The main screen for the iPhone version of the app (the Blackberry version is boring) looks just like a Mercedes key fob and, essentially, works the same way. Unlock/lock the car or even locate it.

The locate feature use's the car's GPS and the phone's GPS to provide instructions for how to get back to your car. And in case you're worried the wife is going to find you riding dirty, the system overrides if you're more than a mile away from the car. Philander in peace, Tiger.

Don't want the kids getting their grubby hands on your M-Class? Lock the ungrateful rats out.

The "mbrace" system isn't OnStar, Mercedes will tell you, but it's OnStar. Access all those features without having to crash your car from your phone.

Screw up your CLK because you were too busy playing on your iPhone and left the parking brake on? The system will locate the nearest dealer to help fix your car and take a million dollars off your hands.

Forget the Mercedes dealership with a staff you actually like? You can find your selling, local or preferred dealer.

You must be moderately wealthy to live by all these Mercedes dealerships.

Developed by Hughes Telematics, this is rolling out on all new models and requires a monthly subscription.

[DataMancer]

Feature: Cruise Control
Rank #10
Why People Want It: The phrase "Set it and forget it" made Ron Popeil a rich man. We don't particularly like paying attention to things that don't need constant modulation, it's boring. Thus cruise control. It used to require Rube Goldberg-like gadgetry to keep speed constant without having your foot on the pedal, but now it's as simple as a piece of software controlling the electronic throttle. Not standard yet (but getting there) are systems to prevent you from plowing into the back of a Reatta at freeway speeds because some boob decided to slam on his brakes while you were texting on your cell phone.

Feature: 4WD
Rank: #9
Why People Want It:You need four wheel drive to conquer the cliffs of cul-de-sac every morning while commuting from your remote village of Pulte. It's absolutely essential when considering the refuse-strewn terrain and deep water you'll face during sudden thunderstorms. By God, what if you go tailgating at your alma mater and have to park on the grass! There'd be no rescue for you if you had no four wheel drive.

Feature: Seat Heater (s)
Rank:#8
Why People Want It: If you've ever lived in a state that does winter with gusto, say, Michigan, you realize the utility of seat heaters. They're practically life saving devices in February. Since American's bottoms are ever expanding and a large heat sink, an unheated backside could probably result in flash hypothermia. Seat heaters: Saving American lives during short trips to the Taco Bell drive through at 2 AM in February.

Feature: Tow Hitch
Rank: #7
Why People want it: Tow hitches are like bicycles. Some people use them a lot, every day in fact, other just like to have one for recreational stuff, but most just like to have them because. You never know when you'll need a tow hitch. Those are the people with rusty tow hitches that've never seen the inside of a receiver.

Feature: Automatic transmission
Rank: #6
Why People Want It: People want automatic transmissions because they're the only way to enable knee driving, which frees up both hands for more important tasks, like putting on eyeliner, checking out the morning newspaper, chatting with a cell-phone in one hand and a coffee in the other. Also, they don't like manual transmissions because they hate sunshine and rainbows and freedom and the American way. Plus hills. They hate hills.

Feature:DVD Video System
Rank: #5
Why People Want It: Have kids? Hate them? DVD players all around. Who wants the arduous task of actually speaking with your progeny? Nobody, that's who. Having conversations about the trip, the world around, answering questions and providing a general education for your kids is the job of the public schools. Put the latest Pixar flick on and enjoy pretending you never even had them.

Feature: Third Row Seat
Rank: #4
Why People Want It: You know all those other friends you have? The ones you don't really want to ride with you when hitting the town because they talk too loud on their cell phone or possess the innate ability to make every conversation about how the '85 Bears were the greatest football team ever? Those friends are the reason 3rd row seats were invented. Put them in the wayback and A) you can't hear them from the drivers seat and B) it's so cramped back there they'll never want to hitch a ride with you again. We're surprised it's only at #4.

Feature:Sunroof
Rank: #3
Why People Want It:Everybody loves letting the sun shine in, and since we as a nation now spend virtually all our time in the office, at the mall, or in front of the TV when not in the car, a hole in the roof is absolutely critical for the body's production of Vitamin D. You can quite easily pick out people without sunroofs, as they'll be suffering the effects of Vitamin D deficiency, namely cardiovascular disease, cognitive impairment in older adults, severe asthma in children and cancer.

