Rear view GPS mirror

Posted in GPS by Conner Flynn on May 14th, 2008

Rear view GPS mirror
Shenzhen MCD Electronics has rolled out this so far unnamed rear view mirror that shows you more then the cars you’re leaving in the dust. Some features include : GPS navigation system, SD/MMC memory card slot, Stylus pen, LED backlight, 1300mAh Li-Ion battery, Reverse gear sensor, Camera, Bluetooth connectivity.

No word on cost yet, and anyway coming from a Chinese wholesaler, this probably won’t be headed to the US anytime soon officially.

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Pioneer annouces way cool in-dash navigation units

Posted in Automotive by Nino Marchetti on April 20th, 2008

Pioneer in dash navigation unit

Pioneer over the weekend announced new additions to its line up of AVIC-F advanced in-dash navigators. These new offerings, which join the AVIC-F500BT shown off at CES, are the AVIC-F700BT, AVIC-F900BT and Premier branded AVIC-F90BT. Pricing is set at $850, $1,100 and $1,200, respectively, and all units will be available in June.

Pioneer is describing these in-dash units as going “beyond navigation” by offering “enhanced navigation and entertainment features paired with sophisticated voice control.” While you may read that however you choose there is no doubt Pioneer has packed these units with a ton of features, including “Apple iPod connectivity, Bluetooth, MSN Direct, HD radio, XM and SIRIUS Satellite Radio, single CD, DVD video playback and compressed audio and video playback through USB and SD memory devices.”

For the full details, check out the press release after the jump. These Pioneer units definitely look to be the cause of many wonderful distractions as you cruise down the open roads.

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The XO Move concept bike moves us

Posted in Personal Transport by Conner Flynn on April 3rd, 2008

The XO Move concept bike moves us
It looks like a cross between a transformer and a weird futuristic pod on wheels. The idea is that when parked, it will transform and lock up easily for security. Another great selling point is that it’s adaptable to user needs, capable of carrying one or two people and even has a variable wheel base for more road stability.

Who knows when we’ll see something like this on the roads, but it’s a great idea and more importantly it looks awesome. I’m all for anything that makes the world look more like a Sci-Fi flick. It beats the hell out of a moped.

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Smart brake lights designed by students

Posted in Automotive by Conner Flynn on March 27th, 2008

Smart brake lights
The students at Virginia Tech are a pretty intelligent bunch. They’ve come up with a new system for automobile braking lights that will indicate whether you are stopping, or just slowing down, based on how quickly you put your foot down on the brake. The solution for a better brake, as it turns out is really pretty simple.

The concept uses an array of horizontal LED lights. When you start to slow down, the center lights will glow orange and after a pre-programmed time, the side lights will turn red. If you slam on the emergency brake, then all the lights turn red instantly. If we could just get it to flash the finger for those people who stay way too close behind you, I’d be happy. They think these will be easier to add as additional indicators on commercial vehicles at first, but who knows, one day soon all cars may sport these.

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Chrysler to offer in-car Internet this year

Posted in News by Conner Flynn on March 23rd, 2008

Chrysler to offer in-car Internet this year
Chrysler, the third largest US automaker, will be the first car company to offer in-car Internet access. Web service will be via subscription from a wireless carrier and dealers will add the feature to existing cars this year. Upcoming fleets will come off the assembly line already Internet-ready.

Get ready to see a rise in accidents as drivers get distracted by their favorite blog and subsequently wake up in the hospital missing a testicle or two, smelling of chicken feathers and looking like they shaved with a bulldozer that morning, while some fat nurse picks the windshield out of their face one fragment at a time.

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Porta Jump will jump start your car

Posted in Automotive by Conner Flynn on March 22nd, 2008

Porta Jump will jump start your car
Let’s say you drive around in an old heap and your battery dies. You need a jump, but you don’t have jumper cables and no one wants to help. With the Porta Jump, you won’t need any help at all. It doesn’t require jumper cables or helpful strangers.

Just plug it in your cigarette lighter and wait for the green light to turn on. It’s that easy. Done. You are back in the business of driving around in a heap. As an added bonus, it will recharge while you are driving. This is a good $20 spent. Ideal for damsels in distress as it’s much safer then asking a stranger for help and possibly running into a nutjob.

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TeleType GPS unit targets RVers, Hazmat drivers

Posted in GPS by Nino Marchetti on March 10th, 2008

TeleType WorldNavApparently if you are, say, driving a big rig loaded down with some mysterious WMD you probably can’t get onto normal roads with your cargo. TeleType has unveiled therefore the WorldNav Portable GPS solution, available in both 3.5- and 7-inch screen sizes.

TeleType’s WorldNav system isn’t the type of GPS you put into your car unless you carry huge payloads or drive RVs. It is designed to help you choose roads which are best suited for your larger vehicle, allowing you to enter information such as your truck’s height, weight and length. It then takes into account commercial truck restrictions such as bridge heights and clearances, load limits, one-way road designations, left-hand and dangerous turn restrictions, and allowances when offering routing choices for you to drive.

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Volvo adds HD Radio to in-car entertainment

Posted in Automotive, HD Radio, Volvo by Nino Marchetti on November 27th, 2007

volvo-hd.jpgHD Radio is looking more and more like it’s here to stay as consumer companies slowly develop products which pick up the radio industry’s answer to satellite radio. The latest of these, and apparently also the first auto manufacturer putting out cars in the United States with this technology, is Volvo.

Volvo said today it will begin offering HD Radio on almost all of its models in fall of 2008. Volvo Cars of North America will specifically be offering factory installed HD Radio receivers as standard and optional equipment in a variety of models, including the S40 T5, V50 T5, C30, C70, S80, V70, XC70 and XC90.

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Motorola preps Bluetooth speaker phone accessory

Posted in Bluetooth, Mobile Accessories, Motorola by Nino Marchetti on October 29th, 2007

Motorola MOTOROKR T505Motorola announced today what it is calling its first portable in-car speaker phone and music system accessory. The new Motorola MOTOROKR T505 is slated to be available sometime early next year.

The Motorola MOTOROKR T505 makes use of Bluetooth wireless technology, connecting to a Bluetooth-enabled mobile. This connection allows the T505 to stream from the phone telephone calls and stereo music. This audio comes to the T505 and is rebroadcast on your car stereo via FM. A built-in feature helps you determine the best FM station for clear audio.

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Ferrari 360 - Fastest Limo in the World

Posted in Cars by Reuben Drake on September 15th, 2007

black Ferrari 360 Modena carbon fibre stretch limousine launched as the fastest limo in the worldWe’ve seen some pretty cool limousines in our time (driving by of course, not the inside) but never one quite like this. Usually the folks stretching out a vehicle will do it with something that has a little more girth, giving its passengers a little party room.

In the case with this stretched Ferrari 360 Modena, it appears that the goal might be to ride in more of a sporty (cramped), luxurious style. This limousine has been dubbed the fastest limo in the world and still has those awesome gull-wing style doors, only bigger (9 feet).

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Motorola T605 Automotive Bluetooth Music System

Posted in Bluetooth, Motorola, News by Quagmire on November 1st, 2006

MotorolaMotorola has introduced a new hands-free system for automobiles that is designed to offer easy access to digital music and phone calls directly through the sound system in your car.

The Motorola Automotive Music & Hands-free System T605 allows users to use their Bluetooth-enabled Motorola phones or digital music players to stream audio wirelessly through the car’s speakers and take phone calls without moving your hands from the wheel. The T605 will pause your tunes when it detects that a call is coming in and resume the music when the call ends. The digital signal …

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