If the idea of pinching, zooming and tapping on your iPad is far less appealing than kneading, sprinkling and cutting, then the Domino’s Pizza Hero iPad app may just be right up your alley. Putting aspiring pizza makers to the test, the game challenges players to assemble a pie as quickly as possible for points. Once you’ve passed levels one through five, affectionately nicknamed “Pizza School,” other players will get a chance to rate your performance — ultimately making or breaking your pizza career. If concocting virtual pies was enough to make you hungry, fear not famished souls as the app lets you order the real deal direct from your iPad — now that’s amore.

Nokia’s Asha handsets already use browser compression to reduce data costs and power consumption for customers in the developing world, but the company’s Finnish neighbours over at Aalto University have taken a totally different approach. By using a network proxy to squash traffic into bursts rather than a constant bit rate, and by forcing a smartphone’s modem into idle mode between each burst, the researchers claim they can cut 3G power consumption by 74 percent. Now, we’re fortunate enough to be surrounded by power outlets over here, but even we could use some of that.

SOURCE via PhysOrg

Unless you happen to own a dyno, accurately keeping track of which modifications benefit your vehicle may be a seat-of-the-pants operation. AEM is hoping to change that for people who are serious about wringing the absolute most out of their vehicle with the unfortunately-named Dyno-Shaft.

While the product may sound like a bizarre fetish film, it has the potential to revolutionize tuning for those of us who don’t have access to high-dollar engine evaluation equipment. The Dyno-Shaft uses grade-strain gauges to measure horsepower and torque at transmission output shaft, so AEM maintains that the system’s readings aren’t impacted by variables that typically skew accelerometer readings.

AEM says that the data broadcast device for the system is non-contact, doesn’t use slip rings and needs no batteries, all of which are good things. Buyers simply install the supplied slip-yoke as well as a drive-shaft speed sensor and get going. Data is transmitted via a CAN-bus communications network to a data logger or an AEM engine management system. Prices start at $1,160.96 for cast-iron slip yolk applications, and AEM says that each Dyno-Shaft is specifically calibrated for your application. Chrome moly yolks are also available for higher-horsepower applications.

Some watchmakers seek out automotive associations – typically in the form of licensing agreements with automakers or racing series. But some just have octane just dripping from their cogs. Like this latest collection from Officine Autodromo.

The brainchild of industrial designer Bradley Price, the Officine Autodromo launch collection consists of three models – Veloce (Italian for “speed”), Brescia (named for the Northern Italian town that forms the start/finish line for the Mille Miglia rally), and Valelunga (for the racing circuit outside of Rome).

Each features a dial inspired by the instruments on 1960s and 1970s Italian racing cars, a Swiss-made Ronda quartz movement (with date window) and a 42-milimeter case in brushed or PVD-coated stainless steel. The perforated black leather wrist straps mount directly into the round case, not unlike the four-figure Manometro timepieces offered by Giuliano Mazzuoli, but far more accessible with prices pegged at $425.

While Porsche styles its own sports cars, SUVs and sedans, its consumer goods division, Porsche Design, styles all manner of goods: watches, phones, yachts, bars, appliances, tools, toys, clothing and accessories… even condominium buildings. At least it does now as a new project on Miami Beach prepares for construction.

Called Porsche Design Tower, the project is a joint effort between the design studio and real estate developer Gil Dezer. The 57-story block on 2.2 acres of prime Collins Avenue real estate is set to incorporate 132 housing units, each with its own parking spaces. That bit is straightforward enough, but it’s where the slots are situated that is the novelty.

Rather than have residents park downstairs and take elevators up to their condos, the project includes three robotic car elevators that allow residents to take their cars right up to their pads. It’s not the first project that incorporates car elevators, but is the first planned by Porsche Design, and could lead to similar projects across the United States, or even other parts of the world. So even if you don’t want to live in your Cayenne, you can still live with it.

While BMW (and by relation, Mini) have been pioneering in-car connectivity for the last few years, Hyundai is still playing catch-up. The Korean automaker’s focus has been squarely set on bringing world-beating products to market, but consumer demand for infotainment systems isn’t abating. So Hyundai is joining BMW and a range of technology companies to work on the next generation of in-car networking solutions.

Broadcom, NXP, Freescale and Harman have banded together to create the OPEN (One-Pair Ether-Net) Alliance special interest group and BMW and Hyundai are the first two automakers to sign on.

The group will be working towards ethernet-based automotive connectivity, but that doesn’t mean you’ll be running a CAT5 cable out your house and into car.

The SIG is backing Broadcom’s BroadR-Reach cable – specifically developed for automotive applications – that’s able to transmit up to 100 Mbps over a single, unshieled wire. This should reduce internal networking costs and also shave a few pounds from production vehicles in the process.

Welcome to lessons in vehicle control with Jorian Ponomareff. The motorcycle stunt rider has made a name for himself as a guy who’s capable of pulling off incredible feats of riding, including getting tail-happy with precise, controlled drifts. Ponomareff has released a new video of his talents demonstrating just how well the guy knows his bike, and the clip provides plenty of lessons in two-wheeled manipulation while riffing off of the famous Ken Block gymkhana series. The whole clip is well shot with a soundtrack to match, and we’re completely in awe of Ponomareff’s mountain of skill. We couldn’t help but laugh at the rider’s dissertation on target fixation, as captured above. We won’t spoil the moment for you, but let’s just say that no one’s perfect. Hit the jump to check out the action for yourself.

Read more…