iPod: Integration now with Vespa

iPod car integration is a main topic and anything but new to us. New is the integration of Apple's cash cow to the scooter world with the mobile Stereo System with iPod dock by Scooterworks.

The system is actually a do-it-yourself kit for Vespa Stella and P-series models that includes an amp, two 4-inch Alpine speakers, replacement glovebox door with pre-cut holes, and a cradle/connector for hooking up your 'pod or other DAP. We're pretty sure that you could piece together your own scooter-mounted stereo for less than the $300 that this costs, but if you're really trying to save some loot, the not-recommended-by-us, cruising-around-with-headphones-on method still can't be beat.

Foursprung, Apple, iPod, scooter, Vespa

Source: Engadget

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Multimedia: Mobile all-media device from Mustek

A nice gadget for the after-market integration of kid-calmers comes from Mustek:

Mustek's PL8C70 in-car DVD player is a light and thin player that will fit snugly onto any headrest to keep the young ones entertained during long road trips. It supports all major DVD and CD formats, as well as DivX/MPEG4 playback and a SD/MMC card reader. The 7" TFT screen works brilliantly, and Mustek has generously including a pair of headphone connections in case the driver wants to drive in relative peace and quiet. £152 will net you the unit itself, a carry case, power adapter, rechargeable battery and a remote control.

Not a new idea but the price sounds interesting to me.

Foursprung, DVD, Audio, DivX, TFT

Source: Ubergizmo

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Hybrids: Cheaper insurance

There are discussions about the pros and cons of hybrid cars. But the pro side gets an argument more:

An insurance company will begin giving ten percent discounts to hybrid owners next month, based on early indications that the type of people attracted to hybrid cars are also those who qualify for low-risk car insurance.
The insurance provider, St. Paul Travelers, found that hybrid drivers tend to use their cars mainly to commute between home and work, according to a Reuters story. They also tend to be married, in their 40s or 50s, and drive within the speed limit. All these factors are associated with low-risk drivers, who are eligible for discounted insurance.
Fifteen percent of cars on the road in the next 10 years could be hybrids, according to St. Paul Travelers. The company is the first to offer discounted insurance premiums for hybrids.

Foursprung, hybrids

Source: Treehugger

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Bluetooth: iPod transmitter for VW car radio!

VW is really having some cool news lately with doing podcasts, the VW GX3 and now with a bluetooth transmitter for your iPod and your good old VW radio. Nice!

While we wait for the auto world to bow to the iPod (Jobs plans to have 40% of the new auto market in his grasp by the year’s end, and our tire-kicking brother has news on BMW’s Apple deal), Ratoc has bluetooth iPod transmitters for the Volkswagen and Toyota factory radios.

The Ratoc iPod Digital Wireless Connection Kit includes the clampable RS-Link1P-VW transmitter, a receiver, and an interface module. Still seems like a lot to hook up just to hear our polka mashups in a Jetta, and we’d like a foam iPod holder for the Beetle’s flower cup. But there’s no FM static and no extra set of playback controls.

Wanna buy it? Check it here. Comes for $198.00.



Foursprung, Bluetooth, Apple, iPod

Source: Gizmodo

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Foursprung: Gadgets directly from the automakers

Yes, it's good news! But why is it so late?

Automakers selling cars in North America have stepped up their position when it comes to entertainment and telematics features according to survey of the vehicles on display at the 2006 North American International Auto Show. Of the 264 autos at the 2006 NAIAS, 154 models support MP3 music playback while over 200 models support satellite radio.
"Features like the ability to integrate portable music players (iPods, MP3 players, etc.) are available on many new cars," says Phil Magney, principal analyst at Telematics Research Group. "Rear seat entertainment, Bluetooth communications, and premium audio are also available on many of the new cars. These features were once exclusive to the luxury segment, but have come down market to high-volume vehicles," adds Magney.

"Auto makers are doing a better job of addressing the needs of consumers, particularly in terms of entertainment solutions," says Magney. "Consumers are changing the way the listen to, manage, and discover new music." According to TRG data, most new models being introduced have the ability to play MP3 files and nearly all support digital radio. Slightly more than half of the models available support XM Satellite Radio, while slightly less than half support SIRIUS Satellite.

Some technologies may be still ahead of their time for mainstream automotive application. USB ports, hard disk drives (HDD), and flash memory card interfaces are examples of technologies that are currently very limited. "Auxiliary input, and iPod direct connections are still the safe bet for music device integration, but USB will eventually become a contender. Bluetooth will also be used for audio, but this is still in the planning phase," says Magney.

Traditional telematics that provide emergency call and automotive collision notification, while prevalent on most new GM vehicles, is available on less than half of the new vehicles on the market. Most luxury brands offer telematics and some have begun to deploy their own technologies using satellites and an embedded phone. TRG says that telematics for safety and remote diagnostics will eventually become standard on most production cars.

Foursprung

Source: gizmag

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Child safety: Delphi's intelligent child restraint and crib monitor

If you don't have built-in child seats like in the VW Passat, this solution from Delphi is really great!

Delphi is also working on sensors for the child safety zone—an area of much interest to the child-bearing Gizmodo editors. The intelligent child restraint is a device to help ensure that you install your car seat correctly. Child seats are mis-installed 80% of the time, a stat that will come as little surprise to anyone who has spent an hour trying to figure out how to strap one of these suckers in. Press the “test” button on this monitor and it senses whether the belts are tight and that the seat is correctly positioned. If you do something wrong, a red light signals one of four zones that needs work. The trouble, of course, is that it can’t tell you how to get the straps correctly positioned, only that you are doing something wrong. But at least it narrows down your search. This sensor has to be manufactured into the seat, but Delphi will only say that they are working with “several” partners to bring this to market.

The other child-safety product on display was a crib with an ultrasonic sound wave emitter on the top. It senses motion and breathing rates, and if something is amiss it will send a signal to your baby monitor.

Foursprung, Child safety

Source: Gizmodo

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Fuel cell: Step forward in technology

French car's are known for - hmmm... let's say interesting - design. I never expected a big step forward in alternative energies from PSA. It seems that I was wrong:

Clean, safe energy sources for large-scale hydrogen production is also an issues up for debate. PSA Peugeot Citroen, the French automaker, this week released its new fuel cell design, the GENEPAC, with hopes that it will pave the way for affordable, compact, fuel cells suitable for everyday driving.

The GENEPAC is a modular fuel cell stack that can incorporate up to four modules, providing up to 80 kw. It is being called the smallest automotive fuel cell to date. In keeping with hydrogen’s controversial and hotly debated relationship with the nuclear power industry, Peugeot jointly developed and unveiled this new fuel cell technology with the French Atomic Energy Commission, presumably implying that the car company is putting its bets on nuclear power as the main energy source for the hydrogen economy. The automaker also simultaneously announced the opening of a branch of its Research Lab specifically dedicated to fuel cell development and the accompanying technology, including energy sources, such as nuclear, as well as lifecycle studies of fuel cells in circulation. Peugeot hopes to implement the GENEPAC in urban delivery fleets, but it could also bring concept vehicles like the Quark to life.

Foursprung, PSA, alternative energies, fuel cell

Source: Treehugger

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USB: Kenwood adds USB-equipped auto systems

One of the best gadgets for your car are USB-powered audio systems, so you can get rid of your cd changers and just put your favorite playlist on a USB stick. Now, Kenwood is offering exactly that.

We know Kenwood isn't the first company to introduce USB-equipped auto CD players, but the units they're showing off at CES, including the DPX-501 and DPX-701, are welcome additions nonetheless. The units can play MP3, WMA and AAC files stored on any USB drive or portable audio player that supports mass-storage mode, and a promised firmware upgrade will support Windows Media DRM, opening the door for direct support for files downloaded from subscription services such as Rhapsody and Napster. The new models also include MP3/WMA-compatible CD players, and are HD Radio and Sirius ready.

Foursprung, USB, Kenwood

Source: Engadget

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Diesel: cleanest in the world with BLUETEC

I wonder how long the BLUETEC Mercedes will be the cleanest diesel in the world. Mercedes Benz maybe the brands with the longest tradition in diesel technology but Audi still is much more progressive in engineering diesel engines (e.g. TDI technology) . So read it as long as it is valid:

With the launch of the E 320 BLUETEC in the USA later this year, Mercedes-Benz will be offering the first series production car with BLUETEC diesel technology. The automotive manufacturer with the world's longest diesel tradition has modified specific aspects of the economical, powerful and robust 320 CDI engine, adding state-of-the-art emission-control technology to make it the cleanest diesel in the world. Mercedes-Benz has thus transformed the diesel engine into a clean and future-compatible system. The six-cylinder diesel engine combines V8 power with four-cylinder consumption: 155 kW/211 hp maximum output and 540 Nm maximum torque despite average fuel consumption of just 6.7 l/100 km or 35 mpg. BLUETEC technology is capable of producing the cleanest diesel vehicles in the world, and is more than capable of meeting the most stringent emissions regulations.

Foursprung, Mercedes Benz, diesel

Source: gizmag

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Sound: Toyota using NXT speakers for special sound system

NXT, a provider of unique sound solutions, best known for its flat panel loudspeaker technology, confirms that the new FJ Cruiser Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) from Toyota will feature an NXT-equipped roof liner speaker system when it goes on sale in North America from March 2006.

Toyota is going over-the-top with its 2007 FJ Cruiser SUV, that will be using NXT SurfaceSound flat panel speaker technology in the roof liner speaker system. Announced by NXT at CES, the SUV is powered by a 4.0L V6 24-valve engine and comes with a choice of six-speed manual or five-speed automatic transmission. The NXT system is built into the roofliner, but also complements the vehicles conventional speakers, hopefully giving you a broad, omni-directional dispersion of sound. The system comes with an AM/FM/CD system with six speakers fitted as standard (including NXT-based roof liner)or other options that include an eight speaker system with six-disc CD changer and a nine speaker system, complete with subwoofer.

Foursprung, NXT, Sound, Toyota

Source: Gizmodo

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Alternative Fuel: Volkswagen comes out in support of bioethanol initiatives

As you know we are not only a car gadgets blog, we also provide you with the latest news on alternative fuel, biodiesel and hybrid cars. Think of it as an environmental car gadget and you know why we are talking about it.

Volkswagen now came out with a note that they are supporting the use of bioethanol as a gasoline additive to conserve petroleum and to reduce C02 emissions.

The EU is moving toward a requirement for E10 gasoline (10 percent bioethanol by volume), as part of its biofuel initiative to replace 5.75 percent of gasoline and diesel fuel energy with biofuels by 2010. (In the U.S., both GM and Ford have come out in favor of E85-capable "flex-fuel vehicles.")

In its statement today, the company came out in favor of a blended fuel strategy (biofuels in combination with gas or diesel), as opposed to pure biofuels, saying that it was a more practical solution, compatible with existing infrastructure.

Volkswagen's "SunFuel" initiative is the company's focal point for research into a variety of synthetic fuels.

Foursprung, Alternative Fuel, Volkswagen

Source: Autoblog

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Audi, VW: Preferred brands of iTunes users!

Our sibling blog "The German Car Blog" is reporting that iTunes users prefer cars mady by VW and Audi.
Good choice, guys!

Nielsen//NetRatings, a global leader in Internet media and market research, today announced that traffic to Apple’s iTunes Web site and use of the iTunes application has skyrocketed 241 percent over the past year, from 6.1 million unique visitors in December 2004 to 20.7 million in December 2005, reaching nearly 14 percent of the active Internet population.

Teens are disproportionately represented among iTunes users; 12 to 17 year olds are nearly twice as likely to visit the iTunes Web site and use the application as the average Internet user. iTunes users are also more likely to be male; the site’s traffic is 54 percent male and 46 percent female.

“The rapid growth of iTunes is an important phenomenon in the online media marketplace,” said Jon Gibs, director of media analytics, Nielsen//NetRatings. “Consumers have clearly indicated that they are eager to control their own music libraries, one song at a time,” he continued.

Nielsen//NetRatings also revealed today that iTunes users form a distinct target audience with identifiable brand preferences (see Table 1). Their favorite car make is Volkswagen, which they are 2.2 times more likely to own than the average Internet user. Other popular car makers among the group include Audi and Subaru.

Foursprung, Apple, iTunes

Source: The German Car Blog

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VW: Are you a sustainability-oriented driver?

VW has a great game where you can find out if you are a sustainability-oriented driver.
You will make a virtual journey in a 1-litre car from Wolfsburg to Hamburg and try to find it out.
It's getting more and more important to watch your gas consumption, due to higher gas prices, but also environmental reasons.
This game is a great way to give you a first clue about yourself. Let's see if you can answer the questions!

