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Posted Mar 4th 2008 2:25PM by Donald MelansonFiled under: Transportation Tesla Motors sure has been doing a lot of explaining about its all-electric Tesla Roadster since it first announced it way back when, and it’s now aiming to clear up what it says is another common misconception about the car: that it’s a converted Lotus Elise. According to Tesla’s Darryl Siry, the total number of shared parts between the cars is actually “under 7%,” and that “if you were to try to convert an Elise to a Tesla and started throwing away parts that aren’t carried over what you would basically be left with a windshield, dashboard (complete with airbags!), front wishbones and a removable soft top.” He does admit, however, that the remaining pieces (particularly the dashboard and steering wheel) are so noticeable that they give drivers the impression of an Elise, as we’ve seen in some of the road tests of the vehicle. (Read the full post about ‘Tesla Motors says its Roadster is not a converted Lotus Elise’…)

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Have you ever used the synchronize files feature in Windows? This is the feature that allows you to make files available offline when you are not connected to a network drive. It also allows you to make updates to offline files which end up being synchronized once you are connected back to the network. Unfortunately, many people find this difficult to setup in Windows or have found it to not be that reliable. This would explain why there are other third party applications out there which make synchronization between two file folders much easier. We recently put one of those applications, Memeo’s AutoSync, to the test in order to see how easy synchronizing could be. (Read the full post about ‘Synchronize your files with Memeo AutoSync’…)

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Dell has just released a new rugged laptop known as the Latitude XFR D630. This tough cookie will come with a tough chassis, conforming to the Department of Defense’s rigid MIL-STD 810F specifications. It is capable of functioning even in extreme temperatures, mositure, and altitudes among others, making the possibility of it outlast the owner very real. Solid state drives are supported, while folks who prefer to stick to a traditional hard drive can always rely on the shock-isolated mounting for extra protection. The keyboard is sealed, protecting it from rain and dust, while port covers are there to prevent the elements from creatic havoc. (Read the full post about ‘Dell Latitude XFR D630′…)

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Posted Mar 4th 2008 3:38PM by Darren MurphFiled under: Laptops If you were already curious as to where AMD would be using its newly announced 780 Series motherboard GPU, lookie here. During a CeBIT press event held today in Germany, AMD solidified details of its looming Puma mobile platform, which will be based on the outfit’s Griffin CPU and RS780M chipset. In order for laptops to sport the Puma branding, it must house a Griffin CPU (officially named Turion Ultra), RS780M chipset and a WiFi adapter. (Read the full post about ‘AMD gets official with Puma mobile platform’…)

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While the deal has not been made official just yet, Acer has announced having entering into an agreement to purchase E-Ten. For those unfamiliar, E-Ten is a mobile phone maker, who has been getting well known for their Windows Mobile-based Glofiish smartphone lineup. It is being reported that the deal is going for $290 million and as of now both Acer and E-Ten have approved the deal. The deal is still awaiting the official government approval before it becomes final. That regulatory approval is expected to come sometime during Q3 2008. Via [IntoMobile] Keep up with the latest gadget goodness! - Subscribe to our feed → (Read the full post about ‘Acer set to acquire E-Ten, entering into the smartphone business’…)

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Electrolux has a brand new 36″ induction hybrid cooktop to decorate your home - and this time it features a couple of induction zones as well as three electric elements. This means you’ll benefit from precise temperature control with a peak power of 3.2 kW that boils water in just 90 seconds, while the 6″ induction cooking zone has maximum power of 1.5 kW. Other features include Power Assist function, Sabbath Mode and Hot Surface indicator lights - no idea what Sabbath Mode is, does it mean it will just shut down throughout the entire Sabbath to ensure that no work gets done? This 36″ hybrid cooktop will retail for $2,000. (Read the full post about ‘Electrolux 36″ induction cooktop’…)

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Posted Mar 4th 2008 9:43AM by Paul MillerFiled under: GPS Navigon is hitting CeBIT with some new and fairly expected hotness: the 8110. With a 4.8-inch WQVGA screen, full 3D maps and some sexy brushed metal looks, this one’s going to turn some heads — just promise you’ll try and keep your eyes on the road, will you? There’s a 533MHz processor under the hood, along with a independent graphics accelerator to handle the 3D. 512MB of ROM and 128MB of RAM round out the specs, which won’t exactly make this your second computer, but should handle media from SD cards just fine. TMC Pro is also included for higher quality traffic info. The 8110 should hit Europe at the end of April for €449, no word on a US release yet. (Read the full post about ‘Navigon’s 8110 4.8-inch GPS unit arrives, right on schedule’…)

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OpenMoko, the makers of the Neo 1973 Linux-based open source smartphone is currently taking a new strategy in cell phone design. Now offering a build your own case option. Using the philosophy of, “If you can’t open it, you don’t own it.” they have been very into using open and unlocked software and this new case design option is taking this to a new level. The catch here, which is really a nice idea is that your creations have to be shared back with the community. OpenMoko is releasing the CAD files under a ShareAlike Creative Commons license. Read [OpenMoko] Via [Gizmodo] Keep up with the latest gadget goodness! (Read the full post about ‘OpenMoko: Offering a design your own cell phone case’…)

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Now this project by Veloz is certainly one that comes from the heart, as he created it just in time for his wedding as a gift to his wife. The keyboard certainly doesn’t look too comfortable to type on, featuring old school typewriter keys, but this mac mini-powered system is definitely one-of-a-kind. Talk about a labor of love that has no price attached to it! Veloz has certainly set a very high standard for everyone else to follow. (Read the full post about ‘Steampunk Wedding Present’…)

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If you fancy your self as a spy then this under door remote viewing kit is a must for you. The viewing kit allows you to see behind a door before you open it. The scope section is used to slide under the door and can fit in a space less then quarter of an inch. The field of view is 55° which can see from the floor right up to the ceiling. As well as seeing what it in the room, there is a right angle adapter which allows you to view the back of the door so you can observe any barricades or traps. Night vision is also part of the kit too and is a separate unit which attaches to the bottom of the scope allowing for third-generation imaging. To view images there are two options. (Read the full post about ‘Under Door Remote Viewing’…)

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