Summary: News: Chevy details 2014 Spark EV: under $25,000, 0-60 in 8 seconds and a 20-minute fast charge News of Siri integration isn't the only tool in Chevy's belt today, as it's also unveiling key details of the 2014 Spark EV. The all-electric subcompact won't reach dealers until the summer, but it may be worth waiting for given a surprising emphasis on speed. Its 130HP motor puts out 400lb-ft of torque, or enough to reach 60MPH in under 8 seconds -- quite a bit of pep for any stock compact car, let alone one with green credentials. Drivers who don't always mash the throttle will still get a dose of speed through industry-first support for SAE Combo DC Fast Charging, which delivers an 80 percent charge in 20 minutes. The cabin technology parallels developments in the powertrain through its two customizable, 7-inch screens and the expected smartphone tie-ins for MyLink and Siri. Combining the tarted up performance and interior tech makes the Spark EV's sub-$25,000 price (after EV tax breaks) seem like a better value than usual for lower-cost electric vehicles -- and with Chevy's expanded plans to sell in Oregon, Canada and elsewhere, more of us can actually take the plunge. http://www.engadget.com/2012/11/27/chevy-details-2014-spark-ev/ Wii Mini coming for $100, but only in Canada The new Wii U is still a big thing, but that hasn't stopped Nintendo from announcing the release of a revamped Wii Mini for the holiday season. It will be available December 7 for only $99.99, but there is no Internet connectivity, and it's exclusive to Canada. The Mini will play more than 1,400 disc-based Wii games, including Super Smash Bros Brawl, New Super Mario Bros and Wii Fit Plus, but it is not compatible with GameCube games. The black and red system is much smaller and designed to sit flat. It comes with a Wii Remote Plus and a standard nunchuck controller. Nintendo offered no word on whether the console will be available in the United States at a later time, so if you want it for the holidays, be prepared to make a run to the northern border to grab one. http://www.shacknews.com/article/76794/wii-mini-coming-for-100-but-only-in-canada Apple reportedly fires Maps manager after iOS 6 complaints The flawed debut of the iOS 6 Maps application didn't just leave some consumers frustrated — according to Bloomberg, it has resulted in one manager at Apple being fired outright. Richard Williamson is said to have been the individual that oversaw the Maps team — he's currently listed as a senior director of iOS Platform Services on LinkedIn — and was reportedly let go by Apple Senior VP Eddy Cue. The Maps teams had previously been overseen by Scott Forstall; when it was announced last month that Forstall was leaving Apple, both Maps and Siri become Cue's responsibility. According to Bloomberg, Cue plans to appoint new leadership to the team in order to quickly turn around what became an embarrassment for Cupertino. He is also said to be pushing Apple's mapping partners, including TomTom, to quickly rectify any errors in their own data that could be contributing to the service's issues. While Apple did release a formal apology saying that it would be addressing the problems, that hasn't prevented competitors like Google and Nokia from touting their own mapping alternatives in the meantime. Nokia launched its new Here app for iOS earlier this month, while Google has been announcing numerous improvements to its own service as well. While Google is widely expected to reveal its own native mapping solution for iOS, no availability date has been announced just yet. http://www.theverge.com/2012/11/27/3697978/apple-reportedly-fired-maps-engineer-after-ios-6-debut ************ Geek This Week: Aaron: Loving Letterpress. Now in season 5 of Doctor Who. Black Friday: black blah. Gozer: Black Ops 2 multiplayer. Not Geeking out to Zombies or Declassified. Nerdist. *************