You can find "The Volkswagen Consumption Game" on the right hand side if you scroll down a bit.
Have fun!


Foursprung, VW

Source: VW

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GPS: Garmin nuvi

The colleagues from Ubergizmo had the chance to take hands on Garmin's nuvi, one of the best looking and the smallest GPS in its category.

It has a huge database of point of interest (POI). Restaurants, to parking places to gas stations… you name it. But the new thing is that it gives you the average cost for a meal and for select restaurants or stores, the Nuvi even offers coupons (Savers Guide, optional). The Savers Guide membership card and database cost $49.99 and is updated it every year (new memory card).
The Language Guide (optional) allows you to translate your basic food orders and can even speak them if you think that your accent is bad, very useful, trust me…
Nuvi 350 Launched at CES for the US - price $969.22

Foursprung, GPS

Source: Ubergizmo

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Foursprung: Play a game against driving fears

An interesting way to come over your fears of driving after an accident:

Trauma psychiatrists at St. Stephen’s Hospital in Ireland have begun using video games to help accident victims overcome their "accident phobia." Before you go calling your insurance company to see if they'll cover a new 360 and PGR3 for that fender bender last year, the doctors insist it's not all fun and... well, uh games:

"It’s a structured programme – patients don’t just play video games. It’s cognitive behavioural therapy and it involves gradually exposing people to different types of frightening scenes, starting off in a very easy way and working up gradually.”

If they're working up gradually, I bet Burnout is the last step. Start with Mario Kart, a little 18 Wheeler in there somewhere, and finish with an 8 hour Burnout marathon... crash mode only. If you can run that gamut, you can drive anything.

Foursprung

Source: Joystiq

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MP3: Offering MP3 compatibility for all non-iPod'ers

Looks like Mercedes is putting a PCMCIA slot into the 2007 S-Class for all people who don't have or want an iPod. Yes, these people are still out there.

If the mere though of an iPod gives you the anti-Apple-fanboy heebie-jeebies, then you might be interested in the new PCMCIA slot going into the 2007 S-Class from Mercedes Benz. The slot sits right below the CD changer and allows you to bring whatever storage media strikes your fancy -- via an adapter of course -- so you can get some audio files in your car on the cheap and Apple free.

Foursprung, MP3

Source: Engadget

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iPod: This is true integration

I really love Apple, I really love Macs and I really love the Macworld. And I love it even better since also trends in automotive gadgets are shown there:

You’ve seen products like Ten Technology’s FlexibleDock, and Belkin’s TuneBase FM, or even Harman Kardon’s Drive + Play Kit, but you’ve never seen true, or at least easy streamlined iPod car integration until you’ve seen 2point5’s spec.dock. The thing that’s different about the spec.dock is that it’s the only iPod solution that actually blends in with your car. It’s makes it look as though your car was built with this thing. And because the spec.dock benefits off of your car’s cigarette lighter, you have two options — you can either blow off your tunes, or rock out till you need a hearing aid. What more could you ask for?

Foursprung, Apple, iPod

Source: Gizmodo

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Hybrid: Why do people buy?

There is an interesting interview on people's motivation for buying a hybrid car at hybridcars.com:

Researchers from the University of California at Davis are speaking directly with hybrid owners to better understand hybrid car purchase decisions. Ken Kurani, Tom Turrentine, and Rusty Heffner of UC Davis's Institute of Transportation Studies eschew traditional marketing techniques like focus groups, or surveys in which thousands of consumers tick a series of boxes and number-crunchers tally the results.

Instead, the UC researchers sit down over the kitchen table with the entire consumer household—commonly the car purchase is a family decision—for two hours or more, and let the stories come out. In this way, they believe they develop a deeper understanding of what's motivating hybrid owners. They've interviewed more than 30 households who bought Priuses, Civics, and Insights—and now they are moving on to the latest wave of hybrids.

Bradley Berman, editor of HybridCars.com, spoke with Kurani and Heffner on Dec. 21, 2005.

Bradley Berman: What is the primary goal of your research?

Rusty Heffner: We're trying to understand what motivates people to buy a new kind of vehicle. As Americans, when you are buying a car, you have so many choices. You have over 300 combinations of make and model. Why does somebody consider a new technology like a hybrid?

Ken Kurani: We learned from our first sets of interviews to throw out our assumptions, to start from scratch rather than, in effect, go into an interview with a checklist of things to look for. To go into interviews with a wide-open mind, and let the stories tell us what was important about what people were doing. And then Rusty developed an analytical approach to deal with cars as symbols of identities.

BB: What do you mean by "symbols of identities?"

KK: In an increasingly market-based society, the things we buy are more and more a part of representations of who we are. And cars are incredibly important symbols of who we are, in large part, because cars are so mobile and so many people see them everyday.

Also, I think our identities are constructed as narratives. And we're always looking for new elements for those narratives. We're comparing the stories we have about ourselves today to older stories and to ideal stories. In those comparisons, we're looking for either new ways to either advance the storyline we like, or change the one we don't like. The idea of what a car means can be one of those important story elements.

BB: Journalists commonly criticize hybrid cars for not providing a return on investment for their owners. Based on your research, what's your opinion of that criticism?

RH: I think the question journalists are asking is, 'Do hybrids save money?" It's the wrong question. A more basic question to ask is, "Do people who are buying hybrid cars really care about saving money?" The truth is that everybody likes to save money in the abstract. But we found in our research that saving money is not the primary motivator for buying a hybrid vehicle. Some people might think about hybrids as ways to save money. Those are not the types of people who are buying these types of vehicles.

KK: In the interviews, we heard that people who bought a hybrid compared it to nothing else. Once they heard about a Prius, for example, and heard about its capabilities, that became the car they needed next to advance a certain story line. At that point, keeping their old car was no longer desirable.

Here's where we get into a difference between our approach and a rational analytical approach. The rational analyst might compare their old car to a Prius in terms of cost and performance and those sorts of things, and look to the answers as to why they bought a Prius in the attributes of those vehicles. We're looking at it, and saying no, we think it's driven by the person trying to extend their identity into a new direction or further along in a direction they were already heading. That's the important comparison. What does this care say about who these people are? This explains why they didn't look at any other car, because no other car does what the hybrid does. And it explains why keeping their old car isn't an option.

BB: What meanings are the hybrid owners attaching to their hybrids?

RH: There are common meanings that run through our interviews. And there are often some individual meanings as well. Preserving the natural environment is the obvious meaning of the hybrid, but it's a lot deeper than that. What we hear from people is that when they buy a hybrid vehicle, it expresses their vision of a better world, and their desire for a society and a world where people work together for common goals. One of our subjects just had her first grandchild. That was why she felt the world needed to be a better place.

We talked to a young woman, still in college. She went to buy a new car, and really wanted a hybrid Civic. For her, the hybrid showed an awareness of bigger issues outside herself that most of her fellow college students couldn't really grasp yet.

She went to the dealership with her dad. She was a college student, and clearly had serious budget constraints. She worked all summer, and saved her money. She and her father were talking with the sales person at the dealership. It became pretty clear that her budget was not going to let her get into a hybrid Civic. Of course, the salesman wanted to make his sale, so he started talking to her about a regular gasoline Civic LX, with similar features. The car looks identical. The only difference is there's no hybrid drivetrain. And she got really upset, and was ready to walk out of the dealership because as far as she's concerned, he proposed a vehicle that's a complete step down from what she wants.

The press is fond of comparing a Corolla and a Prius, or a Civic Hybrid to its regular gasoline counterpart. Those comparisons are fine. They seem logical, but I think, in the mind of most consumers, that's a comparison that never gets made. The college student's emotional reaction demonstrates that there' something else at work for people that buy hybrids. The hybrid and conventional version of the same vehicle are viewed as very different. In the end, the college student worked out a lease arrangement so she could have the hybrid.

BB: Car marketers might respond to what you are saying, and think, "Can we just sell them anything? If the car says, 'we care about the world,' then we can sell them an inferior product at a high price because it says something desirable." I would think there would be serious limits to success with that approach.

KK: You know, you'd think so, but I look at SUVs. We heard back in the late 90s, that the profit margins on these things were 30 to 40 percent—and they're basically just cheap pickup trucks with different sheet metal. But the car companies were selling them for a lot of money. They were getting very high profits. Yet most Americans don't drive off-road. Most Americans don't tow. Most Americans don't need something that large in any functional way. They claim that they do.

I look at the SUV phenomenon as another example in which the symbolic meaning of a vehicle has to be added to the list of reasons why people bought them, and to explain the explosion in their growth.

Foursprung, Hybrid

Source: Hybrid Cars

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Satellite radio: XM advanced services concept

XM satellite radio showed their advanced services concept at CES. Read how it works!

Amidst the din of shock jocks Opie & Anthony (pictured above), XM Satellite Radio introduced its Advanced Services Concept, housed in this Lexus LX 470. It features the following "XmXtras":

Combines traditional XM Satellite radio with GPS, real-time traffic, sports, weather, stocks, satellite video and parking.

"Using much of XM's existing architecture, the provider has figured out a way to jam eight channels worth of live audio/video feeds into the mix. That means eight TV channels without a cumbersome large roof-resident dish as with the huge RaySat setup (albeit far fewer channels). Also has on-demand programming.

Foursprung, Satellite Radio, XM

Source: Autoblog

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Foursprung: Blind spot monitor

Unlike GM's vehicle to vehicle communication solution this mirror is showing you directly if something is in your blind spot area. Great! In my opinion a must have.

Delphi, best known as a car audio brand in the US, is getting sensitive. The company is working on a bunch of interesting stuff with sensor technology that they had on display here at CES. The first is a blind spot detector for motorcycles (and cars, eventually). The sensor beams out 10 feet to the side and 26 feet in back of the bike and measure the temperature of the highway. It then compares the two signals 8 times every second to determine whether someone is in your blind spot. Then it sends a flashing signal to your sideview mirror for whichever side the other vehicle is on.

Foursprung, Blind Spot Monitor

Source: Gizmodo

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MP3: Player with the Black Stallion

Consumer electronics branded by automakers (especially super sports car brands) are not new. Until now there were notebook computers, monitors and mobile phones.
Now there is the first mobile music player: Oregon Scientific's new Ferrari FMP160 features MP3 and PlaysForSure support, USB 2.0, and 1GB of space.
Come on, do you really think that only the black stallion can beat the usability and the design of the iPod?

Foursprung, Ferrari, MP3

Source: Engadget

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Mac mini: The Mac mini car!

This Mac mini car comes straight from the Macworld, and can you believe: it's a Volkswagen!
Looks great, definitely a must have!

For someone who sits in front of his or her computer nearly 12 hours a day and can’t get enough of it, the Mac Mini-equipped car is a dream come true. Even when you’re out and about on that once-in-a-lifetime grandaddy mission to snag the first Xbox 360 to hit the shelves, you can have your trusty Mac right there by your side. Imagine being able to open iTunes where your nav. system would typically pop up, and then select any song from your library that would then play through your car’s stereo system. Or better yet, how’d you like to check your e-mail and surf the net while you’re at some truck stop 200 miles from civilization or in the middle of the Mohave Desert?

All of this and more is made possible by 2point5’s Mac Mini installation. It’s a custom thing and you’re going to drop a cool $5K to do it (plus the cost of the Mac mini itself), but c’mon, are Macs really even designed to be installed in cars? Hell yeah, they are.

Foursprung, Apple, Mac mini, VW

Source: Gizmodo

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Computer Cars: When computers and cars collide

If you really like cars and can't get enough of them, even when you sit in front of your computer, this is the ultimate gadget for you!

That's right! Your computer can now look like a car. Compucar has developed the world's FIRST and ONLY desktop computer that looks like a car. Each Compucar is manufactured with only the BEST computer components. Compucar uses the same name brand components you will find in computers manufactured by companies such as: Dell, HP, Compaq, Sony, and Toshiba. We have spared no expense in creating the ultimate desktop computer.

As you can see, Compucars are very small! Our biggest Compucar is about 18" long, 7.5" wide, and 7" tall. There is no other computer like this on the market today. Compucar is the first company to manufacture and sell a computer this small that looks like a car while still utilizing top ranked components.

What's Under The Hood?
This list details the numbers displayed in the picture above(right).

