Jalopnik: Car Gadgets

Bert and Ernie now available for your TomTom: "Turn right onto Sesame Street"

Andrew Liszewski — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 12:50:00 EST

Move over mustaches, it looks like November belongs to the Muppets this year. They've got a new movie coming out, there's an online movement to have them host the Oscars, and now TomTom has announced a series of Sesame Street voices, starting with Bert and Ernie. More »

$20 Key Fob Camera Could Make Online Videos Crazier

Ben Wojdyla — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 14:30:00 EDT

The Micro Camera is a key fob-shaped camera which weighs only half an ounce, can record an hour of 480p video and HD audio and only costs $20. Its cheapness and size may make every car video way more awesome. More »

Drivemocion: The Automotive Idiot Light

Ben Wojdyla — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 09:00:00 EDT

Just as Mr. Orosz makes the case for an automotive idiot light, we find one. Meet the Drivemocion, a wireless widget you mount to the back window which by a button press can rage or apologize to fellow motorists. More »

iPad Steering Wheel Mount A Hoax

Matt Hardigree — Fri, 21 May 2010 12:00:00 EDT

Video of a man selling the safety benefits of a custom steering wheel mount for an iPad is spreading like herpes across the web today. It's horrible, infuriating and also a complete fake. More »

Ford Debuts Voice-Control Of Smartphone Apps, But Not For iPhone

Matt Hardigree — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 09:30:00 EDT

Ford's adding voice control for Android and Blackberry apps like Pandora to their SYNC in-car infotainment system. Now the only risk in "thumbing up" a Dave Matthews Band song while driving is to your cred. But where's the iPhone control? More »

Use Your iPhone To Make Your Crapcan Sound Like A Supercar

Matt Hardigree — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 16:45:00 EDT

The high-pitched squeaks coming out of your four-banger Toyota Corolla impress no one, but download an iPod app that uses the accelerometer to make your car sound like a supercar and at the very least you'll amuse a few people. More »

The Obligatory Apple iPad Post

Matt Hardigree — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 13:45:00 EST

The Apple iPad Jesus-tablet includes Google-powered map apps, a Compass, and an accelerometer. [Gizmodo, Kotaku] More »

Japanese Wall-Climbing Laser-Controlled Cars All We Want For Christmas

Matt Hardigree — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 13:00:00 EST

Takara Tomy already had our interest with Aero Spider cars, capable of racing up walls with the use of reverse suction fans. Now they blast into awesome with "laser" control. Thank Gamera there's video of these wall-climbing machines in action. More »

Mercedes Dual-View Front Seat Screen Finally US-Bound

Wes Siler — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 12:30:00 EST

Mercedes Splitview — a system allowing for simultaneous navigation system data displayed to the driver while DVD video's displayed to the passenger on the front seat LCD screen — is finally arriving as an option on US-spec S-class luxobarges. More »

Fifth-Wheel Parallel Parking Device Faster Than Lexus, Ford Systems

Wes Siler — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 09:45:00 EDT

Extraordinarily complicated parallel parking aid? Yes, but it's still less complicated — and more effective — than the Lexus or Ford auto-parking systems. Mechanical systems, FTW! (Hat tip to SkullDriveShaft!) More »

Banks Power To Debut iQ Dash Computer At SEMA

Matt Hardigree — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 16:00:00 EDT

Banks Power, the company behind some of the fastest diesel trucks, has turned its tuning prowess to a fully-featured dashboard computer. Called the iQ, it's the perfect stocking stuffer for anyone curious about their exhaust gas temperature. More »

Amazon Users Hack Steering Wheel Laptop Desk Page, Show Outcome Of Use

Wes Siler — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 12:30:00 EDT

We were all set to rip on this steering wheel-mounted laptop desk when we discovered that Amazon's own users had already done it for us. The reasons why driving and blogging don't mix below. More »

