Bankrupt A123 changes name to B456 PDQ

Ok, so we made the "PDQ" part up, but battery maker A123 Systems, Inc. has changed its name to B456 Systems, Inc. – and no, this is not an early April Fool's Day joke. As part of A123's bankruptcy proceedings dating to last October, it was required to change its name in order to be purchased by Chinese company Wanxiang. According to the Detroit Free Press, as part of a March 22, 2013 filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission, A123 declared that its new name is B456.

Autoblog , Bankrupt A123 changes name to B456 PDQ, Bankrupt A123 changes name to B456 PDQ

Lenovo Reportedly Looking To Buy NEC's Mobile Phone Business

When it comes to buying smartphones, brands like Apple, Samsung, LG, Motorola, and HTC come to mind. While other manufacturers like Lenovo have smartphones of their own, they do not have the same amount of clout other manufacturers do, but perhaps that might change in the future should Lenovo combine forces with NEC. According a report from Nikkei and confirmed by sources from Reuters, Lenovo is reportedly looking to buy the mobile phone division from NEC. Apparently NEC has not been doing too well in the mobile phone business and are looking to cut their losses.

Ubergizmo , Lenovo Reportedly Looking To Buy NEC's Mobile Phone Business, Lenovo Reportedly Looking To Buy NEC's Mobile Phone Business

Alleged Canon EOS 7D MK II Test Camera Specs Revealed

The Canon EOS 7D MK II is expected to be announced sometime in the future, when exactly remains unknown. However for those looking forward to hearing more about the successor to the EOS 7D, the folks at Northlight have managed to get their hands on what seems like alleged specifications of said camera. Keep in mind that these are alleged specs and might not necessarily be the real thing, so approaching it with a hint of skepticism will probably go a long way preventing yourself from being disappointed.

Ubergizmo , Alleged Canon EOS 7D MK II Test Camera Specs Revealed, Alleged Canon EOS 7D MK II Test Camera Specs Revealed

Let R2D2 be your data courier

I know everybody has cloud storage accounts now and probably never use USB jump drives anymore, but I couldn't resist telling you about the R2D2 USB Flash Drive Cufflinks from CuffLinks.com.  I've always had a thing for USB jewelry, and I have a big, flashy USB necklace that looks like a crystal-encrusted padlock.  These R2D2 cufflinks are a bit more sedate than that.  They are silver-plated with enamel designs on the front, and a whale-tail post on the back.  Each link has a 2GB flash drive inside.

The Gadgeteer , Let R2D2 be your data courier, Let R2D2 be your data courier

Apple Patent Looks At Wrap-Around AMOLED Display

Apple is a company (among many other companies these days) who treat patents like the new corporate "currency", turning them into bargaining chips down the road – hey, you never know when you might need those old patents filed so many years ago, right. What you see above is actually a diagram that was spotted in an Apple patent application which appeared over at the USPTO as freshly as today, where it describes a “consumer electronic product”'s display.

Ubergizmo , Apple Patent Looks At Wrap-Around AMOLED Display, Apple Patent Looks At Wrap-Around AMOLED Display

PowerSkin announces battery case for the BlackBerry Z10

Just as the title says, the PowerSkin for BlackBerry Z10 is available now from PowerSkin.  The one-piece shockproof, anti-dust silicone skin protects your Z10, and it contains a 1500mAh rechargeable battery that gives your smart phone up to 60% more talk or standby time.  It weighs only 3 ounces and measures 5.39″ X 2.89″ X 0.79″.  Lights on the back of the case inform you of how much power reserve remains in the case's battery.

The Gadgeteer , PowerSkin announces battery case for the BlackBerry Z10, PowerSkin announces battery case for the BlackBerry Z10

Torq Roadster Gains Batman's Approval

"And yes, Mr. Wayne, it does come in black." is one of the more endearing lines which Lucius Fox playfully mentioned to Bruce Wayne, and if Lucius were to show off the Torq Roadster that you see above, he too, would most probably have muttered the very same words while Bruce himself wets his pants. Wait, that would not be too comely for Gotham's most eligible bachelor, would it. The Torq Roadster was designed by Epic Electric Vehicles, where it is capable of hitting 60mph from a standstill in just four seconds, courtesy of its electric motor.