1. 2.5" or 3.5" SATA Hard Drives up to 400GB
2. 80mm Ultra Quiet Cooling Fan (used in cooling computers 3 times this size).
3. Silent Low Profile CPU Cooler (whisper quiet). Genuine Intel P4 processor w/Hyper Threading (up to 3.8GHZ).
4. Fanless 200w Power Supply for an even more silent running computer
5. Custom hand-wrapped wiring (you choose the color)
6. Slim Line - Slot Loaded CD-RW/DVD or DVD Writer (no tray, just slide the cd/dvd in)
7. Industry standard port plate on one side of chassis
8. Real rubber tires (several choices of tread patterns including flame tread)
9. Rubber guards on all chassis edges to protect the body
10. Cold-rolled Steel Chassis with black powder coat that is scratch resistant and VERY strong
11. DDRII PC2-4200 RAM up to 2GB
12. **Not Shown** Each Compucar has a set of internal cool cathode lights that light up the entire inside of the computer when the power is on.

Foursprung, CompuCar

Source: CompuCar via Autoblog

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Foursprung: Saving drivers from themselves

Please read Autoblog's reporting about future Intelligent Transportation Systems:

"Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) is the term used for vehicles that communicate not only with each but with the roads, as well, all in order to keep the vehicle’s driver and passengers as safe as possible. Well-known examples include traction and stability controls and lane departure systems. More experimental devices include General Motor’s V2V technology.

These are the tip of the iceberg, though. At the annual ITS World Congress held at San Francisco this year, new technologies for driver and passenger safety were introduced and discussed including:
Vehicles that communicate with traffic signals and radar devices.
Sensors that display the color of the traffic signal at the next intersection.
Buses that steer themselves on a magnetic track embedded in the road.
Devices that “read” traffic speeds and evaluate when it’s safe to make turns.

While we at Autoblog are as much for safety as the next person, this article ended on an interesting note:

We've tried education, belts and bags, ABS and stability control. The next step is using technology to save drivers from themselves."

Foursprung, safety

Source: Autoblog

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Flex fuel: GM to join the game?

The giant GM is badly wounded. Do they see a future in vehicles with flex-fuel engines that can burn high ratios of ethanol?

GM launched a new initiative with the State of California, Chevron and an alternative fuel company called Pacific Ethanol to help grow the flex fuel infrastructure in the State. Does this mean that the automaker has finally realized that its past tactics are simply not working and that they need - for the sake of the environment and their shareholders - a new approach? Well, according to an environmental consultant that has recently begun working with GM and prefers not to be named here, the scoop is that the General has indeed decided that the best place to try to make a breakthrough is with flex-fuel vehicles. In 2006, they will introduce new models that are able to burn an 85% ethanol mix (up to this point, only big pickups and SUVs could do it, but in 2006 two cars will too - more on that below) and may significantly increase the total number of flex fuel vehicles that they produce (GM has 1.4 million of the nearly 5 million flex fuel vehicles on the road in the US). We can only hope that they seriously market the capability so that owners of flex-fuel vehicles finally know what to do with them. On the infrastructure side, we also hope they will consider broadening their efforts and partnering up with big production and distribution companies to make E85 fuel easier to find. What may be a first step in that direction is the joint demonstration project in California described below…

From the GM press release:

"General Motors will help lead a joint demonstration project along with the state of California, Chevron Technology Ventures, and Pacific Ethanol to learn more about consumer awareness and acceptance of E85 as a motor vehicle fuel by demonstrating its use in GM’s flexible-fuel vehicles. The announcement was made as a result of a non-binding understanding made public today at the Los Angeles Auto Show.
GM intends to offer between 50 to 100 of its E85-capable Chevrolet Impala passenger cars and Silverado pickup trucks for consideration in the state’s annual competitive bid process. Flexible-fuel vehicles will be used by the California Department of Transportation (CalTrans) at various operations in Northern California and the state’s Central Valley. Chevron Technology Ventures intends to work with CalTrans to provide E85 fuel and install the necessary refueling pumps in these locations. Pacific Ethanol, a California-based ethanol production and marketing company, intends to provide the ethanol to Chevron Technology Ventures for the project."

Foursprung, GM, flex fuel, alternative energies

Source: Treehugger

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Foursprung: Child-proof multimedia system from Clarion

The all-in-one multimedia system from Clarion was seen by Gizmodo:

"New and improved the Clarion VRX765VD will make life in your car a dream, and shut up any crying child in minutes (not guaranteed by company, unfortunately). With a 7-inch flip- out touch-screen to play with, the DVD multimedia system comes with a soil resistant finish touch-screen controlling DVD menu options and an improved user interface that now offers video playback for the Video iPod. Also includes 200 watts of max power, 24- Bit D/A Converter and a single play DVD mechanism that plays DVD Video, CD Audio and Video CD and a bunch of other audio formats including MP3/ WMA and encoded CDs. Runs for about $1100."

Nice, but a Mac Mini in your car might be cheaper...

Foursprung, multi media, MP3, DVD, MP3, iPod

Source: Gizmodo

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GPS: Another entertaining navigation device from Alpine

Combining multi media features with satellite navigation seems to be the boom this year. Also Alpine comes with such an all-in-one-device:

the Blackbird PMD-B100, that rocks MP3, WMA, and WAV playback, as well as an FM tuner, along with the usual routing functions. Running on Windows CE, the B100 sports a 3.6-inch, 16.7 million color touchscreen LCD, built in US map coverage, and an integrated traffic receiver. You can bulk up the internal maps through the SD slot or by direct connection to a PC via USB 2.0, and get your remote control-on with the optional, um, remote control. $750 will make the Blackbird your very own.

So if every car audio supplier comes with an GPS device when will TomTom come with its first iPod-like device?

Foursprung, GPS, MP3

Source: Engadget

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Foursprung: Video rear view mirror

A new kind of parking aid comes from Magna Donnelly. The VideoMirror gives you an extra eye when backing up.

How often have you backed up your car and wondered if there was something in your blind spot? VideoMirror reduces dangerous blind spots when parking, backing up or hitching trailers to improve safety.

It conceals a 3.5" full-color display that gets its picture from a tiny camera mounted behind the vehicle. When you shift into reverse, the video display automatically deploys from the side of the mirror giving you an image of the area behind your vehicle both day and night.

According to recent reports, there have been a significant number of back-over incidents in the U.S. including those involving small children in the last five years. With the growing number of trucks, SUVs and minivans on the roads and in driveways today, VideoMirror can add another layer of protection.

No comment on the award they were selected of winning: "2006 Technology is a Girl’s Best Friend (TechGirl)" Diamond Product Showcase in the mobile/automotive electronics category by the Consumer Electronics Association in conjunction with the International Consumer Electronics Show. Think about it but we do not support any prejudices against wowen's ability for parking a car...

Foursprung, safety, mirror

Source: Magna Donnelly

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GPS: Michelin x930

Being famous for road maps and guides does not necessarily mean to have to competence to transform this experience to technical gadgets as Michelin seems to show:

The Michelin x930 GPS receiver is more miss than hit. Correct directions are few and far between, quite unlike the comprehensive directions that are available on its website. It has a success rate of 20% when it comes to getting the right directions, which is unacceptable for any GPS system. Voice directions are awful and are more of a potential accident hazard. You can’t unmount it short of removing your entire windscreen. If you want to purchase anything with the name Michelin on it, make sure it’s a set tires.

Foursprung, GPS

Source: Ubergizmo

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Satellite radio: Rolls Royce comes with lifetime subscription

If you buy a new Rolls-Royce - or at least you can afford one - there a several things you don't have to think about any more.
One more thing is added to this list: Satellite radio.

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars and SIRIUS Satellite Radio today announced an exclusive agreement for the inclusion of SIRIUS radios as standard equipment in all Rolls-Royce vehicles sold in the United States, including a lifetime subscription to the service.
"Rolls-Royce is synonymous with the highest level of luxury, performance and quality in the automotive world," said Doug Wilsterman, Senior Vice President and General Manager Automotive OEM for SIRIUS. "The unique programming that we offer is a natural complement to the unparalleled in-vehicle environment of a Rolls-Royce, and we are very excited about being
associated with such an internationally recognized brand."

Foursprung, Rolls-Royce, satellite radio

Source: PR News Wire

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Lamborghini: Are cellphones the next big thing?

It seems like Lamborghini is thinking to expand the cooperation with Asus and not only produce a Lamborghini notebook together with them.
The next big thing might be a Lamborghini cell phone.

After launching its Lamborghini-series notebooks, Asustek said it will roll out more products in the series, with consumer electronics being its first choice. Sources said that a mobile phone is the mostly likely next step for the company.

Foursprung, Lamborghini, Cell Phone

Source: Digitimes

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Adaptive light: Will be seen on future Lincolns!

Ford announced to introduce a new Adaptive Front Lighting (AFS) system on several vehicles in the market:

The AFS system is the company's first in the United States. Several foreign brands, including BMW and Lexus, already offer adaptive headlamps on production models sold here.

Ford's system, which will make its debut on several future Lincoln models, is different in that it has no moving parts. A halogen projector provides the main beam, with a secondary row of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) that switches on sequentially when the vehicle is cornering. The LEDs light up at a rate and intensity determined by the degree and speed of the turn and switch off when the road straightens out.

What this means to you: High-tech LEDs may provide a better solution in Ford's new adaptive headlamps.

Foursprung, Ford, LED

Source: Inside Line

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Wireless: Cellphone operated remote control car

Wireless Wheels showcased a remote control car at CES which you can control via your Motorola iDen cell phone, and only by that.

The Wireless Wheels remote control toy car is controlled by select Motorola iDEN handsets. I love that it’s only select handsets. So now, when you buy that car, you also better have the exact phone that will control it—which is SO much better than a normal remote. It’s actually a collaboration between Motorola, Nikko and Freescale and is based on the Freescale Semiconductor wireless Personal Area Network (PAN) technology, which uses the IEEE(R) 802.15.4 standard. The phone does simulate the car’s movement, however, and vibrates when you start it up and turn the wheel. And the Push-To-Talk (PTT) button serves as a “turbo boost” for a sudden burst of speed. Wheeeeeeeeeee! The car is compatible with the Motorola iDen i265, i275, i560, i730, i760, i830, i850, i860, and i870 phones and runs on 4 AA batteries.

Foursprung, Wireless, Cell Phone, iDen

Source: Gizmodo

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Touch screen: Visteon's Ford Focus with integrated control panel

Visteon showed their new integrated control panel prototype at CES inside a Ford Focus.

Visteon's ICP (Visteon-speak: Integrated Control Panel) is installed in the Focus, which features the company’s new "Adaptive Haptic Controller (basically a touch screen with feedback).

Pushing a “button” generates an electro-mechanical vibration for tactile feedback. Different frequency 'buzzes' could be programmed to allow different levels of feedback depending on the button pushed or, say, more vibrating as the volume gets louder.

Visteon’s system integrates HVAC, nav, and satellite/terrestrial radio on one 8.4" screen. It also includes a USB plug-in. They had a memory stick plugged-in with MP3s, which then showed on the dash.

Two basic knobs govern many of the functions (they also have varying levels of feedback), while a small control stalk on the steering column can active voice commands. Chris reports that his voice wasn't even trained in the system and it worked very well for navigating menus, changing radio stations, dialing calls, etc.

The ICP system with Adaptive Haptic Controller could govern 'higher' functions like suspension settings and so forth, if an OEM desired. Even pumping in the internet is possible.

Foursprung, Touch screen, Visteon

Source: Autoblog

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GPS: JVC joins the game with entertaining GPS device

The number of players in the market of GPS devices grows and grows. After Sony presented its new GPS systems now also JVC unveiled their first GPS-capable device:

The 3.5-inch TFT touchscreen is windshield mountable. The KV-PX9 has a 20GB internal HD. 13GB is for navigation, the other 7GB is for movies, photos and MP3 (or other formats) of music. There is an SD slot on the side for memory, and a USB 2.0 port as well. There are two different map views offered: 2D aerial view or 3D through-the-windshield view. There are stereo speakers on this thing, but you will definitely want to route it through the car’s head unit. The music, it should be noted, is converted using JVC’s proprietary “CC Converter that enhances the sound quality of compressed music files.” Anyone got details on what this is and whether it’s any good? The battery is good for three hours, and there is a car charger included. Available in March for $799.

Foursprung, GPS

Source: Gizmodo

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Gas: A Windows CE powered gas pump!

Besides the new possibility that you have to reboot your car after a bluescreen, it's now also possible with the gas pump at your favorite filling station!
Is this really the future?

A new member of the Microsoft Windows(R) Embedded Partner (WEP) Program, Dresser Wayne will showcase its new Ovation(R) iX dispenser. Powered by the iX(TM) Technology Platform, which is the only open architecture solution in the retail fuel dispensing industry, the dispenser will offer consumers an unprecedented level of convenience and choices that extend far beyond simply selecting regular or premium fuels.

