Fully Charged: Buy a working Tron bike, Facebook’s group video app, and Netflix button on EU remotes
All the tech and gadget news you need to start the day off right
Buy the functional Tron bike
Every wanted to ride one of the amazing Tron light cycles? Duh, of course you did – and if you’ve got a nice chunk of change laying around, you might have a chance to. A replica of the stunning bike created for Tron: Legacy has been put up for auction by Sotheby’s, and it’s a fully working electric bike that’s only ever been ridden around a warehouse.
It was created for the Andrews Collection, which is now being auctioned off, and it features a 96-volt direct-drive electric motor with lithium batteries. Also, it lights up and makes you look like an incredible badass, although we wonder just how street-legal it is.
Sotheby’s says, “It is unlikely that a similar motorcycle will ever be produced or made available for purchase, making this a truly unique opportunity.” We hear you. It’ll be auctioned off on 2 May, with a list price between $25,000 and $40,000 – but no reserve price, so if interest is thin (which seems doubtful), you could end up getting it for a song.
Facebook launches group video app
Even amidst the April Fools barrage of nonsense, Facebook decided to use yesterday to launch Riff, its new video app for Android and iPhone. What makes this one distinct? Well, you can shoot a short video and then share it to your Facebook friends – who can then add to it. And their friends can then add to the expanded creation.
It’s social shooting, and although anyone can search for and view your themed videos, only your own friends can add their own addendum – and then it daisy-chains along to their friends, and friends of friends, and so on and so forth. Looks interesting as a social experiment, although we’ll see if it has much value beyond short-term amusement.
[Source: Facebook]
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Netflix button coming to European remotes
For a few years now, many recent TV and device buyers in the United States have had the convenience – nay, luxury – of having a Netflix button on their remote controls for easy access (example photo via Amazon). Luckily, that same feature is coming to top Smart TV, Blu-ray player, and set-top box brands across Europe this year.
Netflix says the button will appear on remotes bundled with sets and boxes from Panasonic, Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Vestel, coming with 2015 models and even some recently manufactured 2014 versions. “The new Netflix button on remotes in Europe makes watching Netflix as easy as changing the channel on traditional TV, allowing viewers to enjoy our great programming much quicker,” said Netflix’s head of business development, Bill Holmes.
[Source: Netflix]