Becuase Everything Else Sucks

This Week in Innovation: March 30

By SirJouge
Published Friday, March 30th, 2007, 10:30 am
Filed under: Science and Technology

  • The Sexy Green Show starts today in UK. This show boasts a range of green cars that are super sexy, showing the world that you don’t have to sacrifice speed and style for the sake of more MPGs or KPLs. All the cars are worth a mention, but just to wet your taste buds: Saab is showing a Biopower Hybrid Concept running on Bioethanol E85 or standard “petrol” with 50-70% less CO2 emissions. Volkswagon is showing a Polo Blue Motion which comes available with a 70hp turbo diesel engine that can drive from London to the south of France on one tank. In the US, that be would the equivalent of driving through five or six states. Ford is showing a modified 1920 Model T, a Focus FlexiFuel, and of course a FormulaOne Car. The Focus FFVs are already in use in the UK for both the police and consumers. These UK models counter America’s soon to be released, super gas-guzzling SUV, the Ford Extinction. If you can’t make it to the UK, watch the show via their webcam or check out some more cars.
  • Speaking of green cars, the car company titled Th!nk is back in business. After a few stops and starts, including some with Ford since 1998, they are back developing their electric car called the Th!nk City. The unique business model boasts an innovative idea worth mentioning. Instead of buying an expensive electric car with the battery included, you can rent it per month and save, save, save. This allows owners to spend less per month than they would on fuel and maintenance for a regular car. Th!nk’s car is only available in Norway, but look at for in the US in 2008.
  • Early this year, MS released Vista and Office 2007 for PCs. With PC sales soaring, MS reports Vista outsold XP and is exceeding the 20 million copy mark. Apple is offering Boot Camp 1.2 for Vista, and a private beta release of Office 2008 has also been launched this week. Great news for all. Funny how the Apple Beta version will probably crash less than its MS counterpart. Now can we get it in Linux?
  • And… the penguins have it! This week Dell announced it will start to ship Linux based systems in their desktop and laptop work stations. In a survey taken by Dell, 70% of respondents would buy a Linux based system.
  • The World Economic Forum has released its Global Information Technology Report this week. This report takes into account “the regulatory environment, coupled with a clear government leadership and vision in leveraging ICT for growth and promoting ICT penetration and usage.” Since 2001, the network readiness index has been a key benchmarking tool, highlighting the “continuing importance of ICT application and development for economic growth.” This year’s number 1 goes to… Denmark? The US has ranked #7 this year, dropping from #1. Assuming anyone in the current presidential administration or future administrations care, Science and Technology policy toward education, business, and innovation, needs to be taken seriously. Instead, we could… issue our own report that stating ICT strength has no economic benefit? Hmmm…?
  • ICANN’T? To end on a much lighter note: Good news for Not-For-Profit organizations everywhere. Adult site lobbyists and enthusiasts faced stiff opposition to the xxx domain registry…. The Internet Coordination of Names and Numbers (ICANN) once again voted down the xxx domain registry with 9-5 vote.

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