Archive for Automotive

Sony reveals new Xplod in-dash head units

Posted in Automotive, Sony by Nino Marchetti on September 24th, 2007

Sony CDX-GT520Sony today unveiled four new Xplod brand in-dash head units for cars. The most interesting of these is the top-line CD-GT520, priced at around $140 and available now.

The CDX-GT520 is designed to support an array of media available for drivers, including MP3, non-DRM WMA, AAC, iPod, satellite radio and HD Radio. A 13-segment LCD with blue LED display provides information on what’s playing. Other features include blue key illumination, preamp outputs and a flip-down, detachable faceplate.

BTCUP iPod FM Transmitter/Bluetooth Gadget

Posted in Automotive, Bluetooth, Dock, FM Transmitters, iPod Accessories by Darrin Olson on September 13th, 2007

BTCUP iPod dock, Bluetooth hands free system and FM transmitter designed to fit in a cup holderMacallay has a gadget designed for use on the go that provides conveniences in more ways than one. The whole device is designed to fit in the cup holder of your car and can handle both your music and phone conversations in one handy package.

For one, the BTCUP is an iPod dock, compatible with the 1st and 2nd generation nano’s, 4th and 5th generation iPods and the iPod Mini. The BTCUP is powered off of the cars cigarette lighter and will charge the iPod while its docked.

When connected the FM transmitter inside the device can send music from your iPod through the cars FM stereo in a range of frequencies from 88.1MHz to 107.9MHz, which you can adjust on the small backlit LCD screen.

In addition to this, the BTCUP is also …

Auto LED Rechargeable Flashlight

Posted in Automotive, Flashlights by Reuben Drake on September 13th, 2007

Auto LED flashlight charges off of the cars cigarette lighterThis little LED flashlight is designed to fit into the cigarette lighter of your car and trickle charge itself throughout the day while your driving around. A gentle blue glow shows that its charging and at the ready.

When needed the little flashlight will be fully charged and ready to go by simply twisting to turn it on showing a super bright, focused light helping you see a map (as if you don’t have a GPS device) or more likely find that change your dropped under your seat so you can pay for a midnight snack at the drive-through.

Auto LED Rechargeable Flashlight

Could An iCar Be Coming Our Way?

Posted in Apple, Automotive by Chetz on August 31st, 2007

Apple and Volkswagon looking into making an iCarIn a sign that shows how powerful the branding of Apple’s iPod is and how much hurt the car manufacturing sector has come to, Apple and automobile manufacturer Volkswagon AG are now in discussions about making a so-called “iCar” that would be the ideal mode of transportation for any iEnthusiast. Apple CEOe Steve Jobs and Volkswagen’s prexy Martin Winterkorn have already met to talk about ideas for their collaboration and will be having more sessions to spitball ideas for their lifestyle ride.

So what kind of features could an iCar have beside the port for your iPod and iPhone? What about smart technology that lets you download iTunes to the car’s stereo? What about a dashboard that has a user interface like the one in the iPhone? The mind boggles at the possibilities but one more idea that we would like to mention are car commercials along the lines of Apple’s “I’m a PC and I’m a Mac” series. How about “I’m an SUV and I’m a iCar?”

Secure-I-Key guards smart key radio signals

Posted in Automotive by Nino Marchetti on August 17th, 2007

Trintek Secure-I-KeyDo you ever have paranoid delusions someone might hijack the radio frequencies of your car’s smart key for their own diabolical ends? If so you may be able to rest easier having your key encased in the Trintek Secure-I-Key.

The Trintek Secure-I-Key is described as a smart key holder which somehow blocks the signal of your key from being scanned by “hackers and car thieves.” The key must “properly inserted” to be successfully secure. It has reportedly been tested with success on auto brands like Mercedes Benz, Lexus and Nissan.

In-Car GPS Jammer

Posted in Automotive, GPS by Reuben Drake on July 31st, 2007

GPS Jammer for use in your car to block GPS tracking devicesThis little gadget simply plugs into the cigarette lighter of your car and immediately starts blocking any GPS tracking device signal in a 2-4 meter coverage area, which should cover most passenger cars. The device works as a hack to stop anyone from using GPS to keep track of where you are or where you’ve been.

The GPS jammer jams signals in a broadcasting range of 1450 to 1600Mhz with 200mW of jamming power, powered only by the 12V adapter from your car. The device may not be legal to use in all countries but should be available for sale from Chinavasion in the near future.

Navigadget

Backseat Child Navigation Concept For Kids

Posted in Automotive, Concepts, GPS, News by Darrin Olson on July 22nd, 2007

GPS for kids in the backseat let them play games and see how long until they reach the destination.When I’m riding in a plane I love to see those little LCD’s in the seat that show you exactly where the plane is at as it follows it’s flight path, and just how much further we have to go. So it makes sense to me that kids would appreciate that as well, not to mention the chance that it might cut down on some of the repeated questions regarding our ETA.

For this device, Popular Mechanics got a look inside the test facility for Volkswagen to see what kinds of things they were working on. This particular gadget is a child navigation system which has an LCD screen that shows the child a simple form of the planned route from the car’s GPS. It also shows descriptions of …

Holux GR-239 Cigarette Lighter Powered GPS Receiver

Posted in Automotive, Bluetooth, GPS by Darrin Olson on July 2nd, 2007

Holux GR-239 Bluetooth GPS receiver powered from auto cigarette lighterAdding some convenience to a GPS receiver the Holux GR-239 gets its power from your cars cigarette lighter port ridding the need for batteries or some converter. In fact the entire device mounts right into the port so there are no wires or devices sliding around on your dash.

