VW: New USB connection

Europe's largest car maker offers new USB connectivity for new models. This time they mean the 'U' in 'USB' for what it stands for: universal.

Volkswagen is the first carmaker to offer a universal USB connection that enables you to plug in any USB-compatible digital media player into the built-in console at the center and listen to the tracks via the car's audio system. A maximum of 6 music folders can be displayed as CDs on the navigation system screen. Use the radio buttons to control the tracks that you want to play. Turning the radio off will stop playing any tracks. Supported formats include MP3. This feature will be available in the Golf, Golf Plus, and Touran models, as well as in other models next year onwards.

Related news: Foursprung, P4MR, VW, Volkswagen, USB

Source: Ubergizmo

Read more

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

Foursprung: New blind spot exposure system for lazy drivers

Good bye blind spots!

We've seen a fair number of so-called rear-looking safety systems of dubious merit in our time. Now Drivaware is offering what it claims to be the world's first "active blind spot exposure system" with their LaneFX product. It's quite simple really, as long as your car is equipped with powered mirrors, then flipping on the turn-signal causes the side-mirror to sweep and expose your blind spot allowing your lazy azz to safely execute your lane change without ever moving the ol' noodle. So go ahead and layout the $296 for the deluxe model. Then kick back, crack open a beer, and stare blissfully into the open road ahead with the confidence of a Hindu cow – technology's got your back.

Related news: Foursprung, P4MR, safety

Source: engadget

Read more

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

Foursprung: Automated parking Garage in Japan

Parking in Japan seems to be an issue.

A bit lower tech than the VW automated parking garage, this Japanese parking garage stores and retrieves your car like a jukebox, spinning around until yours comes up.
Park your car on the rotating platform and it gets stored, awaiting your eventual return from Victoria’s Secret, where you were buying negligees for your mistress. We hear larger apartment buildings around the world are getting systems like this.

Related news: Foursprung, P4MR, parking

Source: Gizmodo

Read more

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

Foursprung: The perfect World Cup gadget

Here is the perfect World Cup car gadget: the very special World Cup car flag. Maybe you have to modify the doors of your car a little bit but don't tell me this is not the gadget of the month!

I'm sure this is available in different colors, too.

Related news: Foursprung, P4MR, Lamborghini

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

Foursprung: Kenguru - Car designed for disabled

A well thought car for a special target group.

Disabled people have it tough. Not only because of their reduced mobility, but because car manufacturers rarely design for them… rather they design around them. In other words, cars that disabled people drive were not designed with them in mind; they are regular cars that have been adapted so that the disabled can use them.

Not so with the Hungarian Kenguru. This small car was designed so that a wheelchair bound person can just roll in, and securely fasten their chair in place. It is then possible for them to simply drive off, without ever having to hoist themselves out of their wheelchair. The car is controlled via a joystick.

Related news: Foursprung, P4MR

Source: OhGizmo

Read more

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

Cars: Home-entertainment set

A TV set for Cars - really.

Now that the Disney Pixar movie Cars has finally parked in theaters all over the world, leave it to the inspired cuteness of Japanese marketers to bring you Cars, the TV Set. It’s a TV/DVD player combination, where even the remote control plays along, looking like a key fob.
It looks like there’s also some sort of screensaver included with a pair of eerie floating eyes. At least they don’t follow you around the room. The car’s mouth disguises the DVD slot. It’s $170, available now from Disney Shopping and Target.

Related news: Foursprung, P4MR, Cars, TV, home entertainment

Source: Gizmodo

Read more

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

GPS: Vitas DM-750 with DMB

Navigate and watch. Dangerous if combined at the same time but wonderful if used in the right way.

Check out the Vitas DM-750 Premium device from Korea. It is not only a GPS navigation system, the DM-750 offers DMB capability as well that enables you to watch your favorite TV shows while driving to your destination. The DM-750 comes with a 7" touch screen which is the most ideal size for an in-car GPS system - large enough to look at without keeping your eyes off the road for too long, and yet small enough not to be a distracting presence for the drive. Other features include a Compact Flash slot and Flash games support in case you get bored while stuck in a traffic jam. The DM-750 should cost around $730 after conversion. More specs after the jump.

