Technology 
Mercedes hydrogen-electric hybrid harvests solar and wind energy with its paint job
Mercedes-Benz has an incredible new concept car, one with energy-saving ideas we can only hope will become standard in the future.
A new Chromecast challenger appears: Vudu Spark streaming dongle hits FCC
It appears Walmart-owned video streaming and download service Vudu wants to get into the HDMI dongle game, too. A Chromecast-like device dubbed “Vudu Spark” recently popped up on the Federal Communications Commission’s website, as first noticed by GigaOm. Walmart didn’t … Continue reading
LG’s G Watch R lands on Google Play atop the Android Wear heap
LG’s G Watch R started racking up solid reviews a couple weeks ago, but now you can actually buy one. The Android Wear-based smartwatch is available now through the Google Play Store for $299. AT&T is selling the LG Watch … Continue reading
New phase-change material lights the way to all-optical, super-fast computing
British researchers have created a new material that could allow for the creation of all-optical computers — computers that are orders of magnitude faster and power efficient than today’s hot, sweaty electronic beasts. This isn’t some crazy, hard-to-fabricate material like … Continue reading
Microsoft’s first Nokia-less Lumia will be revealed Tuesday
You’ve already seen the back, now look at the front. The image you see above is of the next Lumia phone. Notably, this will be the first Lumia that drops the Nokia brand in favor of Microsoft’s. The device will … Continue reading
Antares rocket launch failure most likely caused by faulty Russian engine (updated)
Last night, an Antares rocket exploded 14 seconds after launch. The Antares, developed by US company Orbital Sciences, was meant to carry around 5,000 pounds (2,260 kilos) of supplies to the International Space Station. No one was harmed by the … Continue reading
Spring will change the way you shop on your iPhone
My love letter to shopping app Spring has been a long time coming—really, ever since its launch in August. The usual tech news outlets—TechCrunch, Wired, and Re/code, to name a few—applauded Spring, but Vogue, Elle, and Fashionista have also sung … Continue reading
Forgot your hotel room key? Use your iPhone instead
You glide past the front desk of a high-end hotel, room number in hand. No one stops you. You belong here. The interiors are sharp and gleaming, the carpets plush. You emerge from the elevator and bolt straight to your … Continue reading
Miracast vs. Chromecast: Hands-on with Microsoft’s screen-sharing gizmos
Most wireless technology is fast enough these days to deliver not just one, but several high-definition video streams. But the Miracast technology Microsoft included in devices that connect your phone and PC to your TV doesn’t quite hold up under … Continue reading
Review: Simple.TV 2 knows some great DVR tricks but also has flaws
As more of us give up our cable or satellite connections and turn to Internet streaming, we also give up our DVRs, which often came with the subscription. But most of us can still get old-fashioned antenna-based free television, and … Continue reading
