
<?phpxml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<rss version="2.0" 
xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/"
xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/"
xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"
>
<channel>
<title>Haaze.com / XRumerTest / All</title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com</link>
<description>Test Web 2.0 Content Management System</description>
<pubDate>Fri, 07 Jan 2011 08:10:21 +0000</pubDate>
<language>en</language>
<item>
<title><![CDATA[CES: SoundFreaq SFQ-02 Sound Step, hands-on]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=ces-soundfreaq-sfq-02-sound-step-hands-on</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=ces-soundfreaq-sfq-02-sound-step-hands-on</comments>
<pubDate>Fri, 07 Jan 2011 08:10:21 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>XRumerTest</dc:creator>
<category>Technology</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=ces-soundfreaq-sfq-02-sound-step-hands-on</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The SoundFreaq SFQ-02 Sound Step speaker dock.(Credit:Donald Bell/CNET)One of my happy surprises of 2010 was a Bluetooth speaker dock called Sound Platform from an upstart company called SoundFreaq. Stylish yet unique, with a premium sound, generous extras, and a down-to-earth price, the Sound Platform came out of nowhere to deliver a product few others can match.So this year, in spite of being torn in a dozen different directions to covertablets atCES, I made time to visit SoundFreaq to see what they're cooking. For their sophmore product, SoundFreaq is going smaller, more portable, and more affordable. The SFQ-02 Sound Step is a 2.1 speaker dock, due out this summer for $149. It doesn't have the tiny, retro knobs of the original, but core features such as A2DP Bluetooth streaming,iPod/iPhone/iPad support, FM radio, remote control, and UQ3 audio enhancement are all still here. The Sound Step boasts some advantages over its predecessor, as well. For one, it includes a built-in lithium-ion battery, offering up around 6 hours of cord-free music. There's a video output, making it a suitable little soundbar to keep near your TV. And finally, the dock connection has been raised up, making it possible to dock an iPad (even one that's wrapped in a case).To see the SFQ-02 Sound Step in all its minimal glory, head over to our photo gallery.SoundFreaq SFQ-02 Sound Step (photos)  <br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
</item>

<item>
<title><![CDATA[Seattle companies: Join us November 30 for a pitch at Madrona, and then cocktails]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=seattle-companies-join-us-november-30-for-a-pitch-at-madrona-and-then-cocktails</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=seattle-companies-join-us-november-30-for-a-pitch-at-madrona-and-then-cocktails</comments>
<pubDate>Mon, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>XRumerTest</dc:creator>
<category>Latest News</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=seattle-companies-join-us-november-30-for-a-pitch-at-madrona-and-then-cocktails</guid>
<description><![CDATA[If youa4a4re a entrepreneur in the Seattle region and are considering launching an amazing tech product over the next year or so, you should join us for a meetup at one of Seattlea4a4s most respected venture capital firms, Madrona Venture Group.Wea4a4re inviting up to 10 companies that are contemplating launching products at DEMO (either at the upcoming DEMO event February 27 &amp;8211' March 1 in Palm Desert, or DEMO Fall 2011) to present their ideas on Tuesday, November 30 at Madronaa4a4s offices at 1000 Second Avenue.Warning: If you&amp;'re a Groupon clone, you may not make the cut &amp;8212' yep, we&amp;'re still seeing an onslaught of these for some reason.:)This is an easy way to get smart, frank feedback from Madrona partners, as well as from myself and the DEMO team. Each presentation will get at least 20 minutes, followed by 10 minutes of feedback. If youa4a4re interested in doing this,please fill out this form.It&amp;'s part of my ongoing quest to find the best companies from around the world to launch at DEMO, an event where we select 60 or so finalists to demo their product to the world&amp;'s leading technology press corps. In addition to the press fest, DEMO is attended by leading venture capitalists as well as corporate and business-development execs. It&amp;'s an awesome event for getting unprecedented publicity and for striking deals.In each of our pre-event stops, we partner with what we  think are the best firms in each location. In the past, they have included theFoundry Group, Benchmark,Kleiner Perkins and others. We also have one coming up at Sequoia Capital on December 7 (stay tuned for details).If youa4a4re selected as one of the 10 companies, wea4a4ll follow up immediately with more information about the presentation and attendees from DEMO and Madrona.Not every company will make the cut, but even those who dona4a4t may get an invitation to an intimate cocktail reception at Madrona that