In-car DVD: Visteon family entertainment system

"PC Mag" has a nice review of the Visteon family entertainment system which brings your favorite DVD's into your car.

An overhead-mounted DVD player with a 10-inch screen will usually set you back $1,000 (including installation). The Visteon Dockable Family Entertainment System exceeds that price point, and comes in at $1,300, because of its mobility: Press two buttons and a self-contained DVD player slides out, ready for use in your hotel, on the plane (3 hours 15 minutes of battery life), or in a second car with another dock (about $400). It also plays MP3 and WMA CDs.

Foursprung, In-car

Source: PC Mag

Read more

Read what others are saying about it: Bloglines, Feedster, Technorati

Satellite TV: At your backseat!

"PC Mag" has a nice review of the KVH TracVision A5 which brings satellite TV to your backseat!

JetBlue planes offer satellite TV; customers love it. KVH TracVision A5 puts DirecTV in your car; your kids will love it. A 5-inch-high dome mounts atop your SUV or van. Inside the dome is a flattened satellite dish on a motorized, self-aligning turntable. When it works, it's terrific: nearly 100 channels and just $4.99 a month on top of your existing DirecTV bill. But when driving in the suburban Northeast, we found a glitch every few minutes, ranging from a 1-second picture freeze (going under bridges) to complete signal loss (caused by trees overhead and tall buildings). Discounting the bridge hiccups, the longest uninterrupted signal was about 15 minutes.

Service is best in the Southern and Western U.S. (closer to the satellite), KVH says. But regardless of which DirecTV package you have at home, location-based programming agreements lock out most premium sports packages, premium movie networks, and major metro area local stations.

A future dish incorporating a GPS sensor could resolve that. But be prepared to add $500 to $1,000 to the cost if your car doesn't have video displays.

Foursprung, Satellite TV, In-car

Source: PC Mag

Read more

Read what others are saying about it: Bloglines, Feedster, Technorati

iPod: Another car charger in the market

There is a new player in the wide market of iPod car chargers

DLO announced its AutoPod intelligent car charger. It has a status light telling the charging condition - red for 'power on' and green for 'go'. The device is compatible with all dockable iPods and is available in fitting the classic white color or in black for the new iPod Nanos.

Foursprung, iPod, charger, MP3

Source: Ubergizmo

Read more

Read what others are saying about it: Bloglines, Feedster, Technorati

iPod: Automotive reviews as video podcast

The colleagues over at edmunds.com offer a special service: automotive review videos for download to your iPod Video in the Apple iTunes Music Store. The Unofficial Apple Weblog just watched one:

"I just watched one that made me want the Z06 Corvette more that I already did. Interesting to note is that they start with an advertisement. It's a brief (15 seconds) spot for the Nissan Z. Currently, there are 21 episodes available."

Foursprung, iPod

Source: The Unofficial Apple Weblog

Read more

Read what others are saying about it: Bloglines, Feedster, Technorati

Foursprung: Parking meter protects itself from violation

PhotoViolationMeter, from Photo Violation Technologies Corp., is a parking meter self-enforcing againt violation.
The meter uses a combination of sensors, photography, and wireless technology to enforce parking rules and help drivers avoid getting towed.
Coins, credit cards, debit cards, smart cards and phone payments can be accepted:

"The meter can charge according to how long the car is there -- payment stops when the car pulls away. You can give the meter your phone number, and it will notify you in time to move your car before it gets towed. The meter also takes a picture of car license plates, which are sent to a central computer for "reading" to record who parked where when (civil liberty types will have a field day with this feature). The meter will be tested beginning in January, and rolled out for public use shortly thereafter."

Foursprung
Source: The Raw Feed

Read more

Read what others are saying about it: Bloglines, Feedster, Technorati

Cell phones: Usage rising

Engadget published some statistics about cell phone use behind the wheel:

"Despite the best efforts of lawmakers, cellphone usage while driving continued to increase in 2005 according to an annual National Highway Traffic Safety Administration survey. Currently, about 10 percent of drivers "in a typical daylight moment" are either yapping directly into their cellphone or waving their arms in tune with their handsfree system. That's up from 8 percent just last year and pretty much on par with the number of noon-time drivers you'll likely see sloppin' down a McGooble and dabbing special sauce off their ties. About 4 percent of drivers were found to use hands-free devices, but the NHTSA and others, don't believe these technologies improve safety. And mark our words, there will be more laws to prove it!"

