Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk: “Model S variants to arrive next year”

With the Tesla Model S barely out the factory door and keys only in the hands of a few hundred customers, company CEO Elon Musk is already preparing the automotive world for new variations sometime next year.

There’s no denying Tesla Motor’s Model S is red hot at the moment. It’s the automotive equivalent to Justin Bieber (he is still cool, right?), at least for EV fans and automotive journalists that is. When the Model S isn’t busy collecting awards, the sleek electric sports sedan is busy turning heads at one of Tesla’s many Apple-like shops across the country. Needless to say, there is a remarkable amount of hype surrounding the California start-up and one of the major sources of that hype is the company’s enigmatic CEO Elon Musk.

As reported by AutoblogGreen, during a recent third quarter financial results call, Musk hinted at the future production of Model S variants due sometime next year, stating: “There are a few other variants of the Model S that we’ll come out next year that I think are going to be pretty exciting.”

In addition to this teasing, yet vague proclamation, Musk reportedly discussed Tesla’s ongoing efforts with the company’s next vehicle, the all-electric crossover known as the Model X, as well as the fact that work has begun on the company’s third-generation and yet–to-be-named vehicle it hopes to launch before the end of the decade.

Of course all of this is simply talk, and we have no way of knowing what is actually in the works for the California-based automaker, but it does give us ample opportunity to speculate and dissect what this all means.

For starters, it’s more than likely Mr. Musk is simply referring to a better handling and performance package, which was mentioned a few months back. Another possibility could be the introduction of an all-wheel-drive system in addition to the current rear-wheel-drive layout found in the Model S. Finally, there is talk of adding an open-air model as well as one with battery packs larger than the current 85 kWh variety found in the Performance Model S.

Aside from speculation, Musk revealed that in response to customer demand, Tesla will make other options available to customers upon ordering their vehicles, in addition to others that could be retroactively fitted.

Whatever the case may be, one thing is clear: We’ll be seeing much more from the Model S in the near future.

What types of additions would you like to see, if any, in the Model S? Be sure to let us know in the comments section below.

Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

TouchWiz-specific hack can hard reset Galaxy S III and other Galaxy phones through their web browsers

Samsung Galaxy smartphones with the TouchWiz UI skin are susceptible to a USSD code hack, which triggers an unstoppable factory reset. The hack itself is easily triggered from malicious websites, QR codes or sent by NFC and wipes users’ phones immediately.

In order to successfully run onto a Samsung Galaxy smartphone, the hack must be either dialed in directly in the phones dialer or opened from a website using the stock browser.

Among the devices affected by the USSD code hack are the Galaxy S Advance, the Galaxy Ace, the Galaxy S II and the Galaxy S III. As far as we know Samsung is currently investigating the issue and is likely to come up with a fix or a statement soon.

Meanwhile, you can see the exploit in action demonstrated in the video below.

When tested on devices running pure Android or another user interface skin, the USSD code hack doesn’t do anything, so Galaxy Nexus users need not panic.

Source : blog[dot]gsmarena[dot]com

Foxconn factory at center of riot reopens, supply not affected

The Foxconn factory at the center of a large riot on Sunday night reopened on Tuesday, a company spokesperson said, adding that there has been no impact on supply.

The Foxconn factory at the center of a serious disturbance late Sunday involving thousands of rioting workers has reopened.

Company spokesperson Louis Woo told Reuters Tuesday that despite staying shut all through Monday, no impact on product supply is expected. “We have 79,000 people working in Taiyuan campus, and we always have spare inventory,” Woo said.

The trouble, which reportedly involved more than 2,000 workers causing widespread damage throughout the factory campus, was brought to a halt by around 5,000 police. About 40 people were injured, with countless arrests made.

China’s state-run news agency said the brawl started after a fight broke out between two workers in a factory dormitory. However, workers allege the incident erupted after a security guard manhandled an employee at the factory gates.

Foxconn, the world’s biggest component maker, is a major manufacturer for Apple, as well as other giants in the electronics industry. The Taiwan-based company has so far refused to say whether this particular facility, located in the northern Chinese city of Taiyuan, is involved in the production of Apple’s new iPhone 5 handset.

In an on-screen interview with the UK’s Channel 4 News program, one former Foxconn worker explained that new devices can cause great stress among workers, saying, “When a factory launches a new product, workers do overtime for long periods to test the production line until they are ready, which really puts pressure on the employees.”

He added, “A new generation of workers has higher demands. They know their rights and they’re more rebellious.”

Foxconn, which employs more than a million people across China, has been under the spotlight for the last few years following reports of employees suffering poor living and working conditions. More recently, the company has apparently been implementing changes in an attempt to improve the situation.

The Fair Labor Association said in August that Foxconn had been making good progress towards its goal of providing better living and working conditions, though if Sunday night’s disturbance can be attributed to a frustrated and beleaguered workforce cracking under the strain, it clearly still has some way to go until its job is complete.

Source : digitaltrends[dot]com