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BMW teaser unveils enigmatic do-it-all device
BMW's fairly well known for its nifty in-car implementation of technology, and although certain aspects have received their fair share of criticism, the firm has something brewing that could cause quite a stir -- of course, that would require us to actually know what it is. A snazzy flash website unveils a sleek, continually morphing device that touts the ability to play MP3s, DVDs and CDs, has USB and Bluetooth connectivity options, can recognize voice commands, and has a 65,000 color LCD to boot; but in the end, we're still left to wonder how it relates to the company's vehicles (if at all). Sure, we've seen BMW-branded watches and the like, but it's not exactly usual to see an automaker producing multifaceted consumer electronics, and while it may end up just another technological aspect of a car, it looks like something you just might tote around. Thankfully, we shouldn't have to wait too awfully long until the veil is removed, as it should get official in just a few weeks, but until then, be sure to click on through for a few more glamor shots.[Via Autoblog]
NYC taxis to map out dead zones in mobile networks
We've already seen an influx of hybrid vehicles take their places in the mammoth fleet of New York City taxis, and now that the Taxi 2.0 will reportedly sport GPS tracking an built-in televisions, what else is really left to implement? Stockholm-based Ericsson has apparently seized the opportunity in using the random, perpetual motion of NYC's yellow mainstays to better itself (read: make some coin), and has recently received permission from the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission to install small devices "about the size of a computer modem" into cabs in order to "feed information about signal strength and clarity to engineers." The research, which has already been completed in other areas of the world, is being conducted in the Big Apple on behalf of a yet-to-be-named carrier, and it purportedly hopes to more accurately map out dead zones in mobile phone networks. Currently, "at least one fleet" has signed up to participate, and others could join in considering the royalties that will be paid out for tagging along on those zany routes through the city. Of course, this whole system should be relatively invisible to cab riders, but a continual voice recording of furious (and disconnected) passengers could probably work equally well in pinpointing those dead spots.[Via Textually]
NYC taxis to map out dead zones in mobile network
We've already seen an influx of hybrid vehicles take their places in the mammoth fleet of New York City taxis, and now that the Taxi 2.0 will reportedly sport GPS tracking an built-in televisions, what else is really left to implement? Stockholm-based Ericsson has apparently seized the opportunity in using the random, perpetual motion of NYC's yellow mainstays to better itself (read: make some coin), and has recently received permission from the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission to install small devices "about the size of a computer modem" into cabs in order to "feed information about signal strength and clarity to engineers." The research, which has already been completed in other areas of the world, is being conducted in the Big Apple on behalf of a yet-to-be-named carrier, and it purportedly hopes to more accurately map out dead zones in mobile phone networks. Currently, "at least one fleet" has signed up to participate, and others could join in considering the royalties that will be paid out for tagging along on those zany routes through the city. Of course, this whole system should be relatively invisible to cab riders, but a continual voice recording of furious (and disconnected) passengers could probably work equally well in pinpointing those dead spots.[Via Textually]
NOVOMAX BT S200 car kit does dualin' handsets
If there's one thing better than a Bluetooth car kit that supports a single handset connection, it's a car kit that supports two. Enter NOVOMAX's BT S200, which re-ups the earlier BT S110 model by adding an OLED display and the ability to pair two phones (we're guessing you can't use them at the same time, since that'd be a logistical nightmare for all participants in the conversation). The pod-shaped device, which looks like it should clip nicely to a variety of surfaces to do its thing, also alleges to feature "Silent Design" -- which, with all due respect to NOVOMAX, is exactly what we don't want in a speakerphone; we'll just go ahead and assume something's being lost in translation there.[Via SCI FI Tech]
Suzuki's Xbox 360-infused SXBox concept vehicle
