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Chinavasion's plug-in MP3 player / FM transmitter / etcetera seems surprisingly useful
Chinavasion's latest piece of steaming trash is actually very un-trash-like, as it thoughtfully meshes a number of in-car technologies into one single cigarette adapter doodad. The Plug-In Car MP4 Player with LCD Display manages to bundle an MP4 / MP3 player, 1.5-inch LCD and 4GB of memory into a device that plugs neatly into your car's cigarette adapter, and the inclusion of an FM transmitter means that you won't even need to bring your own DAP to get tunes flowing in the car. Moreover, the SD card slot enables even more jams to be loaded on if you're embarking on a serious road trip, and the USB socket makes PC-to-whatchamacallit transfers a cinch. We're truly impressed with just how awe-inspiring this thing is for €21.57 ($29); too bad we don't trust the quality one bit.[Via Slashgear]
Nextar cuts the cord with solar-powered in-car handsfree kits
While we feel that some objects shouldn't be solar powered for the sake of being solar powered, we can't help but dig Nextar's approach here. The NXBT-001 / NXBT-002 seem to primarily differ only in the amount of charge they can hold, with the former offering 250 hours of standby time / 10 hours of talk time and the latter boasting 150 hours of standby time and 6 hours of yappin'. As for functionality, both devices are designed to enable handsfree calling in the car with any Bluetooth-enabled mobile, and of course, they each soak up the sun while you're out cruising about. The best part? The fact that you no longer have to run yet another power cable to that 8-port cigarette adapter hub sitting in your center console. The pair will ship this Spring for $59.99 / $69.99 (thanks to a bundled caller ID display), respectively. Full release is after the break.
Dashboard Devices to debut ENV line of in-car computers at CES
While we can't quite decide whether the carputer is a dying breed or simply a niche that never really took off, Dashboard Devices is hoping to revive it either way come January. The outfit will reportedly debut its ENV (Entertainment and Navigation for Vehicles) line as a two-part system. First comes the ENV-XC, which houses the main processor, graphics unit and other basic functionality; said brain can be paired with a choice of head units, including the double-DIN ENV-100 or the single-DIN ENV-50. Word has it that the double-DIN package will ring up at a staggeringly high $2,700, but we're also hearing that it'll offer "true dual zone" control, meaning that your robustious youngsters can have their own set of preferences in the rear while the grown-ups keep things comfortable up front. It'll also pack a WiFi module, voice activated functions, navigation, DVD playback, a 160GB hard drive, iPod compatibility, satellite radio support, Windows XP, a 7-inch touchscreen and optional WWAN. We'll be keeping an eye out for this one at CES -- but for $2,700, we're totally not going to be satisfied without a bona fide autopilot system.[Via Yahoo! Tech]
Kenwood trots out iPhone-compatible I-K50 head unit
We suspect the whole "iPhone-friendly" bit is more marketing hoopla than anything else, as Kenwood's I-K50 head unit definitely lacks a straight-up dock connector, but that doesn't mean it won't play nice with Apple's latest handset. Boasting a USB port right on the front, the single-DIN deck gets down with iPods, iPhones and practically any DAP or PMP with a USB connector. Of course, it also supports those antiquated discs we Earthlings call "CDs," and the front-mounted auxiliary input makes it really easy to connect any source with a headphone output. It's set to drop in around a month in Japan for ¥23,100 ($259).[Via iPodNN]
Microtune's in-car TV tuner snags Days of our Lives at 125mph
Say you're James Bond (or similar), and for once, you're actually not the one behind the wheel. While you're being chauffeured around the elegant Italian countryside at breakneck speeds, you'll probably want a little live TV entertainment from the back seat. Enter Microtune's MicroTuner, a "first-of-its-kind tuner chip for high-speed in-car TV." Put simply, the MT2067 is built to provide "superior, stable TV reception for passengers in vehicles traveling at top speeds along the autobahn or highway," and supposedly, it can retain a clear signal whilst motoring at 125 miles-per-hour. Better still, it's supports worldwide analog / digital terrestrial standards including NTSC, PAL, SECAM, DVB-T, DVB-H, ISDB-T, DTMB, ATSC and ATSC-M/H. $20 says this comes integrated into next year's TV-infused line of Bentley motorcars.
Honda's color-changing speedometer to drive out bad driving habits
So, you've a lead foot? What of it, right? Honda's hoping to make that bad little habit vanish by using the tried and true guilt trip method, or more specifically, the Ecological Drive Assist System. For starters, the technology's ECON Mode works with the CVT and engine to "support more fuel-efficient driving." The real kicker, however, is the color-based "guidance function" -- drive like a granny, your speedo lights up green, drive a little wilder, and things get a bit blue, and if you toss fuel economy to the wind and let 'er rip, expect a full-on blue screen and the voice of God to come thundering through your sound system instructing that those horses be held. The EDAS should appear in the automaker's Insight hybrid as early as Spring 2009, though there's no word if it'll be standard equipment on the rumored S3000.