Feature: Navigation System
Rank: #2
Why People Want It: Driving is hard. Knowing where you're going and using a map is even harder. Being aware of your cardinal directions and prior preparation for a trip are old ways of thinking. Pre-internets ways. Nowadays you simply take twenty minutes to awkwardly key in your destination address, then dive across four lanes of freeway traffic to hit the exit when the voice prompt tells you to awkwardly turn as you're passing it. It's a great feature.

Feature: Leather Seats
Rank: #1
Why People Want It: Since the dawn of the automobile, leather upholstery has been a luxury feature. That's not to say it's the correct metric for luxury. After all, you can get leather seats in a Kia Rondo. Still, it's one of those features which makes every car seem a little nicer, despite the at-times atrocious plasticky vinyl feel to the material.

The company claims it took two years to create and, given the amount of options and clean interface on the five-inch color screen, it seems plausible. The system combines detailed ECU readouts and control with performance data tracking, entertainment software (videos, music, photos), and productivity software (Microsoft Office).

We're not sure if we're too keen on the idea of someone driving around in a giant diesel truck while reading a spreadsheet, checking their altitude and

Press Release
Azusa, Calif. - - (October 19, 2009) Banks Power today announced their new era vehicle user interfaces that's appropriately named the Banks iQ. The new unit is a true self-contained micro-computer that offers control of any of the many vehicle performance enhancement products that Banks produces, such as tuners and exhaust brake systems.
But the Banks iQ doesn't stop there, going on to offer a wealth of additional features and benefits all packed in a compact, easy to read - easy to use, handheld device.
"We know that we have a real game changer here with this device," said Gale Banks. "We've spent the past two years loading this unit up with additional value for our customers. We're very proud of this revolutionary product and we're serious about direct comparisons with anything else on the market today. This is what our customers told us they wanted in a personal VUIs (vehicle user interface), and what they needed them to do."

And "do" might well be the operative word here. In addition to offering complete, ultra-precise control over all Banks engine tuner and engine exhaust braking products, the remarkable Banks iQ boasts built-in multi-media playback capabilities, global navigation, office productivity tools, real-time performance testing, instant vehicle diagnostics, and more.
The Banks iQ features a large 5" screen display that's absolutely gimmick-free, easy to read and understand, and easy to react to. All information is presented clearly, in full color, and in the user's choice of a wide range of visual styles. The unit is also internally-lighted for highly-legible night time use.
There's even an option aboard that matches the night time dash display to that of the host vehicle. The unit is completely portable, comes complete with a handy dash mounting system, rechargeable internal battery, and is equally as effective on the road, at home, at play, or in office at work.
"Over the years we've introduced many new products which have completely changed the way the people looked at a specific class of devices, this is one more, and I think, our best so far. It's certainly our most multi-faceted and the most adaptable product we've ever offered, " Banks concluded.

The Laptop Steering Wheel Desk retails for just $24.95 and is described thusly:

Attaches to your steering wheel for easy access to a writing and drink storage surface. The Go Office Wheel Mate Steering Wheel Desk is flat for writing and perfect for lunch or a snack. This Go Office Wheel Mate Steering Wheel Desk stores neatly in your car when used with the larger Auto Exec Laptop Car Desk. For safety reasons, never use this product while driving. Easily convert your car into your personal automobile office with the Wheel Mate car desk by MobileOffice.

Despite the warnings, Amazon's users have collectively come to the conclusion that the desk's use while driving is inevitable, uploading pictures of crashes to the products galleries and leaving spoof reviews, the best of which are excerpted below:

This has been a total lifesaver. It allows me to prop my sheet music against the wheel, allowing me to play the guitar with both hands while driving.

The only reason i gave it 3 stars is because when i, like, turn my turning wheel to get on the freeway everything falls off to my feet and i have to take my finger off the wheel to gather everything up and peoples are like honking at me and stuff and im all like "shut up cant you see im picking this stuff off my floor like so much candy"

I'm writing this review on my laptop while doing 65mph on the freeway! This thing is awesome! For our aniversary I bought extra life insurance in case anything should happen to me, then my wife thanked me by buying this little gem. Now I can eat, blog, and drive all at the same...YEEEEEAAAAAUUUUUGGGGHH!!!!!!!!!!!!

If you think this is only a life saver, you're wrong. It saves lives plus allows you to handle more activities! Not only can you drive, eat, read, play the guitar, handle work on your lappy, it's an instant baby changing station! No more using public bathrooms where it's crowded, dirty, and stinky! Get to destination quicker by handling two, three or more activities at the same time!

If you are lucky enough to have a car where this apparatus can fit safely on the steering wheel, I hope you have a satellite internet card, because there is no way you can pick up wifi in a moving vehicle. Finally, I frankly don't see how the airbag is supposed to work without projecting your computer into your face upon collision.