• Display: 7" digital TFT LCD with Touch Panel
• Operating System: Windows CE 4.2 Core
• CPU: 400MHz PXA-255
• TV Tuner: Analog TV tuner & 87~88MHz/mono voice
• GPS: Removable smart GPS receiver - 12CH SPS
• Memory: 64MB SDRAM, 32MB flash memory
• Audio: AC97 codec and 16-bit sound, mono speaker within
• Operating voltage: DC 10~16 V

Related news: Foursprung, P4MR, GPS, DMB

Source: Ubergizmo

Read more

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

BMW: Rolls with HD radio

BMW will offer optional HD radio in their 2007. Will they become more beautiful from this?

The German carmaker announced that its 2007 5 Series cars will have optional HD Radio. BMW has previously made HD Radio available in its 7 Series and 6 Series cars. The HD Radio format seems to be catching on, with 800 U.S. stations currently broadcasting it. The format lets stations broadcast multiple streams on a frequency with CD-quality audio on FM stations. The format also transmits data, so radio stations can send artist and song information, similar to the currently used Radio Data Signal format. CNET senior editor John Falcone talks about the format and reviews three homebound HD sets here: "Tune into HD Radio."

Related news: Foursprung, P4MR, BMW, HD radio

Source: CNET

Read more

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

Foursprung: Blind-spot killer Drivaware LaneFX

Here is another blind-spot killer.

Drivaware LaneFX is a controller that links your car’s power mirrors and turn signals, and whenever you use your turn signal, it automatically moves the mirrors outwards so you can instantly see in your blind spot. LaneFX can also be outfitted with ParkFX, which tilts both mirrors down so you can see where you’re parking.
What a great idea—this beats the hell out of that “objects are closer than appear” concept which gives you a distorted view of reality in that right-side rearview mirror.
LaneFX does make two assumptions, though: that you have power mirrors in your car and that you actually use your turn signals when you’re going to change lanes. You do signal when you’re changing lanes, don’t you? Prices start at $197, but we’re thinking installation must be rather complicated.

Related news: Foursprung, P4MR, blind-spot, safety

Source: Gizmodo

Read more

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

Bluetooth: New Bluetooth enabled car stereos from BOSS

There are new Bluetooth enabled car stereos. I like this trend to integrate Bluetooth this way.

We've seen all of these fancy add-ons like USB, SD and Bluetooth show up in all sorts of separate car stereos, but BOSS is the first we've seen to get up the chutzpah to throw them all into one stereo for the ultimate in nerdy in-dash entertainment. Thanks to our complete inability to read Korean, we're not really sure what these stereos, the 638B and P255B, do beyond the obvious, but the pretty pictures tell us that you can plug your USB phone in for charging and possibly other functionality, and that there is iPod functionality of some sort. Sounds good to us, now all we need is a car and we're set.

Related news: Foursprung, P4MR, Bluetooth, USB, car stereo

Source: Engadget

Read more

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

Foursprung: Solar-Powered Car Vents

There is a lot hot air in the world. Against the hot air not coming from other people's mouths in your environment this might be a solution.

I’m not a big fan of cars, but years ago went to live in a small, rural village with limited transport options, so ended up with a compact hatch. Excellent fuel economy, but lacking niceties like air conditioning. And it’s not uncommon in the height of an Australian summer for the temps to hover around 40oC (104oF). A closed car interior left sitting in the sun in these conditions can easily turn into a furnace. (I’ve had to wear gloves, on occasion, just to hold the steering wheel!) In a new car this oven effect can increase the levels of nasty VOCs being emitting from the phthalates in the ever abundant plastic trim and fittings. Aeons ago I spied little vents, like those pictured above, and wondered if they might be a partial solution to the dilemma. You perch them atop a door window, face the solar panel outwards and wind the window up tight. The small photovoltaic cell powers a fan, which is said to expel the hot glasshouse-type air from within the car, drawing in cooler air. But I’m yet to try one. Has any TreeHugger used these gadgets? Do they work? Would be a great way for cars to reduce air conditioning use, thus increasing fuel economy, if they did.

