Tag Archives: travel

Supraways’ vision for urban transport: Autonomous pods @ CES 2024



Supraways urban transportation podsSupraways is an eight-year-old startup based in Lyon, France, that is revolutionizing urban transit with autonomous cars. The company has developed a system of autonomous cars that can carry up to seven passengers and are suspended on beams along highways and airports. This system aims to address the issue of traffic congestion and provide a more efficient and on-demand mode of transportation.

Revolutionizing urban transit with autonomous cars

The autonomous cars developed by Supraways are not only automated but also equipped with embedded electronic and robotic systems. One of their key innovations is an embedded switch system, which allows the cars to move left and right while the beams remain passive. This eliminates the need for maintenance on the beams, making the system more cost-effective and efficient.

Supraways envisions a network of interconnected loops, where all the stations are offline, similar to a highway system. This means that passengers can travel from one point to another without any stops, resulting in faster and more efficient journeys. The system operates 24 hours a day, and passengers can simply use an app to request a ride to their desired destination. The cars communicate with each other, the infrastructure, and the stations, ensuring smooth and coordinated operations.

A flexible choice for cities

One of the key advantages of Supraways’ system is its flexibility. When there are no passengers, the cars can be utilized for freight transportation or other purposes, such as transporting goods or deploying small robots within the city. This flexibility allows for optimal utilization of resources and ensures that the system is not idle during non-peak hours.

The revolutionizing potential of Supraways’ autonomous car system lies in its ability to transform urban transit by providing a more efficient, on-demand, and flexible mode of transportation. By utilizing autonomous cars that can communicate with each other and the infrastructure, the system ensures smooth and coordinated operations. With the ability to transport passengers and goods, the system offers a holistic approach to urban mobility.

Las Vegas is an ideal partner

Las Vegas is seen as an ideal test site for Supraways’ system due to its compact size and high population density. The system’s ability to transport a large number of people quickly and efficiently makes it a perfect fit for cities with a significant number of tourists and residents. By integrating Supraways’ autonomous cars into the existing transportation infrastructure, cities like Las Vegas can enhance their mobility options and alleviate traffic congestion.

Conclusion

While the system is still under development, Supraways is building the first K1 model near Lyon, France. They are also working on a proof of concept inside their factory, where they are developing the communication system and artificial intelligence that will govern the cars’ operations. The company aims to have the system up and running within the next six months and is actively seeking partnerships and collaborations, including with cities like Las Vegas.

In conclusion, Supraways’ autonomous car system has the potential to revolutionize urban transit by addressing the challenges of traffic congestion and providing a more efficient and flexible mode of transportation. With its innovative features and ability to seamlessly integrate into existing infrastructure, the system offers a promising solution for cities seeking to enhance their mobility options. As Supraways continues to develop and expand its system, it will be interesting to see how it transforms urban transportation in the years to come.

Interview by Don Baine, The Gadget Professor.

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LapLok protects your laptop when you work on-the-go @ CES 2023



LapLok Tech SecurityIf you travel as often as our team does, you know there are a number of issues that pop up regularly. For example, one day you could be working in a hotel office and the next you’re sitting at a table in a coffee bar. But, one thing always remains the same – how do you secure your computer? There are Kensington-style locks, but so many laptops today don’t have a lock port (including the one I’m using to write this). This is the space that LapLok is looking to fill.

What is LapLok?

LapLok is a near pocket-sized security system for anyone who uses their laptop out in public. This could be writers who need to be seen writing at Starbucks or travelers trying to get work done at the airport. Wherever you are, so long as you’ve got a flat surface, you can secure your laptop.

The device works fairly simply. You attach a mounting bracket to the back of your laptop, ideally before you go out. The bracket goes on with a strong 3M adhesive that will hold it in place in nearly all situations. Then, when you’re ready to lock the computer, you attach the base to the bracket and clamp it to the table. Once locked in place, it will only open with the PIN you’ve programmed.

In addition to the base locking system, there are other security accessories that can be added. The most prominent add-on that we saw was to also secure your purse or laptop bag to the underside of the table. Now, with a single device, you can deter the casual grab-and-go thief.

But, what happens if someone does grab the laptop and tries to get away? The LapLok has a built-in alarm that sounds. The alarm is loud and annoying enough that they didn’t want to demonstrate it at the show. Obviously, the idea of the alarm is to deter the theft, but also to alert everyone around in the event it happens.

Who is LapLok for?

With the increase in work-from-home and work-from-anywhere mentality, many people are working while out of the office. Because of this, companies have been issuing laptops to employees who previously may not have had one. So, with working from anywhere growing in popularity, the LapLok is really for anyone.

