Intriguing Google acquisition hints at big wireless carrier ambitions
We’ve known for a while now that Google has been toying around with becoming a wireless service provider and a new acquisition spotted by GeekWire gives us some more evidence that the company is looking to get into this market in a big way. Apparently, Google recently acquired Alpental, a small startup that was founded by two former Clearwire engineers named Pete Gelbman and Mike Hart. The company was never exactly well known outside of tech circles but GeekWire says that before it got scooped up by Google, it “was developing technologies related to 5G, the next generation wireless network” that “could have applications in connecting fiber to the home and… Google’s municipal wi-fi offerings.”
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Jasper Opens Additional Gas Engine Remanufacturing Unit
Jasper Engines and Transmissions has expanded its Gas Engine Remanufacturing Division within the Jasper, Indiana facility. The Jasper facility utilized four remanufacturing lines (called PODs) in which an engine went from a core, to a finished product, within one remanufacturing unit. Each POD has specific engine families that it remanufactures. This allows each POD to become specialized with those engine families, which helps Jasper produce a quality product and produce it more efficiently.
The need for a fifth POD was realized as early as November, 2013, as increased sales of Jasper remanufactured Ford modular engines (4.6L and 5.4L Triton V8 and 6.8L V10) exceeded the Gas Engine Division’s maximum production.
“We were selling 28 units per day at the start of the year,” said Randy Bauer, Jasper Facility Gas Division Manager. “We’re currently averaging 33 sales per day of these units. We were spending a considerable amount of overtime to produce these units. With this engine family remanufactured in a separate POD, we’ll reduce the amount of overtime that our associates are working, and at the same time improve the ergonomic part of their work.”
The new POD, named POD 305, began gas engine remanufacturing on June 1 after months of development, and the relocation of Jasper’s Differential Division. A team of associates handles engine remanufacturing duties within five areas: disassembly, prep and repair, head machining, block machining and assembly/testing.
This POD expands on an open concept method used in other areas within the Gas Division. The open concept of POD 305 also allows customers to see what happens while they are on tour. “The linear fashion of the old-style PODs is very cramped, and it’s hard to get tours to view the processes,” Bauer said. “With POD 305, customers will be able to see from the aisle way, looking into the area, and get a much better view of the quality of our product.”
With the formation of the Power Drive Transmission facility later this year, the Gas Division is anticipating additional floor space within the Jasper Facility to transform their existing PODs in a similar fashion.
For more information, visit www.jasperengines.com.
The post Jasper Opens Additional Gas Engine Remanufacturing Unit appeared first on Engine Builder Magazine.
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The OnePlus One was delayed in one market for the worst possible reason
The highly coveted OnePlus One Android handset is yet to reach buyers in Europe, Android World reveals, as the company apparently acknowledged a critical design error that lead to its One stock being halted at customs – and it’s apparently a rather silly error. This new delay follows another recent issue, when OnePlus was forced to delay shipments in order to address a critical software issue.
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Terrific video walks us through every great new iOS 8 camera feature
We’re pretty sure that the iPhone 6’s camera is going to be the best iPhone camera yet, not the least of which because Apple has added a bunch of great new camera features with iOS 8. Bill Savage has posted a great new video that walks us through every single major new camera feature that Apple has added with iOS 8, including the already-popular time-lapse camera mode as well as a new feature that will let you lighten or darken the picture you’re taking just by sliding your finger up or down on the display. Savage also shows us how to use the new timer option that you can access by clicking on a clock icon in the iOS camera app and telling the camera to take a picture either immediately, in three seconds or in 10 seconds. Be sure to check out the full video below.
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Annual SEMA Installation Gala July 18
Leaders and volunteers from the automotive accessories industry will be honored during the annual SEMA Installation Gala, Friday, July 18, at the Sheraton Fairplex Conference Center in Pomona, California.
Among the individuals being recognized are the 2014 SEMA Hall of Fame inductees: Nile Cornelison, Jim Cozzie, John Menzler, and Fred C. Offenhauser. Others being recognized during the gala include the newly elected SEMA Board members Greg Adler and Tim Martin, and those concluding their term as SEMA Board members, JR Moore and Steve Wolcott.
“We’re fortunate to have an industry filled with passionate, hard-working individuals,” said Chris Kersting, SEMA President and CEO. “And we’re even more fortunate to have volunteers who go above and beyond in assisting the industry. It’s our privilege to pay tribute to some of these amazing leaders during the upcoming SEMA Installation Gala.”
Themed “Leaders and Legends,” the 2014 SEMA Installation Gala will feature up-and-coming industry leaders as well as esteemed icons from the automotive accessories world. The celebration will include dinner and a cocktail reception where the SEMA Pinewood Drag Races will take place. The race, which features more than 200 gravity-powered toy cars made of a block of wood, plastic wheels and metal axles, is a fundraiser for SEMA Cares, an industry group which supports various children charities.
Tickets to the SEMA Installation Gala are available at www.SEMA.org/gala, or by contacting Jamie Eriksen at jamiee@sema.org or 909-978-6737. Details about the SEMA Pinewood Drag Races are available from Susan Alfonso at susana@sema.org or 909-978-6687.
The post Annual SEMA Installation Gala July 18 appeared first on Engine Builder Magazine.
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Reuters: iWatch could launch in October with 2.5-inch display and wireless charging
The release of the iWatch may be even closer than we expected. Reuters reported on Thursday afternoon that Apple is planning to launch its smartwatch as early as October and expects to ship 50 million units in the first year. This would be a major achievement for a wearable device, but considering Apple’s reputation in the industry, the iWatch might stand a chance.
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This awesome web browser trick will make you look smarter at work
In case you’re constantly reading stuff online that you aren’t supposed to at work, or stuff you wouldn’t want others to know you’re actually interested in like articles on TMZ, then you have to check out a new Internet browser trick called Timesify that lets you hide what you’re actually doing in your browser.
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Hide your wallets: Steam’s Summer Sale has begun
PC gamers rejoice! It’s that time of the year again — the Steam Summer Sale is upon us, and no one’s bank account is safe. The Summer Sale is famously (or maybe infamously) known as the best time to pick up any of the hit games you missed out on over the past year for unthinkably low prices. Discounts for recently released games start between 15%-25%, but older titles have been discounted up to 80%.
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Sharp’s incredible new display tech will change consumer electronics forever
The future of consumer tech is not a rectangle, and Sharp just unveiled a major step toward realising that future. The company has unveiled new display technology it refers to as “Free-Form Display.” Using Sharp’s new tech, companies will be able to design and manufacture LCD displays in shapes that might have otherwise been impossible to mass produce.
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Now you have an easy way to make your Android phone’s email better than ever
Do you wish you had an easy way to quickly access all of your email accounts on your Android phone in one place, whether they’re Gmail, Outlook or Yahoo? Well you’re in luck — Google has now made the stock Email application that you find on its own Nexus phones available to download for free. The app supports all IMAP, POP3 and Exchange accounts, so it’s a great way for you to get all your emails on your phone without having to log into separate web portals or use separate apps. You can download the app from Google Play right now, although it won’t work on the HTC One (M7) or the Galaxy S4 Google Play Edition.
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