Related news: Foursprung, P4MR, solar power, vents

Source: Treehugger

Read more

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

iPod: Nyko FM Trans Kit for Nano

Another FM transmitter for the iPod, this time for the Nano.

Here is Nyko’s latest iPod accessory. It is an average FM transmitter for the iPod nano. Probably the best feature is the variety of mounting options that comes with the kit. It can be mounted with an adhesive clip, air-vent clip or sun-visor clip. It also includes a cigarette lighter plug that can charge the nano when the battery is low. There are only five channels to choose from for FM transmitting, which may be a concern in highly crowded airwaves. It will be available for $39.99 which isn’t that bad given that it is an FM transmitter and charger.

Related news: Foursprung, P4MR, Apple, iPod

Source: Gizmodo

Read more

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

Foursprung: New cockpit architecture

Siemens VDO is coming up with a fully operational Cesar (cockpit electro-mechanical system architecture) modular concept.

Compared to conventional cockpits, Cesar offers OEM customers the possible opportunity to lower cockpit design costs by up to 30 percent at higher quality standards. Cesar also reduces weight by approximately 15 percent and increases available space by up to 20 litres. It offers a more system-oriented approach and has redesigned the cockpit development process,
instead of developing the cockpit and instrumentation from scratch for each model. The system as a whole, rather than the individual components, is the initial point of departure for the vision of a vehicle's interior design.

Related news: Foursprung, P4MR, cockpit

Source: all4engineers

Read more

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

GPS: Are the all-in-one-device the right direction?

Here is a comment on a trend we already mentioned out: GPS device are no pure GPS devices any more but fullyintegrated all-purpose mutli media machines. But does this make sense?

A plain old car navigation system just won't do anymore. A device that only helps you get from point A to point B is so yesterday.
Device makers now are loading up their GPS satellite navigation gadgets with digital media, real-time data and communications features.
Makers of in-dash and portable car navigation gear are racing to add new capabilities to their devices to stay ahead of low-cost, entry-level devices. Those cheap rivals include GPS-enabled smart phones and personal digital assistants that can handle basic point-to-point directions and routing on digital maps.
Garmin, (GRMN) the market leader in portable navigation devices, has included Bluetooth wireless connectivity in its newest models. With Bluetooth, drivers can make hands-free phone calls through their navigation device linked to their cell phone.
Directions, Music and Books
Garmin also is adding real-time traffic data so drivers can spot gridlock ahead and find an alternate route.
Plus, Garmin is putting MP3 music and audio book players into some models.
Consumers are looking for more from their navigation devices because they don't need to get directions very often. If they mostly commute to and from work, they'd like to listen to music or audio books and get traffic and weather alerts as well, says Garmin spokesman Ted Gartner.
Olathe, Kan.-based Garmin has about 50% market share in portable navigation devices sold at retail in the U.S., according to market tracker NPD Group. Netherlands-based TomTom is second with about 20%.
The Consumer Electronics Association expects sales of portable navigation devices to rise 21% this year to 858,000 units in the U.S. Such growth has prompted large consumer electronics firms such as Sony (SNE) and Pioneer Electronics to come out with their own products.
Portable navigation systems typically sell for $500 to $1,000. But global position systems (GPS) for smart phones and PDAs can cost as little as a couple hundred dollars.
Portable navigation devices have a technology lead over factory-installed systems because of the time it takes to get new technology into cars, minivans and SUVs.
The factory-installed systems also are expensive, costing $1,500 to $2,000.
Automakers believe people who buy portable navigation devices will switch to installed systems when it comes time to buy new cars.
Factory-installed or dealer-installed units typically are more attractive because they're part of the dashboard.
Portable units are stuck to the inside of the windshield and have unsightly power cords plugged into the cigarette lighter.
Installed units also can be integrated with other car electronic systems. The same in-dash screen can be used to access a premium sound system, make cell phone calls and get status information about the vehicle.
It can display video from a camera looking behind the car to assist with parking and to avoid hitting children or backing into obstacles.
"Think of it as a multifunction, multimedia PC with high-resolution graphics and a fantastic audio system behind it — and navigation is one of many applications," said Phil Magney, an analyst with the Telematics Research Group.
Makers May Face A Squeeze
Such sophisticated technology packages already are in luxury and near-luxury cars, such as Mercedes-Benz and Lexus, he says.
They aren't cheap. Such packages can add $5,000 or more to a car's price.
The market for portable navigation devices, which can be used in different cars or taken on trips, will continue to grow in the short term, says Mark Fitzgerald, an analyst with Strategy Analytics.
"But they're going to get squeezed on both ends of the market," Fitzgerald said.
"The automakers are going to have cheaper, better systems in the vehicle," he said, "and then the phones on the other end of the scale are going to push in on that market."
The trend toward more telematics and entertainment systems in cars and trucks will benefit a host of tech companies.
That includes system suppliers such as Alpine Electronics, Denso, Delphi and Visteon. (VC)
Component suppliers such as Sirf Technology Holdings, (SIRF) which makes GPS chipsets, also stand to gain.
The Telematics Research Group expects shipments of portable and factory-installed auto navigation devices to exceed 16 million units a year by the end of the decade. That's up from shipments of 2.6 million units last year.

