Vietnam came out the gate swinging, that’s for sure.
Mercedes-Benz’s new mobility concept is autonomous, electric, modular, and ugly
On Monday, Mercedes-Benz unveiled the Vision Urbanetic, an all-electric, autonomous concept that the German auto giant thinks will redefine mobility. It’s a sign that smartphone makers aren’t the only ones that occasionally flirt with modular designs. Big automakers are increasingly interested in powertrain platforms — the undercarriage of a car or van — that can accommodate a bunch of different vehicle bodies on top.
The Urbanetic isn’t just one type of vehicle; it’s an oversized minivan that’s capable of seating 12 people for ride-hailing trips or used as a cargo van with two different levels for storage and a total volume of 353 cubic feet. Based on its function, the battery-electric “skateboard” chassis can detach and mate with a…
Apple’s upcoming iPad Pro rumored to switch from Lightning to USB-C
Aside from slimming down its display bezels and adding Face ID, Apple’s next iPad Pro could be making a major I/O change. As noted by 9to5Mac, reliable analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says that the next high-end version of the tablet will switch over to USB Type-C.
Now, it seems pretty hard to believe that Apple would already start moving away from its own Lightning connector in 2018; my first instinct was that this report simply means they’ll be including a Lightning-to-USB-C cable and USB-C charger in the box. Frankly, that’s what I’d still bet on. We’re getting closer to this device’s announcement and this move to USB-C hasn’t been reported previously. But Kuo specifies that it’s the entire I/O that’s changing, and his reputation speaks for…
The unlocked LG G6 Plus (128GB) is just $410 today – CNET
That’s an exclusive for Amazon Prime subscribers. This flagship phone includes extras like premium headphones and a two-year warranty.
iPhone XR, iPhone XS Max, iPad Pros, Macs and more: Everything Apple could announce on Sept. 12 – CNET
Apple’s pipeline may include an iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max and iPhone Xr — plus a new iPad Pro, MacBook, Apple Watch and more.
AT&T 5G network coming to Houston in 2018, LA and San Francisco in 2019 – CNET
This year is for mobile Wi-Fi hotspots, but 5G phones will arrive in 2019. Also: AT&T’s AirGig networking is a step closer to reality.
Scientists find stable sea levels during last interglacial
The magnitude and trajectory of sea-level change during the Last Interglacial, more specifically Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 5e, is uncertain. To date the consensus view has been that sea-level may have been six to nine meters above present sea level. However, scientists are now questioning if those sea level fluctuations are accurate.
Get a sneak peek at the BMW X3 M and X4 M – Roadshow
BMW hasn’t released any numbers just yet, but we imagine these things can hustle.
Watch this satellite footage of a rocket launching from the Gobi Desert
Over the weekend, China’s OneSpace startup launched a rocket from the Gobi Desert, and the entire thing was captured by a satellite orbiting 332 miles above Earth.
Truly god view, Jilin-1 video satellite shot @OneSpace01 OS-X1 suborbital rocket’s launch at JSLC this noon. pic.twitter.com/KposRHZc4D
— dafeng cao (@dafengcao) September 7, 2018
OneSpace was testing the solid-fueled booster of its OS-X1 rocket, according to the GB Times. The rocket took off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre and eventually reached a suborbital altitude of 21.7 miles. The launch was filmed by China’s Jilin-1 satellite and then posted to Sina Weibo (“China’s Twitter”) and Twitter. (Similarly, last year, a satellite caught sight of a Soyuz launch in…
Birds help each other partly for selfish reasons
Up to now, researchers have believed that birds stay at home and altruistically help raise younger siblings because this is the only way to pass on genes when you cannot breed yourself. But this idea is only partially true. A new study shows that birds benefit from being helpful because it also increases their chances of reproducing in the future.