But perhaps most condemning is the device's apparent lack of practicality as a stationary desk:

I'm in sales, and sepnd a lot of time driving between clients. Unfortunately it isn't the right dimensions to offer any real support. The depth of it (distance between the steering wheel and the user) only supports the back half of my computer. I use s Toshiba Tablet PC which is fairly small (12.1" screen) and it still does not provide a work surface large enough to be usable. I can see this desk being fine for popping on to eat some fast food while on the run, but nothing more.

[Amazon via The Car Connection]

- The FAKE Keychain Car Key Lock with REAL Security Video Record, Photo Record and Sound Record!
- Spy Camera, Audio Recording and Color Video Camcorder
- Support PC Web Camera
- Micro SD/TF Card Reader
- Dimension: 6.0 x 2.7 x 1.5 cm

Specifications:
- Pinhole Lens
- Image Resolution: 1600 x 1200 pixel
- Color Video Resolution: 640 x 480 pixel
- FPS: 29 frames per second
- Image file format: JPEG
- Video file format: AVI
- Audio file format: WAV
- Color Video and Audio
- Micro SD/TF Card Slot: Support SDHC format
- Rechargeable Li-ion battery

[BoingBoing]

The catch is that the system that bolts into your car to enable all this costs $499, then there's a $30 a year subscription fee after the first year. Personally, we've never had a problem inserting a key into a lock and twisting it or waiting until we were in the car to start it, but convenience junkies now have one more way to shave precious seconds off their daily routine. [via Automoblog]

This news makes us wonder what the percentage of MINI owners who also possess an iPhone is. We're betting it's obnoxiously high. The demographics just line up so well. Anyway, the roadside assistance application works for both the iPhone and Blackberry's, and it apparently makes the process of breaking down tech savvy and somehow hip. You can select the type of service you need and send your request along and Allstate will be along to provide. Just what kind of message is this sending though? Do MINI's break down so often you need a dedicated software program to manage all your service requirements? Is Allstate's phone service so bad you need to avoid it? Seems a transparent attempt at painting a picture of cool while just being obnoxious.

According to a report by CNET, the Burger King franchise will partner with Maryland-based New Energy Technologies to install their MotionPower kinetic energy harnessing strips in the drive-thru lane. The energy would be stored and captured twice daily to power various appliances within the restaurant making this one very green Burger King.

According to Andrew Paterno, co-owner of the Burger King test site; "More than 150,000 cars drive through our Hillside store alone each year, and I think it would be great to capture the wasted kinetic energy of these hundreds of thousands of cars to generate clean electricity."

Our question is — Will they lower prices on the double Whoppers since we're lazily doing some of the work to power the joint? [CNET]

We've scoured the Jalopnik archives for some of our best imagery to provide you with 22 high-resolution wallpapers that will work with both the Apple iPhone and the new Palm Pre. Both devices utilize a 320x480 format, so any of the wallpapers can be swapped between the two if you're a true Gizmodo-like gadget freak. We've even provided you with a handy guide for installing wallpapers on both at the end of the list, just in case you haven't figured out your newfangled touchscreen devices. If you find a wallpaper you like and absolutely must have; install it and take a picture to show us in the comments below.

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Sunglasses Guy
'Nuff said.

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2010 Shelby GT500: First Drive
With the 2010 Shelby GT500, SVT's engineers claim they've turned a 500 HP Mustang into a 540 HP super car. They've succeeded, but don't worry; it'll still do enormous burnouts. Read More

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Switzer P800 Nissan GT-R: First Drive
The Switzer P800 Nissan GT-R makes over 700 HP at the wheels, nearly double that of the comparatively plain-Jane GT-R. Luckily that's at all four wheels, because we drove it through both snow and ice. Read More

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Ford GT
Betcha didn't know the Ford GT had a 100th anniversary clue in its headlight. Read More

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2009 Subaru Forester: Unsupervised Off-Road Mayhem
The last 2009 Subaru Forester we drove blew a tire, forcing us into making clichéd gay jokes. This time we took it to an off-road park and beat it like a rented mule. Read More

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2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe: First Drive
For too long the American market has lacked an affordable, accessible, fast, responsive, fun, communicative, good-looking rear-wheel-drive sports coupe. The Hyundai Genesis Coupe is that car. Finally. Read More