Related news: Foursprung, P4MR, GPS

Source: Investors.com

Read more

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

Prius: Plug-in forthcoming?

Is a Plug-in Prius forthcoming?

We like to keep up with the Toyota Prius since, after all, it is just one big gadget, and now the titans at Toyota are hinting that they might reverse their stance on building a Prius with a plug-in option. Lots of tinkerers such as EnergyCS of California are already modifying the hybrid car to also accept power via electric outlets—bragging of doubling its mileage in so doing—and Toyota is apparently aware of it, saying that it will join the fun by starting to “advance its research and development of plug-in hybrid vehicles.”
Could this next Prius be the same one we mentioned earlier that would be turbocharged and get 100 miles per gallon? Either way, we just went out and checked our garage, and there happens to be an electrical outlet right where we would park our new Prius.

Related news: Foursprung, P4MR, hybrids, Toyota, Prius

Source: Gizmodo

Read more

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

Saab: New flex-fuel engines

The swedish brand that was premium before GM jumped on the train comes with new engines in Europe.

GM is introducing a more powerful flex-fuel 2.0-liter turbocharged engine to the Saab 9-5 and SportCombi range in Europe. The new 2.3t BioPower model promises 14% more maximum power and 11% more torque when running on E85 than on gasoline.

Running on E85, the new Saab 9-5 2.3t BioPower engine delivers maximum power of 210 hp (157 kW) and 310 Nm of torque, compared to 185 hp (138 kW) and 280 Nm when using gasoline. As an example of the increased performance, the sedan with manual transmission accelerates from zero to 100 kph (0-62 mph) in 7.9 secs and 80-120 kph (50-75 mph) in fifth gear in 11.0 secs, compared to 8.5 and 12.6 secs when running only on gasoline. (Figures are provisional, pending homologation.)

E85 has a much higher octane rating (104 RON) than gasoline (95 RON), and turbocharging allows the use of a higher boost pressure and more advanced ignition timing—giving more engine power—than is possible on gasoline without risk of harmful pre-detonation (knocking). The only hardware modifications necessary are more durable valves and valve seats, and the use of ethanol-compatible materials in the fuel system, including the tank, pump, lines and connectors.

Saab’s Trionic engine management system monitors fuel quality and automatically adjusts ignition timing and fuel/air mixture to optimize running on E85 and/or gasoline in any combination.

The new Saab 9-5 goes on sale in Nordic markets, UK and Ireland later this year, with other European countries to follow, joining the current 2.0t BioPower model.

Related news: Foursprung, P4MR, GM, Saab
, flex-fuel

Source: GreenCarCongress, picture via The Autochannel

Read more

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

Foursprung: Ethanol Car Beats Fuel Cells

The battle of alternative engines runs...