It's not often that companies hit it big twice in a row, but we'd say Suzuki's SXBox concept car is just as nifty (albeit in a very different manner) as its previous carpet-ready ride, the MIO. Although this is likely a case of great engineering that'll never see any real-world play, Suzuki is still tooting its own horn at the 2006 San Diego International Auto Show by letting gamers gaze at the entertainment mecca that is the SXBox. Part of the "Suzuki LIVE Series" of concept cars marketed at various realms of "enthusiasts," this whip is based on the 2007 SX4 and features a dashboard-integrated Xbox 360, which is coupled with a "close proximity digital projection system to display games or watch a HD DVD movie on the interior of the vehicle's retractable hood." Additionally, a second console is connected to two separate LCDs in the seat backs for folks riding in the rear, and there's even a retractable 30-inch rear projection screen in the trunk for the ultimate tailgating experience. And leave it to Suzuki to remember the details, as you'll also find force-feedback front seats, four wireless controllers, matching "green" color accents, a bevy of recessed LEDs, full surround sound rig, and even a steering wheel-mounted control for the haphazard driver. As expected, this ride isn't even close to being mass produced, but if you seriously need all that gaming while in the comfortable confines of a vehicle, you most certainly have formidable alternatives. You know the drill, click on through for a few more pics.[Via Xbox360Fanboy]
Taking the Wiimote for a ride outside
Why stay inside and play Excite Truck when you can go outside and play with a real (toy) vehicle using your Wiimote? Not that we're raggin' on Excite Truck, but this latest Wiimote mod is pretty nifty. This Austrian fellow took a cue from some of the Bluetooth documentation at WiiLi.org and springboarded from that to turning an RC car into a WC car -- Wiimote controlled, that is. It's all in the video after the jump. Some people are already crying fake, but from what the guy says, he's been working on it for a little while and the principles seem sound. Either way, we're starting to think the Wii itself is just icing ... thanks to the mod community, these days it's all about the Wiimote!
Wiimote + RC car = authentic Excite Truck
Sure, controlling your cursor with a Wiimote is certainly novel, and inflicting damage upon your aging television set is soothing in a dark, twisted sort of way, but driving a remote-controller vehicle around the yard with your Wii controller really puts Excite Truck to shame. Joining the growing list of "things a Wiimote can do," the device can now control the forward, reverse, left, and right controls of a remote controlled vehicle sans wires -- well, aside from the presumably complicated computer rig off the side, that is. Apparently, the Bluetooth module within the Wiimote conveys its signals to a laptop, which then passes the movements via a serial port to the actual remote, which in turn beams up the vehicle with instructions. So if you're tired of seeing just how much fun folks who aren't getting knocked around by their Wiimotes are having, take a peek behind the plastic and get your own hack on after hitting the read link for some video action.[Thanks, Kevin]
Venturi readies the launch of its solar / wind-powered Eclectic vehicle
Leave it to the makers of the first "solar shuttle" to actually hit its production schedule, as Venturi Automobiles is officially readying its Eclectic vehicle for a June 2007 launch. The "world's first" commercially available autonomous vehicle sports a "stylish, urban design," room for three, and never needs to get friendly with an AC outlet (although it can, if necessary) or fuel pump. This puppy is powered and recharged completely by renewable energy, be it sunlight or wind, as it houses a bevy of NiMH (NIV-7) liquid-cooled batteries that can be juiced up from the 2.5 square meters of photovoltaic cells atop its roof or a set of wind turbines that can be fixed to the vehicle while parked. Right on target, the company plans to launch a "limited run" of 200 in June, which will be white in color and demand around €24,000 ($31,421). As the learning curve kicks in and production costs sink, the vehicle price should ring up closer to €15,000 ($19,638) when it goes full scale in 2009, while a "single-seat utilitarian version" will compliment the flagship unit sometime in the future. So if you're thinking about ditching the whole "fill your car up" thing, you may still have time to get in on the pre-orders now being accepted for the first 20, but if history proves anything, it's doubtful. [Warning: PDF link][Via AutoblogGreen]
Bongiovi Acoustics unveils miracle DSP chip for car audio