Spy Camera Hidden In Fake Key Fob

Ben Wojdyla — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 13:30:00 EDT

Brilliant Hong Kong electronics maker Brando has come up with a new gadget for the spying car guy, a fake key fob with a built in spy camera. It's even got an SD slot for extended observation. More »

Nissan Develops Fish-Mimicking Robot Safety Cars

Matt Hardigree — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 16:00:00 EDT

Fish are able to travel in huge schools and change direction without colliding, an ability Nissan is attempting to mimic with their Eporo robot car. Although able to travel around obstacles in groups we're told they still can't catch Pac-Man. More »

Audi R8 USB Drive Won't Break Data Transmissions

Ben Wojdyla — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 12:30:00 EDT

The same guys who created the 500gb Nissan GT-R are hard at work on their next car/nerd device, an Audi R8 USB drive. Storage and prices will vary, but watch eBay if you're interested in a more Bruce thumb drive. More »

Audi A4 Allroad Features Headlamp Converter For Euro Market

Ben Wojdyla — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 08:30:00 EDT

In case you didn't know it, your headlamps are aimed differently; the driver's side is positioned lower than the passenger side. No problem in the US, but when right-of-way lanes change in Europe, trouble. Audi's got a neat little fix. More »

The 25 Most Useful Car Technologies

Wes Siler — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 16:00:00 EDT

The other day we talked about bad car technology, the stuff designed to remove you from the experience. Now, let's look at good technology, the stuff designed to make driving better for you, the driver. More »

Why Can't You Get A Nice Basic Car These Days?

Murilee Martin — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 16:30:00 EDT

Remember the Chevette Scooter? The Tercel EZ? The Horizon America? A couple of decades back, Americans had a pretty broad selection of affordable basic transportation with zero frivolous gingerbread. Not these days. More »

The 25 Most Redundant Car Technologies

Wes Siler — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 13:30:00 EDT

Ever get the feeling automakers are trying to remove you, the driver, from the driving experience? Well you should, because they are. Here's 25 automotive technological "advancements" designed to make you irrelevant and redundant. More »

The United States Of OnStar

Ray Wert — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 11:00:00 EDT

GM's got one easy success story to gush about: OnStar. This video of the national map from their Detroit-based command center showing all 59,000+ interactions from just one day of service in lightning-fast-forward real-time reveals why. More »

Scary Toyota Robot Is Still Scary... Especially When It's Running

Ray Wert — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 09:30:00 EDT

Do we need any further proof other than this video of Toyota's "partner robot" running at 7 km/h that the super-number-one-best-automaker-from-the-land-of-the-rising-sun has anything but world domination in mind? Excuse us while we page John Connor. More »

Transforming Motorcycle Helmet Makes You Feel Like Rick Hunter

Ben Wojdyla — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 12:30:00 EDT

The Scorpion EXO 900 Transformer helmet's a flip-up motorcycle lid transformable into a 3/4 open face. It retails for around $270, but more importantly, the drop-down visor makes you look like Rick Hunter from Robotech. More »

BBG’s Katayama: “GPS Made Me Lazier, Stupider, Angrier And A Worse Driver”

Peter Orosz — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 10:00:00 EDT

BBG’s Katayama: “GPS Made Me Lazier, Stupider, Angrier And A Worse Driver”" alt="Click here to read BBG’s Katayama: “GPS Made Me Lazier, Stupider, Angrier And A Worse Driver”" src="http://cache.jalopnik.com/assets/images/12/2009/07/GPS_Babe.jpg"/>

Is technology making imbeciles of us all? Boing Boing Gadgets’ Lisa Katayama argues chronic GPS usage has put her in touch with her inner Pinky rather than helping her be a better driver. More »

The BMW 7-Series "Gentleman Function" Will Help You Help The Ladies?

