The Review Blog

Zero Motorcycles is gearing up for 2012, and not by stockpiling canned goods and ammunition. The company is refreshing its line of all-electric bikes and adding a host of refinements, including a new powertrain and a battery pack rated to last as long as the motorcycle does (though, whether or not it lives up to that lofty claim in real-world conditions remains to be seen). Of particular interest is the 9kWh configuration of the Zero S, which has an estimated range of 114 miles — making it the first EV bike available to consumers that can exceed 100 miles on a single charge. In total Zero will be shipping five models in February, starting at $7,695 for the XU, while the S and DS will fetch $11,495 or $13,995 in their respective 6kWh and 9kWh versions. Off-road enthusiasts can choose between the trail shredding Zero X at $9,995 or the motocross-minded Zero MX for $9,495. Check out the gallery below and the video after the break for peek at the company’s 2012 line.

Continue reading Zero Motorcycles reveals longer range, longer lasting 2012 lineup (video)

Zero Motorcycles reveals longer range, longer lasting 2012 lineup (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 08 Nov 2011 15:13:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We’ve all been in those boring meetings where you just want to let rip on marketing with a laser blaster. And now you can… kinda. Best of all, you don’t even need to leave your La-Z-Boy. House4Hack, a Johannesburg based hackerspace knocked up a dual-servo, Arduino-controlled webcam for its entry into the 2011 Google+ hackathon. Deciding that this wasn’t nearly awesome enough, they made the logical improvement of adding a splendiferous laser attachment for the perfect Google+ Hangout accessory. Now, colleagues can ‘show-up’ remotely when they can’t be present in person, and register their disapproval in the way nature intended — radiation amplified light. To see it in action, tap the video after the jump.

Continue reading Google+ laser hack, Hangout shoots first (video)

Google+ laser hack, Hangout shoots first (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 07 Nov 2011 18:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It’ll be hard to find a sports matchup that equals last weekend’s ‘Bama/LSU showdown, but Fox will try as it dives into the octagon with some MMA this weekend. There’s also a few family-friendly Blu-ray 3D titles on deck, and the final edition of some series called Harry Potter hitting stores on Friday (pick up Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim while you’re there, you’ll thank us later). Look below for the highlights this week, followed after the break by our weekly listing of what to look out for in TV, Blu-ray and videogames.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
The king is back. The Modern Warfare series has reigned over the console shooter pile for the last few years and it’s no secret why. A combination of fast-paced action and precise controls make it the online game of choice for many (some prefer the Battlefield games, it’s a matter of taste). This year’s edition once again hails from the offices of Infinity Ward, birthplace of the best this series has to offer so this one is a must-buy. The only thing giving us pause? A new “Elite” feature, which adds online stat tracking and more for hardcore players, but at the hefty price of $49 a year.
(November 8th, $56.99 on Amazon)

UFC on Fox
CBS tried bringing MMA fighting to network TV a couple of years ago but hasn’t had any bouts in a while, opening the door for this weekend’s light heavyweight match on Fox. Cain Velasquez is one of the scariest human beings alive, but he appears to have a worth competitor coming for his title in Junior Dos Santos. We’ve been fans of UFC for a little while, if expensive PPV matches and reality TV-style The Ultimate Fighter have been the only thing keeping you on the outside, this could be the one that makes you a fan — or disgusts you beyond words. Check out a trailer embedded after the break.
(November 12th, Fox, 9PM)

Death Valley
Looking for a a zombie alternative to The Walking Dead (which actually improved this weekend — apparently someone finally told the writers that less is more)? You’ve found it. MTV’s Cops-style mockumentary follows officers around an alternate reality Los Angeles populated by werewolves, vampires and more otherworldly creatures with a campy sense of humor throughout. Beware however, here anyone can become a meal for the people they’re pursuing, including members of the camera crew.
(November 7th, MTV, 11PM)

Continue reading Must See HDTV (November 7th – 13th)

Must See HDTV (November 7th – 13th) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 07 Nov 2011 18:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Continue reading Nook Tablet’s Read and Record hands-on (video)

Nook Tablet’s Read and Record hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 07 Nov 2011 17:38:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Thousands of smartphones pass through New York City’s Herald Square each day, but few tower higher than a few inches, or run Windows Phone 7.5. In celebration of three new Windows Phones hitting stores — the Samsung Focus S, Focus Flash and HTC Radar 4G — Microsoft has constructed a monstrous six-story “Windows Phone” just a few feet away from the world’s largest Macy’s store, right in the middle of one of the city’s more popular outdoor picnic areas. The gadget sure is huge, but it’s not a phone in the traditional sense — enormous tiles display video feeds transmitted from a control room, and move out of place to accommodate live stage performances. We dropped by for a midday calisthenics session, which surprisingly appeared to be a hit with locals and tourists. There were functioning devices on hand as well, in a makeshift showroom, though those were far less popular than the 55-foot behemoth front and center. Jump past the break to see it in action.

Continue reading Microsoft installs ‘biggest Windows Phone ever’ in NYC’s Herald Square (video)

Microsoft installs ‘biggest Windows Phone ever’ in NYC’s Herald Square (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 07 Nov 2011 17:17:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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