Back in the days before the iPhone, it seemed like the smartphone sphere was a lot less cramped. You had a few decent offerings here or there, but certainly nothing like 2010 were literally every other handset that comes out at least grabs my attention for a few minutes.
Yes, before the iPhone there was Helio. The first Helio device was a game changer with it’s cheap plans and smartphone-like features transformed for consumer oriented ventures. And then the iPhone happened, literally killing the Helio. The Helio 2 was born to little fan fare. Soon after, Helio was belly up.
But there was one last device that was to save the company, the Helio Ocean 3. And now, the one and only prototype in the world has finally been caught in camera and shown to the world…
As soon as I get around to winning that Powerball lottery, I can pick me up one of these: A $3.5 million powerboat/submarine hybrid vehicle that is simply oozing with awesomeness. Physical appearance alone depicts a vehicle that is pretty hefty. Backing up that claim are (2) 440hp diesel engines which are enough to muster a 40-knot surface speed. Range is said to be 500 miles.
But even cooler than the looks and macho power is the submersible abilities of this water craft…
Wouldn’t it be great if cars were powered by nothing more than common household trash? Think of all the money we’d save by not throwing it away on gas! Usually such ideas are the results of wishful thinking. Though I have no doubt that at some point in the future, you will be able to empty your trash can into your tank and drive off into the sunset one happy camper.
But even sooner, you can float away in a submarine powered by…water. It seems simple enough, I mean, at least like an awesome idea. There’s not exactly a shortage of water out there in the deep blue and last I checked, submarines spend pretty much all their time in the blue stuff. A match made in heaven, right?
The tech just isn’t quite there yet. For now, it’s being tested with a device called the SOLO-TREC (Sounding Oceanographic Lagrangian Observer — Thermal RECharging). The SOLO-TREC uses a waxy-like phase-change substance and the combined energy released from expanding and contracting ocean water as it warms and cools. It isn’t moving at lightspeed across the ocean — but it’s moving, consuming less energy than it’s taking in. That is the key right there to a truly unlimited power source — a renewable, reusable, limitless supply.
If they are this close now to limitless propulsion, just think of what will be viable in 10, 15, 30 years time? Inner geek all giddy?
PopSci
Fall into the Helio craze did you? Better keep that Ocean/Ocean2 in tip top shape because it appears those will be the last Helio branded devices ever. As Engadget points out, it never made sense of Virgin Mobile to hobble along supporting two different brands. Whether the exec’s at Virgin Mobile finally stopped tapping that funny kool-aid or they just came to their senses is a moot point. The fact of the matter is Helio branded devices are being erased from Virgin’s memory save for two lonely survivors seen above. What’s sort of odd is that the Helio Ocean 2 which was hardware wise a newer (hello captain obvious…is that you?) and ultimately better than the original Ocean has been nixed. In it’s place is the older, original Ocean. Another blow to the face is that the few remaining Helio devices are being referenced by their manufacturer’s names. Ouch. No love.
In case you’re feeling a little directionless in life now that you can’t get that Helio 2 you’ve been eying for months, as long as your know some Korean (or know how to translate Google Translate’s sometimes not quite right translations), the Korean market of Virgin Mobile USA still has your fix. For how much longer though is anybody’s guess. If I were you and really wanting an Ocean 2, I’d get on it pretty fast as there’s no telling how much longer these devices are going to be available anywhere.
I don’t quite understand Virgin Mobile’s rationale on this one but hey, they pay important people to make important decisions. I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt.
Engadget > Mobile Crunch
- January 16, 2009 12:18 pm
Helio is a relatively popular brand of phone that doesn’t really get the attention it deserves. Running on Virgin Mobile Helio has introduced some pretty cool phones, most recently, the Ocean. It was a “beginner” smartphone for people who shun wireless contracts and being locked in. Lately not much of anything has come from the media shunned company as RIM, Apple, HTC and a host of other vendors continue to fill the net with leaks and news article after news article of impending releases and announcements. Helio isn’t taking this lying down however as the sequal to the Ocean, the Ocean 2 is reported to be coming soon. How soon?
