rc

Nissan Leaf Nismo RC demo laps 24 Hours of Le Mans

The Nissan Leaf Nismo RC was captured on video as it ran demo laps as part of the 2011 24 Hours of Le Mans, and also at the Silverstone Circuit in England.

The all-electric race car, which debuted at the 2011 New York auto show, has a 3.9-inch shorter wheelbase. Its height has been lowered by 13.9 inches curb, and it has a curb weight of 2,072 pounds.

But the Nismo RC still remains very much its production counterpart. It has, for example, the same motor and inverter, and the same battery pack as the Leaf, as … Read more

Crave 51: Why robots shouldn't sing (podcast)

In this episode of the Crave podcast we examine the highs and lows of recent robotic advancements, including robot lightsaber duels, emotion-sensing animatronic cat ears, and a robotic mouth that is heebie-jeebies incarnate. We also take a look at a working, turbine-powered Batmobile, and a couple of Android-powered RC toys.

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Android RC car perfect for running over iPhones

Bluetooth can enable you to communicate on a cell phone without looking like Zach Morris. But what if you could use Bluetooth to drive a remote-controlled car? Even Morris' "Saved by the Bell" crush Kelly Kapowski would be impressed.

Stephen Mark hopes to commercialize the idea with BlueDrone, a Bluetooth-controlled 1:20-scale Nissan GT-R RC vehicle.

Compatible with any Android phone or tablet (running 2.1+), BlueDrone is that toy we don't need, but would probably buy if it was at the front of Brookstone. The car is controlled by an Android app that offers touch-screen and/or accelerometer controls to the driver--both most certainly a wow factor. Battery life clocks in at three hours (via three AA batteries), while the maximum range is 30 feet due to Bluetooth's technical limitations.

Mark's vision, one he calls a "personal dream for many years," offers "responsive steering and a powerful motor." The promo video below most certainly affirms that claim, but we're left to wonder if BlueDrone can inspire enough people to pledge $200,000 on Kickstarter and help the product hit the highway. … Read more

Fly the friendly RC skies in RC Plane 2

I love to fly--as long as I don't have to leave the ground to do it. That means my fun time of choice is either a flight simulator or a radio-controlled airplane.

RC Plane 2 gives me both. It's a flight simulator for iOS, one that focuses squarely on radio-controlled aircraft. In place of complex controls, you've got virtual thumbsticks for your throttle and ailerons/elevator (though you can also use the accelerometer for the latter).

For 99 cents, the app gives you two environments over which to fly (Tuscany and a seaside village), four planes to choose from (three-channel cruiser, four-channel cruiser, fighter jet, and stunt plane), and two game modes: Free Flight and Air Racer.… Read more

Jolida JD301RC: A sweet-sounding $425 audiophile tube amplifier

Jolida may not be the most recognizable name in consumer electronics, but the little company has been selling overachieving budget-priced audiophile tube gear in the U.S. since 1992. I have a few friends using Jolida gear, and they're all enthusiastic supporters of the brand. I reviewed the Jolida FX10 all-tube amp late last year.

The Jolida JD301RC ($425) is a 30-watt-per-channel integrated stereo amplifier. It's a "hybrid" design that uses a pair of vacuum tubes (12AX7) in its preamplifier section, and National Semiconductor MOSFET transistors in its power amp stage. The JD301RC has four line-level … Read more

Nissan track-tests electric race car

At this year's New York auto show, Nissan showed off its Leaf Nismo RC, a race car based on the Leaf electric car. But rather than just making it an auto show spectacle, Nissan is track-testing the Leaf Nismo RC and looking to start a new race series.

In a video released by Nissan, Nismo driver Tsugio Matsuda puts the Leaf Nismo RC through its paces on a test track, offering positive commentary about the car's performance. Other moments of the video show track engineers removing body components and spraying water on the battery pack to cool it. … Read more

Crave giveaway: Swann RC helicopter

While Swann is known for its security cameras, the company recently entered the RC helicopter arena, and to kick off the launch of its new line, it's offering up this Emergency Strike model to one lucky winner here on Crave.

Here's what Swann has to say about the Emergency Strike:

This Swann Emergency Strike remote-controlled helicopter is a miniature version of the choppers you see at search and rescue operations around the world. Put yourself in the picture and save the day with this mini, fully functional version of the real thing. Equipped with the latest Gyroscope technology … Read more

Nissan Leaf Nismo RC prototype tests battery tech on the track

Looking to breathe a bit of excitement into its electric vehicle efforts, Nissan will be putting its Leaf of the race track--if but in name alone.

Debuting at the 2011 New York auto show, the 100% electric Nissan Leaf Nismo RC (Racing Competition) prototype shares little more than its lithium-ion battery technology, general styling cues, and its name with the Nissan Leaf we're familiar with. The RC wheelbase is 3.9-inch shorter wheelbase, overall height has been chopped by 13.9 inches, and there are two fewer doors. However, the racer is 0.8 inches longer overall and 6.… Read more

Digital City 121: Hot laptops, Samsung 9 and Acer Iconia; plus, building a mini man cave

This week: We check out two of the hottest new laptops, the Samsung Series 9 and the Acer Iconia. Plus, Dan describes building his mini man cave, and we play some more tech trivia for chat room prizes

Bonus: You can download the show's theme song as a free MP3 here for a limited time!

Not only does IE9 not suck, it even rocks out a bit

The bottom line: Internet Explorer 9 is surprisingly competitive across the board. Zippy browsing speeds, minimalist layout, and innovative features make this not only the best version of IE to date, but will catapult Internet Explorer back into the browser wars. The one big drawback? You must have Windows 7 or Vista to use it. XP users are stuck on IE8. Forever.

Review: The sound bite on Internet Explorer 9 will be a variation of "it doesn't suck," yet the changes to the browser go far deeper than that glib comment can reflect. Microsoft engineered a campaign, … Read more