Foursprung
Source: Engadget

Read more

Read what others are saying about it: Bloglines, Feedster, Technorati

Foursprung: Radical new wheel technology by Michelin

Gizmag reports about Michelin's new development in wheel technology:

"Michelin has showcased a potentially disruptive technology with significant ramifications for the future for mobility: an airless, integrated tyre and wheel combination dubbed the TWEEL (i.e. Tyre/WhEEL) . The Tweel promises performance levels beyond those possible with conventional pneumatic technology. The first commercial applications of the Tweel will be in lower-speed, lower-weight vehicles such as the iBOT mobility device and Segway's Concept Centaur. Designed by Segway-inventor Dean Kamen, the iBOT mobility device has the ability to climb stairs and navigate uneven terrain, offering mobility freedom impossible with traditional wheelchairs. Additionally, Segway's Concept Centaur, a prototype that applies self-balancing technology to a four-wheel device, has also been equipped with Tweel to increase its performance potential.
Beyond these first real-world applications, Michelin has additional projects for Tweel on construction skidsteers and a variety of military vehicles."

Foursprung, wheels

Source: Gizmag

Read more

Read what others are saying about it: Bloglines, Feedster, Technorati

GPS: Portable device designed for two wheels

TomTom, well known for mobile GPS navigation devices, released the RIDER, the first mobile GPS designed for two wheels. The price of $1,200 sound bit high but TomTom RIDER is rugged, water resistant, fits both motorcycles and scooters and provides you even with clear spoken instructions in your helmet.The drive mode is tailored for simple touch-screen operation with gloves on.

Foursprung, GPS

Source: TomTom

Read more

Read what others are saying about it: Bloglines, Feedster, Technorati

iPod: New car integrator from Griffin

Griffin Technology, manufacturer of iTrip, the line of iPod integration devices by FM transmitters, released the iTrip Auto, which is the newest iTrip model. According to the manufacturer the iTrip Auto is the most versatile iTrip to date, accommodating every dock connector iPod, including iPod nano and 5th Generation iPods with video. iTrip Auto combines Griffin's renowned FM transmitter technology with an integrated charger.

Designed specifically for use in the car, iTrip Auto's large, easy-to-read backlit LCD screen affords quick, precise station selection and easy status at a glance.

iTrip Auto uses the audio line out from the iPod's dock connector and optimizes the output volume. Speaker volume can be controlled solely from the car stereo controls, without having to adjust the iPod's volume level.

iTrip Auto brings selectable LX and DX modes for best-quality audio under real-world conditions, US and International tuning modes, Griffin's RF technology.

It works with
• 3rd Generation iPod with touch wheel and buttons
• iPod mini
• 4th Generation iPod with Click Wheel
• iPod photo
• iPod U2 Special Edition
• 4th Generation iPod with Color Screen
• iPod nano
• 5th Generation iPod with Video

The device is available for less than $70.

Foursprung, iPod

Source: Griffin Technology

Read more

Read what others are saying about it: Bloglines, Feedster, Technorati

Hybrids: New bus fleet for NYC

Autoblog is featuring New York City's new fleet of busses saving a lot of fuel by using hybrid technology:

"They roll using a 270-hp, 5.9L Cummins diesel as a generator for the array of 46 batteries installed on the roof. The batteries feed a control unit developed by BAE systems and provide the bus with instant torque and seamless acceleration. Plus, since the diesel isn't used as a direct drive component, there's no expensive transmission to maintain. (see illustration after the jump)

While the $500,000 buses do cost some 30-percent more than a traditional diesel bus, they will recoup that loss over the life of the vehicle through lower maintenance costs and less fuel consumed.

So how's the mpg on these things? 3.6 mpg. It doesn't sound like much, but it's a lot more than the current fleet's 2.5 mpg. Each hybrid bus will save 5,000 gallons of fuel a year. The city is purchasing a fleet of 825 buses and together they will save as much fuel as replacing 15,000 passenger cars with hybrids such as the Toyota Prius. Thus, one hybrid bus equals 18 Priuses."