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Jalopnik GEM-Powered Detroit Auto Show Mobile Command Center
Want to know what that mystery electric car was? Why it's our very own Jalopnik GEM-powered Detroit Auto Show Mobile Command Center, and it's why we've had the fastest coverage at this year's show! Read More

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AEV J8 MILSPEC: Offroading Jeep's Forbidden Fruit
Until now, civilians couldn't buy the AEV J8 MILSPEC - the militarized truck-bed-equipped Jeep Wrangler. Now you can. We hit the mud to uncover the government secret on Jeep's pickup truck. Read More

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AEV J8 MILSPEC: Offroading Jeep's Forbidden Fruit
Until now, civilians couldn't buy the AEV J8 MILSPEC - the militarized truck-bed-equipped Jeep Wrangler. Now you can. We hit the mud to uncover the government secret on Jeep's pickup truck. Read More

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Save The Enzos!
Would you like to see these glorious t-shirts make a return? Read More

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Muscle Car Wars: Camaro vs. Challenger vs. Mustang
Here's what you've been waiting for - the 2010 Chevy Camaro SS, 2009 Dodge Challenger R/T and the 2010 Ford Mustang GT - reviewed by us, together at the same time and place. Time for the Muscle Car Wars! Read More

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Hoon Of The Day!
Are you the hoon of the day? Would you like to see this t-shirt make a comeback? Read More

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2009 Corvette ZR1: First Drive
The 2009 Corvette ZR1 is the best car ever made. It redefines what performance cars are capable of, not by its numbers (the 0-to-60 in 3.3 seconds and a 205 MPH top speed figures are no longer noteworthy north of $100,000), but by how it makes those numbers so accessible. Simply put, the ZR1's most remarkable achievement is how easy and unintimidating the chassis makes exploiting the car's 638 HP. The only problem is I'm not good enough a driver to fully do so. Read More

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2010 ROUSH Mustang 427R
You'll have to wait for this bad boy. In the meantime check out the 2009 ROUSH Mustang Blackjack. Read More

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2010 Chevy Camaro: First Drive
After countless spy shots, speculation, Transformers tie-ins, leaked photos and numbers comparisons, we've finally driven the 2010 Chevy Camaro. Does the reality match the hype? Well, it's like Star Wars. Read More

The image associated with this post is best viewed using a browser.
2009 Corvette ZR1: First Drive
The 2009 Corvette ZR1 is the best car ever made. It redefines what performance cars are capable of, not by its numbers (the 0-to-60 in 3.3 seconds and a 205 MPH top speed figures are no longer noteworthy north of $100,000), but by how it makes those numbers so accessible. Simply put, the ZR1's most remarkable achievement is how easy and unintimidating the chassis makes exploiting the car's 638 HP. The only problem is I'm not good enough a driver to fully do so. Read More

The image associated with this post is best viewed using a browser.
2010 Ford Transit Connect: First Drive
After the Ford Fiesta, the 2010 Ford Transit Connect is the second most lust-worthy European Ford to make it Stateside. Can a small, practical cargo van appeal to big, burly American workers? Read More

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2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8
But this week I'm back in Detroit for one reason, and one reason alone - an entire week of driving the 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8. It's a car imbued with so much positive energy there's only thing I can think of to do it justice. I plan on running Dodge's muscular old-school revival up and down Woodward Avenue, stoplight-to-stoplight, from downtown Detroit to Pontiac until I pass out from exhaustion or the gas station declines my credit card. Read More

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2010 Ford Taurus SHO: First Drive
Normally, when we review an exciting new performance car, we like to use a dramatic burnout shot. Unfortunately, the 2010 Ford Taurus SHO barely chirps its front wheels on its 5.2-second trip to 60 MPH.
Read More

The image associated with this post is best viewed using a browser.
2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8
But this week I'm back in Detroit for one reason, and one reason alone - an entire week of driving the 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8. It's a car imbued with so much positive energy there's only thing I can think of to do it justice. I plan on running Dodge's muscular old-school revival up and down Woodward Avenue, stoplight-to-stoplight, from downtown Detroit to Pontiac until I pass out from exhaustion or the gas station declines my credit card. Read More

The image associated with this post is best viewed using a browser.
Down On The Street
Those of you who have been Jalopnik regulars for a while most likely have a pretty solid grasp of the concept behind the Down On The Street series, but what about newcomers to the site? We don't want DOTS to feel like some sort of in-crowd-only deal, so here's the Down On The Street FAQ. Read More

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Jalopnik: Obsessed With The Cult Of Cars
Because you read the internet for the car articles.

