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A New Blue Hue for You to View
The digitization of Henry Ford’s Model T is seeing an illuminating next chapter.
And it’s quite a sight.
Cars are (as has been written about many times on Jimmy’s Daily Planet) increasingly being designed and built as supercomputers. Tesla is the best practical evidence in 2016 of this burgeoning reality with the Model S, Model 3 and Model X. No, the price point for these three car models have not dropped into mainstream affordability, but the availability is there nonetheless. That’s impressive, even if it’s an expensive alternative. An encouraging note is the Tesla Model 3 is trying to crack the Lexus and Mercedes consumer market with a tax credit/incentive in the thousands that makes people take a second glance at the electric automaker beyond its sleek lines and quiet, yet powerful engine.
For many of the major car makers, their giant leap from the engine and functionality from the 20th century to the computerized innovation in the 21st century won’t be comprehensive. That’s impractical and foolish. At some point, perhaps in half a century, but that’s still a ways off…
Thankfully, as is the natural consequence of innovation, engineers are constantly conceptualizing that manageable next step.
“Powerful batteries will give the SUV a driving range of over 300 miles.
It will be priced like a “reasonably equipped Mercedes GLC.” At today’s prices, that would be around $50,000.”
–Peter Valdes-Dapena, CNN Money
Visitors of the 2016 Paris Motor Show were recently privileged to an exciting first glimpse of the Mercedes-Benz Generation EQ imagined for modern roads. While the cool blue design is a concept, there doesn’t appear to be too many far-fetched ideas in the video above. Yes, it’s a promo made by and for the German car giants, yet this engineering dream looks like a realistic ambition for a few years down the road. However, one small speed bump may be that, as clean and appealing as the white interior shows in HD, perhaps the final call should favor dark blue or black (from experience, bright white leather may not pair well with dark jeans or clothing with indigo or black dye).
That’s the only grilling the EQ warrants. Speaking of which, that new grill is hot.
Red Blue-hot.
The Great (Protected) Fall of China
And you thought only Superman could see through things?
Vertigo sufferers may not need apply for directions to the longest and highest glass bridge in the world. Eye-popping views are not uncommon with bridges of all shapes and sizes, but China has clearly raised the thrill-factor to a new level. And, impressively, this ground-breaking sight was constructed for the everyday visitor. That means experience climbing Mt. Everest is not a prerequisite, which was a courteous touch on the part of Haim Dotan. The Israeli architect has certainly made his impression in far away China.
The six-meter wide bridge stretches 430 meters over a 300-meter-deep valley between two cliffs in the beautiful Zhangjiajie Park, said to have inspired the scenery for the sci-fi movie “Avatar.”
–CNN
CNN also reported that a bungee jump will be set-up at the bridge. YouTube videos will follow shortly…
Mr. Dotan’s imaginative creation will also be conducive to the artistic, fashion-forward and, quite frankly, the brave: Fashion runway shows.
Safety inspections may be slightly more frequent than other, more pedestrian bridges. However, seeing and speaking with safety professionals and engineers might be nice, even if to just put visitors at ease.
That would be the transparent approach.
Happy Monday!
How excited were you to wake up early this morning?
Generally, Monday is a slightly tougher day than the rest because we’re adjusting back to the workweek schedule and outlining our responsibilities for the next few days. We all feel it, especially when that first alarm sounds from our phones or clocks (old school).
What can be done? While Carter Duryea cannot bring the weekend back or fast-forward to the upcoming weekend, he can give us all the pep talk we need to hear.
What’s the word?
I’m psyched!
And after work, I’m ready to hang out, down the street and do the same old thing that I did last week.
Have an Inspired Week!
Flip or Flop?
Ironically, despite Samsung’s vision, the concept of what a phone looks like is far from being an open-and-shut case.
“The details are somewhat rough, but from what we can gather, one device will be a phone/tablet combo, whose 5-inch screen could be unfolded into an 8-inch screen. The other will be a phone that folds in half, not unlike a cosmetic compact (so, basically a flip phone but with a screen on both sides).”
–Stan Schroeder of Mashable, “Samsung’s bendable smartphones might become real in early 2017″
According to reports (which can be a dime-a-dozen in the tech world), there appears to be legitimate buzz building concerning a 2014 cell phone design by Samsung with a familiar throwback.
Bloomberg’s Jungah Lee has speculated on a possible 2017 launch for Samsung’s new phone.
The bendable phone seen in the video from 2014 will gain the attention of the smartphone consumer base. Specifically, businessmen, businesswomen and users in general who were excited by the Blackberry may find that this is a true alternative to the modern smartphone.
The prototype shown above has a large screen with expansive features that permit multi-tasking that’s visible in one large view, but is collapsible into a manageable storing size. The bendable phone also seems like it can be more conducive to business applications (ie- Microsoft Office programs) than Android models and the iPhone. Flexible tech is the trend these days, as evidenced by an LG TV prototype with a similar capacity.
Will consumers ultimately flip to Samsung’s new tech? Time will tell, but the answer could reveal where phones are headed the next few years. Smartphones are mobile computers and Samsung has, potentially, innovated that reality to a fascinating new level.
A level that opens up into a future with a wink and nod from the past.
Jimmy's Daily Planet 