If there were ever a time where we'd need to hear it before we believed it, this would be it. Tony Bongiovi, an audio engineer who's been around the block a time or two (read: he worked with Hendrix), has finally crafted the miracle chip he's been missing for decades. Dubbed the Digital Power Station (DPS, not to be confused with DSP), the microchip is described as a "very sophisticated equalizer," and while it was originally "the size of a refrigerator," he looked to Glenn Zelniker, a specialist in digital signal processing, to program a wee chip to do the same thing. The result is a dynamically programmed microchip based on an off-the-shelf DSP from Freescale Semiconductor, which is housed in special headunits (like JVC's KD-S100) and has more than "120 points of adjustment" to tune the tunes to fill each vehicle perfectly. Reportedly, the chip even turns factory speakers into high-fidelity drivers, as it calculates the dimensions of the vehicle and the abilities of the cones while outputting the audio. The JVC unit will cost "between $700 and $1,000 installed," since you'll have to schedule an appointment with your service department to get the correct software installed for your make and model, but we'd suggest a trial listen before you plunk down your one large.[Via PhysOrg]
LEGO car is better at parallel parking than you are
Now that all those cool kids are getting self-parking cars and being all big-headed about it, a fresh Mindstorms NXT creation has come along and put them all in their place. The SPC (Self Parking Car) can detect a space large enough for parking all by its lonesome, do the parallel parking deed, and then at your verbal command of "GO!" return to the road, ready to park another day. For a mere $249 (the price of the kit), you too could be this awesome, not to mention all the gas you'll be saving in the process. Of course, that whole "people moving" situation could get a bit sticky, but we're sure you'll work something out. Peep the video after the break.[Via TechEBlog]
Aussies disregard the law, continue yapping while driving
While it should probably be a foregone conclusion that using your cellphone whilst driving isn't the safest approach to get from point A to point B, there's no denying that some folks are still passing the miles by yapping it up. While Americans have passed some legislation (or at least tried to) to quell the use of cellphones / handsfree devices while in the vehicle, the Aussies apparently aren't upholding their own laws. A George Institute road safety study has recently found that "60-percent" of drivers are using their handset in some form or fashion while cruising, while over "12-percent" admitted to actually constructing text messages while switching lanes and dodging traffic. Despite the hazardous nature of their actions, it appears that motorists are continuing to talk due to the lack of enforcement, as "70-percent" of those surveyed felt that they wouldn't be caught. While we're not exactly sure if driving talkers should go to prison (like in Malaysia), the cops from Down Under seemingly need to step it up a notch, but who says they aren't burning through the minutes with sirens blazing too, eh?
Honda has designs on car cam network
Honda looks to be intent on putting a few more eyes on the road (as if there aren't enough already) with its latest bit of automotive gadgetry, a network of car-mounted webcams that'll give you a look at your route before you even roll out of the driveway. According to the patent application, the cameras would be built into the cars' rear-view mirrors, capturing video from the front and back and relaying it along with the car's speed and location to a central server, from which it could then be accessed by other drivers to get an idea of the traffic conditions ahead. Sensing the inevitable flurry of complaints, Honda also appears to be taking some steps to ensure privacy, saying that all video would be submitted anonymously and that the camera's would be switched off when the car's GPS detects that you're close to your home or workplace, although we somehow doubt that'll be enough to make everyone happy. Not content with merely following us humans around, however, Honda also looks like it could be extending its reach into the animal kingdom, saying (we kid you not) that the cameras could even be mounted to pets or wild or performing animals, allowing for such video feeds as "migrating bird cam," "dolphin cam," and "elephant cam." Although they are quick to point out that these feeds would be for entertainment purposes only, and "do not necessarily lie at a traversable location."[Via NewScientistTech]
BMW Hydrogen 7 is unveiled as first for luxury performance space
While plenty of car manufacturers have been working hard to bring hydrogen-based vehicles to the everyman, it seems BMW has been taking an alternate tact, and instead got bizzy squeezing a hydrogen drive into a 7 Series model. The car's engine can run on either hydrogen or gasoline, and includes tanks for both. You can manage around 124 miles on hydrogen and an additional 311 miles on gasoline, which should cut down on the whole "stranded in the middle of nowhere since there aren't enough hydrogen stations yet" situation. Performance is passable, at 0-62mph in 9.5 seconds, but this ain't no Tesla. The switch between power sources is performed automatically at the push of a button, and the car will be produced in a limited series for selected users, meaning you probably won't even have a shot at one. All the same, it's good to see alterna-fuel vehicles getting so close to reality -- and BMW seems convinced that in reality, the future won't just play host to compact boringcars.
