bmw control panel with radio and air quality buttons

Carmakers Must Bring Back Buttons for safety, Says Europe

Key dashboard touchscreen functions will soon be kicked into touch and physical switches will be required instead for car manufacturers to be granted the highest safety ratings. Euro NCAP, the automotive safety industry body for Europe, is introducing new guidance for 2026 which means that five important tasks in every car will have to be Read more about Carmakers Must Bring Back Buttons for safety, Says Europe[…]

$500 drone calculates its position with camera, Google Maps

[…] A team of drone enthusiasts have built a sub-$500 drone that uses a camera and Google Maps to provide itself with GPS co-ordinates, removing the need for a GPS satellite signal. And all of this was done in 24 hours during the El Segundo Defense Tech Hackathon. […] The drone uses a camera mounted Read more about $500 drone calculates its position with camera, Google Maps[…]

Virgin Galactic: Alignment pin mishap reported to FAA. If only Musk did that too.

Virgin Galactic has reported itself to the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) after discovering a detached alignment pin from the mechanism used to keep its suborbital spaceplane attached to the mothership aircraft. According to the company, the alignment pin is used to ensure the spaceplane (in this case, Unity) is aligned correctly to the mothership Read more about Virgin Galactic: Alignment pin mishap reported to FAA. If only Musk did that too.[…]

flight course of an aircraft being gps spoofed and almost entering dangerous airspace

EASA and IATA start work on aviation GPS interference

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) held a recent workshop on incidents where people spoofed and jammed satellite navigation systems, and concluded these pose a “significant challenge” to safety. Mitigating the risks posed by such actions will require measures to be enacted in the short term as Read more about EASA and IATA start work on aviation GPS interference[…]

Florida EV Buyers Shocked To Learn Their Cars Eat Tires

EV buyers are often motivated by a desire to save money on gas and/or drive something more environmentally friendly. But, a recent story out of Florida in The Miami Herald details how EV owners there have been blindsided by how fast they’re having to change the tires on their EVs. The Herald spoke with the Read more about Florida EV Buyers Shocked To Learn Their Cars Eat Tires[…]

BMW 2024 control panel - no radio buttons or climate control

BMW goes for unsafe design, removes ability to change radio channel

BMW has been a sensible and happy holdout against the touchscreen only interior car design insanity started by Tesla. Study after study has shown that touchscreens are not only impractical and annoying, but more importantly unsafe as well Sources:Study: Hardware buttons in cars are safer than touchscreensTouchscreen development at risk of compromising safety, says VNC Read more about BMW goes for unsafe design, removes ability to change radio channel[…]

Airlines United and Alaska find loose bolts on Boeing 737 Max 9 planes after window blowout

Alaska Airlines and United found loose parts on multiple 737 Max 9 aircraft, they have said, referring to the Boeing model grounded after a panel blew off an Alaska Airlines-operated plane mid-flight over the weekend. The industry publication Air Current reported that United found discrepant bolts on other parts on at least five panels that Read more about Airlines United and Alaska find loose bolts on Boeing 737 Max 9 planes after window blowout[…]

Burned out rusted broken Tesla model 3 over taken bij Red Forrest. Foggy and dark

Tesla Systematically Lied To Customers, Blaming Them For Shoddy Parts The Company Knew Were Defective, has highest accident rate of any brand on the road

Back in July, Reuters released a bombshell report showing that not only has Tesla aggressively lied about its EV ranges for the better part of the last decade, it created teams whose entire purpose was to lie to customers about it when they called up to complain. The story lasted all of two days in Read more about Tesla Systematically Lied To Customers, Blaming Them For Shoddy Parts The Company Knew Were Defective, has highest accident rate of any brand on the road[…]

VW with touch controls interior

Volkswagen brings back physical buttons for all new cars

Future Volkswagen interiors will all draw inspiration from the ID 2all concept car and bring back physical buttons and controls. The touchscreen-heavy approach taken for the Mk8 Golf and ID 3 has proven unpopular with customers, prompting a complete about-turn by the company in the way it approaches design. VW interior designer Darius Watola said the ID2all concept “showed Read more about Volkswagen brings back physical buttons for all new cars[…]

lamborghini active wheel hub tech

Lamborghini Tests Active Camber and Toe Control for Better Handling

It’s not often that we get to experience a new and completely novel piece of automotive technology for the first time. But that’s what Lamborghini seems to have created with its Active Wheel Carrier, which we have now sampled in prototype form. The system itself is both clever and complex, but the basic purpose is Read more about Lamborghini Tests Active Camber and Toe Control for Better Handling[…]

Nissan 300ZX Owner Turns Ford Digital Dash Into Wicked Retro Display – why don’t all automakers allow digital dash theming?!

You’ve got to love a project with amazing elements of both art and science. Nissan 300ZX enthusiast and talented tinkerer Kelvin Elsner has been working on this custom vaporwave-aesthetic digital gauge cluster for months. It’s not in a car yet, but it’s an amazing design and computer coding feat for one guy in his home Read more about Nissan 300ZX Owner Turns Ford Digital Dash Into Wicked Retro Display – why don’t all automakers allow digital dash theming?![…]

GE’s Breakthrough In Dual Mode Ramjet with Rotating Detonating Hypersonic Propulsion

GE Aerospace says it successfully demonstrated an advanced jet propulsion concept that involves a dual-mode ramjet design utilizing rotating detonation combustion. This could offer a pathway to the development of new aircraft and missiles capable of flying efficiently at high supersonic and even hypersonic speeds across long distances. A press release that GE Aerospace put Read more about GE’s Breakthrough In Dual Mode Ramjet with Rotating Detonating Hypersonic Propulsion[…]

