Filed under: Car TechWe've reported on a number of eco-friendly car concepts in the past, like Nissan's electric Mixim and that supposed Ford Escort plug-in hybrid that, unfortunately, turned out to be a bogus rumor. Neither of those two is a reality, but GM's latest concept is different. Company vice-chairman Bob Lutz says GM is ready to stop playing around and fully intends to release its electric car, called Volt, for sale in late 2010. However, that electric car moniker requires a bit of a caveat here, as the Volt will actually have a small gas-powered engine nestled inside. But, unlike hybrids which use complicated transmissions to enable both the gas and electric motors to drive the wheels, the Volt will act more like a WWII diesel submarine. The gas engine will simply be run as a generator, re-charging the batteries after they're depleted, something that's expected to happen roughly every 40 miles. The process is similar to how Honda's FCX Clarity will operate, but that car requires hydrogen which is available at only a handful of pumps across the nation. That said, Honda's car, set to debut in 2008 on a very limited release, will emit zero emissions thanks to its fuel cell technology. The Volt will still produce some carbon emissions thanks to its (albeit limited) use of gasoline. It's unknown at this point just how many miles the car will be able to travel with both full batteries and a full gas tank, and the critical question of cost is also still in the air. The styling is certainly better than most electric concepts if a bit fender-heavy and slab-sided. Regardless, we're happy to see an American auto maker challenge itself like this instead of blowing its budget on commercials to convince shoppers how "fuel efficient" their 20-something MPG cars are.From DailyTechRelated Links: Honda Testing Clean Hydrogen Fuel Cell Car Nissan's All-Electric Concept Car Ford Developing 100MPG Escort Hybrid Lightning's New Electric GT Roadster  Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

  Filed under: Cell Phones, Cameras, $250 and UnderRemember Napster? They're still around, and the file sharing-gone-legit company has teamed up with AT&T to release a mobile phone that is optimized for downloading songs from its online catalog of more than 3 million songs. The SLM from Samsung comes with the basic things you expect, like 512 megabytes of storage, BlueTooth 2.0, and a 2-megapixel camera. The big deal, though? It's the SLM's high-peed data connection for the Napster subscription service with downloads averaging around ten seconds per song. The dual-band 3G clamshell has a brushed metal finish and a swivel-camera for taking pictures or video calls over the high-speed network.Napster To Go on the SLM will cost $7.49 for five tracks per month and additional tracks can be purchased for $1.99 each. The phone itself will set you back $150 after a $50 mail-in rebate. From Dailytech.comRelated Links:T-Mobile Selling $1,500 Unlocked iPhone in Germany New Japanese Phone Offers Earthquake Alerts 82% of Americans Own Cell Phones Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

  Filed under: Cell PhonesWe're more than a little sick of Verizon's "Can you hear me now?" commercials, but a new report from Consumerist puts such an interesting spin on the company's tag-line that we can't help but report it. It seems Verizon is making an effort to ensure that criminals can hear 911 callers from anywhere within earshot. The company is equipping some of its phones with loud alarms that are triggered whenever 911 is dialed. Recently, a woman in Texas was forced to hang up after dialing 911, thanks to the unexpectedly shrill alarm. She had dialed after noticing her security chain was removed from her property, and was afraid that possible miscreants were still lurking about. Obviously, in this sort of situation, a loud noise pinpointing a 911 caller's location is not exactly ideal.Verizon claims the alarms are part of an FCC mandate that requires the provider to "offer service that is accessible and usable by individuals with disabilities." However, the FCC itself has said Verizon has misinterpreted the requirement, saying, quite clearly: "The Commission has not implemented any rules pursuant to Section 255 that would require the use of any tones concerning 911 calls."So, here's hoping these tones go the way of brick-sized handsets soon, even though we're betting Iowa 911 operators wish such an alarm were installed on that mystery phone that won't stop calling them.From ConsumeristRelated Links: Untraceable Cell Phone Terrorizes Iowa 911 Center NYC Hopes to Launch Subway Text Message Alert System Cell Phones in Subways: Not For 911  Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