An ethanol powered car engineered by French high school students has achieved the best fuel efficiency at the European Shell Eco-marathon 2006, winning the race at the Nogaro auto racing circuit in southwest France. It also took the Climate Friendly prize for producing the least greenhouse gas emissions in the process”. Energy consumption was equivalent to traveling 2,885 kilometers (1,792 miles) on a single liter of gasoline. This did not best last year’s record, however. TreeHugger recommends reading the full story to take advantage of the photos and especially to read about the Danish engineering team’s invention of a 100% efficient hydrogen propulsion technology.

Related news: Foursprung, P4MR, ethanol, fuel cell

Source: Treehugger

Read more

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

Telematics: New Emergency Assist Services

There is a new player in Emergency Assist Services for the next generation telematics.

Concierge Expertise and Global Capabilities for Enhanced Service Important in Fast-Growing Telematics Industry.

SeaKey LLC, the leading provider of onboard safety, security and convenience telematics services has chosen World Access to provide Concierge and Emergency Assistance for its next-generation satellite communications product. World Access will provide personal concierge services, respond to onboard alarms, field owner inquiries and handle emergency situations for SeaKey's customers 24 hours a day, 365 days per year.

Growth in telematics devices (location-based communication and information applications) is explosive, according to recent research by Venture Development Corporation, which estimates that the industry will reach over $1.2 billion by 2007, a compounded annual growth rate of 13.7%.

"SeaKey's priority is to provide the highest level of safety, security and convenience for our boating customers through enhanced satellite communications services," said Jan Hellaker, General Manager of SeaKey. "Because a positive customer experience is paramount, we chose World Access for its superior, highly responsive Concierge and Emergency Assistance service team."

World Access's multilingual staff is equipped to handle a variety of premium services from convenience requests such as travel planning, slip reservations, and dinner reservations to emergency assistance such as stolen boat or SOS alarms.

"We're pleased to deliver exceptional customer service to SeaKey's boaters," said Cassie Brinkley, Vice President for World Access. "Leveraging our experience in concierge services and global emergency assistance in the telematics industry is a natural fit where high-touch, personal concierge assistance is expected and emergency response efforts are critical."

Related news: Foursprung, P4MR, telematics

Source: Telematics Journal

Read more

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

Hands-free communication: Improved voice quality

There are improvements in hands-free communications that we drivers will benefit from.

Single-chip voice processing platform with firmware simplifies design and improves voice performance of hands-free car kits and speakerphone systems - High-end speakerphone design with Multisuns Corp. featured at GLOBALCOMM 2006

Zarlink Semiconductor today expanded its voice processing product portfolio with a highly integrated, flexible and programmable solution for hands-free communication systems. The ZL38004 voice processing platform and embedded firmware delivers measurable sound quality improvements in high-noise environments. The integrated solution reduces development time and board space requirements.

The ZL38004 voice processing platform is a complete solution integrating dual-channel codecs, Zarlink voice processor engine for acoustic echo cancellation and noise reduction, and complete firmware support for hands-free car kits (ZLS38500) and speakerphones (ZLS38501). The new platform helps designers deal with complex noise situations, such as echo, background noise and double-talk that have traditionally plagued hands-free communication systems.

"Hands-free communication system manufacturers require voice processing solutions that can perform in complex noise environments," said Andre Coucopoulos, product marketing manager, Voice Processing, Zarlink Semiconductor. "Designed specifically for high-end hands-free car kits and speakerphone systems, the ZL38004 chip with firmware delivers superior sound performance for end-users and reduced design complexity when compared with competing technologies."

Zarlink will be demonstrating the ZL38004 voice processing platform at GLOBALCOMM 2006 (Booth No. 48088) with speakerphone manufacturer Multisuns. Zarlink's new voice processing platform is designed into Multisuns' ConferBASE phone system.

Voice performance in hands-free car kits

Manufacturers are developing high-performance hands-free car kits that deliver superior voice quality in severe noise situations. For example, hands- free car kits must deal with vehicle noise and acoustic echo created by direct coupling between the microphone and speaker and sound reverberation inside the car cabin.