Mercedes-Benz's myCOMMAND system demoed on video
With Chrysler pushing out an internet-connected package of its own, Mercedes-Benz is attempting to stay one step ahead with the intelligent, intuitive myCOMMAND system. Our pals at Autoblog were able to get a bit of hands-on time with the new setup at the LA Auto Show, and they were kind enough to host up a near-5 minute video showing off its most attractive features. They reiterated that what was being taped was simply a concept for now, but there's zero doubt that the automaker is looking to get this into production as soon as feasibly possible. Hit the read link for a look at the clip, but be sure and pull over first.
Chrysler's Web Edition vehicle package: includes WiFi, iPod touch and a Dell Mini 9
Chrysler has been toying with in-car connectivity for months now, so it's really no shock to see the next logical step being taken. At the San Francisco Auto Show this week, the automaker is set to showcase a "Web Edition" package, which would theoretically be available as a dealer-installed option for most Chrysler, Jeep, and Dodge vehicles. The bundle would include an Autonet Mobile router (branded as Uconnect Web), a Dell Mini 9, 8GB iPod touch, Sony PSP and an Eye-Fi WiFi SD card; couple that with one year of internet service and you've got everything that makes up the $1,999 asking price. Reportedly, a slimmed down option will go for $1,100 and only include the router, service and Mini 9, though there's no indication of when it'll be hitting new whips. Nor if Chrysler will survive long enough to tell us.
Mercedes-Benz shows off internet-connected myCOMMAND system
Mercedes-Benz has already toyed around a bit with some internet-connected in-car systems, but it looks to really be going all out with its new myCOMMAND system, which it's now showing off at the Los Angeles Auto Show. Among other things, it would constantly pull various traffic information off the internet and take it into account for route selection, as well as give you access to internet radio stations, let you make VoIP phone calls, and even give you a browser that'll let you " surf the internet in the accustomed way." Mercedes is also promising that the entire system will be completely intuitive, with most of the primary functions controlled with a single rotary pushbutton, and two secondary buttons provided for things like menu operation. Of course, it's all still very much a demo at this point, and Mercedes itself says it'll be least a "few more years" before it actually winds up in a production vehicle.[Thanks, Jason]
Fujitsu development enables real-time wraparound vehicle view
Fujitsu and automotive safety advancements go hand-in-hand, so it's no shock whatsoever to hear that the outfit is fixing to showcase a new technology that enables wraparound view of vehicles in real-time. The new video-processing technology "adapts to different driving situations, enabling the driver to peripherally view the entire surroundings of a vehicle, from the point of view and field of view that is most appropriate for each driving situation." Obviously, such an inclusion would come in handy when parking downtown, passing on a narrow street and / or watching your back should real life ever mimic something straight out of GTA IV. Unfortunately, there's no word as to when an automaker will begin infusing its automobiles with this here invention, but our insurance premiums are begging for it to be sooner rather than later.[Via AkihabaraNews]
Sanyo trots out a few new Gorilla navigators
Sanyo's gone a few months now without popping out a new Gorilla navigator, but as of this week, you'll be forced to live with slightly antiquated jungle-themed GPS units no more. For starters, the outfit introduced a pair of SSD-based in-car units, the NVA-GS1580FT and NVA-GS1480DT; both of these feature a 400MHz CPU, while the former adds a 1seg TV tuner. Moving on, we've got the NV-SD750FT and NV-SB510DT, both of which are meant for aftermarket installation on your dash / windshield. The former includes a spacious 7-inch LCD, while the latter touts a still-respectable 5.2-inch panel. 'Course, we don't expect any of the new beasts to gallop, swim or fly over to US soil anytime soon, but those in Japan can sink their teeth in next month for between ¥75,000 ($759) and ¥155,000 ($1,569).%Gallery-36151%[Via Navigadget]Read - Sanyo NVA-GS1580FT and NVA-GS1480DTRead - Sanyo NV-SD750FT and NV-SB510DT
BMW asks other automakers to collaborate on in-car open source platform
In March of last year, we heard that Toyota had a mind to create its very own in-car operating system to "boost efficiency and speed up development." Now, it's bruited that BMW is asking any automaker who will listen to join hands in order to jointly develop an open source in-vehicle platform. The company has stated that it plans on having an open source system in a vehicle that sells 200,000 or more units within the next five to seven years, and while employees from rivals were on hand when the proclamation was made, no one was rushing to call dibs on first. Still, it sounds as if BMW will be forging ahead with or without any assistance, though bigwig Gunter Reichart did assert that BMW was "inviting other OEMs to join it [and] to exchange with it." In an apparent attempt at providing comic relief, Jim Buczkowski (Ford's director of global electrical and electronics systems engineering) stated that through its partnership with Microsoft, it already had 280,000 vehicles on the road with an open system. Hmm, clearly our definitions of "open" are somewhat incongruent.[Via Motor Authority, thanks Laminaatplaat]
Googling BMWs coming to US streets
For more than a year lucky BMW-owning Germans have been hitting Google Maps, and more recently the rest of the Internets, at blazing (cough) EDGE speeds from their sport-seats. Now, Bimmer-owning Americans are getting a piece of the action with a little help from AT&T's GSM-friendly network. However, while there's no mention in the release, BMW Blog thinks US cars will be limited to GPRS, not EDGE. All 2009 American BMW models, except for the lowly X3 mini-'Ute (which BMW doesn't even bother to manufacture itself), will get Google Maps integration, enabling the driver or passenger to search for businesses from the dash. Directions can be piped to the car's nav system and calls placed via in-car Bluetooth. At $199 per-year it's not exactly a steal, but that does include standard BMW Assist functionality like locating your car if it's stolen or dispatching an ambulance if you're in a horrible accident. Yeah, we only care about the searching too.