Ubergizmo , Torq Roadster Gains Batman's Approval, Torq Roadster Gains Batman's Approval

ZTE Grand Memo To Be Launched in China On March 28th

ZTE is about to launch their newest Android 4.1 smartphone ‘Grand Memo' in China on March 28th. The handset will be available for purchase via 51buy for 2,688 Yuan (about $432) outright. Specs-wise, the Grand Memo packs a 5.7-inch 1280 x 720 HD capacitive multi-touch display, a 1.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro quad-core processor, a 1GB RAM, a microSD card slot, a 16GB of internal storage, dual cameras (1MP front & 13MP rear), ZTE's Cloud service, WiFi, Bluetooth 4.0, a 3200mAh battery and runs on Android 4.1 Jelly Bean OS.

TechFresh , ZTE Grand Memo To Be Launched in China On March 28th, ZTE Grand Memo To Be Launched in China On March 28th

Unitcom Lesance BTO Di CL6H4-TR 15.6-Inch Notebook

Here comes another 15.6-inch notebook from Unitcom, the Lesance BTO Di CL6H4-TR. Powered by a 2.60GHz Intel Core i5-3230M processor, the system packs a 15.6-inch 1920 x 1080 Full HD display, an Intel HM77 Express Chipset, a GeForce GTX 660M 2GB graphics card, an 8GB DDR3 RAM, a 240GB SSD (Intel SSD 335 Series), a 320GB hard drive, a DVD Super Multi Drive, WiFi and runs on Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit (SP1) OS. The Lesance BTO Di CL6H4-TR is priced at 99,980 Yen (about $1,061).

TechFresh , Unitcom Lesance BTO Di CL6H4-TR 15.6-Inch Notebook, Unitcom Lesance BTO Di CL6H4-TR 15.6-Inch Notebook

2014 Chevy Camaro Z/28 is back! (video)

Remember when there was a bit of consternation among the Bowtie faithful after Chevrolet introduced the Camaro ZL1. The issue wasn't around the big coupe's awesome performance, it was with the name – many wondered why the company hadn't chosen to exhume the company's legendary Z/28 moniker. There was a bit less of an outcry when Chevy showed off the 1LE model, but only just. Well, apparently there's a good reason why the Z/28 nameplate wasn't used – because they were saving it for this bad boy.



Autoblog , 2014 Chevy Camaro Z/28 is back! (video), 2014 Chevy Camaro Z/28 is back! (video)

Android Ports On BlackBerry 10 Platform Cut Down To 20%

When BlackBerry officially launched its BlackBerry 10 platform along with its BlackBerry Z10 & Q10, the company's VP of global alliances and business development Martyn Mallick stated 40% of all BlackBerry 10 applications were ports of Android applications. After nearly two months of BlackBerry 10 being available, Mallick is now saying that number has been cut in half to 20%. Mallick spoke with AllThingsD recently on why exactly BlackBerry decided to choose to port Android applications rather than have its developers build BlackBerry 10 optimized apps from the start.

Ubergizmo , Android Ports On BlackBerry 10 Platform Cut Down To 20%, Android Ports On BlackBerry 10 Platform Cut Down To 20%

Rumor: Amazon Phone To Feature 4.7-inch Display

Rumors abound each and every single day where the smartphone industry is concerned, which is why we are pretty stoked to hear a name that one would more often than not associate with the world of online retail, Amazon, where to have them churn out smartphones of their own sounds extremely unlikely. Still, that is the case at the moment, where whispers are going around that an Amazon-branded smartphone is in the works, with talk of a 4.7" growing day by day – with the first of such smartphones arriving as early as the second quarter of this year.

Ubergizmo , Rumor: Amazon Phone To Feature 4.7-inch Display, Rumor: Amazon Phone To Feature 4.7-inch Display

iPhone 6 Concept Looks Pretty Interesting

It is safe to assume that the iPhone 5S will most likely resemble the iPhone 5, with the main differences being under the hood. However the question is what will Apple go with for the iPhone 6, presumably with a release for 2014. While we will have to wait for the inevitable leaks or official announcement, designer Abel Verdezoto I has come up with his own concept of what the iPhone 6 could look like (pictured above). This particular concept is a pretty drastic departure from the current design and loses the more rounded edges in favor of sharper corners.

Ubergizmo , iPhone 6 Concept Looks Pretty Interesting

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supertechnologies, iPhone 6 Concept Looks Pretty Interesting

BMW Has Quartet Of App Integrations For iPhone

The next time you want a ride to go along with your spanking new iPhone purchase,make sure it is a German engineered set of wheels, especially one that bears the three famous letters of the alphabet – BMW. In fact, BMW has just announced four new app integrations for the iphone, thanks to partnerships with Audible, Glympse, Rhapsody and TuneIn. Those who are attending the New York International Auto Show would be able to give the demos of the full suite of BMW Approved Apps a go.

