israel

Better Place announced yesterday details of its plan to open a series of electric-vehicle charging stations in Israel.

The company offers EV charging stations that, through a subscription service, give electric-vehicle owners the option of a quick battery swap instead of plugging in and waiting for their car's battery to charge over time. It takes only a minute to make the swap. The depleted batteries are then recharged and used in other cars, according to Better Place.

The service may be seen by some as a substantial convenience considering it takes 15 to 30 minutes to recharge an EV … Read more

Israel is considering allowing Google's photo-snapping Street View service into the country, but the government is worried about the privacy and security implications.

A team headed by Israeli Minister Dan Meridor on Monday met to discuss the pros and cons of Street View photographing neighborhoods across Israel, according to a press release. The controversial service is due to launch in Israel soon, the release said.

The government sees benefits in Street View's ability to boost tourism and enhance the country's image. But there are clear concerns as well.

In addition to the usual worries that Street View … Read more

Nearly a year ago, a senior member of Hamas died in a hotel in Dubai. Local police blamed Israel's elite intelligence agency, Mossad, and posted a 27-minute video showing activities of the victim and what are identified as Israeli operatives inside the hotel before and after the alleged assassination.

Now, a GQ feature unveils details about the operation, how the victim had survived a poisoning attempt two months earlier and how such an advanced group of spies were unmasked by simple hotel videocameras and other standard security measures.

Although Israeli officials have not confirmed or denied that Mossad carried … Read more

When relationships break down, mistrust is always at the heart of the heartache.

And the news that Saudi Arabia has reportedly detained a vulture that happened to keep a GPS transmitter for company seems but one more example of this everlasting truth.

Yes, I did say "vulture."

According to Israeli National News, the vulture not only happened to be GPS-aided, but also had a ring upon which was inscribed "Tel Aviv University."

Now, I don't know about you, but if I was sending vultures out to spy on people, I might not so readily attach … Read more

Natali Del Conte joins us in the studio to discuss really important issues such as boobquake day, cartoons, and violent video games. Oh, come on, we also discuss Google's failed attempts to reinvent the mobile phone sales paradigm, unfounded causal links between violent video games and sociopathic behavior, and the dangers of colonization. Good show, guys.

Google Nexus One Gone From Verizon Lineup http://jkontherun.com/2010/04/26/no-nexus-one-on-verizo/ http://preview.bloomberg.com/news/2010-04-26/verizon-says-it-has-no-current-plans-to-distribute-google-nexus-one-phone.html http://www.cnet.com/8301-19736_1-20003397-251.html… Read more

Two weeks after it began confiscating Apple iPads being brought into the country, Israel has lifted its ban on the tablet computer.

"Following the completion of intensive technical scrutiny, Israel Minister of Communications Moshe Kakhlon approved the import of [the] iPad to Israel," Yechiel Shabi, a spokesperson for the Communications Ministry, said in a statement.

Israel prohibited the devices from being imported into the country over concerns its wireless signal could disrupt other devices, leading to the seizure of several iPads at the country's airports. The Communications Ministry said iPads would be allowed to be imported beginning … Read more

Now that the iPad has been delayed for international customers, people around the globe who can't wait might be tempted to buy a U.S. version of the tablet and bring it with them to their home countries.

In most places that won't be a problem. But in Israel, it will result in confiscation.

According to a report in Israel newspaper Haaretz, the country's Communications Ministry has decided to "block the import of iPads to Israel." The paper also reported that when people attempt to go through customs, officers have been ordered to take all … Read more

Electric-car services company Better Place has announced deals in Israel with corporate fleet operators and a gas station company, steps toward launching a nationwide network for all-electric cars next year.

Ninety-two companies in Israel plan to host charging stations for Better Place electric cars, the company said Sunday, and a gas station operator will host battery switching stations.

With the deals in place and support from the Israeli government, Better Place projects that it will be operating a nationwide network of thousands of charging stations by 2011, according to reports.

During a press conference, Israel-born Better Place CEO Shai Agassi … Read more

"Fetch" and "heel" may be the latest commands to join the military lexicon, with the arrival of Rex, a small, six-wheel-drive load-bearing robotic vehicle designed to follow squad-size units in response to voice commands.

Envisioned as a robotic "beast of burden" for the modern soldier, Rex can carry more than 400 pounds, a typical load for groups of 3 to 10 ground soldiers, for 72 hours at a time without refueling, according to developer Israel Aerospace Industries.

"The robotic vehicle follows the lead soldier from a given distance, utilizing technology developed and patented … Read more