horizon. Ford announced that it is testing an open-source platform to could be used in the future to develop applications that make use of Sync to connect to social networks in the cloud.”

[2009-10-30] Whirlpool wants to pull plug on ‘dumb’ appliances

October 29th, 2009

“Whirlpool has pledged that by 2015, it will discontinue making appliances sans the ability to communicate with smart grids. It will no longer make “dumb” appliances at all.”

[2009-10-30] 4 Billion Global Networked CE Devices to be Installed by 2014

October 29th, 2009

“By 2014 almost half of all networked devices will be fixed devices in the home, the rest will be portable.”

[2009-10-30] Microgrids Report from Pike Research

October 29th, 2009

“Microgrids are being driven in part by the broader push to create a Smart Grid that will add intelligence and automation to the electricity infrastructure while facilitating the integration of renewable energy resources, electric vehicles, and greater customer control over energy consumption. In part, however, the microgrid is an alternative vision to a highly integrated “Super Grid” — microgrid proponents are advocating deployments where a community, corporation, or institutional entity can operate autonomously from the larger grid infrastructure.”

[2009-10-30] In 2009, 27% of Smartphones Cost Under $200, ABI Research Finds

October 29th, 2009

“By 2014, say the firm’s forecasts, 45% of the smartphones shipped that year will be priced below $200.”

[2009-10-29] Zong announces expansion of its mobile payments business

October 29th, 2009

“Zong is expanding its mobile payment service in hopes of reaching a larger mass market of people who could find it convenient paying for items in games or other applications with their mobile phones instead of credit cards.”

[2009-10-29] Ericsson’s Spider PC Concept Projects the Keyboard and Screen

October 29th, 2009

“Ericsson’s vision for the portable computer of 2020 uses a pico-projected screen and laser-projected keyboard”

[2009-10-29] Elmo and Nokia join forces, meld kids’ books with teleconferencing for Storyplay (video)

October 29th, 2009

“designed to help kids and adults read together even when far apart. It has room in the middle for a removable paper book with magnets on each page to identify which is being shown, then on the top are two screens. One is continual footage of that most ticklish of Sesame Street characters, the other a live video stream from a remote parent, grandparent, or other floating head who can read along”

[2009-10-29] Kohjinsha dual screen netbook

October 29th, 2009

“The second display simply slides out behind the first, like on GScreen’s Spacebook and Lenovo’s W700. It’s slightly thicker than a normal netbook, but the insides are pretty much the same: Windows 7, 1.6GHz AMD Athlon Neo MV-40 processor, maximum 4GB RAM, and 160GB hard disk.”