  Filed under: ComputersWe live in an era of safe sex (at least if you choose to practice it). We also live in an era of high-tech fixes for low-tech problems. Voice-recognizing GPS devices; guitars that tune themselves; a force feedback suit for boxing -- all interesting but not totally necessary. Now, a fancy spray-on replacement for the venerable condom is nearly ready for production.The condoms, invented by a German scientist, are applied with a special applicator. Men insert their assets, press a button, and an aerosol canister sprays on a fast-drying latex liquid. 25 seconds later, the condom is dry and ready for use. It is then rolled off and disposed afterward.The spray-on condoms entered development nearly a year ago but were more conceptual back then. It was initially expected that the latex would dry in a second, but subsequent tests on real-life penises have shown this figure to be unrealistic. However, considering the amount of time it takes the average man to actually get a condom on in the dark (especially after a few drinks), 25 seconds doesn't sound so bad.That said, while we're all for gadgets, we think this spray-on prophylactic has just too many shortcomings. The first is cost: The applicator will set you back around $35, with subsequent refills (providing 10-20 applications) costing about $10. Regular condoms cost about $6 for 12, or $25 for 100, so do the math. Then there's the size of the thing -- a rolled-up condom is about as portable as it gets, but the thermos-sized applicator will mean this thing is unlikely to venture out of the bedroom.From Daily MailRelated Links: The Gibson Robot Guitar "Force Feedback" Suit Teaches You to Box Street Walker Goes Legit With Web Cam Site  Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

  Filed under: ComputersData loss happens. But all the past instances of carelessness have been dwarfed by the sheer magnitude of the loss suffered by the British government. Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) office lost discs containing highly sensitive data, including names, dates of birth, bank account numbers, and home addresses of up to 25 million of its citizens.These discs, which could represent up to 40 percent of the British population, are not encrypted. Rather, they are merely password protected, meaning that if they fell into the wrong hands, the information on them could be fairly easily extracted. Lets just hope it isn't one of the passwords on this list.The HMRC has no reason to believe that the information is in the hands of criminals. This catastrophic loss of data comes only two months after the HMRC lost information on 15,000 customers of the Standard Life insurance company. This has led the already normally combative parliament to get even more feisty with Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who opposition leaders say is trying to shirk responsibility in this issue. To his credit, though, Brown has ordered an investigation, and has granted his Information Commissioner new powers to spot-check agencies to ensure the security of data.From BetaNewsRelated links:FBI Gets Caught Digging Too DeepYour Old Hard Drive is a Criminal's Gold MineMonster.Com Hacked, User Info CompromisedCompany Leaks 3,500 Customers' Passwords Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

  Filed under: Video GamesThe whole "violence in video games" fire just had a glass of cool, non-violent water thrown on it, in the form of a new study by Dr. Christopher Ferguson in the medical journal Psychiatric Quarterly. Namely, by studying other studies (many of which were done by him).Ferguson put together a specific set of collection criteria for his meta-study: He only included those that used violent games and measured actual aggressive behavior (as opposed to those which scored for violent thoughts or took physiological measurements). Apparently, only 17 published studies over a 12-year period qualified -- which showed a severe publication bias. And when the bias was controlled for, it was found that there was no significant link between the games and aggression.While this latest finding is perhaps something of a corroboration for those who argue the "it's not video games that are causing our children to show upat school with semi-automatic weapons" point, the discussion is more a recognition that the influence of games may have "as much to do with their specific content as the psychological makeup of those playing them." Now please return to your regular holiday first-person shooting. From ArsTechnicaStudy proves video games improve seniors' brainsTarget pulls Manhunt 2 video game citing violent content Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

