PAL-V - The Super Cool Flying Car

Ok, so we all know that a day will come when there will be flying cars in the city, and robots will replace humans for most of the work! And though most of us have just seen flying cars in a movie or a video-game, one Dutchman called Jahn Bakker has put his idea into implementation so you can actually buy a PAL-V Flying Car in 2012! Isn't it cool? wow, future doesn't seem to be as far as I thought! If flying cars become a reality, space travel is not too far ahead, I'd say! So all you enthusaistic budding-pilots out there, get ready for some "serious flying"!!

So what exactly is this Flying car that we are talking about? Well, the PAL-V Flying Car, designed by a Dutch engineer named John Bakker, is actually a three-wheeled car (or to some a motorcycle) on the road; however open up its roof and back to find a foldable rotor, propeller and tail section, and you convert it into a helicopter, ready to take off in a few seconds! PAL-V ONE, is the first Personal Air and Land Vehicle (PAL-V) available for anyone's use. It combines the recent "tilting car" technology of the Carver with the safest and easiest principle of flying, the gyrocopter. It has the exclusive rights to all the basic patents covering this magnificent concept.

After 6 years of concept work, PAL-V Europe BV has now entered the next phase. It is starting to build the first commercial prototype, ready to start production and carry out the market launch of the PAL-V ONE by 2012. Since 2004/2005 new European and American regulations allow people to fly the PAL-V with a simple sports aviation license. It takes between 15-25 hours getting a license for flying while driving can be done with a regular car driving license.

Airborne, the PAL-V flies under the 4,000 feet (1,500 m) floor of commercial air space, and can hold one person only. it is highly fuel-efficient and is powered by an environmentally certified car engine. It runs on petrol/gas like a conventional car and can reach speeds of up to 200 km/h both on land and in the air. At less than 70 decibels, it is much quieter than helicopters due to the slower rotating of the main rotor.

In the US the "High-way In The Sky" HITS-program is being developed to allow extensive personal air traffic. In Europe initiatives have been initiated to develop a copy of this system called "Digital freeways", which provide a safe corridor using GPS technology to aid air-regulation and avoid collisions for low flying vehicles.

And now for the most important question: How much does this cost?? Well, there's no price-tag on the PAL-V yet; Commercial prices will be established depending on volume and competition a year before market launch in 2010. but I bet with the growing trends of owning private jets, this coolest innovation will need to be competitive to make it accessible to local public. Check out some more details about safety and working principles on the PAL-V FAQ's page.

I don't know how this will affect the already struggling air-traffic control, but I know there would be many amongst us who would be thrilled to own a flying car, including me! how soon it becomes a reality, only time will tell!

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PowerCube 600 - Scalable Solar-Power Generator

With the growing need to find gadgets that can tap the power of solar energy, the creation of PowerCube 600 is truly a boon! A portable and scalable solution that can generate upto 600W of power is a much-needed asset, especially because it looks much smaller than the tall sheets of solar panels that you'd have to mount on your roof-tops to generate half the amount of power that PowerCube can generate! Its robust, scalable, and defintely makes generation and storage of solar energy more feasible. it may not be as small as today's nano-tech-loving world might want it to be, but its a great option from the choices available as of today!

The PowerCube makes deployable renewable energy simple. By integrating the latest solar energy, power storage and power management technology, the PowerCube is engineered for home use, emergency response, construction, and any other remote power needs. It’s large size (72 x 124 x 50 inches) enables it to produce 600 watts of solar power.

PowerCube is also a scalable solution, so each individual unit can be easily linked to the next one in a "daisy chain" fashion to generate more power. The PowerCube comes ready to use with minimal installation (in just 4 easy steps), making it ideal to generate power either on or off grid, for short or long-term, as primary or back-up electricity.

In emergency situations, access to traditional fossil fuels can be limited and difficult. The PowerCube's primary source of power is the sun, which means that the unit provides essential power without reliance on fossil fuel deliveries. Plus, heat, noise and emissions are virtually nonexistent, making it earth-friendly as much as possible.

Its portable, yes, but its not as small or miniature as it looks in the picture! it weighs about 2000 lbs, so don't think you can just load it in your truck and set it up in your backyard! plus, it does not have a price-tag disclosed, meaning you have to call or email for a quote! However, PowerCube 600 comes with a large range of features that you'd expect from a solar-generator, and is backed with attractive warranties. check for more detailed specifications on their site.

If you are in need of a device that can solve all your electricity needs, PowerCube 600 is something you should definitely check out! I think each of us should make a conscious effort to deploy solar power as much as we can, before the energy and environment that we are so dependent on, runs out on us!!

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Mercedes Smart Coupe- The Tiny Fuel-Efficient Car

Every coming day, I read about a new fuel-efficient car or hybrid car hitting the roads, or a new one unveiled at an auto show. Looks like every car company is out to capture a tiny part of the go-green hybrid-car market, and the latest buzz is about the Mercedes Smart - the 2-seater 2008 Coupe, which is a bundle of fuel-efficiency packed in a small & sleek design, backed by Mercedes' safety rating! Looking very similar to the Tata Nano, but combining way more comfort and style, the Mercedes Smart is surely attracting attention as I see more and more of them on the california freeways!