Ubergizmo , BMW Has Quartet Of App Integrations For iPhone

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wgitn, BMW Has Quartet Of App Integrations For iPhone

Sony Xperia ZL Ships

Talk about being quick to the fore – we were just mentioning about how the Sony Xperia ZL is up and available for pre-order yesterday, and here we are slightly more than 24 hours later, that the pre-order status of the Sony Xperia ZL in the US has just been transformed to "shipping" – at least for the black version if that is the shade you are gunning for. The Sony Xperia ZL, also known as the C650X if you are a sucker for model numbers, carries the estimated release date of April 8th if you want the white and red variants.

Ubergizmo , Sony Xperia ZL Ships, Sony Xperia ZL Ships

Battlefield 4 Leaked Trailer

Check out the leaked trailer for DICE's upcoming Battlefield 4 title. Just a bit of info, this first-person shooter video game will be available on PS3, PS4, Xbox 360 and PC platforms.

TechFresh , Battlefield 4 Leaked Trailer, Battlefield 4 Leaked Trailer

Solar Panel Cleaner Robot

I am not quite sure about you, but when was the last time you saw a vacancy in the newspapers that looked for someone whose job was to clean solar panels, and solar panels alone. That does sound rather repetitive and mundane, and there won't be too much interaction, not to mention it being rather hot assuming you were to work the normal shift hours that most of the other people put in. I guess for stuff like this, it would be far better to engage the services of a robot.

Ubergizmo , Solar Panel Cleaner Robot, Solar Panel Cleaner Robot

2014 Lexus IS350 F-Sport

Is A New Kind Of Lexus Hiding Under That Radical Skin. When the now-outgoing Lexus IS generation was launched back in 2006, the company would not have been wise to bring the compact luxury sedan to be driven by journalists to a track like Driveway Austin Motorsports. Taking along a BMW 335i for comparison loops would have proved an ill choice as well.
Our own Jonathon Ramsey found the current-generation Lexus IS250 to be fairly nimble over a tightly wound autocross course, when he drove it back-to-back with the prototype version of this 2014 IS a few months ago.










Autoblog , 2014 Lexus IS350 F-Sport, 2014 Lexus IS350 F-Sport

Sony Xperia ZL Now Up For Pre-Order In The US

During CES, Sony announced the Xperia Z, their flagship phone for 2013. However that was not the only phone Sony had up their sleeves. No sir, they also had the Xperia ZL as part of their announcement, and while for the most part the Xperia ZL shares the same specs as the Xperia Z, it is packed into a less fancy body, although that does have its pros depending on how you look at it. Either way if you prefer the Xperia ZL's build to the Xperia Z, Sony has announced that the device will be up for pre-order via Sony's website and will be priced at a whopping $720.
For those who want the 4G version, expect to pay $760.

Ubergizmo , Sony Xperia ZL Now Up For Pre-Order In The US

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mrnom, Sony Xperia ZL Now Up For Pre-Order In The US

Lenovo S920 Quad-Core Android Smartphone Announced

A couple of weeks ago we reported on a certain Lenovo S920 that had leaked. If the device managed to catch your attention, you might be interested to learn that Lenovo has officially announced it. The device made its appearance on Lenovo's China website which means that those living outside of China might not be able to get their hands on it, although gray market imports will probably be your best bet. So what are we looking at here. For those who might have missed the news, the S920 is an Android 4.2 Jelly Bean smartphone with a 5.3" HD display.

Ubergizmo , Lenovo S920 Quad-Core Android Smartphone Announced

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at2359, Lenovo S920 Quad-Core Android Smartphone Announced

Amazon Refutes Rumors Of $99 Kindle Fire Tablet

The other day we reported that according to the rumor mill, Amazon could be priming themselves for a release of a $99 Android tablet. Considering that the Kindle Fire was Amazon's first Android tablet and one of the cheapest at that time, this rumor wasn't completely out of the question, although it did sound too good to be true. Alas it really was because in a statement Amazon released to The Verge, Amazon refuted those rumors, claiming that a $99 tablet is not happening since they are already at the lowest price points possible for the hardware.