  Filed under: Computers, eBayWe've written about plenty of strange things hitting the auction block on eBay before -- Gary Coleman's Game Cube, a half-million-dollar bottle of beer, and even a competitor to eBay it self -- but today we have an entire city for sale.A buyer from Italy snatched up the 13 acres of unpopulated land in Albert, Texas for $3.8 million. However, just like the supposed purchasers of Bridgeville, North Carolina, there is a chance the bidder isn't legit. Bridgeville was the first town to ever sell itself on eBay, but the deal fell through twice, once in 2002, and once in 2006.What does the as-yet unidentified Italian buyer get for his large sum of cash? A bar that is open on weekends, a pavilion, a dance hall, a tractor shed, a three-bedroom house, and peach and pecan orchards. Sounds really nice, but calling a plot of land with only one residential property and two commercial buildings a "town" feels like cheating.From CNN (Video)Related links:30 Years of Video Games Up For SaleOnline Game Character Sells for $10KMisspelling Costs eBay Seller $500,000 Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

  Filed under: Audio/Video, Advice, Editor's Picks, Features, Reviews We're asked all the time what constitutes a great, but affordable home theater package. Unfortunately, 'affordable' can mean very different things to different people. So, we've put together two excellent home theater set-ups for two different budgets, both of which are still firmly planted in the realm of reality. In other words, you probably won't need a winning lottery ticket to afford the payments on them.For the budget-conscious buyer:VIZIO VX37L 37-inch LCD TVAt just $799 for a top-notch LCD, you really can't beat VIZIO. Though you might not be familiar with the name, the company has been making some noise lately for offering high-quality sets priced with real people in mind. On this LCD, you get two HDMI inputs for connecting video sources with just one cable for picture and sound -- a nice feature at such a low price. The resolution tops out at 720p, but at this size that's all you'll need for HDTV broadcasts, DVDs and gaming. (More on 720p versus 1080p here.)Panasonic SC-PT950 Wireless Home TheaterWhen putting together a home theater, hardcore audiophiles will tell you to handpick your components and speakers separately. But, that quickly gets expensive and time-consuming. All-in-one systems, or HTIBs (Home Theater In a Box), on the other hand, give you everything you need in one convenient package - like this Panasonic kit, which includes a receiver, amplifier, five-disc DVD changer and speakers. In addition to an included iPod dock and the ability to up-convert DVDs to true 1080p resolution, the $440 system also boasts the convenience and easy setup of a wireless back speaker.TOTAL: $1,240Next >> Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

  Filed under: Holiday Gift Guide, Features, Gift News Well, Black Friday came and went, but it's still kind of Black Friday at many places through the end of the weekend. This means hundreds of amazing deals on electronics and other digital doodads, not to mention insanely long lines. We don't really think all the fuss is worth it, particularly since two weeks ago, we bought a Panasonic 42-inch plasma HDTV for about $1,100. In fact, we're confident that deals will persist for the next five weeks of holiday shopping. And let's not forget that many of these Black Friday sales are also available online. But if you're in the mood to shop this weekend, and sometimes that's enough of a reason to deal with the crowds, here are some sites you should check out before you god. DealNews: This site lists the latest deals on all sorts of merchandise, including, of courses, deals on electronics. Sales are listed by retailers (Apple Store, Sears, Amazon.com), as well as by specific item (such as LG's 42-inch plasma HDTV for $899). You can also print out coupons here.Gadget blogs and sites: Both Engadget and Gizmodo have exhaustive lists of all the deals that are to be had today. Or, if you don't have time to browse through each and every deal and link, you can check out the top ten Black Friday deals that Laptop magazine has compiled.Retrevo: This newly launched site lists the latest deals, and, unlike a lot of other sales listing sites, even tells you what it thinks is a good discount versus just a discount. but also offers a nifty new shopping tool that lets narrow down gadgets by price range, brand, feature list, then scours the Web for online deals, user and blog/Web site reviews, and images and gives you a customized breakdown of price and quality on whatever you're looking for. BlackFridayInfo: This site comes alive today with pretty much every Black Friday deal that any major retailer might have, and offers links to online deals right on the main page, so you'll never have to leave your desk!Assorted tips: If you know what you want, but just don't have a strategy for beating lines or traffic, you're in luck, because everyone in the gadget and product review business usually has its own Black Friday guide. Just do a search for "Black Friday tips" and you'll likely find a full list of stories such as this one.For more ideas on what to buy this holiday season, check out the Switched Holiday Gift Guide. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