The most common use case is for people who travel a lot. Travelers often find themselves working in strange places. But, these days, many of us do. Even around town, I find myself working from restaurants and coffee shops – even gaming centers. Being able to secure your laptop to go to the bathroom is a great ability, but securing it while you’re sitting there is just as important – possibly more important.

Summary

LapLok is in a late prototype phase and TechLok, the company behind the product, is taking pre-orders now. The expected retail price of the device is $80, but in pre-order, you can get the whole productivity bundle for $7, though quantities are limited. To learn more or pre-order your own, head to the company’s website.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central.

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Bleujour MOVE Ultimate: The gaming PC for the traveler @ CES 2022



Bleujour MOVE UltimateBleujour unveiled a new PC that is sure to capture a rapid and steadily growing market: the traveling gamer. To be specific, the MOVE Ultimate gaming PC was specifically designed to be powerful, upgradable, and also portable! The MOVE Ultimate is built on Intel’s brand new Modular Computing Systems platform, the Intel NUC Elements Extreme, and Bleujour was sure to keep compatibility with long form-factor graphics cards in mind.

This PC is built to be mobile and part of that is possible due to being built on Intel’s brand new Modular Computing Systems platform, the Intel NUC Elements Extreme. This allows the MOVE Ultimate to have powerful components, giving the consumer choice of said components, and fitting them all into a small form-factor chassis. This design choice also allows you to have a powerful gaming and streaming PC that doesn’t take up too much space on your desk. We are becoming used to the idea of massive, powerful machines, stationary gaming machines but Bleujour is aiming to shake up those norms.

Design

The MOVE Ultimate’s chassis was designed with a carry handle built right onto it. This along with being built small enough and light enough to be an easy carry-on for flights makes this the perfect choice for travelers. Streamers that like to stay on the move, military personnel that relocates frequently but loves to game, and tournament organizers that find themselves in different locations while needing their gaming rigs handy, this PC is built for you. Bleujour even added the option to have the handle built on with either a right-handed or left-handed orientation, but the handle is also optional entirely.

You may also notice the beautiful etching along the sides of the chassis. Though these maze-like patterns are pleasing to look at, they are actually integrated into the PC’s cooling system. Lots of research went into designing a cooling system for these powerful, hexagonal-shaped PCs and the maze-like wholes turned out to be the perfect choice for maximum airflow.

What’s in the box?

M.2 NVMe SSD, DDR4 up to 64Gb, 9th and 11th Generation Intel Core processors, Nvidia GeForce RTX or AMD Radeon RX graphics card compatibility, (2) Thunderbolt 3 ports (40 Gbit/s speeds), Wi-Fi 6, and Dual Lan capability.

Price and availability?

Prices vary widely, for reasons that may be obvious. The components you choose will change the price of the PC but with a 9th Gen i5 processor, 16GB of DDR4 RAM, an Intel UHD 630 graphics card and a 1TB M.2 SSD, you’re going to spend about €1014,00 (about $1,125.64 USD) and they currently available for purchase from their website.

Is that all?

Bleujour also unveiled their line of work-grade PCs with some similar design philosophies. The Kubb Essentielle line is a small, cube-shaped PC meant to keep a small footprint on your desk, easy to move, simple to set up but still powerful enough to get the job done. These cubed workstations run on current generation i3, i5, and i7 processors, DDR 4 memory, Thunderbolt 3 ports, and more specs that you would come to expect in powerful laptops.

These are your perfect PCs for the office, especially for things like meetings and presentations involving powerful development or creative software. Despite being designed for work, this line comes in a very wide variety of colors and they are even available in different textures, like chrome and wood! The Kubb Essentielle workstations are also currently available for purchase from their website.

Summary

To learn more about Bleujour and its lineup of computers, check out the company’s website.

Interview by Scott Ertz of F5 Live: Refreshing Technology.

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VirtuItaly brings the art gallery experience to your home @ CES 2021



VirtuItaly virtual art galleryThe past year has stolen a lot from us, but one of the biggest losses has been the ability to travel and experience new places and cultures. Traveling is big part of life for many people of varying backgrounds. The experiences of going to parks, restaurants, and galleries is hard to give up. However, thanks to ArtCentrica, we can experience the art of Italy through VirtuItaly.

While VirtuItaly is designed to be an immersive platform that allows for in-person and remote experiences, the last year has certainly placed a focus on one part of the business. That aspect is a fantastic virtual platform that can help bring the experience of a classic art gallery to you, wherever you are. Through the platform, you can explore a large collection of paintings in a whole new way.

While normally, you must view the paintings from a distance, with VirtuItaly you can get up close and personal. In fact, you can use the platform to get so close you can see the individual imperfections in the paint. In our demo, we get to zoom into a painting to the point where you can see brush strokes and canvas cracks. The detail is absolutely stunning, and gives you the ability to experience the art in new ways.