Ubergizmo , Amazon Refutes Rumors Of $99 Kindle Fire Tablet, Amazon Refutes Rumors Of $99 Kindle Fire Tablet

BlackBerry 10 Gets eBay App

The way computing (mobile or otherwise) has changed works this way – no longer do you be the biggest and baddest force in the market simply because your product has the best hardware specifications. There is no point in having the best hardware when you do not have the right kind of software to support it. Well, BlackBerry's BlackBerry 10 operating system has been deemed by certain quarters that it will be a "last chance saloon", so to speak, for the smartphone maker to get things right with consumers. So far, reception has been mixed.

Ubergizmo , BlackBerry 10 Gets eBay App, BlackBerry 10 Gets eBay App

Hyperkin RetroN 5 Console Will Play Classic Games From Seven Systems

The Hyperkin RetroN 5 gaming console will be a must have product for all you retro gamers out there. This console has reversed engineered hardware which is nearly two decades old that allows retro games from seven systems to be played. It plays original game cartridges and will also support original controllers, if anyone still has them. It has HDMI capability which will upscale games up to 720p, allowing all of those classic games to be played on HD TVs. AV ports are also present, in case someone wants to go full retro with fat CRT TVs.

Ubergizmo , Hyperkin RetroN 5 Console Will Play Classic Games From Seven Systems, Hyperkin RetroN 5 Console Will Play Classic Games From Seven Systems

Lenovo S920 Quad-Core Android 4.2 Smartphone Officially Introduced

Lenovo has officially introduced their newest quad-core Android 4.2 smartphone, the S920. Specs-wise, the handset sports a 5.3-inch 1280 x 720 capacitive touchscreen display, a 1.2GHz MT6589 quad-core processor, a 1GB RAM, a microSD card slot, dual cameras (2MP front & 8MP rear), a 2,250mAh battery and runs on Android 4.2 Jelly Bean OS. The S920 will be available in China starting early April for unannounced price yet.

TechFresh , Lenovo S920 Quad-Core Android 4.2 Smartphone Officially Introduced, Lenovo S920 Quad-Core Android 4.2 Smartphone Officially Introduced

Watch how Corvette Racing's new collision-avoidance radar system works

When it comes to technology used in racecars, we generally expect it to trickle down to production cars, not the other way around. Well, Pratt & Miller has developed a new rear-facing radar that operates in a similar fashion to what we're used to in modern blind spot detection systems, only it is also capable of tracking cars as they approach and relaying vital information to the driver via a large display screen.





Autoblog , Watch how Corvette Racing's new collision-avoidance radar system works, Watch how Corvette Racing's new collision-avoidance radar system works

Ernest Hemingway's Chrysler New Yorker restoration to be chronicled in documentary

The last car Ernest Hemingway ever owned was a 1955 Chrysler New Yorker Convertible. After the legendary writer shot himself in 1961, the car effectively vanished from public view. Unbeknownst to the rest of the world, the convertible was in Cuba, getting passed around between the members of one family. Some 50 years after Hemingway died, a determined writer unearthed the car and began the laborious process of restoring it to its former glory.

Autoblog , Ernest Hemingway's Chrysler New Yorker restoration to be chronicled in documentary, Ernest Hemingway's Chrysler New Yorker restoration to be chronicled in documentary

MetroPCS Releases Huawei Premia 4G (M931) Android 4.0 Smartphone

MetroPCS has released another Android 4.0 smartphone from Huawei namely the Huawei Premia 4G (M931). The handset features a 4.0-inch 800 x 480 touchscreen display, a 1.5GHz dual-core processor, a 1GB RAM, a 2GB of internal storage, a microSD card slot (up to 32GB), dual cameras (1.3MP front & 5MP rear with 720p video recording), Rhapsody Music Unlimited (costs $5 per month), GPS, DLNA, WiFi, Bluetooth, 4G LTE connectivity, a 1650mAh battery and runs on Android 4.0 ICS OS. The Huawei Premia 4G (M931) retails for just $149 off contract.

TechFresh , MetroPCS Releases Huawei Premia 4G (M931) Android 4.0 Smartphone, MetroPCS Releases Huawei Premia 4G (M931) Android 4.0 Smartphone

LG Working On Smartwatch And Google Glass-Like Device [Rumor]

The way things are shaping up, we think 2013 will be the year of the smartwatch as some of the biggest names in tech, like Apple, Samsung and Google, are all expected to release some kind of smart watch device in the future. Today, another company is possibly throwing their watch into the ring. According to The Korea Times, LG is the latest manufacturer to possibly be joining in on the smart-watch craze as they're rumored to be currently developing not only a smartwatch, but an additional wearable computing device similar to the Google Glass.

