Filed under: Gaming, Transportation

You know who Microsoft hates? No, not Apple. It really hates DHL. Apparently, the delivery service has hit the folks in Redmond where it hurts: in the Xbox. It seems that 21,600 consoles were totally messed over by “impact damage, wetting, pilfering and shortage” when one of the company’s freight trains derailed en route to Long Beach, California. The big M claims that DHL refuses to compensate for the lost goods, and has filed a complaint at a US District Court in Seattle, calling for $2 million in damages and stating that the shipper “negligently breached its duties as a common carrier, handler, bailee, warehouseman, agent, or in other capabilities.” Harsh words, but really, who’s to blame for this mess? Next time we suggest going with G.O.D.

[Thanks, Andrew S.]

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Filed under: Transportation

In an effort to facilitate ticket purchasing, SNCF — France’s public rail system — will commence a 1,000 user trial of its Weneo smart card system this Fall. Riders will be able to purchase tickets with the small USB dongles at turnstiles via RFID. Once the balance is depleted, users can refill their accounts by plugging the devices into a computer, whereby they’re transported to the SNCF’s online hub. Since only the rider’s account number is stored in the RFID portion of the smart card, this system allows commuters hassle-free ticket purchasing, all while keeping important information privy from hackers - information that some RFID devices seem to have problems keeping secret. If all goes well, SNCF expects to expand the use of Weneo nationwide by 2010.

[Via Wired]

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Filed under: Transportation

Japan’s not hurting for trains, but what’s the addition of another going to hurt? Senyo Kogyo and Senyo Kiko have jointly announced plans to construct a test line for an energy-saving urban transportation system this October. Dubbed Eco Ride, the “roller coaster-like” system in the Chiba Prefecture will operate “using the height difference on the railway,” and furthermore, there will be drive units (complete with clanks and clangs, we bet) “installed at various points on the railway so that the Eco Ride can obtain the potential energy to run.” Reportedly, Eco Ride would likely remain just a short-distance transportation system even if expanded, but no matter how you slice it, it sure beats taking the Segway to work.

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Filed under: Gaming

Look folks, we won’t deny that hardcore usage of the Wii could result in weight loss, but we have all ideas Japan’s Kosuke Kitajima relied a lot more on swimming laps religiously and eating a set diet than playing Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games. Nevertheless, the Olympic gold medalist, who snagged said medal in the men’s 100-meter breaststroke earlier this week, did mention that he used the game to prepare his mind. “See, Mario does the breaststroke,” he stated, “and thus, it’s perfect mental training for envisioning the actual Olympic hall.” We’d say that’s being mighty generous, but whatever gets you to the other end first, right?

[Via Joystiq]

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Filed under: Gaming

Look folks, we won’t deny that hardcore usage of the Wii could result in weight loss, but we have all ideas Japan’s Kosuke Kitajima relied a lot more on swimming laps religiously and eating a set diet than playing Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games. Nevertheless, the Olympic gold medalist, who snagged said medal in the men’s 100-meter breaststroke earlier this week, did mention that he used the game to prepare his mind. “See, Mario does the breaststroke,” he stated, “and thus, it’s perfect mental training for envisioning the actual Olympic hall.” We’d say that’s being mighty generous, but whatever gets you to the other end first, right?

[Via Joystiq]

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Filed under: Transportation

Although the mention of a magnetically levitating train outside of US borders won’t grab too much attention, saying that phrase here most definitely perks up ears. Sure enough, a maglev project that would shuttle folks from Disneyland to Las Vegas at up to 300 miles-per-hour is now jousting with a cheaper diesel-electric alternative (dubbed DesertXpress) for support. Reportedly, the latter would cost “just” $3- to $5 billion to construct — compared to $12 billion for the former — but rather than escorting folks from Anaheim or even Los Angeles, its origin would be planted in Victorville, California. Still, the trip from there to Vegas would only take three to four hours including the 1.5 hour drive to Victorville, but that still doesn’t sound nearly as nice as “well under two hours” for the maglev. As it stands, there’s quite a bit of red tape to wade through before either option goes forward, but kicking back on a whizzing train sounds an awful lot better than staring at pavement and blasting the air conditioner for five or so hours.