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iPhone-Wallpapers provides a simple step-by-step guide to installing wallpapers on your Apple iPhone, although if you already own one shouldn't you already know how to do this?

1. Right-click or control-click on the image you want to use.
2. Select "Save as…" and save the image to your hard drive.
* Mac users can either save the image to a folder or add it to their iPhoto library.
* PC users will want to save the wallpaper into their "My Pictures" folder.

You can then sync the iPhone with photos in iPhoto 4.0.3 or later on a Mac, or Photoshop Album 2.0 or later or Photoshop Elements 3.0 or later on a PC. Or you can sync with any folder on your computer that contains images. Connect the iPhone to your computer and do the following:

1. Launch iTunes then click the Photos tab and select "Sync photos from:"
2. From the pop-up menu, do one of the following:
o If your using a Mac, choose iPhoto or your Pictures folder.
o If you're using a PC, choose Photoshop Album, Photoshop Elements, or your My Pictures folder.
3. Choose Folder, then choose any folder on your computer that has images.
4. Choose "All photos," or choose "Selected folders" or "Selected albums" and choose the folders or albums you want to sync.

Finally on your iPhone:
1. Goto the Photos section of your camera. Browse through the albums or camera roll until you find the picture you wish to use.
2. Select the picture so it is displayed full screen.
3. Tap the icon in the lower left corner of the screen. If you don't see the icon, single tap the picture to display the menus.
4. Here you can select if you want to email the picture, save the picture as a wallpaper, or assign to a contact.
5. If you want to assign to a contact, press that button. The contact list will open and you can select the contact you wish to link to the picture.
6. Select Done to complete the process.

[via iPhone-Wallpapers]
The image associated with this post is best viewed using a browser.Here's a quick and dirty method to getting wallpapers on your brand-spankin-new Palm Pre thanks to PreThinking.

Adding wallpaper(s) to your Palm Pre:

1. Have your image as the new wallpaper ready on your computer. It must be in 320 x 480pixels. (Check out our wallpapers optimized for the Pre here.)
2. Connect your Palm Pre to the computer using the Micro-USB cable that came with the Pre.
3. Your Pre will ask to Media Sync, USB Drive or Just Charge. Choose USB Drive.Your Pre will now show up as an External Hard Drive on your computer. For Macs, you'll find 'Palm Pre' on your desktop and for windows, it's in 'My Computer'.
4. Click on 'Palm Pre' and you'll find yourself looking at several folders. One of which is labeled 'Wallpapers'.
5. Drag and Drop your preferred wallpaper(s) in the "Wallpapers" folder and you're done!

Changing your Wallpaper on your Palm Pre:

1. Open the 'Photos' App
2. Choose Wallpapers or any other photo album which your new Wallpaper is located at.
3. Scroll down to your new wallpaper and open it
4. Hit the upper left icon for the drop down menu
5. Hit 'Set Wallpaper'
6. It'll ask to Set Wallpaper again, hit it.

[via PreThinking]

If you've ever seen the Mythbusters episode where Adam and Jamie build an 1100 barrel pneumatic paintball gun to paint the Mona Lisa instantaneously, then you know what these amazing systems are capable of. Check out the video to see how they built and tuned the truck-pulled Chalkbot pneumatic chalk spray gun

The Chalkbot made its official debut Sunday during the 2nd stage of the Tour de France. (Hat Tip To Julia!)

Images via Nike

When we first heard of this concept we pictured an R/C truck with a helicopter haphazardly glued to a platform. We were wrong. The truck appears to be fairly robust and features self-opening doors and a aircraft carrier-style elevator lift. We must try this with our radio shack XMOD car and R/C copter.

[Go! Radio Control via Gizmodo]

Victims of disease and injury confined to a wheelchair but without the ability to move are often at the will of others. This technology will, hopefully, allow these individuals to drive their wheelchair around using brainwaves read by what looks like a strange shower cap hooked up to an electroencephalograph scanner. The movement of the vehicle is fairly seamless — but stopping is difficult. Users have to puff a cheek to actually bring the chair to a stop.

Sure, because that makes about as much sense to us as any explanation Toyota can come up with for how they get the brain shower cap to work. All we know is we're fairly sure this technology was derived from Professor X. [The Daily Mail]

Photo Credit: YOSHIKAZU TSUNO / AFP

While the S1 won't win any style awards and doesn't offer the flexibility of an iPhone, it does allow you to fully submerge it in water up to 3.3 feet for 30 minutes with a pressure resistance of up to 400 kgs. Let's see your silly iPhone or Crackberry do that without a plexi-case. As well as offering extreme outdoor durability, the S1 packs a mighty punch in its feature list. A 2 mega-pixel waterproof camera with built-in flash, torch light, GPS, FM radio, 2GB memory slot, J2ME Java, Bluetooth and an Opera Mini WAP browser.