From the "They still make those?" dept.: Motorola's M710
Yeah, we knew Motorola was still committed to making old-school car phones -- heck, Telus carries one of 'em -- but we still can't help but chuckle a little when we catch wind of a new one in the pipeline. The latest, dubbed M710, rides on Motorola's own iDEN, suggesting that it might find its way to Nextel at some point (or not; after all, Telus operates an iDEN network north of the border, as do a good number of carriers across the world). Given the M710's supposed lease in life as a commercial device, iDEN seems like the perfect fit considering that corporate customers account for an overwhelming majority of their base, but we're still somehow having a difficult time picturing anyone taking this over an i880.[Via Slashphone and infoSync World]
Nintendo takes to the streets
Why limit all your retro gaming to the living room when you can do it in the car as well? Nintendo wants to bring a sort of Virtual Console to your trunk, a game server that can download new content and games that can be enjoyed from any passenger seat in the vehicle. In filing for the patent, Nintendo refers to the systems already in place in hotels (and elsewhere), LodgeNet, the systems with the cheap, clunky controllers. Here's hoping Nintendo slims those down a bit for this idea, but there's nothing like playing a few rounds of your favorite old school games when on the go. And it's not like we can't do this already; after all, it's not that complicated to install a game system in a vehicle, or there's always the trusty DS. But Nintendo wants to make it easy. Why worry about collecting games and passing them around? Just get in, buckle up, and pick up your controller.The documents also make specific mention that the 'car area network' can pipe into the vehicle's stereo system, just in case you have the urge to bump the Zelda theme at stoplights. And they want to bring in movies and music. Nintendo playing nice with other media? The future is upon us.[Via Joystiq]
Xbox 360 survives multi-roll car crash, keeps churning
Some stories are simply too sensational to be true, thus giving us every reason we'd ever need to just blow it off, but there's one saving grace to a whacked-out story: pictures. Reportedly, an Xbox 360 owner was rammed in a hit and run style accident, where his Chevrolet S-10 "rolled over three or four times," launching the helpless console and a bevy of accessories onto the freeway. While the fellow (thankfully) survived the ordeal with little more than a "bruised elbow," his beloved console suffered quite a beating; the Xbox 360, its power brick, and several controllers were ran over by oncoming vehicles, leaving "tire marks" everywhere and "squishing" the metal supports within. After the turmoil subsided, this hardcore gamer was (understandably) more concerned with the life of his toy than whether or not his insurance policy had expired, so he rushed home to try things out. Although his trigger arm was a bit sore, the console managed to boot up, play games, and even play back a DVD, providing an assumed sigh of relief for traumatized lad. You can catch a video of the rugged console in action after the break, while hitting the read link will show you the survivor's tale and a bevy of pics.[Thanks, Arjun]
Nintendo wants to pimp your ride [update 1]
Nintendo isn't content to sit back and take over your living room (Wii, GameCube) or your pocket (DS, Game Boy) ... now they want your car too. Macsimum News (an Apple news site) covers the patent Nintendo filed in August to bring an in-car gaming system via installed hardware and a "Car Area Network" that can supposedly beam game information from the server to the game console. Although they say the wireless network could be between your game server (in the trunk) and the game console (in your backseat), they do mention that the system could possibly download new games and updates wirelessly. The controller looks a lot like the Virtual Console Controller, which in turn resembles the generic crapware that you find in hotels and on airplanes which play the absolute worst games imaginable. Seriously, if you're stuck on an international flight for something like 21 hours, you'll have more fun playing "count the seat threads" than you will using the in-flight game systems. If you're thinking about pimping out your ride, pick up a cheap GameCube, PS2, or Xbox and stick that in your car rather than waiting on this car game system to hit the market.Next up: Nintendo in your bathroom (no Wii jokes, please).[Thanks, metalliska][Update: we meant PS2, not PS3. If indeed there were cheap PS3s to be had, we'd be letting you know. Thanks, Back_lit]
Panasonic unveils Strada CN-NVD905U in-car GPS / head unit
With Sharp throwing down a svelte in-car LCD ready to display nearly any automotive statistic (or roadtrip route) you'd ever need, and Chrysler planning to offer the MyGIG do-it-all device on upcoming vehicles, Panasonic is tossing in its own rendition to keep the competition on their heels. The Strada CN-NVD905U is an in-car navigation / head unit that boasts a 7-inch touchscreen, 30GB hard drive, built-in DVD / CD player, NAVTEQ mapping software, and support for Bluetooth handsfree operations. The trilingual GUI also touts automatic rerouting, and if you're not already tuned into XM Radio, you can access Sirius' real-time traffic data to avoid those crowded freeways on your commute back home. Additionally, it sports "iPod video connectivity" for rear seat and front passenger entertainment, but we're sure all those snazzy movie functions are kept under wraps until you throw it in park. While there's no telling how much dealers will end up charging for this in-dash machine, the Strada CN-NVD905U should start making noise (and keeping us on track) next Spring.[Via Slashphone]
Sanyo unveils TV tuner-equipped NV-SD10DT GPS
While typically not a dominant force in the GPS game, Sanyo is bringing the goods with its latest navigation units. The NV-SD10DT and NV-M10, dubbed "Mini-Gorillas," are targeting folks who crave a car-based NAV that can join the trek on occasion. Both units sport a 4.5-inch 400 x 234 resolution touchscreen, 1GB SD card loaded with maps and POIs, 1-watt built-in speaker, and a conscience-nagging Echo Drive II system which apparently notifies the driver of how harmful they're being to environment by quickly accelerating and idling in rush-hour traffic. The real star, however, is the built-in terrestrial TV tuner in the NV-SD10DT; while catching a break on the subway, the GPS unit becomes a portable television on the fly, providing instant entertainment when you've reached your destination. Both units should hit the Japanese markets later this month, and the NV-M10 will run you ¥78,750 ($669), while the tuner-packed NV-SD10DT demands ¥91,350 ($776).[Via Impress]
DrewTech rolls out Linux-powered DashDAQ data acquisition system
With Linux hitting it big on everything from the PSP to Monster's network media and automation devices, it's no surprise to see the OS taking charge on DrewTech's DashDAQ. The portable conglomerate is a "cross between a data acquisition system, diagnostic tool, automotive gauge display, and a handheld computer," and is targeting automotive gurus who crave performance monitoring, data charts, and customized gauges / diagnostic meters. With a bit of 1337 programming skills, the device can display nearly anything you desire, and can double as a navigation monitor, CarPC display, or snazzy tachometer to boot. It boasts a 4-inch QWVGA touchscreen, adjustable backlight, 200MHz ARM processor, 64MB of internal RAM, MMC / SD card slots, USB 2.0 connectivity, a serial port, and support for optional Bluetooth / WiFi add-ons. It also plays nice with OBDII, EGT, O2, and a plethora of other vehicle sensors. If this hodgepodge has you in a tizzy, but the gearhead in you longs for "one more toy," be sure to peep the video of DrewTech's multi-purpose device in action to determine if its worth the $595 pricetag.