"Very soon," says Dan Harrell, Dresser Wayne's senior director of marketing and product management, "you'll be able to stop for gas on your way to work and -- without ever leaving the pump -- buy a cup of coffee and a lottery ticket, download an MP3, and check up-to-the-minute traffic reports. The dispenser itself will be able to run a quick diagnostics report on your car, alert you when it's time for an oil change, and even print out coupons for the lube shop down the street."

If it sounds far-fetched, Harrell says, think again. iX Media, a standard offering in the Ovation iX dispenser, allows consumers to watch full-motion, site-specific video commercials right on a dispenser-integrated 10.4-inch color display, with built-in speaker. Fuel customers can print customized coupons at the dispenser for in-store specials and other retail promotions.

And that's just the beginning, says Neil Thomas, president of Dresser Wayne, one of the largest business units of Dresser, Inc.

"The future of the fueling industry will most likely be dictated by the concepts surrounding retailing," says Thomas. "Every day, tens of millions of Americans spend five minutes filling their tanks. If we can make those five minutes their most productive of the day, we not only add significant value to the consumer experience, we also help fuel retailers maximize the return on their technological investment. That retail focus is already beginning to shape a new vision of what fueling can -- and should -- be."

The heart of the Ovation iX dispenser is Dresser Wayne's iX Technology Platform. Built on the Microsoft Windows CE operating system and utilizing the Microsoft .NET Framework, the iX Technology Platform offers field-proven stability, scalability and adaptability across a wide range of applications.

"The need for a hard real-time embedded operating system with exceptional TCP/IP networking and XML support capabilities made the combination of Windows CE and the .NET Framework the best choice for the Ovation iX dispenser," said Jane Gilson, director of Mobile and Embedded Devices Division of Microsoft Corp. "In addition, Windows CE and .NET were able to provide a system resilient enough to keep the dispensers up and running dependably, at the same time offering an enormous number of tools for integrating current applications and developing new ones."

Foursprung, Gas Pump, Windows CE

Source: Business Wire via Engadget

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iPod: Another integrator from iTrip

I wondered if there is a way of integrating an iPod to your car without connecting it fix to your stereo that Griffin does not have in its product line, but they really have a another new product.

Griffin technology is going to beat its iTrip line of iPod accessories like a dead horse, but hell, the company is making tons of bank from it, so why not? This is the latest and possibly greatest of the iTrips. It is an Apple universal (who’da thunk the day we would use the term “Apple universal?”) device that supports every dock connector iPod. This has an integrated charger, backlit screen for easy usage, big controls for easy navigation through different stations, LX/DX modes for best sound quality, international tuning mode and Griffin’s RF technology to boot. This isn’t completely Apple universal, but it does support 3rd, 4th, 5th generations, minis, nanos, video, photo and the Bono approved U2 edition iPods.

Foursprung, Apple, iPod

Source: Gizmodo

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GPS: tracking system provides detailed driving analysis

PRNewsWire shows the nightmare of teenagers borrowing Mum's or Dad's car and the dream of car fleet managers:

"DriveSync(TM) enables parents and commercial fleet owners to track when, where, how far, how fast and how aggressively a vehicle is being driven. This information is tracked passively via GPS satellites and recorded on an in-vehicle DriveSync(TM) receiver and USB data key. Because the information is tracked off-line, DriveSync(TM) eliminates the high monthly service fees associated with other GPS vehicle tracking systems. Results are viewed by detaching the data key from the receiver unit and inserting it into a computer USB port. The vehicle tracking results are uploaded to a DriveSync(TM) server where the data is interpreted and consolidated into customized reports. These reports, including trip logs, route maps and usage alerts, are viewed via a secure, password-protected website. The results provide a detailed analysis of vehicle use and driver behavior.

DriveSync(TM) provides parents with a clear picture of their teen's driving behavior, including speeding and aggressive driving habits. Prepared with this information, parents can discuss with their teen issues of driving safety, responsibility and accountability. Likewise, DriveSync(TM) can help parents measure their teen's driving progress, and set driving privileges accordingly.

The same training applications can be used for fleet drivers. By highlighting risky driving behavior, DriveSync(TM) allows fleet owners to identify, and correct, unsafe driving practices. DriveSync(TM) can also facilitate more efficient driving behavior. The accurate tracking of routes, mileage and speed enables fleet owners to anticipate and effectively manage vehicle insurance, gas and maintenance costs. That same data can further be used for forecasting and budgeting purposes.

"DriveSync(TM) is an affordable, secure and comprehensive GPS vehicle tracking system", says John Reynolds, Vice President of Business Development at IMS. "In addition to providing a conclusive analysis of driver behavior, DriveSync(TM) units are encrypted to ensure privacy of personal information. So you can track your vehicle with confidence knowing your information remains protected and confidential."

DriveSync(TM) will be available to retailers and distributors beginning February 2006."

Foursprung, GPS, tracking

Source: PRNewsWire

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Airbag: More safety for back-seat passengers

There are brands better known for passengers safety than Ford, e.g. Volvo, but now Ford presented their new inflatable seat belt concept.

The concept is designed specifically for second row passengers to further disperse the force of an impact over a wider contact area. Ford also has a version for the lap belt, although we think the shoulder belt bag would look great with a Pistons logo across it.

For the seat belts with air bags, Ford has developed a small, tubular-shaped inflatable bag that could be incorporated into the shoulder and lap belts of back seat passengers. The inflated bags would spread the force of an impact across a larger contact patch and lessen the chance of injury, as well as act as a sort of pretensioner to ensure the belts were positioned correctly before the force of a crash was transmitted to the occupant.

Foursprung, Airbag

Source: Autoblog

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PSP: Got a driving license for it?

It doesn't surprise me to steer a car in a video game on your Sony PSP. But steering a real car on real roads is maybe a little bit away from the meaning of the toy:

CES has a full-size, tricked-out Honda Civic that can be controlled over WiFi by a PSP. And we're not just talking about amateur moves like honking the horn or changing the radio station--you can actually drive this Civic (illegally, we presume) down the road using Metro Electronics in America's wild mod. As if piloting your car from the comfort of your sofa wasn't enough ("Civic, time for a beer run"), when you do feel like getting behind the wheel you'll be carting around a virtual Best Buy, as this Frankencar sports an eye-popping 24 LCD screens. Obviously this little proof-of-concept is not/never will be for sale, but an MEA spokesman quoted a fantasy world price of around $250,000.

Foursprung, PSP

Source: Engadget

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GPS: Mio's new personal navigation devices

Engadget has details about the new C710 and C310 models:

"Mio is putting out a brace of GPS units with the C710 and C310 personal navigation devices. The former is the higher end unit of the pair, sporting Bluetooth connectivity and embedded, lifetime traffic monitoring functionality, making it handy for avoiding ad hoc traffic problems like road construction zones. The unit also has media player functionality, allowing photo viewing and video playback on its 3.5-inch TFT LCD. Its 2GB of ROM comes pre-loaded with US and Canadian maps, with an SD/MMC slot available for memory expansion. The less powerful sibling is the C310 (pictured, right), which includes a similar featureset to that of the C710 but without the Bluetooth and embedded traffic monitoring (the latter still available as a separate add-on package). Both units measure 5.5 x 3 x 1-inches and will be available in Q1 for $899 and $599, respectively."

Foursprung, GPS

Source: Engadget

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Bluetooth: You don't need a BMW to get it!

Scosche's new bluetooth wireless interface for the Apple iPod and some other MP3 players scored a big award lately: it has been announced as the winner of the 2006 CES Innovations Award!

Why is it so cool, you ask? The Scosche transmitter essentially turns almost any OEM headunit into a Bluetooth friendly system, which is way excellent. The transmitter gets plugged directly into the headphone jack of the player and transmits the data to the receiver plugged into the factory headunit, allowing digital sound quality to be pumped into an OEM system. Way better than my scratchy radio transmitter, I'd say. On top of that, the system has a hands-free cell phone function, complete with microphone, which means that luxury vehicle owners won't be the only ones with Bluetooth-eqipped vehicles. It even mutes the music when your call is made or answered, then unmutes it when the call is over.

Foursprung, Bluetooth

Source: Autoblog

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MP3: New Sony products with satellite radio and MP3

A nice overview over the new car audio products comes from PRNewsWire:

"Products announced today include two new head units with an auxiliary input on the faceplate and nine satellite radio ready models. All of these products support the playback of CD-R/RW discs with MP3 and ATRAC3/3plus(TM) content from Sony's CONNECT(TM) online music store. The ATRAC3/3plus playback capability of Sony receivers, can play hundreds of secure digital music files burned onto a single CD.

"Whether it's burned to a disk or downloaded on an MP3 player, you can enjoy your music in the car on a Sony CD receiver," said Andrew Sivori, general manager of Sony Electronics mobile electronics division. "We know that people transfer and store their music in different ways. This year's Xplod lineup offers something for everyone."

For owners of Sony Walkman(R) digital music players or nearly any other portable MP3 player, the CDX-GT300 and CDX-GT400 receivers have an auxiliary input on the faceplate that makes it easy to plug in and play through car speakers. Both units are satellite radio ready, with a flip-down detachable faceplate and a wireless remote. The CDX-GT400 model features three pre-amp outputs and a 13-segment LED display with seven selectable colors that can be changed at the touch of a button.

The CDX-GT500 CD receiver has a full-motion florescent (FL) display with a "space producer" graphics engine. The "aux lite" auxiliary input allows for a customized installation for MP3 player integration and boasts three sets of preamp outputs.

With a motorized, synchro-flip, detachable faceplate, the CDX-RA700 unit has a stylish design for those who won't settle for a "factory stock" stereo in their dash.
In addition to standard MP3 and ATRAC3/3plus playback, the CDX-GT300, 400, 500 and CDX-RA700 models can play WMA files burned to a disk.

The new Xplod CD receivers are built on Sony's Drive-S chassis that offers sound separation from the stereo that isn't limited by a car's speakers. This technology also makes the head units resistant to interference from road vibrations. All CD receivers are CEA 2006 compliant.

Sony's Specialty Series line, sold through independent retailers and car audio specialists, has four new receivers based on the Drive-S HX chassis. The CDX-R505X AM/FM CD receiver has a synchro-flip detachable faceplate with a dot matrix florescent FL display. The CDX-F605X receiver, with a full-motion FL display, offers increased sound performance with its 24 bit Burr-Brown D/A converter and 4-volt preamp outputs.

Sony's X-DSP technology is featured in the CDX-GT705DX and CDX-GT805DX receivers. Both of these models offer advanced sound customization, adjustable directly through the head unit. The intelligent time alignment of X-DSP adjusts the speakers output in two centimeter increments for width, depth and elevation within a vehicle. When adjustments are made, the preferences can be saved as a preset in the stereo."

Foursprung, MP3, satellite radio

Source: PRNewsWire

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iPod: Sony to give up?

Does Sony give up the market for MP3 players? Providing the MP3 walkman product line themselves they now showed a integration of the market leader - Apple's wonderful iPod - to their car stereos: the iPod ‘Xplod’ Car Adapter — model number XA-110IP.

Even the Sony representative hovering around car audio agreed that it was a truly unbelieveable offering from Sony, but a true sign that Sony is ready to play ball with the consumer and adopt whatever will make cash; with the iPod at 83% market share, who would do otherwise? The unit should function just like any other iPod car adapter, with full functionality for the iPod available via the DIN unit.

Foursprung, iPod

Source: ATRACLife

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Foursprung: Win a trip to Oktoberfest with Navigon

Want to go to Oktoberfest? Have party in bavaria - the land of great cars and 1-liter-beers:

"NAVIGON , one of the European market leaders in mobile GPS navigation, will soon be represented with its new product generation in the USA.With NAVIGON you will experience the world - no matter whether you are on a business trip, on your way home or traveling to the most exciting places in the world.
Be one of the first to get the MobileNavigator, which is already highly successful in Europe.With a bit of luck you could even win a long weekend trip for two to the German Oktoberfest - just register NOW for our newsletter at www.navigon.com/oktoberfest .
With your registration you will automatically participate in our exclusive raffle.Win a trip for two to the famous Oktoberfest in Munich including a flight and two overnight stays in a comfortable hotel.
Experience a long weekend of “Bavarian Gemütlichkeit” at this year’s Oktoberfest with NAVIGON .
Register NOW at www.navigon.com/oktoberfest !"

Foursprung, GPS

Source: Mobility today

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Foursprung: GBA your car

Everybody has iPod car integration and we can't live without it. We showed lot of Mac Mini car integration. And we can't live without it. But who care's about integration of other important devices we can't live without?