Foursprung, hybrid

Source: Autoblog

Read more

Read what others are saying about it: Bloglines, Feedster, Technorati

Foursprung: New tracking services in the UK

PRNewswire reports about a new high accuracy tracking service based on CPS matrix technology and Orange Network:

A low cost, high accuracy positioning system, which locates vehicles and other valuable assets, is launched this week by HD Positions. The highly innovative and unique solution, which works across the UK, with coverage inside buildings and containers, uses CPS's Matrix technology and is based on the Orange UK network.
Matrix technology is available from HD Positions. In response to increasing demand from the growing number of location based service providers, for a low cost, robust and easy to implement positioning solution, HD Positions supplies the interface to Matrix, and facilitates related Machine to Machine (M2M) services, including network connectivity, billing
and support.
"Using CPS's Matrix technology with Orange's Cell ID provides an exceptional level of location accuracy," comments Melissa Jenkins, M2M product manager, Orange Business Solutions, UK. "This new development, using CPS's Matrix high accuracy technology to support such an imaginative service rollout, further underlines how Orange supports practical and innovative
solutions for the UK business market."
Nigel Chadwick, director of HD Positions, highlights "Until now, the market for high accuracy positioning systems has been held back by a number of factors, including poor area coverage, prohibitive purchase, fitting and operating costs, power consumption, and slow and inconsistent location reporting. Matrix, combined with the latest devices now appearing on the
market, provides consistent high accuracy positioning with high speed reporting at low cost."
One of the first complete solutions to use the Matrix system is the "Boomerang Box" - a robustly constructed device, combining low installation cost and a two year battery life. This is one of the first devices to address a wide range of potential applications including the tracking of trailers, cars, motorcycles, caravans, and many other valuable assets.
The first end user of the service is the Altrincham based Cartwright group, a leading provider in the UK of vehicle transport solutions. The company plans to install Matrix enabled Boomerang Boxes in their vehicles to meet customer demand for tracking and vehicle recovery. Last year, over 4,000 trailers were stolen across the UK, with associated goods taken totalling
more than GBP1bn(i). Cartwright is a customer of Retreve a leading solution provider of telematic systems.

Foursprung, tracking

Source: PRNewsWire

Read more

Read what others are saying about it: Bloglines, Feedster, Technorati

VW: Sensible virtual buttons

Volkswagen just licensed the TouchSense technology from US company Immersion. With this it is possible to make virtual buttons on touch screens sensible. By this the driver should be able to control devices via the touch screen buttons with tactile feedback without needing to take the view from the road.

It is possbile to simulate the physical feeling of a virtual button snapping in. Depending on where the screen is touched the display can vibrate in different ways and different frequency, wave form, magnitude and duration make different haptic effects possible.

The technology is meant primarily for controlling satellite navigation, air condition and entertainment devices.
It is not know when Volkswagen plans to bring first vehicles integrating this technology to the market.

Foursprung, VW

Source: Golem

Read more

Read what others are saying about it: Bloglines, Feedster, Technorati

BMW: New partnership with technology provider Intel

German automaker BMW and the manufacturer of integrated curcuits Intel have announced a comprehensive, multiyear partnership that involves technology, marketing and F1 sponsorship components First step of this will be Intel's sponsorship of new BMW Sauber F1 team.

Jalopnik has more details:

"While most of the technology part of the deal involves Intel developing IT systems for BMW’s offices and dealer network, Intel will supply the F1 team with tech support, and the two companies will collaborate on an industry standard for integration of third-party devices, like phones and portable music players, into BMW’s vehicles. What that means for iPod connectivity in BMWs in unclear, though we suspect an in-car docking station is now probably out of the question.

Hopefully they go one step further as Apple provide their new computers with Intel technology also... :-)

Foursprung, BMW, Intel

Source: Jalopnik

Read more

Read what others are saying about it: Bloglines, Feedster, Technorati

GPS: New PocketPC with GPS navigation from Asus

Asus released a new gadget, the MyPal A636, running on Windows Mobile 5.0. Connectivity is provided by via Bluetooth and WiFi.
The Intel XScale 416MHz CPU is fine for calculating your routes and features like 64MB RAM, 128MB Flash ROM, a 3.5" QVGA (240 x 320) LCD meet all the needs of mobile GPS navigation.
The Windows Mobile OS provides everything you need for managing all your personal information data and of course also multimedia data like your music files.

Only the battery is a little poor. 44 hours of battery life before recharging necessary is not proper for this category of devices.

Foursprung, GPS, Windows Mobile, PocketPC

Source: Ubergizmo

Read more

Read what others are saying about it: Bloglines, Feedster, Technorati

Fuel Cell: Make your own

You are tired of waiting your zero emssion vehicleß So just build up your own by buying the Fuel Cell Car Lab for just $80:

"The Fuel Cell Car Lab arrives in pieces, and must be assembled presumably by someone with some engineering aptitude. The lab also includes “experiments and background information to help you explore the history and future of emerging fuel cell technology”. Just assemble the Reversible Fuel Cell, add water, and watch your 0 emissions vehicle zoom around."