  Filed under: Advice, Editor's Picks, Top Lists, Holiday Gift Guide Who doesn't love gadgets? We here at Switched pretty much think everyone does, though we're sure there are a few stragglers out there who haven't hopped on the gizmo bus yet. Regardless, as far as we're concerned, gadgets are the perfect gift for the holidays, which is why we've scoured the piles and piles of cool items we've had a chance to check out hands-on over the past few months and compiled a list of 60 perfect presents for various different types of people. From gadget heads and video-gamers to homebodies and style mavens, no gift recipient on your holiday list will be disappointed with the suggestions we've gathered for you.To make it easy, we've divided the initial set of 60 recommendations into ten different gift recipient types and six different price ranges. Just click on "Find by Price" or "Find by Recipient" at the top of any Holiday Gift Guide page to find the perfect present. Wherever possible, we've also linked our gift picks to online retailers that carry them.Be sure to check back daily, as we'll be adding breaking news on the latest sales and deals and just-released products, as well as even more gift roundups, shopping tips, how-tos (so you can set up those new gadgets), and other features. All new additions to the gift guide will also show up in a special holiday blog, which you can access by clicking on the Holiday Gift Guide link here or on the Switched main page.Happy browsing and shopping!Visit the 2007 Switched Holiday Gift Guide. From whether you've got to get holiday gifts for early-adopting, video-game-playing gadget heads or for aesthetically-minded style mavens that couldn't give two cents for some ugly-but-powerful new doodad,  Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

  Filed under: Advice, Reviews, Holiday Gift Guide, FeaturesIs the world's first ultrasound toothbrush all that? Read this to find out:What it is: Ultreo claims the Ultrasound is the first major innovation in electric-toothbrush technology since Sonicare came out roughly 15 years ago. It uses -- appropriately enough -- ultrasound technology to clean your teeth (a super high-pitched form of sound pressure, and yes, that's the same technology used to check out the sex of your unborn baby).Why it's different: The Ultreo uses roughly four million cycles of ultrasound energy to create bubbles that expand and contract -- this movement, combined with regular bristle-action, helps remove the tiny chunks of Swedish fish and/or meatballs that get stuck in those hidden spots between your teeth. Where you can get it: Atthe moment, Ultreo is available online from Ultreo's website -- it'll eventually make its way to retail stores and dentist's offices, making it kind of a rarefied gift for someone who loves their teeth.Price: Ultreo will set you back $149.99, but snag a discount code from your dentist to save a few bucks.What we like: Immediately after you finish brushing, a distinct feeling of (quite literal) squeaky-clean sets in; your teeth actually feel as if they've been buffed and polished, and the squeak when you rub your finger across them is actually audible (though not visible). The unit itself feels solid and well-built, and the brush-head seems seems more durable than those of other premium toothbrushes.What we don't like: Hard to find anything, other than the high price. While it's not necessarily a bad thing, per se, the Ultreo doesn't produce quite as much friction as other high-end electric toothbrushes. This may come as something of a shock to those used to, say, the Sonicare's full-on tooth-and-gum massage. The Ultreo's lighter touch is a result of cleaning being accomplished through ultrasound waves, which you don't actually feel.Does it live up to the hype? While it will be tough to say how well the Ultreo actually works until our next dentist appointment, initial impressions are definitely positive. It feels like a great way to clean those pearlies, and the lack of friction is likely to be easy on the gums, for those who tend to otherwise brush too hard.Related Links:Hype Check: Sansa Connect Hype Check: Verizon VCAST Mobile TV How to Clean Your Flat-Panel TV  Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