Visteon and Nintendo do:

"Nintendo has a joint press conference at CES tomorrow with Visteon of all companies, and after a little due deliberation, and a high stakes game of Mario Kart DS (there was a nice bit of schwag on the table, those t-shirts are gunna be worth something someday!) we decided we'd check out this Visteon operation, who happen to be a "leading automotive global supplier." When we dropped by their website we found out they're already showing their forthcoming Nintendo device, loud and proud on the front page. It's a dockable entertainment system, meaning it can do the DVD playing on the lap, or as a fold down from the roof of your vehicle, but this one was designed in conjunction with Nintendo to support the Game Boy Advance. Just pop in a cartridge and your system gives over its 10.2-inch screen to your gaming demands. No word on how you actually control said game, but isn't it enough to look at?"

Great folks. I'm glad that I just bought an Avant to have space in my car to integrate all the gadgets.


Foursprung, Gameboy

Source: Engadget

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iPod: VW is podasting the Detroit Motor Show!

Our sibling blog "The German Car Blog" which always has the latest news about the Audi and Volkswagen brand group is reporting that VW is podcasting the Detroit Motor Show.
Cool, that's Foursprung!

Foursprung, Apple, iPod, Podcast

Source: The German Car Blog

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iPod: Integrated to 3 million Chrysler's in 2006

Over three million Chrysler, Jeep & Dodge automobiles will support iPod connectivity in 2006.

The Chrysler Group today announced that it will be the first American automaker to provide full iPod integration as an option in most of its 2006 models, with over three million 2006 Chrysler, Jeep(R) and Dodge models offering seamless iPod(R) integration beginning this spring. Drivers will be able to listen to their iPod through the car's audio system, select their music by artist, album or playlist with radio or steering wheel controls and view selections on the radio's display.

"Customers have been asking for iPod connectivity and we're excited to make it available to so many of our vehicles in 2006," said Randy Ewers, director, Mopar Accessories Portfolio Team. "We're providing the largest number and range of automobiles with iPod support of any automaker, allowing Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge owners to bring and listen to their entire music collections."

"We're thrilled that over three million Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge automobiles will offer great iPod connectivity in 2006," said Greg Joswiak, Apple's vice president of Worldwide iPod Product Marketing. "Over 40 percent of all cars sold in the US in 2006 will offer iPod connectivity."

Foursprung, Apple, iPod

Source: PR Newswire

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Tires: New development from polyurethane

As Autoblog reports there might be tires on the way reducing tread separation while increasing mileage and improving recyclability:

"Amerityre, the manufacturer of off-road closed-cell polyurethane tires (for products such as bicycles, garden equipment, and wheelchairs), is working on perfecting a process to bond polyurethane treads to conventional rubber tire carcasses. Such a process, if applied to heavy-duty over-the-road retreaded tires, could potentially reduce tread separation while increasing mileage and improving recyclability. The company has recently demonstrated the ability to adhere polyurethane to rubber without pressure or vulcanization, and is conducting trials of its tires in a mining application."

Foursprung, tires

Source: Autoblog

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Hybrid: Use a Prius as UPS

A nice way to use a gasoline-electric hybrid vehicle as a UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) for your house:

"The Prius, unlike the generator, also has a battery that provides instant, UPS-like power, to your house. Careful research has shown that most* people would prefer not to go outside to manually pull a cord in the case of a power failure. The same independent research foundation,** using accepted methods of sampling and polling***, determined that most* people would prefer not to spend money on a big, expensive generator, even if they don't have to pull on the cord."

Foursprung, hybrids

Source: MAKE: BLOG

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Audi TT: Comes with 2GB iPod nano!

Our sibling blog "The German Car Blog" is reporting that the Audi TT is shipped with a 2GB iPod nano for a limited period. Unfortunately only in Japan! Lucky guys they are.

Please welcome the first car which comes standard-equipped with an iPod nano: the Audi TT, at least in Japan!

If you buy your Audi TT between 5th January and 31st March it will be equipped with a 2GB iPod nano, fully integrated to your car stereo!

Two design icons together, just great!

Foursprung, Audi TT, Apple iPod

Source: The German Car Blog

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Foursprung: New constant-velocity joint

A new constant-velocity joint by GKN eliminates the current limitations to designers of automotive drivetrains and suspensionsof these joints as Autoblog reports

"as these components are bulky, heavy, and are limited in the amount of angle through which they can operate. GKN's new Countertrack and Crosstrack joints, however, use a subtly different system of tracks for the joint's balls, and this allows them to be made 8% smaller, 15% lighter, 30% more efficient, and operate through a increased range of angles (up to 50 degrees). That last feature is especially important for improving the maneuverability of front-wheel-drive cars and increasing the suspension travel of 4WD vehicles. The new joints are also said to be quieter and have less lash, as well. If indeed these claims are true, then GKN's prediction that these will become the new industry standard are not difficult to believe."

Foursprung

Source: Autoblog

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Foursprung: MIT's stackable car

As Engadget reports a team at MIT developed a concept as part of the solution for the problem of city traffic congestion:

"a "stackable" car to be used as part of a public transportation program, much like those bicycle-sharing programs in Europe, and stowed like a shopping cart. The wheels turn 360 degrees and contain the suspension and motor, so, along with providing a level of mobility fit for a city, they allow a new type of passenger compartment, replete with customizable displays and seats with "fingers" to catch you in a crash. It all sounds well and good, but we'll have to see see how much of this tech makes it into the final prototype, which is to be built by GM upon the MIT group's completion of the design."

Foursprung

Source: Engadget

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In-car multimedia: Jensen product line focuses on mobile multimedia

Audiovox Corporation (Nasdaq: VOXX) today announced the launch of several new Jensen
mobile products that move the brand beyond traditional auto sound and into mobile multi-media.

Intellicar(TM) by Jensen, a line of in-dash multi-media receivers with touch screen displays lead the way and are complimented by in-dash vehicle PCs, both in-dash and add-on navigation systems. In addition, Jensen mobile this year will include new, amplifiers, speakers and MP3, WMA, CD head units, which, the company believes, makes Jensen Mobile one of the strongest and broadest marketers of car entertainment lines in the industry.

"The Nav PC for the car," continued Malone, "is one of the most exciting units we have ever had. It incorporates Microsoft Streets and Trips Navigation software and is a Bluetooth-ready system, which means it will operate with any Bluetooth cellular telephone." Other features include built in-in 40GB CD hard drive and DVD ROM drive, mini-ITX motherboard with 1GHz processor and 512MB PC2100 memory and GPS antenna. Includes USB Bluetooth Dongle MSRP: $1699.99.

The company is also introducing the NAV7TSTFT 7-Inch Digital Touch Screen for use with the Company's NAVDINPC. It features 1.15 Mega Pixel high definition TFT screen, 7-inch touch screen display, USB output for touch screen display programming via the NAVDINPC and has a universal swivel- mounting bracket for easy installation. MSRP: $699.99.

Continuing the focus on Mobile Multi Media will be a series of touch screen systems with a variety of high-tech features including Bluetooth, iPod controls, XM ready and more.

Foursprung, In-car

Source: PR Newswire

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GPS: Another motorbike device on the market

What TomTom started with the Rider seems to start a trend: Yamaha now also provides a GPS device especially designed for two wheels based on a device by Garmin.
The systems transmits voice commands wirelessly to a receiver inside the helmet of the driver. Nice feature but $1,800 is a lot of money for a GPS device.

Foursprung, GPS, motorbike

Source: Gizmodo

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Foursprung: Pioneer's future products and plans

Read the outlook that Pioneer gave during a press conference on GPS and audio products:

"Pioneer kicked off its press conference talking directly about its ambitions into the vehicle navigation market (a la GPS and mapping units). Pioneer “wants to put the fun back into driving,” yet it doesn’t seem to be providing faster cars. Instead, they are introducing a new family of navigation, the ‘AVIC’ family, with three different models.

The AVIC-Z1 [pictured] has a built-in hard drive and enough CPU oomph to render 3D mapping graphics. 30GB hard drive, XM NavTraffic, music library and DVD playback, a 7-inch touch-screen, and Bluetooth phone connectivity. Expect it in April ‘06 for $2250.

The Z1 uses something called ‘Smart Routing’ which tries to keep track of stop signs, traffic, and other information to find the best route. It can even learn from your past travel to change its suggested routes to take you near destinations that you have gone by in the past—even if the waypoints aren’t exactly the most efficient way to your final destination. Potentially frustrating, but a step in the right direction for intelligent driver routing.

The Z1 can rip CDs to its HDD (up to 10GB of the internal hard drive), as well as ‘enhanced iPod functionality.’ It’s hard to say if that means standard play/skip controls or if it will also display iPod track/ID3 information.

The AVIC-N3 is a single DIN chasis unit with a 6.5-inch touchscreen, but is DVD-based instead of HDD based. Enhanced iPod controls and XM interface like the Z1. Expect the N3 in March 2006 for $1,800. The 2006y Tele Atlas database now offers lane information data for 50 markets and detailed city maps for 30+ cities.

The AVIC-D2 is also DVD-based, with XM NavTraffic capability. It’s a double-DIN unit, meaning its 6.5-inch display doesn’t slide out on a motorized track like the N3, but instead sits open. It’s available in March for $1,500.

What we are now not reporting on is the uncomfortable moment when Pioneer’s suit is explaining what makes “Generation Y” so individual. Did you know we like being unique?

Apparently, Gen Y folk also like OLED displays in their in-dash CD players. Of the 14 new models of Pioneer head units, most will include XM and Sirius control as well as that ‘enhanced iPod control.’ Two units have Bluetooth cell phone connectivity. In a laudable move, most of the new models also include a standard miniJack line-in, should you decline to purchase the iPod connectivity kit.

The AVH-P6800DVD is a double-DIN head unit with a built-in 6-disc DVD changer, as well as a 7-inch touch screen. Also, Bluetooth cell phone connectivity. Expect it in May of ‘06 for $1,400.

Pioneer is introducing a new high-end aftermarket car stereo branding called ‘Premier Reference Series’ (PRS). It’s apparently awesome, as judged by the monotone description of “deep, rich bass.” Pioneer is also talking about new shallow-depth subwoofers that are less than 4-inches deep. Prices start at $160 and should be around in March."

Foursprung

Source: Gizmodo

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Bluetooth: New micro headset from Motorola

Nice, really small and really high tech: Motorola's new button sized Bluetooth headset as shown on T3:

"It measures in no bigger than your thumbnail, so unlike most of the hideous Bluetooth headsets out there it sits tidily into your ear, ensuring no one spies it.

There’s a midget microphone built in that picks up your voice via your ear canal. Plus, Motorola claims that the H5’s sleek design helps eliminate any irritating ambient outside sounds.

It comes in a bizarrely chic chrome case that doubles as a charging base station (see gallery images below) and is slated to hit the UK in Spring 2006."

Foursprung, Bluetooth, headset

Source: T3

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GPS: Commodore is back

One of the most famous brands from our youth is back: The Commodore Navigator runs Windows CE and is equipped with a 20GB hard disk. From this also music and video can be played. The touch screen is 3.6 inches large.
Sounds like nice standard features from a great brand...but please read what the guys from Gizmodo experienced with the device while reviewing it:

"Initially I sat down with the Navigator Combo with high hopes. First off, the display looks like complete crap. The navigation is done with a pretty responsive touch screen, but what was difficult was actually reading what the options were. I tried to check out the GPS features and I was greeted with a fantastic error. The Navigator Combo is powered by Windows CE, so when there is an error, Microsoft lets me know there is an error. If you are really interested, this features a 3.5-inch touch screen, 20GB hard drive, playback options for most audio/video formats and even a bitching NES emulator."

Foursprung, GPS

Source: Trusted Reviews, Gizmodo

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GPS: Sony NV-U70 reviews

We announced the new Sony GPS devices, now Pocket-lint reviewed it:

"For the most part however, the models are the identical offering the same software interface and body. Both sport a large 3.5-inch colour touch-screen that dominates the front of the unit. The design looks more like a miniaturised widescreen television rather than a GPS unit and in keeping with the television appeal, both units feature a two-way speaker and a 1.6 Woofer at the back and tweeter at the front to provide clearer instructions.

While the screen makes a huge difference in your ability to read the information and instructions, the added speakers don’t. We didn’t notice any real benefit over other units with only one speaker and you still won’t be able to hear it over your radio for example.

When it comes to using the unit on the road, the NV-U70T is easy to use if not a little complicated to start with. Addresses can be input via the on-screen keyboard and users can search by postcode, city, street or point of interest.

