ie8 fix

2011

Toyota, Yamaha unveil connected electric trike, e-bike

These electric velocipede concepts are wired to connect to smart grids, smartphones, home network systems, and sharing services.

With populations in urban centers expected to surge over the next few decades, auto manufacturers are looking beyond cars to find ways to mobilize the population without using more fossil fuels. Toyota teamed up with Yamaha to show off a couple of electric bicycle concepts at the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show. They're not the first companies to tackle e-bikes, but they could be the first companies to show how these non-traditional EVs can be connected to smart grids.

The three-wheeled EC-Miu and the electrically power-assisted Pas With bicycle are designed to work with the Toyota Smart Center, an advanced smart grid energy-management system designed for homes, businesses, and power companies, which means your e-bike will be another appliance you can manage online.… Read more

Facebook's most-shared articles of 2011 shows babies, banks, and brats

As the year draws to an end, Facebook is revealing the news articles that grabbed the most attention on the social network in 2011. Unsurprisingly, the wrap-up spans a range of subjects from celebrity deaths to weather disasters, and even a few viral videos that you may have forgotten.

The most shared article on Facebook this year came from The New York Times, which published exclusive satellite photos of the Japanese tsunami disaster back in March, along with the subsequent nuclear fallout in the months following.

A different story from Yahoo's Lookout Blog also made it into the top 10, but equally memorable footage shows a shivering dog refusing to leave another injured canine stuck in the rubble; a follow-up article on CNN documents the same dog's rescue from the shores of the Miyagi prefecture.… Read more

Best tech gifts under $100

Budget tech is one of our favorite categories here at CNET, so that's why we're running not one, but two budget tech gift roundups this year.

My compadre John Falcone put together a list of the 10 best el-cheapo tech products out there with his Best tech gifts under $50 feature.

I get a little more wiggle room with a $99.99 budget, which is why this list should really be called "Best tech gifts between $50 and $100." But more people are looking on Google for "best tech gifts under $100," so we'… Read more

Nissan unveils high-performance Juke Nismo Concept

Lacking the power of the Juke-R, but the Juke Nismo might see production.

Nissan plans to expand its high performance line of vehicles, and it's targeting the crossover market to do it. The auto manufacturer unveiled the Juke Nismo Concept at the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show, announcing that the crossover could get the green light if it proves popular.

The Nissan Juke Nismo concept is a toned-down version of the Juke-R exercise the manufacturer has been promoting through a series of online videos. While the Juke-R borrows the heart and soul of the GT-R to become a compact SUV … Read more

Production Subaru BRZ hits the Web, looks like its Toyota twin

After seeing the Subaru Concept STI that debuted in Los Angeles, we had a pretty good idea of what the production 2013 Subaru BRZ would look like.

We now have official photographic confirmation. Of course, there are no real surprises. The production BRZ looks nearly identical to the Toyota GT 86 with which it shares a platform. The vehicles are so similar that it takes a side-by-side comparison to tell that the Subaru has a different front grille opening, fender vents that are similar those on the STI concept, and a different wheel and tire package.

Where the Subaru may … Read more

Toyota Fun-Vii concept is a configurable, connected car

What if changing the color of your car was as simple as tapping an app? Toyota's Fun-Vii concept promises exactly that and more.

The Fun-Vii's skin is actually a massive display that can change its color at will, and display graphics, images, and custom messages for other drivers or bystanders. Toyota gives the visual example of a business using the Fun-Vii to display advertisement livery, but I'd love to be able to quickly throw up a "Back off, chump!" to a tailgater.

The custom graphics aren't limited to the exterior. Toyota also envisions that large interior display surfaces can add augmented reality functionality to the driving experience while allowing the vehicle's interior to be "freely adjustable to match the mood of the moment."… Read more

CNET's holiday guide to printers and peripherals

Though not the sexiest products out there, printers and peripherals are some of the most useful. These are the types of products that sit in the backdrop of your tech life, unnoticed; but as soon as they're gone, you'll be ready to give your right arm to have them back.

Unless we're talking turkeys, you hopefully won't have to resort to too much dismembering with the list of top holiday printers and peripherals picks we've compiled. And no matter your poison, we've got you covered with a list that includes monitors, storage, input devices, … Read more

2011 Frankfurt auto show: 2013 Hyundai i30

Hyundai is clearly done being that car you don't know the name of.

For a long time, Hyundai cars were sort of bland, and when you did get close enough to read the name, you then recoiled at its reputation. This new i30 is a stylish crossover that shows the Korean car maker is not only interested in competing but also stomping out the embers of its ugly past.

(CNET's full coverage of the 2011 Frankfurt auto show)

2011 Frankfurt auto show: Mazda CX-5

As the car industry recovers, crossovers are one of the first sectors to come back.

So that brings us to the world premiere of Mazda's CX-5, a crossover with an interesting engine that puts the emphasis on efficiency. And, like the new Ford Escape, it takes on a high-style sculpted look that says "car" all the way.

(CNET's full coverage of the 2011 Frankfurt auto show)

2011 Frankfurt auto show: Kia GT concept

Not the most imaginatively named car, but to our eyes another handsome step forward for Kia.

Sleek, stylish, and sporty are not the type of words you would use to describe a Kia, but the Korean automaker wants you to think about those things, especially in this sedan concept called the GT at the 2011 Frankfurt auto show.

(CNET's full coverage of the 2011 International Motor Show in Frankfurt)