An extra-long life battery provides over 1500 hours of standby time with 18 hours of actual talk time, though we wonder how you're going to geta cell signal when you're out in the middle of nowhere. The Land Rover S1 mobile phone is available only in the UK at GoMobile stores for around $490.

The likelihood of a Land Rover owner actually needing an indestructible mobile phone seems limited to the rigorous shopping trek up and down Rodeo Drive, which we hear can get pretty wild.

Join us for a moment as we cannot restrain our quiet face-palm at the notion of a $7,000 key. We're betting high-tech bank vaults don't have keys this expensive. Key sets for nuclear missiles are probably cheaper. What Eng-i-Creation offers for the lobotomized discerning buyer is a hand-crafted, one-of-a-kind key experience, hewn from the finest leathers and embellished with gold and silver. The key fobs feature a folding design (like any VW product from ten years ago) and include such gee-whiz features as integrated vehicle remote control and... um... other stuff? This particular piece was fashioned for a Gumpert Apollo, which tickets in the mid six figures, so a paltry $7,000 for a key is probably cheaper than an oil change and tune-up. [Luxury Launches]

The CN-HX900D is a Windows-powered unit with the usual offering of GPS, CD/DVD player, amp, built-in 40 GB hard drive, Bluetooth, and 7-inch LCD screen. Combine this with the option CY-BB1000D Blu-Ray player and you've got the nicest in-car setup this side of Pimp My Ride.

Yo Dawg! We put a Blu-Ray DVD in your car so you can watch Space Buddies in HD while you crash into a wall!

[New Launches via Impress]

A writer at GearLive owns a couple of OnStar-equipped vehicles and received a survey touting the following Twitter service:

"While in your vehicle, you can use OnStar to submit and retrieve tweets (messages) via your Twitter account. Using OnStar's Voice-Activated Hands-Free Calling system, and having your voice converted into text, you can provide updates which would appear in the "What are you doing?" section of your Twitter homepage. It is also possible to listen to a tweet that was sent to you by someone else after it has been converted into voice. You can send and receive tweets without having to type or read anything."

The service doesn't seem complicated to set up and, using a voice-to-text system like the one found in SYNC, this should already be possible.

We could image all sorts of useful possibilities for this service, but it's more likely to be used like normal Twitter — letting people know completely tedious and useless details about your lives. We'll continue to deem the idea mostly useless until THE_REAL_SHAQ gets it in his Hummer and we can read his road tweets:

@Cbarkely: Y u cut me off? Looking for blow-js?

[Gear Live via AutoBlog]

The Bulldog is a giant 1/3 scale, gasoline-powered, radio control truck which can be converted to run like a compact four wheel ATV, launched recently at Dealer Expo 2009.

The truck runs on a 110 CC four stroke single cylinder engine and is controlled remotely by a 2.4 GHz radio transmitter, but when you're done playing from a distance, attach the handlebars and nerf bars and go for a ride. The tube frame and four wheel independent suspension makes sure an entertaining is is designed to carry a seated full grown man, who will be giggling like a little kid the whole ride. Check out the gallery we've ported over from 3Z scale below:
(Thanks for the tip Rodrigo)

[3Z Scale]

The story goes that two apparently shower-averse guys from England somehow (some witchcraft called Bluetooth) connected their brand spankin' new Blackberry Storm to a model F1 car, then broke into their responsible older brother's office to set up a desktop test track to try it out on. The storm's motion sensors proved an excellent control system and the video went big on something called YouTube. Wow, viral marketing can be creative, can't it?

Seeing it, McLaren invited the pair down to a winter testing session in Spain where Lewis Hamilton has his F1 car equipped with Bluetooth, then takes it for a Blackberry controlled spin on the track.

In reality, Formula One teams have as much disdain for their fans as Chrysler does for its customers and, if they wanted a remote control, they'd have just stolen it from Ferrari created their own R/C setup. But hey, we're guessing the idea of viral marketing still sounds new and shiny in a British accent. [via TotalProSports]

Our friends at Kicking Tires put the XROADS G-Map iPhone App through the same tests they apply to regular GPS systems and found it to be a capable competitor to the larger, more expensive alternatives.