One of the other things that sets the platform apart is the way they work to digitally restore the artwork. The art restorers research the materials that were available and popular for tinting paint in the time the work was created, and use that to determine what the colors would have been originally. This means that the vividness of the colors are likely closer to the original work than the reality is today.

VirtuItaly is available now, with a free trial to see what it is all about. To learn more or try it out, check out the VirtuItaly website.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central.

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Nomadplug makes traveling a breeze for your devices @ CES 2021



nomadplug foreign travel adapterA hardware startup is not an easy thing to accomplish. There are numerous obstacles out there just waiting to slow you down, such as currency fluctuations, your certifications, selecting your manufacturer, or even a global lockdown! Now there is a great product called Nomadplug, created by Ryan Silberman. Nomadplug is an international travel adapter that has been in development for 3 years. It’s sleek and small, making it very lightweight to travel with. Speaking of travel, it functions in all of the 195 countries!

Nomadplug is a slick new product for many reasons and these are what sets it apart from other travel adapters. Unlike most travel adapters that have an individual piece for each plug type, Nomadplug does it with one interlocking connection. You simply disconnect the stack at the location you need and plug it into the wall. It also uses a rare earth magnet for keeping all the interlocking modules together.

On the backside is a universal plug so you can use almost any device from any country in any outlet in any country. The only limitation is that the device must support the voltage of that particular country. This makes traveling with modern phones, tablets, or computers easy. The plug features an easy to use hinge that prevents it from falling out of sockets.

In addition to the adapter, there will be three USB-C chargers that can also be used for your laptop and mobile phone. That means no more traveling with extra power bricks! The model that is available now provides 18W and a single USB port. Future models will be available with 30W and 65W, both offering more than one USB port. You can currently purchase the current model in a variety of colors for $76.44. For more information go to the company’s website.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central.

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Pelican Pro-Gear Backpacks Protect Your Mobile Gear



PelicanPelican began in the 1970s making equipment for the scuba market. They quickly expanded into making equipment cases for police, fire, rescue and the military. Pelican has recently gone into the consumer market. Their newest product line is the Pro-Gear Urban and Sports backpacks. These backpacks each have a copolymer blend plastic compartment that will hold up to a 17 inch Macbook. There is also one on the front for a tablet. The front compartment also has plenty of room for accessories. Both compartment have an O ring seal and are well padded and crush proof. There is also normal backpack compartments for your cloths and necessities.

The Pro-Gear Urban Backpack start at $250.00 and come in green, orange and black. They are well ventilated and the straps have extra padding on them for comfort. They weight about 6–7 lb. empty. If you travel a lot and are looking for a backpack that can take the abuse then you may want to take the look at the Pro-Gear Urban Backpack line at Pelican

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central for the TechPodcast Network, and by Don Baine, the Gadget Professor.

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The Cloud Connected Car – Viper’s Smart-Start



ViperLogoJust in time for the winter season, Viper’s new Smart-Start brings smartphone power to the rescue ! Remote car starting systems are now tied in with an iPhone app, allowing you to have that car warm and toasty (or air conditioned as needed). Of course, being cloud based, it can control vehicles that are located anywhere within GSM wireless range. Dual systems can provide control of different makes of automobiles, from the same app and account. You can also monitor driving habits of teen drivers, interacting with the GPS system in the unit or clearly show the location of the vehicle if it is stolen. You can program ‘hot spots’ that report if your teenager leaves town or goes into a zone that parents have on their list of concerns. If you return from a flight to a snow covered vehicle, you can start remotely and get vectored directly to the vehicle Fees are $3 per month per vehicle for the basic plan, with units beginning at $300.  TPN Interview by Andy McCaskey, SDRNews and Daniel J. Lewis, The Audacity To Podcast.

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Aviiq: Portable Laptop Stand and Accessories



Light and Compact

A closeup look at just the sort of accessories that a road warrior needs to keep his computing on track and his bag light. Aviiq On The Go presents a group of clever ideas to minimize bulk and weight, yet provide needed capabilities on the road. The folding laptop stand is warranted for three years, and in testing has exceeded 50,000 folding cycles.

The Portable Charging Station reduces the clutter of long cables in the bag, and enables you to maintain the full range of devices while mobile.

Interview by Andy McCaskey and Courtney Wallin of SDRNews for the TechPodcast Network.

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Roamz: Unexpected Pleasant Surprises



Personal Tour Guide

The joy of discovering interesting things around you is the secret appeal of this free iOS app. It’s all a benefit of geographic awareness built into smartphones – and leverages the power of other social media channels that are active in the immediate area. You don’t have to be following people or try to filter the madness of 200 million tweets per day. Roamz offers suggestions about what everyone nearby is buzzing about, as it monitors Foursquare, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for traffic nearby.

 

Interview by Courtney Wallin of SDRNews for the TechPodcast Network.

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