Dealers wanting to sell Ford's first all-electric car must Focus on the environment

You can't just sell the new 2012 Ford Focus Electric, you've got to embrace what it stands for, or at least that's what Dearborn is telling its dealers. Per the company HQ, outfits hoping to offer the electric hatchback on their lots later this year must send sales staff through a special electric vehicle training program. What's more, all dealerships carrying the electric Focus must install a minimum of two EV charging stations on their premises and enroll in Ford's Go Green program. Go Green, which has been optional up to this point, looks to improve the sustainability and efficiency of shops, regardless of age. So far, 76 dealerships in California, New Jersey and New York (the initial launch markets) have stepped up to the plate and will be selling the EV. Ford's hoping to capture the hearts and minds of those with electric personalities who haven't already settled for on the competition from Nissan.

Dealers wanting to sell Ford's first all-electric car must Focus on the environment originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 30 Apr 2012 21:17:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Romney: U.S. Must Support Chen (TIME)

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Switched On: Big kicks, not all for starters

Each week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology.

The end of last week's Switched On left doubt for the future of dedicated devices that tread on the turf of smartphones. After all, funding is key to every major new product initiative and, despite the vast fortunes of many Silicon Valley engineers that have been accumulated via IPOs and acquisitions, few wish to take on the risk of fronting a new consumer device themselves.(In 2007, the handheld FlipStart PC was hatched from FlipStart Labs, funded by Vulcan Ventures, the investment arm of Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen.)

Most venture capitalists abhor the device business; it is a rare device that makes it to the spotlight of startup debutante balls such as DEMO, TechCrunch Disrupt, or Launch. Even most of the 94 companies at CES' Eureka Park were not developing end-user devices Where, then, can a device entrepreneur go for funding and pick up some publicity in the process?

Continue reading Switched On: Big kicks, not all for starters

Switched On: Big kicks, not all for starters originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 29 Apr 2012 17:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Acer releases app to hurry the ICS-ification of Iconia slates (video)

Patience, they say, is a virtue. Try telling that to a tech-savvy tablet owner, whose friend already got an ICS update. Acer started pushing out an Android 4 update to lucky Iconia 500 owners earlier in the week, but for those who've yet to receive it, all is not lost. The tablet maker has taken the unusual step of releasing an app dedicated to getting you the upgrade asap. Can't wait a moment longer? Point your slate at the Play store and search for "Acer" and then simply look for the free Iconia Tab Update Enhancement app. Virtues are overrated anyway.

Continue reading Acer releases app to hurry the ICS-ification of Iconia slates (video)

Acer releases app to hurry the ICS-ification of Iconia slates (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 29 Apr 2012 14:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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How Tablets Are Transforming Business Intelligence

Staying on top of your game and understanding the competitive landscape is essential to winning in the modern business world. A huge component to staying ahead of the curve is keeping a close eye on competitors in your market, which entails maintaining a watchful eye on industry news. Some companies turn to expensive news monitoring services to keep track of their respective industry, but in reality there are more viable options. Emerging tablet news and information services like Flipboard, Pulse and others are proving an incredible companion to business and consulting executives in staying current with industry changes occurring around them. Jeff Cavins, CEO of Fuzebox, recently?wrote in Business Insider?that?the explosive uptake of tablet computers is fueling the growth of what he called the new ?iPad economy.? Cavins said: ?The iPad is shifting the way businesses function, changing how executives interact and transforming the economics of today?s business operations.?

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Micromax's Superfone A50 Ninja enters India with AISHA voice assistant, forgets its shuriken

Hoping to compete with the Siris of the world, Micromax has announced its new Superfone A50 Ninja alongside a novel feature dubbed AISHA -- which is short for Artificial Intelligence Speech Handset Assistant. Similar to Cupertino's personal secretary, AISHA vows to help folks with every-day elements such as making calls, setting up calendar events and even reporting what the weather looks like. Much to our disappointment, however, the A50 Ninja runs a not-so-new flavor of Android -- Gingerbread to be exact -- and Micromax left out any mention of Android 4.0. On the specs front, the dual-SIM Superfone sports a 3.1-inch display (mum's the word on the resolution), a two-megapixel shooter, Bluetooth 2.0 capabilities and an unspecified 650MHz processor. All in all, thanks to its 4,999 rupees (around $95) budget price, we can't imagine you'd complain too much. Be sure to hit up the Micromax link below if you're interested in grabbing one of these.

