Phone, calling car
By Barb Dybwad 
posted May 6th 2005 11:00AM
posted May 6th 2005 11:00AM
So that whole Bluetooth-car integration is old news, but the latest twist is the ability to check out your phone directory and call logs on a panel built into your dashboard. As with most such developments, you'll only find this in very specific car models (the 2005 Audi A6 and A8 models), and it only works with very a specific subset of phones (Treo 650, e.g.). However, the trend seems to be ever further integration of phone and car, so you know, you could still hold out for that Chevy Cavalier someday.
I think you meant AUDI A6 and A8 and not audiO A6 and A8
// Posted May 6, 2005, 11:08 AM ET by Astav Sacheti:
// I think you meant AUDI A6 and A8 and not audiO A6 and A8
Are you kidding? This car is _way_ better. Audis have a top speed of what? 120mph? The Audio A8 has speeds of over 340m/s! (And bluetooth phone integration to boot!)
BMW had this on their 5 series about 4 years ago with the Motorola Timeport.
They don't make the Cavalier anymore. You could hold out for bluetooth in its replacement, the Cobalt, if you want.
Pigs would fly before GM would do anything innovative with their vehicles.
Check out the interface with the BMW 5 series for 2005, and the Moto Razr, better than the Audi series.
GM will never have BT integration. It would kill their Onstar business.
So how do you zero out the directory stored in the car before you sell or lend the car out? (Don't want the wifey seeing all the 1-900 dial-a-pr0n...
BMW might have this on their cars already, but it doesn't seem to like the Treo 650. The handheld keeps resetting when we try the bluetooth car/650 connection. In two different X5 vehicles
Well the BMW wasn't Bluetooth at the time obviously, but it did allow the user to browse the contact list on the display just like this when the phone was plugged in.
I have this image of a Model T with the crank in front and a crank phone on the dash - how's that for retro chic?
On the other hand, what if you could phone your car and have it come get you?
Audi's are beyond great, the interiors are much nicer than either BMW or Mercedes and you can't beat their AWD philosophy. I've owned Audi's for about 8 years now and every time I TRY to like the BMW or Mercedes better before I buy a new one and I just can't do it, the Audi's are so superior it's ridiculous. Plus they have the appeal that they ARE NOT another BMW or Mercedes out there. Do yourself a favor next time you look at a car, try the audi equivalent of whatever you're considering and you'll see the light.
Besides the new BMW 5 series looks hideous
Audi's AWD philosophy is crap, because how many times do you need an AWD car? Rear wheel drive is the only way to go if you want a true performance car -- why are there a lot more RWD race cars than AWD? Plus AWD adds a lot of weight to a car and has greater parasitic drivetrain power loss. And has anyone tried to call the phone numbers on the display shown in the graphic? (408-209-4223, 650-496-7024, 650-387-9801).
You are wrong... A6, best car in the WORLD.... this was released a while ago by an independant reviewing commitee, don't have it off the top of my head but I'm sure if you're an enthusiast you've seen it.
Also Audi is surpassing everyone in terms of reliability as well. Thinking RWD is the only way to go for a performance car shows true ignorance. I suppose 2 wheel steering is better than 4 wheel steering too? Think about it... 4 wheels doing work instead of two.... neutral steering as opposed to oversteer with a RWD and understeer with a FWD... simple physics dictate otherwise.
Hello...? There are no phone numbers in your car. Just as any recent BT headset with display (like the Jabra BT800) and carkits with display (like the Siemens HKW-600 I have in my car for use with my Siemens S65, or that lower segment one from Parrot?) these cars probably just browse your phone directory in real time. And this does not just work with a Treo but with any (recent?) BT compatible phone. Engadget seems kind of bogus when it comes to mobile phone related technology. One the few area's where the US is way behind on Asia and Europe (in that order).