The Mercedes Smart has been running in the European roads for quite some time now, but it was released in US in January 2008, and that too with a 2-month waiting period. One of my friends actually bought one, and I had the chance to experience it from inside, and actually ride in it. Advertised as the "Smart For two", this cute car that looks like a cross between te tata nano and the Mini-Cooper, runs on a mercedes engine. As the name implies, it is designed for 2 people, or perhaps squeeze one tiny kid, so don't look at it if you want a decent-sized family car. 8.8 feet long, 5.1 feet tall and 5.1 feet wide, it is indeed a small car! However, with 8 cubic feet of storage space – 12 feet if you load up to the roof line, the rear trunk can easily fit numerous bags of groceries, gym bags and other items that are commonly transported every day, including golf clubs!

But what makes this car really Smart? Its actually its fuel-efficiency, and its price! The vehicle is designed to achieve 40 city/45 highway mpg according to 2007 EPA standards and 33 city/41 highway mpg according to 2008 EPA standards, for an 8.7 gallon fuel-tank, which is pretty competitive (just a bit less maybe) with the current hybrids like Honda Civic or Toyots Prius.

The safety that's tied to the mercedes name cannot be ignored! With features like Electronic Stability Program, traction control, cornering brake control, anti-lock brakes, electronic brake distribution and brake assist, the SMART helps drivers stay in control on snowy and icy terrains too. Wider rear wheels and tires allow for better grip and traction in marginal weather conditions. Narrower front wheels and tires allow for less traction loss by penetrating into snow and ice deeper for improved steering control. All smart vehicles come standard with all season tires. Moreover, the 2008 Smart models achieved the highest ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for front and side crashworthiness.

All this at extremely affordable price starting from 14,000 USD. Good things come in small packages - is indeed true for this beauty! Available in 3 models, the Smart Pure, Passion Coupe and Passion Cabriolet Convertible, you can choose the one that suits your style, and budget. What's more, its eco-friendly too - the Smart Car has been classified as an Ultra-Low Emission Vehicle (ULEV) on account of its extremely low exhaust emissions. An electric pump blows fresh air into the exhaust port when the engine is cold to almost completely oxidize the carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrocarbons (HC) and render them harmless.

If you've loved a Mini-Cooper, and do not mind a small car that's built for two, yet made efficient and safe, not to mention fuel-efficient, you'll love the new Mercedes Smart Coupe. After all, with a name like Mercedes to back it up, there's not many faults you can find in this tiny-tot!

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Mobile Phone Deals & Comparisons for UK

With the likes of iPhone, Instinct and Blackberry Bold trying to lure customers to switch from simple mobile phones to mobile devices, it gets really tough to decide what to buy. On top of that, there are always the myriad of cheaper options, which may not come with querty keyboards or touch-screen interface, but are still equipped with features more than required by an average consumer. Thanks to the power of the internet, there are several useful cell-phone sites that come to our rescue, and today I'm going to tell you about one such option for my UK readers.

The cell-phone market has become highly competitive, and while the manufacturers try to compete with one another, it only means more options for customers like us. But reasearching mobile phone deals individually can get cumbersome, which i found while trying to get a phone for my neice in UK. Luckily, I found a site that was very well-laid out, and easy to navigate. DialToSave brings you the best deals from UK cell-phone retailers across the internet, along with deals for cheap international calls. Most featured deals include discounted line rental, automatic cashback or free gifts and of course a free mobile phone, but the best part is the ability to have one interface where I can compare all my options, and choose what's best for me.

I needed a pay-as-you-go phone for my neice, and it was easy to find as they have a category of options neatly laid out, alongwith applicable carrier names. the home page shows all the best-sellers for a type of plan, alongwith featured deals and free-gift options, which by the way, include glamorous choices like free cashback, HDTv's, iPod Nano, or even a Nintendo DS! The page also have their own blog, which features some interesting articles about the phones, and also several helpful phone reviews by their editors.

A click ahead will take you to your choice of phone to list all features and compare prices from different vendors, sorted by price or popularity. What's more, when you buy a phone, then submit a review, you automatically enter a draw to win 100 pounds! With almost all carriers and handset vendors in their huge database, you can be sure you'll be able to get the best available price that you deserve! by the way, they also have a section about broadband comparison if you are interested. You can check for providers in your area, compare actual broadband speeds, and choose from cable, high-speed or unlimited broadband options.

There are several similar sites for the US market, but I had not found a good one for the UK market, and landing on to this site was a boon. I got a great deal on the Sony Ericsson S500i Purple Mobile Phone for my niece, and I can't wait to see her reaction when she receives her b'day present! Amazon sells it for 109 pounds, while I got it for only 79! So give DialtoSave a shot before you are ready to order your next UK mobile phone; I'm pretty sure you'll thank me for it!

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