In-car charger presents four USB ports alongside cigarette socket
In all honesty, USBfever almost nailed this one. The $22.99 in-car charger plugs right into your cigarette socket and gives motorists their cigarette outlet back along with 4 charging USB ports. The one (admittedly massive) tweak we wish it would've made? Replace that cig adapter with a traditional AC outlet. Yeah, yeah -- that would make the whole thing a lot bigger, but you can't deny that it would be way more useful. Version 2, anyone?[Via Coolest Gadgets]
Gigawave in-car HD camera survives trial by fire at 24 Hours of Spa
Auto racing and HD is a great match, no doubt. Even if you're like us and prefer being at road course events in person, there's one vantage point that only HDTV can give you -- those in-car camera shots that make the kid inside us all scream "vroom." But if you see something like the pic above, that scream might be more... colorful. The in-car Gigawave HD camera mounted in the #6 Phoenix Carsport Corvette Z06 at the 24 Hours of Spa race in Belgium last weekend was seriously put to the test and came out looking like a champ. The Z06 burst into flames in pit lane, and the camera kept working through the whole incident and caught all the excitement. Luckily the driver wasn't hurt. Amazingly, the car was put back out on the track and the camera was still fully functional after the incident. Click on through for video of the incident.
KNGT offers up Windows XP-powered icom MK1 carputer
We genuinely hope you don't value your dash very much, because a great deal of it will vanish if you opt to install KNGT's icom MK1.The full-fledged car computer wows passengers and drivers alike with its 6.95-inch 800 x 480 resolution display, on-screen QWERTY keyboard, wireless connectivity and mobile TV (T-DMB) tuner. Furthermore, you'll find a 40GB / 80GB hard drive, upwards of 2GB of RAM, a few USB 2.0 ports, a 1.6GHz Intel CPU and Windows XP running the show. You know all those threats you made when you were younger about heading out and just living in your '79 Riviera? Following through just got a whole lot easier.[Via Coolest-Gadgets]
Tesla's in-car charging computer gets touched on video
Your retinas have been treated to plenty of external shots of Tesla's Roadster, but have you ever stopped to wonder what kind of excitement sat just southwest of the steering wheel? CNET's UK branch managed to get their camcorder within a Roadster parked on display over in Britain, and what they found was a rather robust interface that enables owners to get all sorts of involved with how and when the car charges. The representative did note that typical navigation functions were controlled via the JVC head unit, but the small panel just under the gauges enables motorists to control a number of aspects in relation to charging. There's even a guide that explains which choices are cheaper and more beneficial for the long-term life of the battery. Have a look at the video in the read link.[Via Digg]
Audi unveils enviable MMI for upcoming A8 sedan
For the acronym-challenged, Audi is getting serious about its Multi Media Interface. The automaker's present system is widely regarded as the best of the best already, but it's staying one step ahead of itself with the revamped version prepped for the A8 luxury sedan. Within the whip, you'll find a 7-inch LCD with an 800 x 480 resolution alongside a DVD drive, 40GB internal hard drive, Dolby Digital 5.1 support, optional analog / digital TV tuner, Bluetooth, twin CPUs (800MHz and 500MHz), NVIDIA graphics for "genuine 3D maps" and an optional (but necessary, really) Audi Music Interface for connecting your favorite PMP. For those uninterested in the A8 (but suddenly obsessed with this new MMI), hang tight -- it will be hitting other Audi vehicles here soon.
Pioneer issues firmware update for screwy AVIC F-Series navigators
Just over a month after the internet got all fired up about the problematic AVIC F-Series navigators, Pioneer has come to the rescue (we hope, anyway) with a free firmware update. Aimed specifically at the US-based AVIC-F90BT, AVIC-F900BT and AVIC-F700BT, the update will reportedly "improve overall system performance and resolve certain software issues." The outfit also notes that the AVIC-F500BT doesn't need the upgrade, and even if your unit has been a-okay thus far, it still recommends applying the software. Take ten minutes or so and see what the latest firmware has to offer, and be sure to let us know if all (or some) of the kinks have indeed been ironed out.[Thanks, Steven]
Audiovox intros ACA250 wireless DIY back-up camera system
We'll go ahead and state the obvious here: Audiovox claims this thing is made for DIY installations, but we'd highly recommend hiring a professional if you're totally green at this stuff. You know, considering the immense importance of alignment and the like when it comes to a rear-view back-up camera system. Anyways, the wireless ACA250 kit provides drivers with a color camera (110-degree viewing angle), infrared LEDs for night vision and a monitor that can be plugged into an AC adapter or hard-wired. Not too shabby for $129 -- assuming you're up to the task of putting it all together, that is. Full release after the jump.