Continue reading Micromax's Superfone A50 Ninja enters India with AISHA voice assistant, forgets its shuriken

Micromax's Superfone A50 Ninja enters India with AISHA voice assistant, forgets its shuriken originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 28 Apr 2012 08:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft backs off of CISPA "support" (Americablog)

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Google Releases Full Report On Street View Investigation, Finds That Staff Knew About Wi-Fi Sniffing

Earlier today Google released the full report of the FCC's investigation into the collection of? "payload data" from open Wi-Fi networks -- aka passwords, email and search history from open networks -- that its fleet of Street View cars obtained between 2008 and April 2010. An earlier and heavily redacted version of the report was released on April 15 but today's version only redacted the names of individuals. The report found no violation of any wrong doing by the company because there was no legal precedent on the matter. The FCC found that Google did not violate the Communications Act citing the fact that Wi-Fi did not exist when it was written. However,?the FCC did fine Google $25,000 for obstructing the investigation, which was presumably the outcome of Google refusing to show the FCC what the data being collected entailed because it might have shown that the company broke privacy and wiretapping laws. Google says any obstruction was result of the FCC dragging out the investigation. Interestingly enough, the report did reveal that the data harvesting was not the act of a rogue engineer and that said engineer notified the Street View team of what was going on. (Wait. What? Google knew this was going on! It gets even better.)

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Houstonians fight back against TSA public bus searches (Americablog)

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Panasonic details radar-based technology that can detect collisions in low light

Collision detection for cars? Yeah, scientists are on that. But whenever we read about concepts like this, the accompanying literature is often curiously light on details pertaining to real-life driving conditions; it's often unclear how well the tech will fare if you dredge it up on a foggy day, or in the middle of torrential storm. But in that press release you seen down there, low visibility and poorly lit roads are all Panasonic wants to talk about. The company just unveiled its new crash-avoidance system, which, like other concepts we've seen, uses millimeter-wave radar technology to detect pedestrians and bicyclists. Since humans tend to reflect weaker radar signals than cars, Panasonic has designed a new pulse radar code sequence that allows pedestrians to leave a bigger footprint. It's so effective, the company claims, that it can detect bystanders up to 40 meters (131 feet) away, and will work at night and through rain, fog, snow and blinding sunlight. That all sounds promising, of course, but as with other concepts, it's not clear, when, exactly we'll see this system put to good use in the real world.

Continue reading Panasonic details radar-based technology that can detect collisions in low light

Panasonic details radar-based technology that can detect collisions in low light originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 27 Apr 2012 18:05:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New iPad available in India, South Africa and seven more countries from today

Apple will roll out the new iPad to nine more countries starting from today. This is the third phase of new iPad launches and will see it now available in a total of forty six countries.

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Alistair Overeem, Chael Sonnen vs. Anderson Silva?s move to Vegas and Dan Henderson fill Reader Rants

In a very busy week, despite the lack of fights this weekend, you all had plenty to talk about. Reader Rants covered Alistair Overeem's suspension, Anheuser-Busch's strong words towards the UFC, the Chael Sonnen/Anderson Silva move to Las Vegas, and how Dan Henderson will fare against Jon Jones. Do you want to see your thoughts in Reader Rants? Like Cagewriter on Facebook and comment on the stories that show up in your newsfeed.

Not many of you bought Alistair Overeem's explanation for his elevated testosterone levels.

I want to believe Overeem, but where there is smoke, there is fire. The tests prior to the Lesnar fight had weird circumstances and now this? For a guy who proclaims innocence and knows the PED spotlight is squarely on his back, he should be the first to check the ingredients of anything he puts in his body. -- Ryan Wahl

I don't know science well enough, but he keeps on making excuses and doesn't really convince anyone that he's clean. Sure, he says everything with a straight face, but like Ryan said, where there's smoke, there's fire! -- Brandon Mendoza

Anheuser-Busch shared their displeasure with the UFC over the behavior of some fighters. One reader thought they should take a look inward.

I think it would be unfair if they let a few bad apples spoil the bunch. We're in such a sensitive age with the internet and social media, but UFC fighters aren't running around disparaging women, minorities or disabled people, they are making errant jokes like Anheuser-Busch does all the time. It's really too bad if a beer company with controversial commercials of it's own can't learn to turn the other cheek and just ask the UFC to introduce fines and consistency into it's policies about social media instead of threatening to pull their sponsorship. Talk about calling the kettle black. -- Joshua Smith

Chael Sonnen and Anderson Silva's rematch was moved to Las Vegas, and Silva isn't the only one disappointed in the move.

I'm disappointed, everyone has wanted to see how the fight is gonna go down on Anderson's home turf and this just helps Chael. It's still a good fight and if the card lives up to the hype it'll probably go down as the card of the year. -- Gabriel Martinez

Brazil fans are going to be disappointed in the UFC. This would've been the match they wanted out of any, and its been taken away from them. -- Manny Seda

Cagereaders had many answers for the question, how will Dan Henderson do against Jon Jones?

Hendo has NO advantages to use against Jones apart from experience. Height, reach, youth, strength, stamina, and the match all go to Jones. -- Donald Windley

Hendo will have to end it early, and he can do it! If Jones somehow manages to survive the 1st round (run instead of engage) and make it past half way into the second I think that the younger guy's ground game will be the difference. Too bad that, I say! Every MMA fan loves to see a knock out! Hendo deserves to go out a champ and Jones doesn't have the 'cred'. -- Kevin Astle

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GOP Blasts Obama for Travel Costs (WSJ)

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