Mileage hackers going that extra mile

With the push towards being more eco-friendly and the increasing popularity of hybrid vehicles comes a new breed of drivers who are intent upon squeezing every last drop out of their gas tanks. The so called mileage hackers are resorting to all sorts of measure to take green to the extreme. The Globe and Mail has an interesting story about modifying hybrids such as the Toyota Prius and altering drivers mindsets, all measures that contribute to achieving amazing gas mileages of 70 to in excess of 700 miles per gallon. While I applaud the effort of these environmentally friendly evangelist, many of the measures are unrealistic for most of us. I personally considered the Prius in 2005 when I made my most recent new car decision but opted for the slightly less efficient Corolla, however I believe today's models are further apart in their fuel ratings. At the time I could not justify the cost of the vehicle vs. the gasoline savings over the life of the car. Yes, it would have been a small win for the planet but at least I didn't go for the Hummer. It is probably more realistic to think that we can all do the small things like checking tire pressure regularly and adjusting our speeds rather than paying $50,000 for a tricked out hybrid with solar panels. Unless there are a few sponsors out there willing to cough up some cash in return for splashing their logo on a pimped out green machine, I'll be working on easing the foot of the peddle in order to do my part. Kudos though to those who can afford to push their rides to the limit, perhaps some of these hacks will make it into future assembly line models.

Teddy bear medic being developed by US military

Another robot story... The Battlefield Extraction Assist Robot (BEAR) is a machine being developed by the US military to extract a wounded soldier from the battlefield to a place where it is safer for them to receive treatment. BEAR is designed to travel over rough terrain and it's teddy bear face is meant to put the wounded soldier at ease (I've already weighed in on my belief about human looking robots being creepy, teddy bears...not so much!). The machine is remotely controlled and depending on the terrain it runs on tracks or tires. The six foot saviour can also tackle stairs and is narrow enough to fit through doorways. The BBC has more details here.

iPhone battery praise

In a move to either promote the upcoming iPhone release, just ten days away, or to quell any questions about the highly anticipated device's battery life, Apple has released a statement on it's web site that boasts the longevity of the iPhone's battery charge. Apple's device, according to the manufacturer, outlasts it's competitors by 2 times. A chart on the site compares the iPhone to the Nokia N95, Samsung Blackjack, Blackberry Curve 8300, and Palm Treo 750. Besides battery life they compare screen size, display surface and Wi-Fi support. Some reports have stated that Apple has already received a million inquiries for the device and apparently one desperate consumer has offered $10,000 on Craigslist for the device. The iPhone hits the street in the U.S. on June 29th, no release date available for Canada yet.

Sicko leaked on Youtube

Michael Moore's latest controversial documentary 'Sicko' a reported scathing review of the state of the American health care system, was briefly leaked on YouTube this past weekend. The 124 minute movie was split into 14 clips and viewed between 500 and 600 times before being pulled by the website for copyright infringement. Apparently 2 users had each uploaded the film. In a twist of irony, Moore is a supporter of file sharing having said he agrees with it as long as the pirates don't profit from the stolen work.

Microsoft unveils mobile portal

Microsoft has taken the wraps of it's new portal geared towards cellphones and other Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) 1.2 enabled devices. For now the portal, aptly named MSN Mobile, is only accessible in the United States but CBC reports that it will be available in other markets within the next 12 months. With the move, Microsoft joins Google, Yahoo!, and Apple in the race to dominate our 3rd screen.

CBC unveils new site

I just surfed over to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's (CBC) web site and was greeted with a brand new interface. It took me a moment, I double checked the address, and sure enough the site had undergone a radical redesign. In this letter to their audience, Executive Director Steve Billinger describes some of the changes and the reason behind them. Like anything that changes drastically, this will take me a little getting used to but the look is fresh and the promise of more tighter integration with other programming sounds great. I like it so far, now where did they hide the tech stories?

PC Health and Safety

If you are concerned about your hard drives health or want to know whether or not your system is exposed to Internet evil doers, then you should become familiar with Steve Gibson's GRC.com. While the popular SpinRite software is a commercial product for hard drive maintenance, Gibson also offers a number of free tools including ShieldsUp! a fantastic online tool that will identify open ports on your system in order to inform you of your PC's potential vulnerabilities. Steve is also co-host of the popular Security Now podcast with Leo LaPorte, while this show can often get a bit technical the duo does a great job of dumbing it down for general consumption. Everyone who has a PC connected to the Internet should give this site a visit.

Blockbuster leaning towards Blu-Ray

Blockbuster Inc. announced today that it is expanding its offering of Blu-Ray movie titles to over 1700 company stores. The news release states that it will continue to offer both Blu-Ray and HD DVD titles through its online store and through the initial 250 retail locations that carry both formats. While they are not ruling out carrying HD DVD titles, this is definitely a push in the Blu-Ray formats direction and an obvious win for Sony. The company says it will monitor customer demands and make decisions accordingly.

Going green at home

Wired, has pushed the electric mower to the limit in this comparrison of 4 models currently on the market. If you are in need of a new mower this summer, consider one of these efficient and clean machines. According to Wired your old gas mower can spew as much pollutants as 11 cars! A little late for Father's Day but dad is probably happier with that tie any way.

A good day in space

Russian cosmonauts were able to reboot 2 of the 3 downed computers that were putting their mission in jeopardy on the inside of the International Space Station, while NASA astronauts used surgical equipment meant to stitch wounds to repair the damaged shuttle thermal blanket. Good news on both fronts! CNN has some great video footage here.

Oh... and happy Father's Day!