Hands-free car kit manufacturers require voice processing solutions that deliver noise reduction, good double-talk and clipping compensation performance. Cost and board space savings are also a concern, particularly as hands-free car kits are deployed in higher volumes.

To achieve good noise reduction, the ZLS38500 firmware distinguishes between voice and noise signals. The firmware removes the noise from the total signal and preserves the integrity of the original speech signal.

Double-talk, when two people are speaking at the same time, commonly poses a problem for hands-free communication systems. Good double-talk performance relies on the interaction between the AEC (acoustic echo canceller) and NLP (non-linear processor). The ZLS38500 firmware tracks changes in the echo path and continuously converges during double-talk and the NLP cancels the imperfections of the AEC.

Under severe noise conditions, for example a car driving at over 100 km/h with the windows open, a good clipping compensation circuit is required. The ZLS38500 firmware prevents the signal from being clipped, allowing the AEC to converge to echo and the noise reduction circuit to identify and reduce background noise.

Complete solution for speakerphones

Speakerphone manufacturers consider sound quality as a key differentiator, and prefer an integrated solution that reduces design cost. Factors such as the quality of plastic enclosure used in the speakerphone design and the size of the room where the phone is used can also impact the quality of a voice processing solution.

The ZLS38501 firmware delivers exceptional full-duplex operation and good double-talk performance. Most voice processing solutions deliver only half- duplex operation, meaning voice signals pass in only one direction. During double-talk only the signal with the highest level is transmitted, resulting in interrupted conversation.

Most competing full-duplex solutions will also stop tracking the echo environment during double-talk. The algorithm then has to readapt when double- talk ceases, resulting in an audible burst of echo. In comparison, the ZL38004 voice processor algorithm is able to continuously converge and track changes in the echo path to support full-duplex operation.

Multisuns speakerphone demonstration at GLOBALCOMM 2006

Zarlink will be demonstrating the ZL38004 voice processing platform with speakerphone manufacturer Multisuns at GLOBALCOMM 2006. Multisuns' ConferBASE phone systems are designed for multi-user teleconferencing. The ConferBASE phones carry all-direction speech tracking in 16 ms (millisecond) intervals with 20-30 degree resolution, and analyze audio waveform under relative loss of 20 dBm. With these capabilities, teleconference participants can easily recognize other callers.

Designed into the ConferBASE phones, the ZL38004 voice processing platform helps eliminate environmental noise in office situations, such as meeting room echo and air conditioner or cooling fan sounds.

"The ConferBASE teleconference system has been made more efficient and user-friendly," said Bruce Sun, CEO, Multisuns Corporation. "Zarlink's flexible voice processing platform provided a solution that can be fine-tuned to assist us in meeting the unique performance demands of our speakerphone systems."

Zarlink's ZL38004 voice processing platform is now in production. The chip is supported by an evaluation board, reference design, and full software package. Future firmware will support 16-KHz sampling and audio-quality DACS (digital-to-analog converters).

Related news: Foursprung, P4MR, hands-free, communication

Source: Telematics Journal

Read more

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

Foursprung: New Applications in Multi-Channel Audio, Video

New developments in in-car infotainment.

SMSC today introduced a full line of MOST50 products that doubles the bandwidth available for automotive infotainment applications utilizing the MOST (Media Oriented Systems Transport) standard from 25 Mbit/second to 50 Mbit/second. In addition to delivering this significant speed enhancement to the market, this new product line offers transmission over an unshielded twisted pair (UTP) of copper wires. This delivers greater flexibility to car makers that design in-vehicle networks from more of a plug-in, component approach.

SMSC's MOST50 technology enables higher performance in-car multimedia systems and allows multi-channel DVD players, satellite receivers, digital A/V players, digital storage devices, telematics systems and emerging rear seat entertainment applications to operate over a single plastic optical fiber (POF) or an unshielded twisted pair of copper wires.

