Gadgetell | Tech News, Reviews, and Interesting Things

GM has chosen its factory in northeastern Spain to be a suitable location for rooftop solar panel installation. The predicted 10-megawatt solar station will be used to supply the plant with most of its power needs, thereby taking the title as the largest rooftop solar station in the world. To get an idea of the scale of this thing, imagine being able to power 4,600 households each year with a constant source of electricity. Now that must be big. How big you ask? GM plans to blanket about 2,000,000 square feet with about 85,000 panels by the end of September. Though, this is nothing for GM. They currently own the two largest solar panel installations in the United States and don’t plan on stopping anytime soon. Next stop, Saint Petersburg, Russia. Take that, Al Gore!

Via [PhysOrg]

Looks like many are attempting to “stick it the man”.  In this case, the man is car manufacturers who continued to sell and install analog OnStar units in vehicles despite being aware of an FCC ruling that would render the devices useless in the very near future (Feb 18 2008 looks to be the date analog dies).  With no options for a complimentary upgrade or heck, even a paid upgrade, OnStar owners are understandably furious.

“It is outrageous”
“I think this is a complete scam!”

It seems many customers bought their vehicle with the expectation the system would last at least as long as the car does.  Not to be the case thanks to the FCC’s ruling that allows cell carriers to drop analog compatibility.  For many, it was the tipping point of buying that particular make and model.

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Keynotes: part press conference part play.  This years keynotes were dramatic and if there was a common theme running in them this year it is this: we are making stuff up.  Not faking it, but making products, services, and plans for which there is no real, solid revenue acquisition model yet.  Far from working on things that make no sense, the keynotes highlighted each companies sandbox and the possibilities our head-long leap into technology can bring us.  These possibilities are not so much about a killer product, but a killer revolution, each aimed at disrupting how we live, work or play.  It is an exciting time in technology.

So with that in mind, I bring you, with with the help of our on-site Gadgetell team who nobly risk their lives (or at least their circadian sleep cycle to bring you all the latest the ground from Vegas.

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Here is the first shot of the Cadillac Provoq. It the first auto introduction at CES. It uses no petroleum and no emission other than water. It uses 5th generation technology, drives 300 miles on a full tank of hydrogen. It can go 100 mph and 0-60 in 8.5 seconds.

The full GM press release is below.

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Check out the gallery: World premiere of the Cadillac Provoq

We are here at the General Motors keynote, the second keynote on day two of the show. The folks are starting to pile in and we will be getting started in about 25 minutes (4:30 pm pacific, 7:30 pm eastern). Last year Ford got a bunch of attention at CES, between Bill Gate’s Sync announcement and the Ford keynote. That momentum has continued into this year as more and more companies seem to be pairing up with Ford. GM is really struggling and one would expect that being offered a keynote address would come with some big announcements.

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Check out the gallery: CES 2008 Keynote: GM's Rick Wagoner

OnStar is going to go all-digital sometime down the road, leaving any analog system users out of luck. The change primarily affects anyone who owns a pre-2002 GM vehicle, some 2002-2004 GM vehicles and some Acura, Audi, Subaru and Volkswagen vehicles with built-in OnStar. It’s a result of a small 2002 FCC decision allowing cell phone companies to shut down analog networks beginning February 2008. Dealers will upgrade some GM 2002-2004 if customers buy a three-year subscription at $199 a year. Otherwise, analog OnStar users will need to convert to digital equipment, if it is even possible for their vehicle. About half of OnStar’s 4 million subscribers still drive vehicles that cannot be upgraded. And, oh yeah, the FCC decision will affect cell phone users, too. At least a cell phone can easily be replaced - Hey, it’s yet another reason to keep readin’ Gadgetell!

UPDATE: Analog OnStar owners furious: Class Action Lawsuit

Read [NY Times] via [Technoride]

What The Future Holds, a column written by Adam Berger, that introduces tomorrow’s technology and trends today, is published on Thursdays.

Heads-up displays or HUDs are a great feature for drivers, especially as the electronics in cars increase exponentially. While many car manufacturers have begun to add full function LCD screens in the center of the dashboard as opposed to having the drive look over to the center console LCD screen (found in BMWs, Audi’s, Mercedes Benz’s and more), there still a safer option.

When introduced by General Motors over 20 years ago, heads-up displays did not take off. Heads-up displays, project information such as speed, turn by turn directions, radio station navigation, and warning lights onto the windshield above the steering wheel; allowing drivers to always look straight ahead. GM started the trend by putting HUDs on Corvettes and a few Buicks. HUDs are easier on older eyes. Safer, too: It takes half as long to shift your focus from the road to an HUD as to look at the instrument panel.

Today GM and other automakers, like BMW, are pushing HUDs even more. You can get multicolored HUDs made by German supplier Siemens, right now in 5- and 6-series Beamers. German supplier Bosch will get its first HUD on the road in 2008. Japanese supplier Denso sells HUDs that give navigation instructions in Japan and is working on a system that creates three-dimensional images. They expect sales to boom to 2 million a year by 2010.

There really is not reason why heads-up displays should not take off, besides cost and the more they sell the less they will cost. Personally I think that car companies can start making more money if they offer less individual ala-cart options and more major all-in-one packages like Acura does. You can get a basic, basic plus leather, or leather plus tech. Easy options, easy to compare prices, and it will reduce their cost...and we also may all end up with fighter-jet like displays!
Read [Freep]
Via [Gizmos For Geeks]