In our tests, the unit struggled with a number of the addresses we tried it with. Using the postcode search the device easily found where we wanted when we only put in half the postcode and then normally denied the address existed if we put in all the characters. SL5 7HQ for example returns no results, while SL5 gets you to where you want to go.

These issues aside, once the address had been found the instructions where very clear and easy to follow. The benefit of the large screen means you can see what is coming up and the unit automatically recalculates on the fly if you venture off the suggested path.

Rather spookily, rather than suggest you’ve made a mistake and then spend the next 20 seconds re-calculating the route, the nav-u just gets on with it as if it knew you were going to make the change in direction. Our initial perception of this was one of doubt over whether or not it had done anything but a quick glance of the overall route showed everything was okay.

Following hot on the heals of the Navman C550 the NV-U70T also offers access to the Traffic Message Channel to get information and allow dynamic re-routing around heavy traffic.

Rather than approach the solution like Navman, which alerts you to the traffic problem, the Sony unit simply gets on with it. Well that’s what we think as for the week we’ve been driving around with the unit on Dynamic TMC mode we haven’t hit a traffic jam but then neither have we been told that one was about.

As said at the beginning, the NV-U50 and NV-U70 differ from the maps they offer. UK Users of the NV-U50 can opt for pre-installed maps of all of the UK and Ireland and the north of France, while Europeans get mainland Europe but no UK coverage.

The fact that the NV-U50 will only get you just past Paris will annoy most people who are looking to use the unit to head to the South of France on holiday and it's certainly something to bear in mind. For that, you’ll need the NV-U70T that offers pan-European coverage of 27 countries either pre-installed or on supplied DVD.

VERDICT

This second effort is certainly better than Sony’s first attempt. The company’s decision to opt for its own software interface rather than simply buying an off the shelf solution also sets it apart from the plethora of units on the market.

In doing so however, the company has taken a big risk that its software efforts are perfect and intuitive. Unfortunately while they are good, they aren’t perfect and to get the most out of this you should expect to have some tech savvy about you.

If we had to chose between this and the TomTom range, for us the TomTom still wins. The Sony does give it a good run for its money, and the integrated FM aerial for the TMC data in the cradle rather than the requiring you to drape cables all over your dashboard is streets ahead of Navman’s traffic offering. "

Foursprung, GPS

Source: Pocket-lint

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Chip tuning: 3 days to maximum power

One of the most favorite car "gadgets" is more horsepower. Chip tuning can give it to you.

3 DAYS to Maximum POWER! The ultimate APR chip upgrade for your Volkswagen and Audi is available effortlessly from ECS Tuning. Available in 91, 93, 100 and 104 octane specific programs. Want chipped mode? Want to be able to switch back to your stock settings? Want a race mode to run 100 octane fuel at the track? How about a valet mode that limits power? EMCS, a feature exclusive to APR, allows you to switch programming options right from the cruise control stalk of your vehicle.

ECS has simplified performance chipping. No need to run around town setting up a UPS account or standing in line at the post office. Order your chip online at ECS. Shortly after placing your order you will receive an e-mail containing a prepaid UPS Next Day Air shipping label, print the label, attach to your package and drop it off at any local UPS Store (formerly Mailboxes etc.) or any UPS drop box (ECU's should fit no problem). In as little as 3 days you will have your ECU back in hand ready to drive.

Foursprung, Chip tuning

Source: VWvortex

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Car Audio: TI introduces first class D amplifiers

New audio amplifiers from TI deliver 90 percent power efficiency for automotive audio systems.

Ushering in a higher standard in car audio, Texas Instruments Incorporated (NYSE: TXN) (TI) announced its first digital amplifiers designed to meet the high reliability and unique requirements of the automotive market. The TAS5414 and TAS5424 Class D amplifiers introduce the power efficiency of digital amplification for automotive audio applications, such as head units and external amplifiers.

Specifically designed for the automotive market, the TAS5414 is a single-ended input amplifier and the TAS5424 has differential input, enabling it to achieve higher dynamic range performance in a challenging board signal routing environment. The two amplifiers let the designer select the optimum solution given their system performance and cost requirements.

Foursprung, Car Audio

Source: PR Newswire

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GPS: Device with video and DMB

We reported several times about devices combining GPS with MP3 audio. Now FineDrive unveiled its new M700D in-car multimedia system featuring GPS, video playback, and DMB. I am not sure if watching TV on the road is a good idea but for those who do this might be a solution. When the device is available - dates for this are not known yet and so is the price - hopefully it will be used for navigation on the road and for watching TV during the breaks...

Foursprung, GPS, TV, DMB

Source: Gizmodo

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Foursprung: Hella's high tech tail lights for aftermarket

Hella Inc. 's innovative CELIS (r) (Central Lighting Systems) and LED technology will be available in automotive aftermarket.
The CELIS(R) LED rear lamps, originally designed for new-model luxury cars, use light strips with acrylic light guides to
produce brilliant light strips or rings. The system brings several advantages including a stylized appearance, added safety, substantially longer life and lower power usage than traditional incandescent lights. LED lights come on quicker and brighter than traditional lamps, giving drivers behind you an extra margin of warning that you are stopping or slowing.

Aftermarket kits -- featuring two tail lamps and the CHMSL (center-high mount stop lamp) -- initially will be available for 2003 and later models of the Chevrolet Silverado and 2004 and later models of the Ford F-150 pickup truck. Kits for other models will be available later in 2006 and shall be installable by the consumer himself. Prices start at $400.

Foursprung, LED

Source: PRNewsWire

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Microsoft: Powering new in-car infotainment experiences from Alpine, Honda

A Windows-powered car, what else have you been waiting for?! Get ready to reboot after you saw your first bluescreen in your in-dash display.

At the 2006 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES), Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: MSFT) showcased several new products built on Windows(R) Automotive technologies delivering advanced in-vehicle communication, navigation and digital entertainment experiences for consumers. Alpine Electronics of America Inc., consistently ranked No. 1 by J.D. Power and Associates in customer satisfaction, unveiled a new portable navigation device called Blackbird and a new aftermarket
in-vehicle navigation system, the NVE-N872A. In addition, Microsoft showcased the Windows Automotive-powered navigation system in the new Honda Odyssey minivan, Honda Ridgeline truck and Motor Trend's Car of the Year, the 2006 Honda Civic.

These new navigation systems provide satellite-guided turn-by-turn directions and useful features such as voice-guided controls and information on more than 7 million points of interest, including Zagat Survey restaurant guide information, to make getting from place to place easier than ever.
"These new products demonstrate the power and versatility of Microsoft's in-vehicle technologies for helping the automotive, mobile and consumer electronics industries meet the demands of drivers and passengers," said Martin Thall, general manager of the Automotive Business Unit at Microsoft.
"These new Alpine and Honda solutions are the latest of an extensive list of products built on the Windows Embedded platform that deliver safer, more reliable and affordable ways for consumers to communicate, navigate, access information and enjoy digital entertainment on the road."

Foursprung, Microsoft, In-car

Source: PR Newswire

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Satellite radio: New Sirius satellite radio system for vehicle and home application

The system by Audiovox includes a receiver/car kit combo, a second car kit and a home unit.

Audiovox Corporation (Nasdaq: VOXX) today unveiled their Sirius Satellite Radio system about which Tom Malone Senior VP, Sales said, "We have been successful with Sirius Systems from their inception, and the expansion of these new models, reflects how positive we feel about the trend toward satellite radio and what it can mean to our distribution base."

With the eminent arrival of shock-jock Howard Stern to the Sirius network in 2006, there has been a marked increase in subscriptions for Sirius service. "Satellite radio sales for Audiovox have been very strong this year and we believe that these new Sirius products should keep that momentum going," said Malone. "Our new receiver/car kit combo has features that enhance the satellite radio experience, like a large 5-line display and "Game Alert" which prompts you when your favorite NFL or other sports teams are being broadcast on Sirius."

The main Audiovox Sirius system features a Plug 'n Play Receiver and Car Kit (SIRCMB5) with an MSRP of $99.99, an optional second vehicle kit (SIRCK5) for $39.99 and an optional Home Kit (SIRHK5) for $39.99. All models utilize brackets instead of docks, a feature that, Malone feels, will appeal to dealers and their customers. "The brackets have a sleek, low profile, making them cosmetically appealing wherever they are installed," he said.

Foursprung, Satellite radio

Source: PR Newswire

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Nissan: XBox for all URGE cars

Nissan North America Inc. and Microsoft Corp. came together to create the first-ever fully integrated gaming system within a
vehicle as PRNewsWire reports:

Conceived by Nissan Design America Inc. (NDA) and equipped with the
Xbox 360(TM) next-generation video game and entertainment system from
Microsoft, the Nissan URGE concept car allows drivers (while parked) to play
"Project Gotham Racing(R) 3" using the car's own steering wheel, gas pedal and
brake pedal while viewing the game on a flip-down seven-inch LCD screen.
"PGR(R) 3" is developed exclusively for Xbox 360 by Bizarre Creations Ltd. for
Microsoft Game Studios.
The URGE, which will make its world debut at the 2006 North American
International Auto Show on Jan. 9, offers a glimpse of how echo boomers are
influencing the next generation of vehicle design.
"Nissan conducted an Internet survey of 2,000 echo boomers, a majority of
which said technology and gaming are among the most important attributes in
their first car," said Bruce Campbell, vice president of design at Nissan
Design America in La Jolla, Calif. "Xbox 360 offered the latest in technology
and was already a favorite among this audience."
The Nissan URGE, outfitted with an Xbox 360 video game and entertainment
system, puts the controls of the world's most powerful gaming console at the
hands and feet of the driver. Implemented by the designers at Nissan Design
America with the guidance of Microsoft engineers, the Nissan URGE delivers an
immersive driving experience not available in any living room.
The URGE concept car is equipped with the award-winning "PGR 3," which
allows drivers to control a breathtaking trip through the streets of five
photo-realistic locations: New York City, London, Las Vegas, Tokyo and the
Nurburgring test track in Germany. "PGR 3" drivers view and play the game on
a flip-down LCD screen, which doubles as a rear-view mirror when the car is
being used for real driving. They control the action using the Nissan URGE's
race-inspired steering wheel, gas pedal and brake pedal. A Nissan URGE driver
can, for example, maneuver through the streets of New York, park the car and
fire up the Xbox 360, then virtually race through the same streets using the
same steering wheel, gas pedal and brake pedal -- blurring fantasy and reality
in a way that the automotive world has never before seen.

Foursprung, Nissan, Microsoft, XBox

Source: PRNewsWire

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THX: New Lincoln MKX crossover will have THX sound!

The new crossover MKX from Lincoln will be available with THX sound. Great!

Damn you, Simpsons! Ever since this clip, we can’t talk about THX sound technology without thinking of that guy’s head popping like a balloon. Nonetheless, Lincoln’s new alphabet-soup crossover SUV, the 2007 MKX (think Ford Edge) will be fitted with a THX II Certified audio system including 14 speakers, 600 watts of power and three optimized seating position modes. The system is on display at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, and will be shown in Detroit where the MKX will be unveiled. Lincoln, which is hoping to attract younger buyers to the brand with several new models, wants to head off audiophiles’ trip to the aftermarket for accessories. The system will also be offered in the Lincoln Zephyr midsize sedan.

Foursprung, THX, Lincoln MKX

Source: Jalopnik

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LED: Automotive LED implementation and the automotive market

"Fourtitude" has a nice technical report about the automotive LED implementation and the automotive market.

Today, automobile manufacturers are wooing customers with cars that are safer, more environmentally friendly, better designed and more fuel efficient than ever. These new models must also conform to the latest legislation, resulting in the implementation of new technology. In the US, for example, by 2007 all new registered cars will be fitted with a tire-pressure monitoring system. Fulfilling the separate demands from consumers and governments will require greater optical content within the automobile.

The LED is one of the optical components that will be increasingly used in cars, providing improvements to safety and design. While significant market penetration has already been seen through automobile internal lighting with standard LEDs (table 1), their high-brightness counterparts will benefit from the next big market opportunity: external rear- and front-lighting systems, such as headlights, low beams, turning lights, sidelights and daytime lamps. This area is a fashionable research topic, with emphasis directed toward decreasing price and increasing performance.

Foursprung, LED, Audi Allroad

Source: Fourtitude

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Adaptiv TV: New car dealer mobile video system

Adaptiv TV is the first line to offer a one box solution to answer vehicle-specific needs.