Ben Wojdyla — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 17:30:00 EDT

No feature in BMW's new 7-Series is receiving quite the attention as one allowing you to adjust the passenger seat from the center control stack. Maybe it's because of the possibly chauvinistic name. It's called the "Gentleman Function." Really. More »

Car-Themed Pool Table Built For Will Castro

Ben Wojdyla — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 08:45:00 EDT

Hurricane Custom Billiards makes some of the wildest pool tables out there, including this just-completed car-themed table for Unique Whips star Will Castro. How much? Let's just say their off-the-shelf tables start at $35,000. More »

12V Plug-Powered In-Car Pizza Oven Promises Traveling Pie Bliss

Ben Wojdyla — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 13:00:00 EDT

Ever been on the road with a powerful hankering for Pizza and no time to stop? Well friend, your prayers have been answered. Here's a 12V pizza oven that'll cook your pizza as you drive. More »

London Testing GPS-Controlled Throttle Limit

Ben Wojdyla — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 10:30:00 EDT

Big Brother is watching a fleet of London-owned Prii outfitted with a special black box that combines GPS location and a speed limit map to control the top speed the cars can reach. More »

22 Custom Jalopnik Wallpapers For Your Apple iPhone And Palm Pre

The Auto Insider — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 13:00:00 EDT

The recent release of the Apple iPhone 3GS and the Palm Pre provide a great time for these twenty-two exclusive, high-resolution Jalopnik wallpapers to you, our car-obsessive readership. Take your pick below. More »

Chalkbot Pneumatically Sprays 100,000 Graffiti Messages During Tour De France

The Auto Insider — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 12:30:00 EDT

Lance Armstrong and Nike's Livestrong partnered with DeepLocal and StandardRobot to develop this Chalkbot, designed to spray 100,000 messages of courage, hope and action along the 2009 Tour de France for people that've been affected by cancer. More »

The Big Money Tackles The Serious Subject Of Cup Holders

Wes Siler — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 07:30:00 EDT

Cup holders: the basis of practical car interior design or the first step down the slippery slope of automotive decadence? One thing's for sure, they save you from frozen testicles. [The Big Money] More »

Eight Greatest Billy Mays Car Gadgets

Matt Hardigree — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:00:00 EDT

Sadly, TV Pitchman Billy Mays is dead. But before he departed this world, Billy Mays left us with a slew of gadgets designed to make car ownership a little easier. Below, a look at eight Mays-approved automotive products. More »

iPhone 3G, 3GS: Car Gadget Round Up

Matt Hardigree — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 09:00:00 EDT

Apple announced a host of auto-centric applications and features for iPhones both new and old at yesterday's 2009 World Wide Developers Conference, ranging from driving games to TomTom toys to Zipcar control. The full spectrum of new Apple auto-erotica below. More »

Control Zipcar From Your iPhone

Matt Hardigree — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 15:10:00 EDT

Apple announced a new iPhone application for car-sharing service Zipcar at today's 2009 World Wide Developers Conference. The app will allow users to find, reserve and control zipcars from their phones. Yes, control. More »

BMW Voice Control Takes On Sync

Matt Hardigree — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 12:00:00 EDT

Ford's successful voice command multimedia interface is called SYNC, implying a partnership between man and machine. The new BMW multimedia interface is called Voice Control, implying you're the master of all your techno music. More »

iPhone-Controlled Mazda RX-8 Not As Cool As It Sounds

Matt Hardigree — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 15:30:00 EDT

When Jon Oxer decided to hook up his Mazda RX-8 to his iPhone, he had a car poised to impress hot-librarian-type women. Instead, he developed something likely only to impress dudes in Linux penguin t-shirts. More »

Google Latitude + Plane, Train, Automobile = DIY Amazing Race

Matt Hardigree — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 14:30:00 EDT

Google Maps' new Latitude feature allows you to track your friends using GPS-equipped phones. Perfect for meeting for a drink. Also, as Garage419 found, perfect for a hi-tech race by train, plane and Dodge Challenger. More »

Ode To The Delicate Dance Of The Five-Axis CNC Machine

Ben Wojdyla — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 09:00:00 EST

Often talking of horsepower and 0-to-60 times, we forget the machines like the five-axis CNC mill machine that make it all possible. Watching one mill a concept car from scratch should help us pay homage. More »