  Filed under: Audio/Video, Computers, TV, YouTubeIn its testing phase right now, SyncTV is pioneering some new ground with pay-for-what-you-want television and media programming. Initially, the service will be computer-based only, allowing users to download their favorite show or whole seasons of television programs by subscribing to their favorite channels for $2-$4 a pop per month. The service works with to any Windows-, Linux-, or Mac-based computer and is said to deliver DVD-like quality and 5.1 Dolby Digital Plus Surround Sound. This is some scary ground for the established cable companies that have been toying with versions of this (On Demand, etc.), but not within the same framework of an approach, i.e. customers just paying for the channels they want to watch.SyncTV plans to rollout portable media player devices that can play its content (which utilizes the open-standard Marlin digital rights management technology), as well asallow for playback on televisions in the future. The platform that SyncTV is based on is also an open platform that will allow independent software developers to create, in essence, widgets for your TV.It's an intruiguing proposition that you can actually check out. If you're interested in joining the beta testing program, you can sign up at synctv.com Related Links:National Lampoon Gets OnlineThe Switched Show, To GoMo Rocca Talks About Baring It All, Online  Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

  Filed under: Cell Phones, Video GamesNintendo has long tauted its 'Brain Age' series of games as not only fun, but also as being beneficial to your noggin. The say the games can even make you smarter. A new study verifies those claims, at least in seniors. According to the study, seniors were able to perform mentally as well as they did in their thirties after spending just 40 hours with brain training software. The study, created by a company called Posit, which markets its own (substantially more expensive) software that competes with Nintendo's, showed that seniors who trained using its computer games performed better than those who used more traditional educational techniques. The company's $400 software, like Nintendo's, provides "mental exercise" for those who play, challenging them to remember series of numbers and perform other tasks that test their noodles.While your grandparents may already be having Wii tournaments with their friends, it may be time to set them up with a Nintendo DS and copy of 'Brain Age.' We're guessing that spending time with it will be just as beneficial as the more expensive stuff, plus most people find using aDS to be a lot easier than a PC.From Daily MailRelated Links: Senior Citizens Going Nuts for Nintendo Wii AARP Offers Video Game Training for Senior Citizens Nintendo Targets Women & Grandparents  Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

  Filed under: Computers, MySpaceFacebook's status updates are fun and interesting, but the inclusion of the word 'is' rubs some people the wrong way. Trying to form proper English sentences with the phrase "so-and-so is" is limiting and sometimes difficult. Regardless, some have simply chosen to ignore it, leading to clunkers like "Devika is what me worry" that make us shudder...Others have taken a more proactive approach, forming a very popular group on Facebook whose sole purpose is to convince the developers to pull the offending "is." Facebook has heard your calls and is banishing "is" from the status updates. The code is in place and application developers (like Twitter) can already choose to remove "is" from the status update, and will be removing it completely for all users in the near future. This means you'll be able to use the verb of your choice when drafting your status update. Other updates coming down the pipe to please the Facebook faithful include e-mail opt-outs for applications. Not everyone wants to get an e-mail every time some jack ass "bites" you with the Vampire application, so banish this acceptable form of what is essentially spam from your in-box by simply unchecking a box.All of this said, some of us might actually miss that "is" from our status updates. Constrictions in terms of word count or word choice force us to come up with innovative solutions when writing. That "is" led to some pretty amusing and clever updates, but using our own verbs will probably achieve the same outcome.What do you think? Will you miss the "is" in Facebook status updates?From Read/Write Web and Venture BeatRelated Links:MySpace to Get a Face LiftLosing Face on Facebook - Five True StoriesBest Facebook Apps for the Office Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments