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Eclipse's AVN 2210p apes TomTom One's portable style
One of the defining features of the TomTom One is its portability: being able to pick it up and take it away a), makes the owner feel far more confident that they won't lose it in the case of a break in and b), they get to use it as a portable GPS device. Eclipse has emulated the success of the TomTom One's concept with the announcement of the AVN2210p, although their solution is arguably less elegant seeing as it's based around a double-DIN sized unit designed to be integrated into car dashes. The detachable unit consists of a 3.5-inch LCD which gets its navigation information from an SD card, and if you opt for TomTom's optional service package it'll provide real time traffic info as well. As is now typical for pretty much any modern in-car electronics kit, the ANV2210p features compatibility with XM and Sirius' satellite radio solutions, as well as connections for an iPod. For alternate methods of routing audio through the device, there's a USB port that can play digital audio files straight off of various PMPs and USB thumb drives. If you're in a really old-school kinda mood, you can play burned MP3s on a subtle, hidden CD player. The ANV2210p will be retailing at $900, and should be available sometime this Spring.
"Eclipse" concept phone keeps it simple
Never mind the MOTOFONE -- this is how you do simplicity in style. "Eclipse," a concept for an ultra-basic handset shown on Product Design Forums, would stand 9 centimeters tall when open and collapse down to an eminently pocketable 5.5 centimeters. Besides SMS support and a phone book, the trick display -- which relies on a pair of side buttons to triggers its pop-up action -- is the only "feature" to speak of. Package these suckers for prepaid accounts at $10 a pop (aw, what the heck... $15, even) and we think they've got some takers.[Via textually.org]
Fujitsu Ten unveils DREC1000 in-car accident recorder
If you've got a svelte new in-dash LCD with reverse assist, or even the VideoMirror aiding your less-than-admirable backing skills, neither of those will do you much good if your precious bumper gets marred by someone else. Assisting lawyers and victims alike in making accident cases an exercise in simplicity, Fujitsu Ten (more commonly referred to as Eclipse) is unveiling the DREC1000 Consumer Drive Recorder. Similar in function to TruScene's TS-1L, this in-car sentry keeps a keen eye on your vehicle's surroundings, and if sudden braking / acceleration is detected, a 20 second video clip (complete with the bevy of expletives you're likely to spew) is recorded onto a 128MB CF card for YouTube insurance purposes. The sensor box also reacts to jolts and sudden changes in driving patterns, activating the wide-angle CCD camera to capture the moments before and after a presumed incident; clips can be manually captured as well, and the device can hold up to 15 segments before the CF card reaches capacity or your vehicle is completely demolished. While ¥59,850 ($501) may seem a tad steep for continuous monitoring of your Volkswagen minivan, the gifted few sporting a Rolls Royce or Tesla Roadster may see things a bit differently.[Via Far East Gizmos]