Fresh off winning the CEA Innovations Honoree Award for its Advent Double Drop-Down Overhead Mobile Video System, Audiovox Corporation (Nasdaq: VOXX) has introduced Adaptiv TV from Advent. Adaptiv TV is a one-box mobile video overhead solution designed to maximize vehicle-specific product offerings while at the same time, minimize the dealer's inventory carry.

Brand new features include a "Pause to Talk" button, backlit controls for loading the DVD at night, and a wireless game controller with 51 Sega games. A Plug-in TV Tuner and antenna are available as optional accessories.

The new models all feature shale and pewter trim bezels to enhance the
vehicle's interior with an OE look.
* ADV85 - 8.5-inch monitor with built-in DVD player. MSRP: $1149
* ADV102 - 10.2-inch monitor with built-in DVD player. MSRP: $1299
* ADV122 - 12.2-inch monitor with built-in DVD player. MSRP: $1599

Foursprung, TV

Source: PR Newswire

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Mac mini: The Jeepintosh!

Maybe you remember our posts about the integration of an Apple Mac mini into a Ford F-150 or a Lexus or an Infiniti M45, we even reported about an integration of Apple's Front Row into an Audi in-dash display.
But we must admit that this integration of an Apple Mac mini into a Jeep is maybe the best one.

Mac Mini
Xenarc 700 TSV Touchscreen
Bluetooth Keyboard and Mouse
BU-353 USB GPS
Carnetix P1900 and P5V adapter
RadioShark USB
PowerMate
2 Hubs

GPS mapping via Route 66 and RoadNav...
Salling Clicker on Treo 650 for controlling Mac through phone...
Bluetooth DUN over Treo for Internet access.

As a side note, an alarm system with Keyless entry and remote start was also installed... works like a champ without any OS X driver. The Carnetix handles sleeping and waking the Mac like a champ.

Watch the full picture gallery over at Flickr.

Foursprung, Apple, Mac mini

Source: TUAW

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Saab: 9-5 with BioPower

Saab's alternative to hybrid cars uses an eco-friendly fuel and can also run on normal unleaded fuel, or a mixture of the two different fuel types.
The 2.0 turbocharged Saab 9-5 BioPower has 180bhp. There is a concept car with 310bhp to be shown at Detroit motor show using an upgraded version of the company's environmentally friendly engine that runs on ethanol produced from sustainable resources. The Saab BioPower model has the potential to reduce CO2 emissions by as much as 80%, without compromising safety, performance or comfort.

Foursprung, Saab, biodiesel

Source: Autoblog

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Mac mini: Carputer mount with see-through ground FX!

This mount was made to put your Mac mini to the wall, but why not put it into your car?

Hubbell, makers of home automation products, has created a simple in-car MacMini mount out of Lucite and a few screws. It costs just $49.99 and for $20 extra you get backlight LEDs for an extra-special SEXUAL Mac mini car mount. That’s right, lads—flip on these LEDs in your hoopty and get the ladies all in an uproar. They will KNOW your name is the mack daddy of in car computing.

In fact, this thing doesn’t even have to go into a car. You can slam your mini into your wall, making it a postmodern piece of art.

Here is the product page.



Foursprung, Apple, Mac mini

Source: Gizmodo

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Satellite radio: XM presents advanced services vehicle

XM Satellite Radio will unveil the XM Advanced Services vehicle, a concept car featuring in-car video, voice command, weather alerts, parking space locator, and other exciting new innovations at the 2006 Consumer Electronics Show (CES).

The XM Advanced Services vehicle is a specially-equipped 2006 Lexus LX 470 to be displayed at CES January 5 - 8 in the Las Vegas Convention Center's North Hall at the XM Satellite Radio booth (Booth #4606).

The XM Advanced Services vehicle will showcase in-car video with XM's partner On2 Technologies (AMEX:ONT), as well as a vast array of other new technologies, all of which can be delivered directly to the automobile by XM's network of satellites and ground repeaters, the same satellite delivery system that XM employs to broadcast its 160 channels of commercial-free music and premier sports, news, and talk radio.

XM and On2 Technologies will show new in-vehicle satellite video solutions for consumers that are designed to receive audio and video entertainment from XM. Video content can be either streamed live or stored for later playback.

In addition to in-car video, the XM Advanced Services vehicle will have the cutting-edge Voice Command system developed with VoiceBox® Technologies. The VoiceBox platform goes beyond typical voice recognition technologies and lets the driver use conversational speech to control the XM radio. For instance, the driver can ask to hear a certain kind of music, such as jazz, and VoiceBox will ask which of XM's five jazz channels the driver would like to hear. The driver can reply and the XM radio changes channels automatically - without the driver's hands ever leaving the steering wheel. Delivering an exceptional user experience, the technology is part of a new multi-year partnership between XM and VoiceBox to deliver a voice-enabled XM Radio platform to automakers and the aftermarket.

The XM Advanced Services vehicle also offers a demonstration of XM WeatherLink, a new concept that delivers advanced warning of weather-related driving conditions in real time. Developed with XM's partner WxWorx, a division of Baron Services, using the same technology behind the acclaimed XM WX Satellite Weather service for marine and aviation, XM WeatherLink alerts drivers to weather conditions on the road ahead.

Another innovation found inside the XM Advanced Services vehicle will help drivers locate parking spaces. XM, in conjunction with partners Nu-Metrics, Inc. (A Quixote Company) and InfoGation, will demonstrate its "ParkingLink" capability concept, which works with the car's navigation system to find available parking spots. The system shows the actual number of spaces available at designated parking facilities on the vehicle navigation map, and uses color-keyed icons to indicate the percentage availability of each facility.

XM's "ParkingLink" concept builds upon the success of the XM NavTraffic service, which displays real-time traffic information on vehicle navigation maps. XM NavTraffic informs the driver how fast traffic is moving on major highways in major metro markets, and pinpoints the locations of current traffic jams, accident sites, and road closures. Introduced in 2004, XM NavTraffic, powered by NAVTEQ Traffic, is a standard feature of the Acura RL and an option in the Cadillac CTS. Plus, Pioneer and Garmin offer aftermarket navigation systems with XM NavTraffic capability.

The XM Advanced Services vehicle contains all of these technologies, plus streaming data displays of stock quotes and sports scores, and of course, XM Satellite Radio.

Foursprung, XM

Source: Fourtitude

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Notebook: First pictures of the Lamborghini notebook!

The German Car Blog has the first pictures of the long awaited Lamborghini notebook.
The Lamborghini notebook will be produced in cooperation with ASUS and will be available in Lamborghini yellow and black with all the characteristics of a Lamborghini: Energy, Speed, Power and Beauty.

Expect more product details next week!




Foursprung, Lamborghini

Source: Hartware

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Foursprung: Use Your Web Browser to Start Your Car

Guidepoint is known as a service similar to GM's OnStar system providing emergency assictance in the US and Mexico, but adds the functionality of tracking stolen vehicles. You could call up Guidepoint, and request them to unlock your car door for you.

But Guidepoint is now offering a service that lets drivers control certain functions of their car using a web browser.

The provider created a wireless access protocol (WAP) version of its existing Guidepoint service, that allows subscribers to unlock doors, start the engine, and honk the horn through any web-enabled device, namely cellphones and PDAs, though it could certainly work from your office desktop too.

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Source: Guidepoint

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Bluetooth: Another Bluetooth CD-MP3 car receiver

The family of all-in-one devices with bluettoh support has grown:

With the Parrot RHYTHM N'BLUE, drivers can listen to CDs, a radio station or even their own MP3 recording plus make and receive phone calls. Seven backlight colors are available. The keypad controls phone dialing and messaging functions, and provides preset radio station selection.
Synchronizing your mobile phone phonebook with the car stereo memory allows for easy access to your contacts. When an incoming call is received, the caller's name is displayed. Numbers may be dialed manually or hands-free using the voice recognition feature; the driver says a name and the number is automatically dialed.
The screen displays the ID3 tags of the tracks in your MP3 compilations.

The manufacturer doesn't give any pricing information but I have seen offers starting from below EUR 250.

Foursprung, MP3, receiver, bluetooth

Source: Parrot

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Bluetooth: Talk to your rearview mirror

SunJing Techwin Co. offers two Rearview Mirror HandsFree Car Kit (MHF-R220BT and MHF-R330BT) which are a wireless devices that utilise Bluetooth technology to communicate with your compatible phone within a 10-metre range. This allows you to talk through its built-in high quality loudspeaker and external high sensitivity microphone without the need to hold the phone or take your hands off the steering wheel.
Installation is quite easy: just clip this unit onto the existing rear view mirror in the car and you will be able to answer , end , reject, redial, place calls or adjust your speaker volume by the simple push of a button, wherever your phone is in your car- there is no need to even remove your phone from your pocket or purse. The phone connects automatically when you start your engine. Microphone and speaker are built-in to the mirror.
The model MHF-R220BT is available for EUR 110, the MHF-R330BT is EUR 170. The MHF-R330BT senses the distance from the right, left and rear and indicates the distance via LED digits(0.4m - 1.6m) & left and right and also by four stages of warning signals (beep sounds) which helps the driver while reversing the vehicle (for this additional installation with two holes in the rear bumps is necessary).

Foursprung, bluetooth, mobile phone

Source: SunJing Techwin Co

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Toyota 2box car bB: Jukebox on wheels!

Usually we report here about great car gadgets. But now it looks like Toyota has built a car which is a gadget by itself: the Toyota 2box car bB!

Toyota Japan is selling its full audio car bB with a big-time marketing campaign in cooperation with MTV. All models come with the specially developed Toyota music player that is integrated into the car as a standard feature. The high-end (Q version) is a 4WD with a 9 speaker system and costs about $16,000. The speakers and surround DSP were developed by Pioneer. It features an AM/FM tuner, CD player, supports MP3/WMA and a connection for your portable music player. The nicest feature of this car—at least to the Tokyo nightlife junkies—is the enormous amount of lighting and illumination attached to it. The control panel for these and the audio sit comfortably at the armrest.

Foursprung, Toyota 2box

Source: Impress via Gizmodo

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Foursprung: Top speed limit remover for your BMW

As you know German supercars, and let's assume BMW's as such ones for a moment, are limiting their speed limit to 250 km/h or 155 miles per hour.
It doesn't need to be like that if you use the top speed limit remover from Tuner Motorsports for $649.

So you’ve just shelled out $90k+ for your 507hp BMW super-sedan, and are bummed out that you can’t get it past 155 mph on the Turnpike because of the pesky electronic speed limiter? Well, there’s a solution.

Turner Motorsport is now selling a top speed limiter removal unit for your BMW E60 M5, BMW E63 M6 (which isn’t for sale here in the U.S. just yet), and it even works on the BMW E46 M3.

What’s nice about this unit is that it doesn’t require messing around with the factory ECU tuning, and it’s reasonably priced at $649. BMW charges around $1500 to have the top-speed limiter removed in Europe, and Hamann will do it for you with their software and tuning upgrade, which costs more than $10,000.

Foursprung, BMW

Source: The Bavarian Falcon via Jalopnik

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Hydrogen: UC Berkeley program tests hydrogen-powered Mercedes A-class

The University of California, Berkeley received a hydrogen-powered Mercedes A-class from DaimlerChrysler to test drive it over the next two years.

The DaimlerChrysler Corporation handed over the keys to the F-Cell to researchers at UC Berkeley's California Partners for Advanced Transit and Highways this week as part of a project to study how the vehicle works in real-life surroundings, the university reported.

`We're interested in the performance of the vehicle and the reactions of PATH staff to its experiences with the car,'' Tim Lipman, project co-manager and assistant research engineer at the California Center for Innovative Transportation at UC Berkeley's Institute of Transportation Studies, said in a statement.

In hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, the hydrogen is converted into electricity, which then powers the motor, the university reported.

Foursprung, DaimlerChrysler, F-Cell, Hydrogen

Source: Mercury News via Jalopnik

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Hydrogen: Hydrogen-powered Toyato Prius tests in U.S.

The Public Works department of Burlington, Connecticut, will be receiving a Toyota Prius next year. This is not an ordinary hybrid, though, but one of a hundred modified to run on hydrogen (fuel-cell).

In the spring, a hydrogen-powered Toyota Prius will join the city's fleet of cars.

It will fill up at the only hydrogen pump in New England, located between the Public Works and Burlington Electric departments, and demonstrate, its pro- ponents hope, that hydrogen-fueled cars will someday offer a realistic alternative to gasoline.

The station is being built and tested by Proton Energy Systems of Wallingford, Conn. The custom Prius, slated to be a Public Works car, is an internal-combustion hybrid. It is being converted now so that it will run on hydrogen, with water, rather than carbon dioxide, as the byproduct of combustion.