Polish Hackers Repaired Trains the Manufacturer Artificially Bricked. Now The Train Maker NEWAG Is Threatening Them

[…] three white-hat hackers helped a regional rail company in southwest Poland unbrick a train that had been artificially rendered inoperable by the train’s manufacturer after an independent maintenance company worked on it. The train’s manufacturer is now threatening to sue the hackers who were hired by the independent repair company to fix it. The Read more about Polish Hackers Repaired Trains the Manufacturer Artificially Bricked. Now The Train Maker NEWAG Is Threatening Them[…]

Electric Vehicles Are79%  Less Reliable Than Conventional Cars

Electric vehicle owners continue to report far more problems with their vehicles than owners of conventional cars or hybrids, according to Consumer Reports’ newly released annual car reliability survey. The survey reveals that, on average, EVs from the past three model years had 79 percent more problems than conventional cars. Based on owner responses on Read more about Electric Vehicles Are79%  Less Reliable Than Conventional Cars[…]

AOG Technics forged certifications for Jet Engine Parts to at least 4 major airlines, leading to groundings

American Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and United Airlines are among a growing list of air carriers that have grounded aircraft in the wake of a fake jet engine parts scandal that has rocked the aviation industry. Multiple have already replaced the uncertified parts and returned their planes to service, but close to 100 planes may still Read more about AOG Technics forged certifications for Jet Engine Parts to at least 4 major airlines, leading to groundings[…]

Lenovo Yoga Book 9i: a dual-screen laptop

Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget Every now and then, a device comes along and challenges you to consider the viability of an entirely new product category. That’s precisely what Lenovo is doing with the Yoga Book 9i. By replacing the traditional physical keyboard with Read more about Lenovo Yoga Book 9i: a dual-screen laptop[…]

Alfa Romeo Releases Gorgeous Concept Car – only makes 33 of them. Apparently doesn’t like sales

The Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale is one of only a few cars out there that’ll be available with both a V6 engine and a fully electric drivetrain. While that lets it swing from both sides of the plate, it also highlights just how much heavier EVs are than their combustion counterparts these days. And try Read more about Alfa Romeo Releases Gorgeous Concept Car – only makes 33 of them. Apparently doesn’t like sales[…]

Special License For Supercars Will Be Required In South Australia by 2024

The state of South Australia, home to 1.8 million people, is treading that well-worn path with new laws regulating the use of “ultra high-powered vehicles” on the road. The issue stems from a fatal crash in 2019 when 15-year-old Sophia Naismith was tragically struck and killed by an out-of-control Lamborghini Huracan driven by Alexander Campbell. Read more about Special License For Supercars Will Be Required In South Australia by 2024[…]

Tesla Hackers Find ‘Unpatchable’ Jailbreak to Unlock Paid Features for Free

A security researcher along with three PhD students from Germany have reportedly found a way to exploit Tesla’s current AMD-based cars to develop what could be the world’s first persistent “Tesla Jailbreak.” The team published a briefing ahead of their presentation at next week’s Blackhat 2023. There, they will present a working version of an Read more about Tesla Hackers Find ‘Unpatchable’ Jailbreak to Unlock Paid Features for Free[…]

Diamond’s all-electric eDA40 completes maiden flight

Diamond Aircraft announced that it has successfully completed the first flight of its eDA40 electric aircraft. The eDA40 is an all-electric, battery-powered version of the popular DA40 light aircraft, which is one of the best-selling piston aircraft and is used by flight schools and private owners all over the world. The eDA40’s maiden flight took Read more about Diamond’s all-electric eDA40 completes maiden flight[…]

Mercedes: Pay us again to unlock full accellaration on EQS and EQE – yes you already own the hardware.

Mercedes-Benz has new finalized pricing on its vexing “Acceleration Increase” subscription revealed last year that can eke out more electric performance — without any physical modification — from the automaker’s current EQE and EQS EV models, Car and Driver reports. The updated Acceleration Increase pricing starts at $60 per month, or you can save about Read more about Mercedes: Pay us again to unlock full accellaration on EQS and EQE – yes you already own the hardware.[…]

Rolls-Royce won’t let customers buy another car if they sell its new EV for a profit

The first Rolls-Royce EV, the Spectre, is going on sale soon at a cool $425,000 — and at that price, purchasing slots will be limited, to say the least. But any buyers planning to flip one for a quick profit may want to think twice. CEO Torsten Müller-Ötvös said that any customers attempting to resell Read more about Rolls-Royce won’t let customers buy another car if they sell its new EV for a profit[…]

Joby Aviation gets first passenger electric VTOL testing certification from FAA

Joby Aviation, Inc. (NYSE:JOBY), a company developing all-electric aircraft for commercial passenger service, today announced it has received a Special Airworthiness Certificate for the first aircraft built at its Pilot Production Line in Marina, California. Issued by the Federal Aviation Administration, the certificate allows Joby to begin flight testing of its first production prototype. The Read more about Joby Aviation gets first passenger electric VTOL testing certification from FAA[…]

electric VTOL Pilot Training Outlined in US FAA Proposal (which could be used as urban air taxis, maybe)

US aviation regulators on Wednesday unveiled their first framework for how to train pilots for the expected new breed of electric-powered urban air taxis designed to revolutionize short-hop travel in cities. From a report: The Federal Aviation Administration published a proposed set of regulations that attempt to create an orderly process for building a pipeline Read more about electric VTOL Pilot Training Outlined in US FAA Proposal (which could be used as urban air taxis, maybe)[…]