Archive for the ‘Germany’ Category

It's official: "There's an app for that" has become the most annoying catchphrase of 2009 (on par with 2001's "You are the weakest link"). And yet, we have to admit that there are beaucoup apps out there -- some of them quite good. For example, developers at Appirion UG have developed a program that turns the iPhone into a remote control for a specially rigged Dodge minivan. "The Spirit of Berlin", as the vehicle is known, may not be as flashy as the iPhone-controlled Rinspeed iChange we profiled back in February, but as the clip below demonstrates, it seems like way more fun:

[BoingBoing]

Mergers and acquisitions are a hot topic this week, so we'd be remiss if we didn't mention that Volkswagen has ramped up plans to buy out its sporty sister, Porsche. You might recall that VW's takeover is rolling out in stages; during the first phase, VW had planned to purchase a 42% stake in Porsche, but that figure has now jumped to 49.9%, which will come at a cost of €3.9 billion ($5.8 billion). Sounds like Porsche's reputation for speed and aggression may have met its match. [WorldCarFans]

In the current global economy, things are hard all over -- even in Berlin's red-light district. With fewer travelers coming to town for conferences and business meetings, sales at local bordellos have gone limp, but the owners of Maison d'Envie in trendy Prenzlauer Berg are hoping to give things a lift by offering a 5 € ($7.50) discount to any customer who arrives on a bike. Not only is that good for the environment, but all that cardio exercise guarantees healthy return customers. Sounds like a big score in our book. Somebody give those folks a hand. [NYTimes]