What’s more is the device can connect to your GPS device via Bluetooth, again avoiding any wires draped across your dashboard or front seat enabling wireless GPS capabilities to your mobile devices in your car, wirelessly. If you don’t have Bluetooth on your device you can still take advantage of this one-piece, battery-free SiRF Star III GPS gadget through a USB connection, and $120 of course.

Product Page via Navigadget

TVR Tuscan Wireless Optical Street Mouse

Posted in Automotive, Mouse by Reuben Drake on June 28th, 2007

TVR Tuscan wireless optical Street MouseAfter decorating your desk with the USB engine hub you can round out your automotive theme with this TVR Tuscan street mouse.

This wireless optical mouse features working, always-on headlights, brake lights that come on when the mouse is being used, chrome wheels and tinted windows. The car shaped mouse has right and left mouse buttons that are on the hood and a scroll wheel that sticks up through the center of the hood like it’s part of the engine. The wireless TVR Tuscan Street Mouse runs £20.00 (about $40 USD) from Red5.

via GadgetVenue

The Phone of Porsche

Posted in Automotive, Mobile Phones by Chetz on June 15th, 2007

Porsche P’9521 mobile phoneWhen will it stop? How many world-known brand names will hop aboard the money express and brand a seemingly unrelated product to their image? As long as people will open their wallets and purses there will be always be these kind of weird crossover products like the Porsche P’9521 mobile phone.

The luxury car firm showed off their talk device designed by French electronics firm Sagem, a EUR 1,200 product (that’s $1,600 Yankee dollars) that has a 3.2 megapixel camera, plays MP3 tunes with its three stereo speakers, has a QVGA 320×340 OLED screen that can swivel around and can be locked with a biometrics security feature. In short, what that last part means is that no one else can use your Porsche phone unless they have your fingerprint.

We’ll give Porsche that the phone’s design is nice, a less-is-more approach with streamlined curves and …

Three in One Cigarette Lighter Adapter, USB Port

Posted in Automotive, Chargers, USB by Reuben Drake on June 14th, 2007

3 in 1 car adapter has 3 cigarette lighter adapters and a usb portToo many gadgets and too few sockets. Wait a minute, what am I saying? I guess you can really never have too many gadgets, but when you’re out traveling this summer you can avoid having to take turns charging stuff up with this 3-in-1 car adapter from Brando. It turns a single cigarette lighter adapter into 3, plus it adds a single USB port to charge up some other accessory that you don’t have a car adapter for, all for $20.

Responder SST remote starts your car from a mile away

Posted in Automotive, Remotes by Reuben Drake on June 8th, 2007

Responder SST remote car starter is two-way and works from a mile awayRemote car starters are nothing new, and we’ve even seen some two-way communication key fobs before that are not to shabby, but we’ve never seen one with the range that the Responder SST has.

This remote car starter is actually a two-way transceiver device that not only sends signals to your vehicle to telling it to start or lock the doors, but communication is sent back to the key fob remote with the status of the vehicle. The remote will let you know if the doors are locked, the vehicles security system is armed, if it’s running and will even alert you if the alarm is triggered.

The big kicker with the Responder SST is that it does all this from up to a mile away. On a cold day you can start your car …

Nokia CK-15W Bluetooth Display Car Kit

Posted in Automotive, Bluetooth, Nokia by Chris Weber on June 7th, 2007

Nokia CK-15W Bluetooth Display Car Kit displays mobile phone information on in your carIt looks like Nokia is getting ready to release an in-car Bluetooth product to provide the driver information on their Bluetooth enabled mobile phone while driving.

According to Crave the Nokia CK-15W Bluetooth Display Car Kit provides on-screen information to manage incoming and outgoing calls through the 2.2″ TFT display. The device is mounts on the dashboard at more of an eye level to keep drivers eyes more on the road and less looking down at their handset.

The CK-15W is expected to have some “handsome” looking menus and can download the entire Contacts list from your mobile phone to the device. The photo shows a graphical menu with what looks to be icons for Contacts, a Bluetooth connection, some synchronization function and a couple tools that may be used to configure the device.

No information …

Simple, one-piece multi-port power inverter

Posted in Accessories, Automotive, USB by Reuben Drake on June 2nd, 2007

multi-port power inverter converts power for you car from cigarette lighter socket to a 110 volt outlet and two usb portsThis looks like one handy gadget to have in your car. It’s a one-piece 4-port power inverter that plugs into your car’s cigarette lighter socket and provides a 110 volt AC outlet, two USB ports and a cigarette lighter socket.

The USB ports would be incredible convenient in order to power devices such as an iPod or a PDA, and of course you can plug in your laptop or any other device to charge in the 110 volt outlet. The 4-port inverter has circuit protection to prevent damage to your electronic gadgets due to power surges and it will automatically shutdown if it overheats or senses your car battery is getting to low.

The compact design of this power inverter is nice, and the USB ports are a great …

Parrot PMK5800 Bluetooth Car Kit

Posted in Automotive, Bluetooth, Parrot by Darrin Olson on May 29th, 2007

Parrot PMK5800 Bluetooth Car Kit for hands free music or phone conversations through your car stereoParrot has just released a super-easy to use Bluetooth car kit to facilitate easy, hands-free phone conversations and music through your cars FM stereo. By simply plugging this device into your cars 12V cigarette lighter adapter and setting the PMK5800 to an open FM frequency it will transfer music or voice wirelessly through the speakers in your car.

Provided you have a Bluetooth enabled mobile phone or MP3 player and your car has an FM radio, this device is a really a pretty simple plug-and-play device. Getting its power from the cars 12V adapter and it’s voice or music through Bluetooth there is no wires or installation necessary. Full duplex voice conversations can be done hands-free through the car stereo as well without having to install any elaborate system in your car.

Aside from …





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