On the plus side, the App is easy-to-use with good routing and accurate placement. On the negative side, it doesn't have voice turn-by-turn and the maps don't include as many detailed street-level names. Overall, they found the system to work well and, considering it's just $19.99 for the XROADS G-Map App, it's a great value if you've already dropped a few hundred dollars on an iPhone.

[Kicking Tires]

Although we'll have more on this intuitive system when we're allowed to run our embargoed drive of the new Prius, we figured we'd give you an early taste. It's one of those things that's incredibly simple, yet incredible effective. The two round steering wheel-mounted button clusters are repeated in the information display. That display is mounted at the top of the vehicle's dash, with a focal range approximate to that needed for viewing the road. As you push one of the buttons, the two circles appear in the display and the button you push is highlighted in orange - a visual feedback that confirms your selections.

The steering wheel controls include: audio functions, climate control, trip computer, dynamic radar cruise control, telephone, and lane keep assist. In short, most of the secondary functions you'll commonly use while driving.

The new system would analyze past driving patterns, previous destinations, time of day and other variable and suggest a list of destinations you might be en-route to. It's not a terrible idea, but if you don't know where you're going or how to get there by the time the car has learned where you might be going, there's something wrong. Undoubtedly this technology will be paired with real time traffic, accident and weather notifications to make getting where you're going more reliably quick, but the notion of learning cars freaks us out. [4WheelsNews]

The booth professionals from Samsung make a hard pitch for applications in the automotive sector, with uses in heads up displays or GPS systems overlaid on the windshield. We suspect the OLED technology would need further development to deal with the harsh requirements of the automotive environment, but the idea is intriguing.

Imagine a richly animated high-definition set of gauges instead of the reflected aqua-colored HUD units in cars today. Then imagine popping those gauges over to a GPS screen. Very George Jetson. As a side note, we think the choice of cleavage bearing aerobics babe as the canned video is pretty hilarious.

Despite Chevy's overt inquiry into the sexuality of any man step-using Ford driver, a tailgate step sounds like a great idea to our admittedly feminine minds. Hopping in and out of the increasingly lofty beds of trucks while carrying heavy loads can be a difficult and dangerous task.

The step goes a long way to removing risk, all while providing easier access for pets, kids and little people. Bringing Ford F-150-like practicality to a small, more practical, efficient vehicle just sounds like a win/win situation to us. More info in the press release below.

Press Release: Step Up To The Truck 'N Buddy Pickup Step/Seat

The Truck 'N Buddy is a tailgate step that doubles as a seat. This 16-pound aircraft aluminum unit stores by hooking on the tailgate. When unfolded, the Truck 'N Buddy is a bed step for aging pets — and aging truck owners as heavy as 300 pounds. It also functions as a seat for tailgating, sporting clay shooting, camping and even for changing golf cleats. The platform is supported by 1,700-pound test cables and has traction ridges for sure footing. A handy grab-rail promotes safe stepping. Made in the USA, the Truck 'N Buddy is finished in durable black powder-coat enamel. MSRP is $179.

[source: Great Day Inc.]

The ability, functionality and look of OEM in-car technology is unfortunately limited by conservative, litigation-averse manufacturers who make equipment decisions based on price, their own extremely limited understanding of what customers want and their keen ability to avoid anything that might get them sued. All that's a shame because Hughes Telematics currently has the ability to put every in-car telematics feature you've ever wanted, and many you don't yet know you do, into cars right now.

Ever thought of having Mac-style Widgets available through your Nav screen? Hughes envisions users being able to download and use an unlimited number of third-party widgets directly from their nav screens. The example they showed us was of a carbon foot print calculator based on personalized vehicle data and current fuel consumption. Put your foot down and tips for more eco-friendly driving can be made to pop up on the screen.

Hughes also envisions and has created a new archetype for daily navigation and traffic information. Preprogram a list of available routes for your commute and, when you start your car in the morning it'll check the traffic on all of them, then tell you which route is your best option. No need for annoying directions the whole way there either.

That customizable morning report can also do things like check your vehicle's fuel level and advise of the cheapest fuel not within a given radius, but precisely along the route you're going to drive. It can also give stock prices, weather, read from the calendar on your laptop, or perform umpteen other functions that you specify.

That calendar function is really neat and represents the direction Hughes is going with its thinking: friendly technology that can integrate with your vehicle to assist you in your day-to-day tasks. Like Ford's Sync, the Hughes system can receive email and read it to you. They're still working on ways to respond by voice since dictation software doesn't work great at the moment. One option: a .Wav file of your voice sent as an attachment in a response.

