Toyota continues to lead the silent race to efficient cars with plans to introduce a plug-in hybrid in 2010 that will use lithium-ion batteries. Meanwhile, Toyota has been working with Matsushita Electric Industrial Co to develop batteries that will outperform lithium-ion batteries for its plans to introduce hybrid versions of every single car in its lineup between 2020 and 2029. If that seems too far away, the next generation Prius, due next year, will use NiMH batteries. Toyota president Katsuaki Watanabe told reporters in Tokyo that it’s time to move past oil and get serious about electric power. “Our view is that oil production will peak in the near future. We need to develop power train(s) for alternative energy sources.”

This morning we’re getting a first look at unsubsidized prices for the iPhone 3G in Europe. Vodafone Italy has set an out-of-contract price for the iPhone 3G at 499/€569 ($773/$881) for the 8GB/16GB models, respectively. Subscription rates have not yet been announced. While steep, those prices are actually smartphone-reasonable in Italy (and around Europe) where an HTC Touch Cruise with its WiFi, tri-band HSDPA data, GPS, and touchscreen sells for €549. Capisce?

[Thanks, Andrea]

If InFocus’ earlier duo put you to sleep, don’t look to the July-bound IN5100 series to change much. The company’s latest snoozer was designed for large-venue installations and packs a native WXGA resolution (XGA on the 5102 / 5106), 4,000 to 5,000 lumens, a 1,000:1 contrast ratio, dual stereo speakers and VGA / HDMI 1.3 / 5 BNC / component / S-Video / composite inputs. Yeah, these are pretty bright and all, but we still can’t wrap our heads around the $3,499 starting price.

Nothing captures the public’s attention faster than a sensational accusation. Pit industry heavyweights like AMD and NVIDIA against Intel and you’ve got yourself an LA-style courtroom drama. On one side of the bench we see AMD and NVIDIA, stamping their feet and insisting that Intel is keeping the USB 3.0 spec under wraps in order to lock vendors into Intel chipsets. On the other, Intel, tonguing a bittersweet no we’re not raspberry right back at the pair. In a lengthy retort, Intel claims, (1) it’s not its spec to hide — it’s owned by the USB 3.0 Promoter Group consisting of HP, Intel, Microsoft, NEC, NXP, and TI; and (2) the “gazillions of dollars and bazillions of man hours” Intel has spent developing the royalty-free USB 3.0 controller spec (a 3.0 “dummies guide”) is meant to ensure that the industry can start building the USB 3.0 spec into their silicon as quickly as possible after its release later this year. Of course, Intel offers plenty of verbiage to support its claims. But in a case of he-said, she-said, the truth may never be known to the titillated oustiders who’ve likely made up their minds anyway.

[Via PCWorld]

Not like Team Xtender hasn’t been offering something similar to this for well over a year now, but hey, nothing wrong with a bit of delayed competition. XCM has just made