Foursprung, fuel cell, alternative energy

Source: Gadget Review via Engadget

Read more

Read what others are saying about it: Bloglines, Feedster, Technorati

iPod: 6 ways to link iPods and car radios

PCMag has a great article about six ways to integrate your iPod to your car stereo, each with pros and cons.
If this is not enough for you, do the next step and integrate an Apple mac mini into your car. How? Read here, here and here.

1. FM modulator.
2. Cassette adapter.
3. FM modulator (antenna direct connection).
4. Line-in connection.
5. Line-in connection via CD changer.
6. iPod smart-cable connection.

Read the full article for more information!

Foursprung, iPod, Apple, Car radio

Source: PC Mag

Read more

Read what others are saying about it: Bloglines, Feedster, Technorati

Hybrid: Hybrid School Bus in development

Enova announced today that it has entered into a joint School Bus program with a major North American Truck Manufacturer.

The School Bus project will feature Enova's post transmission 80 kW Hybrid Drive System and has the potential to lead to future production 2006 and beyond.

“Upon successful completion of the first hybrid-electric bus, (scheduled before December 31, 2005), we believe the annual market demand for these production drive systems could grow rapidly based on discussions with this customer. The current conventional market for school buses in the United States, with this manufacturer alone, exceeds 60,000 vehicles per annum " noted Enova's CEO, Ed Riddell. Enova believes its proprietary environmentaly-friendly technology, in addition to significant fuel savings to school bus operators, “will have added benefits of greatly reduced emissions, as well as noise, assisting town planners and local authorities in making towns and cities a better place to live in”, according to Enova Chairman of the Board Anthony Rawlinson.

Enova believes that its strengthened balance sheet - a result of its recent US$18 million capital raising from London's AIM market - together with its leading-edge technological position and growing global market presence, creates an ideal environment to attract production-oriented, hybrid-electric drive system programs of this type.

Foursprung, Hybrid

Source: Enova via Autoblog

Read more

Read what others are saying about it: Bloglines, Feedster, Technorati

Foursprung: Adaptive cruise control

Jeremy Cato of Canadian Driver had the chance to see the adaptive cruise control in action, by driving a VW Phaeton on a German highway.

We are racing down the autobahn at 230 km/h in a Volkswagen Phaeton when a car slides into the lane ahead, prompting our luxurious Volkswagen sedan to gently slow itself down enough to maintain a safe distance between us and the car in front.

Magic? Not at all. This is adaptive cruise control or ACC at work. Using radar or a laser beam to monitor the traffic ahead, ACC adjusts vehicle speed without direct driver input when it senses a vehicle – or perhaps some other object – ahead. It is all automatic and instantaneous. ACC is important because it not only adds a new safety feature to the electronic safety arsenal already on board today's automobile, it just might help reduce traffic jams, too.

Very interesting article giving some backgound information.

Foursprung, Adaptive Cruise Control

Source: Canadian Driver

Read more

Read what others are saying about it: Bloglines, Feedster, Technorati

Foursprung: Solar traffic signs

Lintec provides the possibility of sving $2,800 on electricity for 10 years. Does not sound that much? Maybe, but if it is for one traffic signs it sounds more interesting.
They have traffic signs using LED technology so the bulb don't need to be changed which could be another saving. The sign are solar powered and provide wireless technology, too. Sounds not to bad regarding the budgets situation of most traffic admistrations today...

Foursprung, solar

Source: Gizmodo

Read more

Read what others are saying about it: Bloglines, Feedster, Technorati

Foursprung: Merry Christmas!

The Foursprung team want to wish a Merry Christmas to all our readers!

We hope you will have a nice christmas season and find a lot of car gadgets under the christmas tree!

Also we want to thank you for a very successful start of Foursprung! It was only possible due to the great and continous support of our readers and especially tippers. Please continue to do so in 2006.


Please expect fewer updates during christmas season. Sorry for the inconvience!

We hope to see you all back in 2006.

