Ford Plans Start-Stop tech for 70% of its Fleet by 2017

Ford has announced its plan to help save fuel for drivers and meet the federal fuel efficiency standards in the US using Start-Stop tech. Start-Stop technology automatically turns the engine of the car off when it stops and turns the engine back on automatically when the driver starts to go. The engine cranks back up when the brake pedal is released.

Ford says that the Start-Stop tech will help city drivers that spend lots of time in traffic save up to 10% on fuel use. The automaker says that the average fuel savings for most drivers is 3.5%. The Start-Stop tech is available in the US right now on the 2014 Ford Fusion with 1.5L EcoBoost. Ford will also offer the tech on the 2014 Fiesta.
Start-Stop tech will be available on the 1.0L EcoBoost Fiesta when it launches in the US. Start-Stop tech is available from many automakers as an option. Having tested several vehicles with Start-Stop tech, it’s typically only noticeable in cars with larger engines that have enough torque to shake the vehicle when it starts. Ford expects to sell 500,000 vehicles with Start-Stop tech by the end of the year globally.

LG Gx 5.5 Inch Full HD Android Smartphone Announced

LG has added another Android smartphone to its range with the launch of the LG Gx, the handset is equipped with a 5.5 inch full high definition display that has a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels.
The LG Gx features a quad core Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 processor and it also comes with 2GB of RAM, the handset features 32gB of built in storage and front and rear facing cameras.

On the front of the LG Gx we have a 2 megapixel camera for video calls, on the back of the device we have a backside illuminated 13 megapixel camera, the handset also features a 3,140 mAh battery.
The LG Gx comes with Android Jelly Bean and it features a custom user interface from LG, the it also features 4G LTE, Bluetooth 4.0, NFC, and USB 2.0.
The handset will be available in two colors, black and white, the device measure 15.6mm by 76.1mm by 9.2mm thick and it weighs in at 167g.

 The new LG G X will launch in South Korea with mobile carrier LG U+, as yet there are no details on when LG will launch the device outside of South Korea.

Samsung Launches Its Own Smartphone Gamepad for Android

With all the gaming consoles making their way to the market, Samsung came up with its own Smartphone Gamepad that transforms your Samsung Galaxy device into a mobile gaming console, and enhance gaming experience on the devices. Unlike other gamepads that are already available in the market, Samsung’s Smartphone GamePad is attachable to any device ranging from 4-inches to 6.3-inches, and can be done via Bluetooth pairing as well.

Samsung Galaxy devices running Android 4.3 Jelly Bean, such as Galaxy Note 3, Note 2, Galaxy S4 and Galaxy SIII, enjoy more features compared to other Galaxy handsets and provides easy connectivity via NFC tag and quicker access to games via the “PLAY” button. Users can also connect their Galaxy device to their TV via HDMI cable or AllShare Screen Mirroring as well.

The Smartphone GamePad instantly transforms the user’s Galaxy smartphone or tablet into a portable gaming console or even a home console. Through its premium, easy-to-carry design and durable steel frame, GamePad is attachable to mobile devices ranging from 4-inches to 6.3-inches, allowing users to play games wherever they are. Users can also connect Galaxy devices to their TV through an HDMI cable or AllShare Screen Mirroring for video game console experience from their living room.

GamePad easily connects with smartphones and tablets through Bluetooth pairing. The most convenient features optimized for Samsung Galaxy devices running Android 4.3 such as Galaxy Note 3, S4, Note II, and S III enable easy connectivity with GamePad via NFC tag and quicker access to games via the “PLAY” button.

The Smartphone GamePad comes with 8-way D-Pad, two analog sticks, four action buttons, two trigger buttons, Select and Start button, and lastly, the Play button which is exclusive to Samsung devices running Android 4.3 Jelly Bean.
The GamePad comes with a Mobile Console apps, which gives users the ability to browse and purchase GamePad supported applications. GamePad is compatible with Android devices running Android 4.1 or higher, but some features are exclusive to Galaxy handsets, such as the Play button.

 As for the availability, Samsung says it’s available in selected European markets and will be available in other global markets in the coming weeks. Additionally, the Korean OEM didn’t reveal the price of the device. We’ll update you as soon as we hear anything about its pricing and the list of countries where its currently on sale.