Electronics and Gadgets
Fujitsu Gives Drivers an Eye in the Sky
Aunt Mabel gave up parallel parking shortly after she traded in the '88
Grand Marquisfor a newer car. She told us that she missed using the hood ornament as a navigation tool. You couldn't see the bumper on newer cars, and she was just too nervous that she'd tap the car in front of her. We'd suggest that Mabel install one of Fujitsu's new wraparound vehicle cameras -- but only if she promises to take off the curb feelers.
Bike Gadget Turns Red Lights Green
Getting stuck at a red light that won't change sucks. It's even worse when you're on a bicycle because you'll never see green until a car rolls up and trips the sensor. That's never seemed fair to Ed Richley, so he's invented a gadget that tricks red lights into turning green.
"About 10 years ago, when I lived in California, a colleague told me about a particularly obstinate
(light) on his commute, and asked me to build something to force a detection," Richley told Wired.com.
Back to the Future With Lincoln's Door-Mounted Keyless Entry Pad
We'll forgive you if you start experiencing deja vu when reading about the SecuriCode keyless entry system on Lincoln's MKS. After all, Ford introduced the exact same system some 28 years ago on the 1980 Thunderbird. Sure, the new keypad looks cool -- but so would
vacuum-actuated headlamp covers, and we don't envision those ever coming back.
Mad Macs in the 2008 SEMA RIDES Genesis
We like to think of the Hyundai Genesis as the Sarah Palin of luxury cars. On the surface, it's the anti-establishment establishment candidate, a luxury car with humble roots but big performance claims. Like the vice presidential candidate, the Genesis wants to outperform the old boys' club but also
wouldn't mind joining it. The
RIDESGenesisis kind of like Palin after her trip to Neiman Marcus, except the Hyundai stopped at the Apple Store instead.
Nissan Slip-Alert Shows the Road Ahead
Just in time for winter, Nissan is expanding testing of two new applications for its
CARWINGStelematics system. Road Cam broadcasts real time images of mountain roads that are known to become impassable due to snow and ice, while Slip Alert uses the navigation screen to display hazardous curves where other drivers have lost control of their Nissans.
From Nationwide: A Cell Phone Minder Even Joe the Plumber Could Love
Nationwide Insuranceand
Aegis Mobilityhave partnered to give insurance premium discounts to customers who agree to install a handset application called DriveAssist that limits their cell phone use while driving. We couldn't be happier that Nationwide is on your phone.
iPod Connections, Bluetooth Widespread in New Cars
Manufacturers of aftermarket iPod-to-cassette adapters and cigarette lighter speakerphones take note: your days are numbered. The 2009 model year marks the first time where the majority of car models available in the US will feature iPod connectivity, while eight out of ten car models will offer Bluetooth.
Nissan Keyfob-Phone is Ready for 2004
If you've ever shelled out $1500 for a new dealer-programmed keyfob after accidentally sending yours through the washer and dryer, or left your iPhone and all your valuable contacts in the back of a cab, you'll appreciate the latest "advance" from Nissan, NTT DOCOMO and Sharp: a phone that can lock and unlock your car. There's video after the jump, but we have to warn you (spoiler alert): it's just a girl locking and unlocking a Nissan using a phone that looks like a giant keyless entry fob.
Audi Puts More 'Go' Into Stop-and-Go
If police officers in Ingolstadt notice a decrease in luxury car drivers running red lights these days, we suspect it's because of a new project piloted by Audi that lets drivers know exactly how long before a traffic light turns. According to Audi's press release, the system is meant to prevent "frustrating, fuel-sapping stops at red traffic lights." After all, the last thing you want to see when you're driving your brand-new S5 is a red light. We're liking Audi engineers more and more each day.
read more »
Bookmarks