The single Prius, which will run about 80 miles on one hydrogen fill-up, represents "a beginning" for the innovative hydrogen application, he said. The practical problem, he said, is ultimately to make decentralized manufacture of hydrogen less expensive and the hydrogen more readily available.

He said hydrogen is no more dangerous than gasoline in cars.

"The point here," Sanders said, "is to learn."

Foursprung, Toyota Prius, Hydrogen

Source: Fuel Cell Works via Autoblog

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Hybrid: New techno-wizardry for Toyota's Prius

The Toyota Prius reveived an update including some gadgets.

An options package will be available for the T Spirit version on the European and US markets (but not, unfortunately, in South Africa) that includes a rear parking monitor and intelligent parking assist (IPA).

The parking monitor uses a rear-mounted miniature TV camera to show the driver the area immediately behind the vehicle. This can be overlaid with guidelines to make reverse manoeuvres simpler and safer.

IPA can actually reverse-park the Prius; after the driver stops the car at the appropriate angle and at a safe distance from neighbouring vehicles, the system will calculate the correct course and automatically steer the car into the parking space.

All the driver has to do is control the accelerator and brake.

Foursprung, Hybrid, Toyota Prius

Source: Motoring

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LCD: Mercedes S-Class dashboard goes LCD

"AutoSpies" has some cool pictures of the new Mercedes S-class dashboard which uses LCD technology.

To say the new Mercedes S-Class dashboard is impressive is probably the understatement of the year.

Basically, it's a laptop screen embedded in the dash that displays all your data virtually.

What's cool is it mimics analog gauges like the original Carrera GT concept was sporting when we all first saw it for the first time.

But the real mind blower, is when the night vision activates and everyting in front of you disappears and you see a video screen displaying what's in front of you.

Hmm, Mercedes wasn't known for "Vorsprung" lately with all the problems in their E-class, but it's good to see something nice from them again.



Foursprung, LCD

Source: AutoSpies

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Foursprung: 3 car tech concepts you'll need to know in 2006

Here is a list of 15 tech concepts you'll need to know in 2006. We condensed them for you to the automotive related ones. Of course the latest development will be reported here at your favorite car gadgets blog.

1. Pedestrian Protection System (PPS)
Radar sensors and computer-controlled braking will keep drivers safer than ever, but what about pedestrians? In case your adaptive cruise control fails to spot someone darting into the road, TRW Automotive is introducing the PPS system: if you smack a pedestrian, the hood is automatically raised to cushion his landing on the engine block. The system is already being tested, part of a drive to meet new European and Japanese regulations on pedestrian safety which are being phased in, starting with 2006 models.

2. Driver-Monitoring System
Instead of just watching for hazards on the road, Toyota's latest precrash safety system is turning its attention to the most likely cause of an accident: you. This spring, Lexus models in Japan will be available with a camera mounted on the steering column that uses facial-recognition software to determine whether you're watching the road. If not, and the front-mounted radar sees you're getting too close to something, it will flash a light, then beep and tap the brakes if you persist in rubbernecking.

3. Blind Spot Detection
To prevent drivers from smashing into what they can't see, two as-yet-unnamed automakers will include Valeo Raytheon's blind-spot detection in 2007 models. The system's 2.4-GHz radar sensors will be mounted in the rear bumper and won't be affected by the elements. When a vehicle is in a driver's blind spot, an LED in the sideview mirror will light up. If the driver turns the steering wheel anyway, a beep will warn him of the hidden danger.

Foursprung, Pedestrian Protection System, Driver-Monitoring System, Blind Spot Detection
Source: Popular Mechanics

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Isuzu: Develops natural gas direct injection engines

Isuzu Motors (Japan) announced that it is partnering with Canadian company Westport Innovations to develop engines using Westport's Compressed Natural Gas Direct Injection (CNG-DI) technology.

Isuzu will put $1.3 million into a one-year project aimed at a 25 percent improvement in fuel economy over current spark-ignited CNG engines. The CNG-DI technology offers ultra-low emissions and improved fuel economy.

CNG-DI uses late-cycle high-pressure injection of CNG into the combustion chamber in a similar fashion to the diesel cycle. Natural gas has a higher ignition temperature than diesel fuel, so a glow plug is used to achieve ignition. A CNG-DI injector is shown at right.

The Japanese government is supporting the move to CNG in vehicles as a substitute for diesel engines, in an effort to cut particulate and greenhouse gas emissions. The government is subsidizing both CNG vehicles and CNG fuel prices that are 54 percent less than gasoline and up to 38 percent less than diesel on an energy-equivalent basis. There are currently more than 24,000 natural gas vehicles in Japan.

Foursprung, Isuzu, Natural gas, direct injection

Source: Autoblog

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Blackberry: BMW Canada offers adress book integration

BMW Canada is the first automaker with a BlackBerry address book integration.

BMW is obviously not concerned that BlackBerry maker Research In Motion (RIM) is embroiled in a lawsuit with patent squatter
For the time being BlackBerry integration will only be available in Canada. (Photo: BMW Canada and Reasearch In Motion)
NTP that could potentially force the communications giant to pay a stiff royalty or push them out of the U.S. market, because the German brand has just announced it will be the first automaker to offer BlackBerry address book integration, in its cars.

Of course, for the time being BlackBerry integration will only be available in Canada, where the NTP lawsuit would have no jurisdiction. Other markets are expected to follow shortly.

Foursprung, BMW, Blackberry

Source: Auto123 via Autoblog

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Foursprung: Cooling vests for Humvee

Developed by the army this might be a help if your air condition quits work:

An armor-padded Humvee could prove too toasty for the crew inside, thus the Army has developed a cooling vest that are worn beneath body armor. These vests come with a hose that is plugged into the Humvee’s on-board air conditioning system, circulating liquid from the vehicle’s AC system to cool down its wearer – combating internal temperatures that could rise up to 130 degrees.

Foursprung
Source: Ubergizmo

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Mini: Most british version with tea set on board

A Mini can not be more british: On the road without having to miss your cup of tea will be no more problem with the Mini Traveller concept edition the manufacturer prepares for Detroit. Nice. Especially during the winter time in the northern hemisphere...

Foursprung, Mini

Source: Jalopnik

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GPS: 40% growth in in-build navigation

Autoblog has found some nice figures on GPS satellite navigation systems:

NAVTEQ, a digital map database supplier, reports that over 1 million vehicles were sold in North America with factory-installed navigation systems in the first 10 months of 2005, representing 40 percent growth year-over-year. Over 90 percent of these vehicles use NAVTEQ map data.

As factory-installed navigation systems have moved from a luxury car option to a mainstream item, sales have skyrocketed. However, Telematics Research Group reports that 61 percent of built-in navigation systems still go into luxury vehicles.

TRG believes that portable navigation devices (like the Garmin Nuvi, at right), including GPS-equipped PDAs and cell phones, will rapidly outstrip more expensive built-in units, with annual sales of 17.8 million units by 2011 in the U.S., vs. 4.4 million factory-installed navigation systems. Worldwide, the difference is even greater, with 2011 portable navigation device sales forecast at 109.9 million, vs. 20.2 million built-in units.

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Source:

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iPod: Interfaces in 73 million cars by 2011

Telematics Research Group (TRG) predicted that auto makers and 3rd party suppliers will be faced to a fast growing demand for integration kits for mobile audio devices just like the popular iPod.

Apple's beautiful mobile audio player will be sold 34 million times by the end of 2005 and is driving a new trend in auto design - OEM-supplied iPod adapters and auxiliary input jacks.

We also reported several times on different ways of integrating your iPod or other mobile audio devices to your car (see here, here,here,here,here,here,here and here) and TRG predicts that in 2011 will have 73 million cars iPod integration and 150 million auxiliary input. Today there are 900,000 car with iPod integration, 6 million have an auxiliary input.

Foursprung, iPod, MP3

Source: Autoblog

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Foursprung: Happy New Year!

A "Happy New Year!" to all our readers from the Foursprung team.

Thanks for your support in 2005 and we are looking forward to see you all back here in 2006!
Stay tuned for great car gadgets news on your favorite blog site!

Foursprung

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Cell phone: Keyless entry system

KeylessRide will unveil a new wireless interface platform at the 2006 CES which can make your cell phone work as a keyless entry system to your car. And it's plug & play!

KeylessRide is pleased to announce the unveiling of a plug-and-play system that allows a multitude of gadgets to operate a vehicle's original equipment (OE) keyless entry system.
The patent-pending OE Wireless Interface Platform was developed by KeylessRide
to provide consumers with innovative alternatives to the standard-issue
keychain remote that came with their car.

Products to be released on the new platform include bluetooth enabled cell phones, multi-vehicle "master" remotes, hands-free "passive" remotes for auto locking and unlocking of vehicle and wrist watch remotes. In addition, KeylessRide will launch a line of ultra-sleek, all-in-one key remotes typically found only on luxury vehicles.

Foursprung, Cell phone, Keyless

Source: PR Newswire

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Foursprung: UK to monitor every car journey

As The Independent reports Britain will be the first country starting in 2006 to monitor every journey of every car:

Britain is to become the first country in the world where the movements of all vehicles on the roads are recorded. A new national surveillance system will hold the records for at least two years.

Using a network of cameras that can automatically read every passing number plate, the plan is to build a huge database of vehicle movements so that the police and security services can analyse any journey a driver has made over several years.

The network will incorporate thousands of existing CCTV cameras which are being converted to read number plates automatically night and day to provide 24/7 coverage of all motorways and main roads, as well as towns, cities, ports and petrol-station forecourts.

By next March a central database installed alongside the Police National Computer in Hendon, north London, will store the details of 35 million number-plate "reads" per day. These will include time, date and precise location, with camera sites monitored by global positioning satellites.

Already there are plans to extend the database by increasing the storage period to five years and by linking thousands of additional cameras so that details of up to 100 million number plates can be fed each day into the central databank.

Senior police officers have described the surveillance network as possibly the biggest advance in the technology of crime detection and prevention since the introduction of DNA fingerprinting.

But others concerned about civil liberties will be worried that the movements of millions of law-abiding people will soon be routinely recorded and kept on a central computer database for years.

The new national data centre of vehicle movements will form the basis of a sophisticated surveillance tool that lies at the heart of an operation designed to drive criminals off the road.

In the process, the data centre will provide unrivalled opportunities to gather intelligence data on the movements and associations of organised gangs and terrorist suspects whenever they use cars, vans or motorcycles.

The scheme is being orchestrated by the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo) and has the full backing of ministers who have sanctioned the spending of £24m this year on equipment.

More than 50 local authorities have signed agreements to allow the police to convert thousands of existing traffic cameras so they can read number plates automatically. The data will then be transmitted to Hendon via a secure police communications network.

Chief constables are also on the verge of brokering agreements with the Highways Agency, supermarkets and petrol station owners to incorporate their own CCTV cameras into the network. In addition to cross-checking each number plate against stolen and suspect vehicles held on the Police National Computer, the national data centre will also check whether each vehicle is lawfully licensed, insured and has a valid MoT test certificate.

"Every time you make a car journey already, you'll be on CCTV somewhere. The difference is that, in future, the car's index plates will be read as well," said Frank Whiteley, Chief Constable of Hertfordshire and chairman of the Acpo steering committee on automatic number plate recognition (ANPR).

"What the data centre should be able to tell you is where a vehicle was in the past and where it is now, whether it was or wasn't at a particular location, and the routes taken to and from those crime scenes. Particularly important are associated vehicles," Mr Whiteley said.

The term "associated vehicles" means analysing convoys of cars, vans or trucks to see who is driving alongside a vehicle that is already known to be of interest to the police. Criminals, for instance, will drive somewhere in a lawful vehicle, steal a car and then drive back in convoy to commit further crimes "You're not necessarily interested in the stolen vehicle. You're interested in what's moving with the stolen vehicle," Mr Whiteley explained.

According to a strategy document drawn up by Acpo, the national data centre in Hendon will be at the heart of a surveillance operation that should deny criminals the use of the roads.

"The intention is to create a comprehensive ANPR camera and reader infrastructure across the country to stop displacement of crime from area to area and to allow a comprehensive picture of vehicle movements to be captured," the Acpo strategy says.

"This development forms the basis of a 24/7 vehicle movement database that will revolutionise arrest, intelligence and crime investigation opportunities on a national basis," it says.

Mr Whiteley said MI5 will also use the database. "Clearly there are values for this in counter-terrorism," he said.

"The security services will use it for purposes that I frankly don't have access to. It's part of public protection. If the security services did not have access to this, we'd be negligent."

Foursprung

Source: The Independent

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