Foursprung

Read more

Read what others are saying about it: Bloglines, Feedster, Technorati

Foursprung: World's greatest radar detectors

Gizmodo just featured Alexander Roy, an automotive/travel executive, holder of several international racing records, the only 6-time trophy winner in Extreme Rallysport, winning both the Gumball 3000 and Bullrun in his fake German Polizei BMW M5. Team Polizei has a flawless safety record over 18,000 miles in the US, Europe & Africa. Roy is also producer of “32 Hours, 7 Minutes”, a documentary about the world record-setting race from New York to Los Angeles.
This should be reference enough for him for what he did on Gizmodo: a guide to radar detectors.
Giving all the information about the features and what they are useful for including explicit recommendations for devices.

Nice and useful, but please be aware that America is one of the only countries in the world where buying a radar detectors is not illegal.

Foursprung, Radar

Source: Gizmodo

Read more

Read what others are saying about it: Bloglines, Feedster, Technorati

Mac: Docking station

After several drivers integrated a Mac Mini into their cars (see iCar, the Lexus with a Mac Mini, Mac up your ride, Apple Front Row integrated into an Audi A6) the obvious next step was also done now: the Mac Mini Standard Docking Station for your car as The Unofficial Apple Weblog reports:

"You can buy the enclosure itself for $500 or the docking enclosure along with an LCD for $1050. Yes, it's expensive, but it's all pre-packaged to fit into most standard auto radio bays (but you should check with the company before buying; I'm just speculating based on their website info and pictures).

Your Mac mini could be an entertainment center, a GPS navigation system, or even use dictation software to record memos."

Foursprung, Mac

Source: The Unofficial Apple Weblog

Read more

Read what others are saying about it: Bloglines, Feedster, Technorati

Bugatti: A special piece of luxurious security

Stockinger Safes, the company of my namesake Dominik von Ribbentrop combined the luxury, style and charm of Bugatti with the safety of its usual products. The Safe Bugatti is the perfect gift for christmas. Developed together with automaker Bugatti this special piece of safety is an elegant, constant and very pesonal gift which is meant as most safe security container for private use.
It is as well a high tech gadgets as a special piece of luxury. The design of the safe is an hommage to the super sports car Veyron. It is 126,1 cm x 66,4 cm x 64,2 cm and very easy to handle without neglecting security.

Foursprung, Bugatti, security

Source: Classic Driver

Read more

Read what others are saying about it: Bloglines, Feedster, Technorati

Navigation: Finding your way home for the holidays

"PC Mag" has a nice article about how in-car navigation systems can help you find your way home for the holidays. They made a roundup of three devices: the Garmin nuvi 350, Garmin StreetPilot 2720 and Dual XNAV3500P.

As the holidays draw near, a familiar scenario plays itself out on highways and byways all across the country. Dad is speeding down the Interstate, in complete denial over how lost he is; Mom is holding herself back from tearing up the paper map, its tiny print almost indecipherable in a moving vehicle. The kids are cranky, and over at Grandma's house, the turkey dries out waiting for lost family members to arrive.

This season there is no need to put yourself through this painful holiday ritual. GPS In-Car Navigation Systems make it easy to plot your path from point A to point B (and any points of interest in between). They can be pricey (the devices in our roundup retail for between $900 and $1,100), but they offer numerous features, such as turn-by-turn directions to your destination of choice, and compact, portable form factors. Some can even alert you traffic jams and potential roadwork on your route and give you a way around them.

Foursprung, Navigation

Source: PC Mag

Read more

Read what others are saying about it: Bloglines, Feedster, Technorati

Foursprung: Cheaper veggie diesel may change the way we drive

Japanese scientists seem to have found a breakthrough in biodiesel production.

The renewable, vegetable oil-based fuel can be used in conventional diesel engines, which are found in about 2 percent of cars currently sold in the U.S. and in about 40 percent in Europe.

Any vegetable oil can become fuel, but not until its fatty acids are converted to chemical compounds known as esters. Currently the acids used to convert the fatty acids are prohibitively expensive.

Michikazu Hara, of the Tokyo Institute of Technology in Yokohama, Japan, and his colleagues have used common, inexpensive sugars to form a recyclable solid acid that does the job on the cheap. Their research is reported in last week's issue of the journal Nature.

"We estimate the cost of the catalyst to be one-tenth to one-fiftieth that of conventional catalysts," Hara said.

The breakthrough could provide cost savings on a massive scale, he said, because the technique could fairly easily make the transition from the lab to the refinery—if interest warrants.

Foursprung, Vegetable Oil, Biodiesel

Source: National Geographic

Read more

Read what others are saying about it: Bloglines, Feedster, Technorati