Hyundai’s new smartphone app can control EV performance

Hyundai Motor Group has announced the development of a new performance adjustment technology that can be controlled via a smartphone. The tech, which allows users to customise primary performance functions of electric vehicles through a smartphone application, is an industry-first innovation.

Drivers can use this technology to adjust seven performance metrics including maximum torque output of the motor, ignition, acceleration and deceleration abilities, regenerative braking capacity, maximum speed limit, responsiveness, and the energy used by the climate control system.

As electric vehicles will continue to expand their market share, especially in rental or car-sharing industries, this new technology will allow drivers to use custom settings in whichever electric vehicle they drive, by downloading their profile from the server.

The application provides optimised settings for a designated destination by analysing the remaining distance and electric energy requirement. It can also accommodate sportier driving by recommending tailored performance settings.

Beyond the driver’s seat, users can share their customisation settings online and try out other users’ custom settings. Customers can also apply recommended settings by Hyundai, based on varied road conditions.

The Korean conglomerate will utilise blockchain technology to prevent security issues while users upload and share their custom settings on the server.

In the process of uploading and sharing custom settings, the system encrypts major performance parameters in a blockchain network by creating new data blocks and stores them in the distributed data storage system to block unauthorised manipulation.

EVs as tech enablers

Hyundai says the ‘smartphone vehicle pairing-based performance adjustment technology’ is possible due to electric vehicles’ distinctive properties that set them apart from internal combustion engine-equipped vehicles.

Zero-emission vehicles offer unique freedom to modify the drive experience because altering performance doesn’t change the carbon footprint. As such, electric vehicles provide drivers’ more leeway in applying such technology.

“As Hyundai Motor Group is planning to deploy 44 eco-friendly models by year 2025, including 23 electric vehicles, we see the potential of technologies and services inherent in non-combustion vehicles,” said research fellow JeongSoo Eo from Hyundai Motor Group. “By developing paradigm-shifting mobility technology like this one, we will continue to strive to improve user experience for electric vehicles customized to individual preferences.”

The new technology is expected to be implemented in future Hyundai and Kia vehicles.

Click here for Hyundai India models, prices, reviews, videos, images and more

from Autocar India - Cars http://bit.ly/2LdJfCf

Sprint and T-Mobile extend merger deadline by another month

Monday, April 29 marks the one-year anniversary that both T-Mobile and Sprint announced their plans to merge into a single carrier. As this day rolls around, the carriers are still seeing both support and opposition for the merger from different parties. According to a report from Reuters, T-Mobile filed an extension with the US Securities and Exchange Commission to a new July 29 deadline for the merger. Makan Delrahim is the head of the US Justice Department's Antitrust Division and told CNBC "I have not made up my mind," he continues with "We've requested some data from the companies...

from GSMArena.com - Latest articles http://bit.ly/2GPDqps

Google Pixel 3a shows up on Geekbench days before its unveiling

Google's Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL are finally going to be made official at the company's annual developer conference, I/O, on May 7. As we get closer to that date they're leaking even more than before, hard as that may be to believe. We've recently seen the Pixel 3a in press renders in white and purple, and today a prototype has made a visit to the Geekbench online database. The phone unsurprisingly runs Android 9 Pie, it has 4GB of RAM, and is powered by a Qualcomm chipset, though oddly enough the board for that is missing in the details. Past rumors said the bigger Pixel 3a XL would have...

from GSMArena.com - Latest articles http://bit.ly/2ZKH7Fi

Redmi Y3 Review

Redmi Y3 boasts of a 32-megapixel selfie camera, but does this mean better quality images? We check out the camera, battery life, and performance of the Redmi Y3.

from NDTV Gadgets - Latest http://bit.ly/2UIRBRW

Toyota Glanza pictures leaked ahead of June launch

It has been in the news ever since Toyota and Suzuki announced their joint venture, and it was only last week that Toyota shared a teaser of the first product to be born out of this partnership, the Maruti Suzuki Baleno-based Toyota Glanza. Now, we bring you the first Toyota Glanza pictures, which have been leaked ahead of its launch in June 2019.

Unsurprisingly, the exterior changes for the Toyota Glanza are minimal. As expected, the Toyota Glanza gets a different, chrome-embellished grille that lends it more of a Toyota family look, but that aside, it’s exactly the same as the facelifted Maruti Suzuki Baleno.

There are no changes along the side, and the Glanza even wears the same alloy wheels as the Baleno. At the back, the only changes are the addition of the Toyota and Glanza badges, and the variant logo. The model pictured here is the ‘V’ variant, which will likely be the top-spec variant based on the Alpha trim level of the Baleno, and below it will sit a ‘G’ variant based on the Baleno Zeta.

While we can’t yet comment on the Toyota Glanza's interior as there are no images of it, it, too, is likely to remain largely identical to that of the Maruti Suzuki Baleno, with the possible changes likely to be limited to interior colour combinations and small tweaks to the infotainment system.

At launch, the Toyota Glanza's engine options will likely only include a 1.2-litre petrol that powers the Baleno. There will be no diesel on offer with the Glanza. As for transmissions, the Toyota Glanza's gearbox options will include a five-speed manual and a CVT.

The key differentiator for the Glanza will be its standard longer warranty. The Glanza is likely to get a three-year/1,00,000km warranty as standard, like what’s offered on other Toyota models in India. The Maruti Suzuki Baleno, in comparison, comes with a standard two-year/40,000km warranty. Toyota is also likely to offer extended warranty plans with the Glanza hatchback, including the five-year True warranty package that can be opted for within the period of standard manufacturing warranty, and the seven-year Toyota Timeless Warranty package, which can be purchased after the standard warranty is over.

The Toyota Glanza's India launch is expected to take place in June 2019. And for those of you who are wondering, the Toyota Glanza's prices will be a little bit higher than the Maruti Suzuki Baleno's, as Toyota will only sell the Glanza in two high-spec variants.

What do you think of the Toyota Glanza's look? Are you happy with the changes? Let us know in the comments.

Click here for all Toyota models, prices, reviews, images, videos and more.

from Autocar India - Cars http://bit.ly/2GRWft6

Realme 3 Pro gets an important update

Shortly after its announcement, the Realme 3 Pro is getting its first OTA update, which is a pretty important one too. It adds super slo-mo video recording and improves overall system stability. The firmware update weighs only 182MB and it carries a build number RMX1851EX_11_A.12, but April's security patch is nowhere to be found. However, there are plenty of changes that can keep you warm at night. For starters, Realme claims that the new update improves the overall clarity of captured photos while the super slo-mo video recording lets you shoot in 960fps. Improved system stability...

from GSMArena.com - Latest articles http://bit.ly/2Ld8N2n

Huawei P30 Pro gets another software update, enables dual-view camera mode

Huawei just won't stop updating the P30 Pro and we are not complaining. While the last update that rolled out in India was mainly focused on improving the user experience, this one revolves around a cool camera feature - the so-called dual-view mode. The feature was advertised during the announcement of the phone but it's only now that we are seeing it reach users. It comes with the EMUI 9.1.0.153 update and as for now, it's only available in China. It will surely make its way outside the country, though. You can see what the dual-view camera mode is all about in the video below, but it...

from GSMArena.com - Latest articles http://bit.ly/2XTiswC