Ubergizmo , LG Working On Smartwatch And Google Glass-Like Device [Rumor], LG Working On Smartwatch And Google Glass-Like Device [Rumor]

Jeep reveals annual Moab Easter Jeep Safari concepts [UPDATE]

Jeep has unveiled its annual spate of concepts before the Easter Jeep Safari. Those start with the Grand Cherokee Trailhawk Concept (below left), complete with the company's EcoDiesel V6 engine. Designers threw in a set of 35-inch Mickey Thompson tires wrapped around 17-inch Rubicon wheels, and a set of custom fender flares help keep all that rubber under wraps. Meanwhile, the Wrangler Mopar Recon (below right) packs a 6.4-liter Hemi V8 good for 470 horsepower. All that grunt gets to the ground via a five-speed automatic transmission and a set of a Dana 60 axles frond and rear with 4.10 gears.






Autoblog , Jeep reveals annual Moab Easter Jeep Safari concepts [UPDATE], Jeep reveals annual Moab Easter Jeep Safari concepts [UPDATE]

Manipulate your Gmail from the Android notification bar

Got the latest Gmail client for your Android 4.1.x (Jellybean) device yet. The new version allows you to choose if you want to archive or reply to a new email directly from your notification bar without having to open the client. Handy for short emails but not quite so good for longer ones .

The Gadgeteer , Manipulate your Gmail from the Android notification bar, Manipulate your Gmail from the Android notification bar

Philips Xenium W737 Dual SIM Android 4.0 Smartphone

Here comes a new dual SIM Android 4.0 smartphone from Philips for the Russian market. Called the Xenium W737, the handset sports a 4.3-inch 960 x 540 IPS touchscreen display, a 1.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 dual-core processor, a 4GB of internal storage, a microSD card slot (up to 32GB), dual SIM card slots (GSM & WCDMA), a 5MP rear-facing camera, GPS, WiFi, Bluetooth 3.0, a 2400mAh battery and runs on Android 4.0 ICS OS. The Xenium W737 will retail for 10,500 Rubles (about $340).

TechFresh , Philips Xenium W737 Dual SIM Android 4.0 Smartphone, Philips Xenium W737 Dual SIM Android 4.0 Smartphone

Samsung Galaxy S4 Launch Results In iPhone Trade-Ins Doubling

Shortly after the Samsung Galaxy S4 was announced, we're sure there were a good majority of you who were already planning to trade in their current smartphones in preparation of its upcoming release. But it looks as though the weeks prior to the Galaxy S4′s launch was also important as it turns out a lot of you traded in your devices at that time as well. According to SellCell.com, iPhone trade-ins specifically went up 194 percent in the month leading up to Samsung's Galaxy S4 unveiling when compared to the month prior to the company's Galaxy S3 launch.

Ubergizmo , Samsung Galaxy S4 Launch Results In iPhone Trade-Ins Doubling, Samsung Galaxy S4 Launch Results In iPhone Trade-Ins Doubling

Feedly Picks Up 500,000 New Users After Google Reader's Demise Was Announced

So, how has the announcement of Google Reader closing its doors this coming July 1st affected you so far. We do know that Digg wants to create their own RSS reader, and another alternative RSS reader out there would be Feedly. The thing is, Feedly has certainly benefited from Google Reader's impending demise, where they managed to gain another half a million new users in just two days. Yes sir, 500,000 new users in a mere 48 hours.
Other substitutes in place of Google Reader, apart from Feedly, of course, and they include Flipboard and Newsblur.

Ubergizmo , Feedly Picks Up 500,000 New Users After Google Reader's Demise Was Announced, Feedly Picks Up 500,000 New Users After Google Reader's Demise Was Announced

Notes from Day One of the 2013 Twelve Hours of Sebring

The 61st edition of The 12 Hours of Sebring is on, and Autoblog has come to central Florida with Audi to feast on jumbo boiled peanuts, pickled eggs and the final race for the LMP1 class at the oldest road course in North America. As Audi has been doing for more than a decade now, it's brought its latest endurance race car, the 2013-spec R18 etron quattro, to Sebring to begin testing for Le Mans. Why the commitment to Sebring.










Autoblog , Notes from Day One of the 2013 Twelve Hours of Sebring, Notes from Day One of the 2013 Twelve Hours of Sebring