will take place at the end of the day, from 4:30 to 6 p.m. There will be drinks and snacks, and wea4a4ll basically just hang out.After the Madrona meetup, wea4a4ll all head over to cocktails at The Crocodile Club, which will be an open networking event for Seattle tech movers and shakers, from 7 to 9 p.m. Spread the word.Wea4a4ll be buying drinks there for the first 75 people who show up. Please register here for that.The next day, on December 1, I&amp;'ll be speaking at The Flashies, hosted by John Cook&amp;'s TechFlash, the leading tech blog covering the NorthWest. His annual tech award show is at the Seattle Center. If you don&amp;'t know about The Flashies, you should check them out, and go vote on today&amp;'s No Longer Stealth Award.Look forward to seeing you!Next Story: Confirmed: Accel sold Facebook shares at $34B valuation Previous Story: Unsealed lawsuit reveals Dell lied about millions of faulty computersPrintEmailTwitterFacebookGoogle BuzzLinkedIn      DiggStumbleUponRedditDeliciousGoogleMore&amp;8230'          Tags: Flashies, SeattleCompanies: Madrona Venture GroupPeople: John Cook          Tags: Flashies, SeattleCompanies: Madrona Venture GroupPeople: John CookMatt Marshall is editor and CEO of VentureBeat. Follow him on Twitter at @mmarshall, and follow VentureBeat on Twitter at @venturebeat.VentureBeat has new weekly email newsletters.  Stay on top of the news, and don't miss a beat.<br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
</item>

<item>
<title><![CDATA[Cars connected to the cloud: The all-electric Nissan Leaf]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=cars-connected-to-the-cloud-the-all-electric-nissan-leaf</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=cars-connected-to-the-cloud-the-all-electric-nissan-leaf</comments>
<pubDate>Mon, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>XRumerTest</dc:creator>
<category>Latest News</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=cars-connected-to-the-cloud-the-all-electric-nissan-leaf</guid>
<description><![CDATA[In a move that shows off the latest push among automakers to bring cars to the digital age, Airbiquity and Hitachi Automotive Systems showcased a connected services technology system for electric vehicles at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas today.The system, which is debuting in Nissan&amp;'s all-electric Leaf, allows drivers to search for charging stations and plot routes that will use less of the electric car&amp;'s battery (avoiding slopes, for instance), and connects drivers through a global cloud that Airbiquity operates for Nissan. The platform comes standard with Nissan&amp;'s Leaf (console and car pictured), which is currently is all booked up with the car maker&amp;'s initial run of 20,000 reservations.Electric vehicles like the Leaf, the partially-electric Chevrolet Volt and Tesla&amp;'s upcoming all-electric Model S sedan all offer some kind of souped-up display system. Given that electric cars are a relatively new technology and come with an above-average price tag, these extra features add to the cool and luxury factor while providing tools to help consumers understand their car&amp;'s range and tailor their driving habits to it.The shift isn&amp;'t limited to electric cars, though. The information and communication technology (ICT) system for the Leaf is one of several efforts among automakers &amp;8212' not to mention many cleantech startups &amp;8212' towards data-driven efficiency, as well as cloud-enabled entertainment.Ford&amp;'s Sync computer system isnow in 3 million vehicles, enabling voice command-activated entertainment options as well as safety features like automatic 911 operator connection in the event of a crash. And GM announced it will showcase a Buick at CES that uses GM&amp;'s Onstar Service with Verizon&amp;'s 4G LTE network to enables video chatting (erm, anyone see a crash hazard here), home monitoring and impact detection. Nissan, Ford, and GM have alldeveloped smartphone apps to go with their ICT systems.The moves also represent more data than ever being exchanged between manufacturers and consumers. The Leaf&amp;'s system, for example, can send information about battery efficiency back to Nissan, where researchers can use it to improve the next generation of electric vehicles, or alert drivers when their tire pressure is low or repairs are needed.&amp;''There&amp;'s fewer surprises about breakdowns, parts that need to be replaced,&amp;'' said Leo McCloskey, vice president of marketing for Airbiquity.Given the backlash over privacy concerns with smart meters broadcasting real-time energy usage data wirelessly, will there be similar hesitation over integrating such functions inside cars, which are arguably just as private a space as a person&amp;'s home Customers can opt out of the service, McCloskey said.But most people probably won&amp;'t. With most of the cars going to early adopters, it&amp;'s likely the vast majority will want use the system, which is connected to a designated web portal where Leaf owners can see the data and statistics associated with their driving. What&amp;'s more, this is the wave of the future when it comes to cars, McCloskey said.