[Via Gadling]

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Filed under: Transportation, Wireless

Merely hours after hearing that a contactless payment trial was going live on San Francisco’s BART, along comes word that a test of a slightly different nature was also underway on the very same public transportation system. Reportedly, a recent Wi-Fi Rail installation on a select stretch of track proved that WiFi could be delivered to passengers at around 15Mbps — up and down — and if things go smoothly, the firm hopes to get its technology onto all sorts of rail systems across the globe. Unfortunately, there doesn’t look to be any firm plans for the trial to stick on BART, but who knows, keep on refreshing that nearby network list on the morning commute and you might just get lucky.

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Filed under: Transportation, Wireless

Merely hours after hearing that a contactless payment trial was going live on San Francisco’s BART, along comes word that a test of a slightly different nature was also underway on the very same public transportation system. Reportedly, a recent Wi-Fi Rail installation on a select stretch of track proved that WiFi could be delivered to passengers at around 15Mbps — up and down — and if things go smoothly, the firm hopes to get its technology onto all sorts of rail systems across the globe. Unfortunately, there doesn’t look to be any firm plans for the trial to stick on BART, but who knows, keep on refreshing that nearby network list on the morning commute and you might just get lucky.

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Filed under: Transportation, Networking

It’s coming to planes, so it was bound to make its way onto trains. According to a report, a 45-mile commuter railroad line in Massachusetts is about to get a WiFi upgrade, bringing wireless connections to more than 18,000 passengers across 17 stations. Utilizing Sprint’s EV-DO service, this will be the largest deployment of train-based WiFi outside of Europe and will bring access to 45 coach cars in the line. “There is not one commuter rail system in the country that has this right now,” said Kris Erickson, MBTA deputy chief of staff, adding, “We know there are going to be some technical glitches, but we want to get in there and test it in a real environment and get a much better idea how to do it.” The plan is to eventually bless all 13 commuter lines in Massachusetts with wireless capabilities, thus allowing networked games of Sid Meier’s Railroads! to actually be played while on a railroad.

[Via Wi-Fi Networking News]

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Filed under: GPS, Transportation

Once again proving that “people be stupid,” a Bedford Hills, New York man allowed his GPS to navigate him onto train tracks… while a train was approaching. Entering a long line of folks like Cherry Tree Guy and the Narrow Lane Invader, this mentat in question apparently followed directions to “turn right” onto a set of tracks, which he then inexplicably became stuck on. Upon noticing the speeding locomotive heading towards his car, the man jumped out of the vehicle and tried to warn the engineer by waving his arms frantically — to no avail. The train slammed into the truck at 60 MPH and pushed the vehicle more than 100-feet, damaging 250-feet of track. The man was unharmed, though we understand his ego has filed for divorce.

[Thanks, Dr. Mark]

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Filed under: Transportation

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Filed under: Transportation

So here’s the good news: Central Japan Railway Company (JR Tokai) has announced its intentions to construct a swank maglev railway in Japan. The bad news? It’s not expected to open until 2025. Reportedly, JR Tokai will be coughing up around ¥5.1 trillion ($44 billion, give or take a few mil) of its own change to build the system that will stretch between the “Tokyo metropolitan area and the Chukyo region, with Nagoya at the center.” Of course, we’re all going to be cruising around in personal flying saucers in a decade anyway, so we wouldn’t be too worried about the wait.

[Image courtesy of FYS]

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Filed under: Transportation

While folks living near Shanghai are already enjoying the luxuries of a maglev (magnetic levitation) railway, Germany is getting set to build a similar line to shuttle citizens from Munich’s city center to its airport. The €1.85 billion ($2.61 billion) project is finally on track to become a reality after securing the necessary funding, and it should be able to whisk travelers around at nearly 310 miles-per-hour when it’s complete. Sadly, there’s no word as to when the Munich service will launch, but at least we’re moving in the right direction, eh?

[Via Slashdot]

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