SMSC's new MOST50 intelligent network interface controller (INIC) OS81082 features a special signal processing technology known as ePHY, which enables it to communicate over shielded or unshielded copper cables, in addition to POF. To date, only signals with merely more than one Mbit/second have been transported over unshielded cables in the radiation-sensitive environment of cars in production today. With ePHY, SMSC's new MOST50 intelligent network interface controllers (INICs) succeed in sending a signal over the cables that is 50 times faster than current implementations. SMSC's ePHY technology is attractive to auto makers because of its low cost and the seamless integration with the manufacturing processes they deploy. Auto makers can continue to use existing electrical cables and connectors with MOST50 ePHY technology. They do not need to introduce optical cables, which had previously been the only possible method for transporting high data rates cost effectively in a car without violating the car makers' EMC radiation limits.

"With MOST50, we have two major achievements: one, the doubling of the bandwidth for new video-intensive applications and two, the availability of an electrical implementation. To date, MOST has been widely adopted by European automotive makers whose manufacturing processes are 'systemic' and for whom a plastic optical fiber physical layer works well," said Christian Thiel, Vice President and Managing Director of SMSC's Automotive Infotainment Systems product line. "However, Asian and American auto makers approach manufacturing from more of a component perspective, so for them a copper electrical implementation is more appropriate. Now we can offer both solutions."

SMSC's ePHY technology conforms to the specifications approved by the MOST Cooperation, the consortium that was established in 1998 by BMW, DaimlerChrysler, Harman-Becker, and OASIS SiliconSystems (acquired by SMSC last year), to promote MOST technology as a common standard for multimedia networking. The consortium currently includes 16 vehicles manufacturers, including Audi, BMW, DaimlerChrysler, Hyundai, Saab and Volvo, as well as over 60 automotive suppliers. The working group specifying the requirements for an electrical physical layer of MOST is headed by Toyota Motor Corporation, which is also a member of the MOST Cooperation.

Following MOST's introduction in the BMW 7 Series in 2001, it is now used in approximately 40 vehicle models serving most of the industry's leading European automakers. With MOST50, SMSC is delivering the second generation of MOST technology. SMSC's MOST50 products include the MOST50 INIC OS81082 with a MediaLB interface, which provides simple access to the MOST bus; the MOST50 INIC Evaluation Platform, a complete NetServices software stack, which allows any multimedia application to access all data transport mechanisms on a MOST network, and a complete set of development tools, such as the OptoLyzer G2 3050.

Related news: Foursprung, P4MR, multimedia

Source: Telematics Journal

Read more

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

Volvo: Self-parking system (video)

See a Volvo's self-parking system in action here in this video.



Related news: Foursprung, P4MR, Volvo, self-parking

Source: The Raw Feed

Read more

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

BMW: Four years of telematics for free

Nice offer, but still no reason to buy a BMW.

BMW has announced it will offer a free four-year subscription of its BMW Assist service to the North American market starting with its 2007 models. It will cost the automaker $80 million in subscription payments, but that's well worth it, according to BMW spokespeople, who say that keeping owners signed onto a service that provides so many safety and convenience benefits is just a "BMW thing to do."

The device is an internal cell phone that relays car diagnostics or emergency information, like an airbag deployment, to a call center in Texas. The system rivals General Motors' OnStar, which has tiered subscriptions that allow owners to specify everything from emergency assitance to a virtual concierge.

Related news: Foursprung, P4MR, BMW, telematics

Source: Autoblog

Read more

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

Foursprung: Swarovski VW Microbus

I like the VW microbus. But this Swarovski stuff is not for me...

Where will we see these ubiquitous Swarovski crystals next? The Swiss bauble maker may have gone too far in its quest to encrust the entire world in its tiny pieces of precision-cut glass, where now there’s Vinyl Killer, a little VW Microbus covered with the shiny stuff, and its needle underneath makes contact with a vinyl LP as it drives around and around.
It’s called the Swarovski Crystal Model Limited Blingbling Edition, and it’s transporting a tiny built-in motor, amplifier and a speaker, all running on a 9-volt battery. The result is a circuitous cacophony, with the iconic Microbus making a tinny-sounding racket that may vague