&amp;''This is not a dilettante thing to make it look cool, it&amp;'s not an adornment. This is really quite central to every automaker we talk to right now,&amp;'' he said.&amp;'' There is a very exacting strategy around ICT [information and communication technology] &amp;8230'The vehicle now starts to conform to the consumer as opposed to the consumer trying to figure out what (car) is right for them.&amp;''Next Story: Movea&amp;'s motion-sensing chips will make TV remotes smarter Previous Story: Super angel Jeff Clavier raising $35M fundPrintEmailTwitterFacebookGoogle BuzzLinkedIn      DiggStumbleUponRedditDeliciousGoogleMore&amp;8230'          Tags: 4G, 4G LTE, electric cars, electric vehicles, Leaf, Model S, sync, VoltCompanies: Airbiquity, Chevrolet, ford, GM, Hitachi Automotive Systems, Nissan, VerizonPeople: Leo McCloskey          Tags: 4G, 4G LTE, electric cars, electric vehicles, Leaf, Model S, sync, VoltCompanies: Airbiquity, Chevrolet, ford, GM, Hitachi Automotive Systems, Nissan, VerizonPeople: Leo McCloskeyIris Kuo is the VentureBeat's lead GreenBeat writer. She has reported for The Wall Street Journal in Hong Kong, Houston Chronicle, the McClatchy Washington Bureau and Dallas public radio. Iris attended the University of Texas at Dallas and lives in Houston. Follow Iris on Twitter @thestatuskuo (and yes, that's how you  pronounce her last name).VentureBeat has new weekly email newsletters.  Stay on top of the news, and don't miss a beat.<br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
</item>

<item>
<title><![CDATA[Tesla to recycle electric car batteries in Belgium]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=tesla-to-recycle-electric-car-batteries-in-belgium</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=tesla-to-recycle-electric-car-batteries-in-belgium</comments>
<pubDate>Mon, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>XRumerTest</dc:creator>
<category>Latest News</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=tesla-to-recycle-electric-car-batteries-in-belgium</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Electric carmaker Tesla will recycle its battery packs in Europe by refining its innards to cobalt, nickel and other metals.Tesla joins a long list of electric car manufacturers that are trying to figure out what to do with batteries at the end of their lives &amp;8212' which, per automaker warranties, are guaranteed to last seven to 10 years. While electric car demand is strong, batteries remain the most expensive and unwieldy component and raise environmental safety issues.GM and Nissan have both formed partnerships to research second-life uses for electric car batteries, exploring whether used batteries can be refitted to act as backup generators for hospitals or store renewable energy. Tesla has previously announced a partnership with SolarCity to collaborate on solar storage technologies. If more recycling mechanisms are set up, customers could recover some of the cost of their used batteries, potentially allaying fears about the technology and cost risks consumers have with electric cars.a4AIta4a4s a4 absolutely necessary for the EV market to be successful at current battery prices,a4 said John Gartner, analyst for Pike Research, when we talked to him last year. a4AFinding ways to lower that (battery) cost by getting some of the end-of-life value out of them would be key for the automakers going forward.a4Tesla&amp;'s comprehensive Europe plan, however, takes it one step beyond the research that others are doing. It will recycleits battery packs at a factory in Belgium operated by Umicore, a materials technology company.The company will use materials from the battery to produce an alloy that can then be further refined into cobalt, nickel and other metals, some of which can be further transformed and sold to battery manufacturers, or made into slag for concrete. The company&amp;'s technology allows for 70 percent reduction in CO2 emissions in the recycling process.Next Story: Giving clean energy an American makeover Previous Story: Hulu&amp;'s owners at odds over future of televisionPrintEmailTwitterFacebookGoogle BuzzLinkedIn      DiggStumbleUponRedditDeliciousGoogleMore&amp;8230'          Tags: batteries, electric cars, eletric vehiclesCompanies: Tesla, UmicorePeople: John Gartner          Tags: batteries, electric cars, eletric vehiclesCompanies: Tesla, UmicorePeople: John GartnerIris Kuo is the VentureBeat's lead GreenBeat writer. She has reported for The Wall Street Journal in Hong Kong, Houston Chronicle, the McClatchy Washington Bureau and Dallas public radio. Iris attended the University of Texas at Dallas and lives in Houston. Follow Iris on Twitter @thestatuskuo (and yes, that's how you  pronounce her last name). Have news to share Launching a startup Email: tips@venturebeat.comVentureBeat has new weekly email newsletters.  Stay on top of the news, and don't miss a beat.<br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
</item>

</channel>
</rss>
