Ford Transit Connect Approved for Taxi Use in NYC

July 21, 2011 at 2:55pm by Alexander Stoklosa

In a hearing today, the New York Taxi and Limousine Commission approved the Ford Transit Connect for taxi service in the city. You’re probably thinking “wait a tick, didn’t the City of New York recently hold a competition among manufacturers to determine ‘NYC’s Taxi of Tomorrow,’ and didn’t Ford’s Transit Connect lose that competition to Nissan’s NV200 small van?” The answer to both of your questions is yes.

But the Transit Connect did not completely lose the chance to ferry New Yorkers about, because Nissan’s exclusive 10-year contract doesn’t kick in until 2013. In the meantime, Ford is free to foist its small, high-roof van upon the taxi companies of New York. Ford also won approval for its Taurus sedan at the Taxi Commission’s hearing; while certainly no Crown Victoria, the Taurus is at least a large sedan, which is sure to make it popular among the big-sedan-philic hired car set.

Tags: Ford, Ford Transit Connect, New York City, NYC, taxi |

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Philips GoGear Connect, hands-on

The Philips GoGear Connect runs Android 2.3.

(Credit: Donald Bell/CNET)

Attention Android fans who wouldn't be caught dead with an iPod Touch. Philips is breathing some new life into its GoGear line of MP3 and portable media players by introducing the Connect, a new Android 2.3 device.

Due out in September with pricing starting at $179 (8GB), the GoGear Connect is chasing after the same Android-loving customer as the Samsung Galaxy Player. Most importantly, the device will come with Google's suite of mobile apps, including a fully stocked Android Market.

Fickle listeners will also appreciate the inclusion of Philips' own sound-isolating earphones, and FullSound audio enhancement. The more visual among you may be lured by a 3.2-inch screen that can downscale video up to 720p resolution.

The demo unit I saw today is still in its engineering stages, but I was happy to see that Philips is taking some uncharacteristically cool risks by placing the speaker up top with some unique buttons that have the look of machined copper. I'm not sure why Philips felt the need to make the tactile buttons so large (or the screen so small), but it's always nice to see that Android addicts will have a new toy to play with.

View the original article here

Philips GoGear Connect, hands-on

The Philips GoGear Connect runs Android 2.3.

(Credit: Donald Bell/CNET)

Attention Android fans who wouldn't be caught dead with an iPod Touch. Philips is breathing some new life into its GoGear line of MP3 and portable media players by introducing the Connect, a new Android 2.3 device.

Due out in September with pricing starting at $179 (8GB), the GoGear Connect is chasing after the same Android-loving customer as the Samsung Galaxy Player. Most importantly, the device will come with Google's suite of mobile apps, including a fully stocked Android Market.

Fickle listeners will also appreciate the inclusion of Philips' own sound-isolating earphones, and FullSound audio enhancement. The more visual among you may be lured by a 3.2-inch screen that can downscale video up to 720p resolution.

The demo unit I saw today is still in its engineering stages, but I was happy to see that Philips is taking some uncharacteristically cool risks by placing the speaker up top with some unique buttons that have the look of machined copper. I'm not sure why Philips felt the need to make the tactile buttons so large (or the screen so small), but it's always nice to see that Android addicts will have a new toy to play with.

View the original article here