off your record, but just can't resist the urge to tweet, text and talk behind the wheel?

Maybe it's time you gave up on that whole "self-restraint" schtick and leaned on technology to keep your cellular inhibitions in check. Scosche's cellControl might do the trick, it pairs bit of bluetooth-enabled automotive hardware with a feature-blocking smartphone app to keep your handset under lockdown when you're on the go. It even rats you out if you deactivate or uninstall the system -- automatically sending a text message or email to a "designated administrator," just in case you fall off the wagon. The system boasts compatibility with over 1200 devices across Android

, Blackberry, Symbian and Windows Mobile 5 and 6. Artificial restraint will set you back $130, you know, in case self-control and other distracted driving apps

aren't doing the trick. Hit the break for the system's official press release.

Continue reading Scosche cellControl locks your device while driving, tattles on your text habit

Scosche cellControl locks your device while driving, tattles on your text habit

originally appeared on Engadget

on Mon, 23 Jan 2012 04:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds

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that would unseat it from the funk it's been sitting in for years. And then I watched the introductory video

of newly-appointed CEO Thorsten Heins. Anyone who assumes that a simple CEO swap is the answer to all of RIM's issues is woefully misinformed, or worse, just blinded by false hope. Sure, removing Jim Balsillie and Mike Lazaridis -- both of which have been rightly criticized

for not responding to market pressures

quickly enough -- is a start, but it's not like they're gone. In fact, the two are still situated at a pretty fancy table within Research in Motion's organizational chart.

RIM, we've been here before

RIM seems to be as lost as my BlackBerry

Dear RIM, I'm your customer and I don't wear a suit

 Computer and Video Games

 |  Joshua_X (Twitter)

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stars ASUS' UX31 Zenbook

, the benchmark that all of 2011's Ultrabooks should aspire to. We loved its striking design, good performance, battery life and that fantastic display. We weren't so hot on some of the frilly-script branding, annoying trackpad and a keyboard that required hammer-typing to register our presses. It's a shame to think that so many companies are producing great thin'n'light designs that are always hamstrung by one jarring error -- which is where you guys and gals come in. Now that it's been around the block, we're asking you: what improvements you'd like to see? -- but because this is an Ultrabook, for every addition, we want you to suggest something you'd be happy to lose. The floor is yours in the river of comments below.

How would you change ASUS' Zenbook UX31?

originally appeared on Engadget

on Sun, 22 Jan 2012 22:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds

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, RIM's making some significant changes

. And by "significant," we mean the co-chief executives (and founders) are out. As of tomorrow, both Jim Balsillie

and Mike Lazaridis

will be stepping away from the top posts, enabling "a little-known company insider" to take over, according to The Wall Street Journal. Purportedly, this is all part of "a board and management shuffle," with COO Thorsten Heins (seen above) to step into what many expect to be an impossible role to thrive in. The Globe and Mail asserts that he'll be immediately seeking a Chief Marketing Officer to polish up the company's severely damaged brand, and he "will not rule out licensing RIM's new BlackBerry 10 operating system

to other handset manufacturers." In an interview with the outlet, he stated that he'll be executing "flawlessly" and with vigor -- not unexpected, but still, bold words.

Startlingly, Heins also asserted that he's "confident" in the existing lineup of BlackBerry handsets and the software update recently made available for the PlayBook; call us crazy, but he'd be wise to just spout out reality and make clear that RIM's existing lineup is nowhere near competitive in the grand scheme of things. As for Mike and Jim? The former will become "vice-chair of the board with special duties to examine innovation," with the latter becoming a traditional director. In an interesting move, outgoing co-CEO Lazaridis stated the following: "I think it's that unwillingness to sacrifice our long-term value for short-term gain. That's why we didn't choose Android. That's why we decided to build the future on QNX." So wait, RIM had the chance to choose Android... and didn't? No time like the present to reach back and shake things up, Mr. Heins.

Update: Catch an introduction video to the new CEO just after the break!

Continue reading RIM's Jim Balsillie and Mike Lazaridis are out, new CEO Thorsten Heins may license BlackBerry 10

RIM's Jim Balsillie and Mike Lazaridis are out, new CEO Thorsten Heins may license BlackBerry 10

originally appeared on Engadget

on Sun, 22 Jan 2012 21:28:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds

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and the world's largest solar ship

closed in on completing its first trip around the globe. We also saw Drayson unveil a turbocharged 850 horsepower all-electric supercar

while Mercedes announced plans to bring its B-Class E-Cell electric Vehicle

to the US next year. Speaking of hot upcoming cars, this week we brought you a video showcasing 5 of the most exciting eco cars

from the 2012 Detroit Auto Show and we shared 7 new hybrid and electric vehicles

that you'll be able to purchase this year.

The world of renewable energy also heated up this week as scientists hatched a plan to harness volcano power

by pouring millions of gallons of water into a dormant crater and President Obama rejected TransCanada's plans for the Keystone Xl pipeline

. Meanwhile Philips unveiled a transparent solar-powered OLED car sunroof

that charges during the day and lights up at night, and we took a look inside Switzerland's Berghotel Muottas

- the first hotel in the Alps that generates more energy than it consumes. Clean energy technology also dived into the deep blue sea as Ireland's massive SeaGen tidal turbine

received environmental approval, researchers found a way to turn seaweed into biofuel

using a human stomach microbe, and a Nobel laureate developed the world's cheapest and most effective CO2 sponge

.

In other news, this week we brought you the most freshest new green gadgets - from a tree trunk turntable

that plays wood rings like records to a stunning jellyfish-esque LED chandelier

and a cuddly Babyloid robot

designed to comfort senior citizens. We also showcased the world's smallest greeting card

(300 micro-meters wide!), a massive 300 lb stormtrooper cake

, and five educational and arty apps

for creative kids. Finally, we rounded up the hottest news in eco fashion - including the world's largest garment made from golden spider silk

and an awesome set of bow ties made from recycled LEGO bricks

.

Inhabitat's Week in Green: 300 passenger bus, babyloid robot and a jellyfish-esque LED chandelier

originally appeared on Engadget

on Sun, 22 Jan 2012 20:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds

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, which featured an explosion of tablets and high-powered smartphones poised to jump on emerging 4G networks

, this year's edition of Gear and Gloating in Las Vegas was a more muted affair when it came to mobile devices. Sure, Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile trotted out a few devices and there were even a few standouts, such as the Transformer Primesque Lenovo IdeaTab S2

with its its docking keyboard as well as the heavily promoted Galaxy Note, coming soon the U.S. after launching in Europe.

Continue reading Switched On: Connected Electronics Show

Switched On: Connected Electronics Show

originally appeared on Engadget

on Sun, 22 Jan 2012 20:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds

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hits AT&T next month,

but the network, it seems, isn't taking any chances. According to the Vita's AT&T page, Ma Bell's making sure you'll never be blocked from nabbing those download-capped

PlayStation Minis by upping the previously announced 2GB for $25 plan to 3GB for $30. Surprised? Don't be -- this change just brings Sony's next generation handheld in-line with the network's updated data plans.

The Vita's budget-friendly $15 for 250MB option is still ripe for the picking, but that won't get you far if you plan to watch Netflix

on the go, will it?

PlayStation Vita gets updated 3G data plan, offers an extra gigabyte for a Lincoln

originally appeared on Engadget

on Sun, 22 Jan 2012 19:09:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds

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