The most immediate difference between the Hughes system and rivals like GM's OnStar and Ford's Sync isn't the increased ability but rather how easy the system is to use. Voice commands are natural language, requiring no memorizing of menu hierarchies or specific commands. Want to know if it's going to snow in Buffalo later? Just ask. Want to switch from weather to nav? Just ask for directions, no need to tell the system to switch.

Advanced functionality is built in at every level, integrating each function. For example you can look up theaters showing a specific movie, get times for that movie than get directions to the theater, all by saying "hey, where's ‘The Wrestler' showing? Sure beats iDrive.

Other cool features come in the form of in-car 3G access and a WiFi hub. That means you can park the car in a parking lot, go sit in an internetless café and convince Ray that you're at work. Or, send HD movies to the car's hardrive from your home computer and display each individually on each of the car's video screens.

Hughes is currently working with both Chrysler and Mercedes to bring some of these features to future models. Which exact ones it won't say, but it sure won't be all of them. Features like email display on the Nav screen cause litigation concerns. Which brings us to the systems failing's and its future. In these images, on a double-DIN 8" screen, with these stand-in graphics, the technology has a hard time selling itself. As in-car screens get bigger and their graphics slicker we can see this becoming must-have technology, but until then it's going to be a hard sale, both to customers spoiled by Macbooks and iPhones and the old guys who run car companies. [Source: Hughes Telematics]

A reader over at The Unofficial Apple Weblog was driving through a small blizzard when he slowed down and was rear-ended by another motorist. The investigating officer who arrived asked Paul, the driver, for his insurance card. Unfortunately, it was expired. In many states, if you're unable to prove your insurance you have to pay a $200 fine — and, because your insurance normally acts as a bond, if you don't have the cash, put up your license for bond.

Being cash-poor but rich in sense, Paul logged into his online Geico account via the iPhone's web-browser and got a PDF copy of the card mailed to his phone. The officer accepted the proof and no ticket was issued. While we don't expect this to work with most officers, having the web in your pocket might become a big help when driving — as long as you use it primarily when you're parked.

[via TUAW]

The Chrysler uconnect system of the future Imagines unprecedented levels of inter-vehicle connectedness and external monitoring of vehicle location, speed and driving patterns. It could bring with it new levels of communication and safety or, with a more critical reading, new levels of location and behavior monitoring and control. If you’re a teenager with strict parents we’d be afraid. Very afraid.

Of course, there are no details of when we can expect to see such a system, but our advice to you is to enjoy your freedom while you still have it. And yes, this all sounds a little too much like a bad SciFi movie to us, too. Some details in the press release below.

Future uconnect Features to Combine On-line and On-road Worlds

• Convenience: new levels of connecting the vehicle to the home and digital lifestyle
• Socialization: in-car social media capability to create “buddy vehicles” with technology similar to MySpace, Facebook and Twitter
• Synchronization: consumers can keep schedules, music, friends and life in synch, even when in their vehicle

The passion for state-of-the-art, transformational vehicle connectivity continues at Chrysler LLC as future uconnect technology expands to deliver unprecedented connectivity in the areas of convenience, socialization and synchronization; connecting consumers’ on-line and on-road environments in state-of-the-art fashion as consumers begin to treat their vehicles as their second home.

“Chrysler is already offering a wide and diverse portfolio of connectivity and infotainment features under its popular uconnect umbrella,” said Frank Klegon, Executive Vice President – Product Development, Chrysler LLC. “The future of uconnect will deliver a host of unique, trend-setting innovations that will ultimately provide unprecedented convenience to consumers.”

The advanced connectivity features focus on three primary areas: convenience, socialization and synchronization.

Convenience

Personalized profile

Chrysler’s advanced connectivity system welcomes the driver, and operator-specific options display on-screen settings.

Settings include radio with audio tagging – allowing occupants to purchase music by clicking on the Mopar icon. Access to Internet radio, stored MP3s, seating position and temperature, are also featured.

Additionally, a “teen setting” can be placed on the vehicle to limit speed and warn the owner if the vehicle is being driven erratically or out of a specific range from home.

Navigation upgrade

A next-generation navigation system features a link to city-street cameras, allowing vehicle occupants to view traffic situations in specific intersections, roadways and airport security terminals in real-time.

Much like an aircraft navigation system, real-time weather data is available to the driver.

Additionally, this advanced system can anticipate fuel efficient routes and provide route recommendations to the driver.

Socialization

Vehicle networking

Using a format similar to existing web sites such as Facebook and Twitter, other vehicles can be added to Chrysler’s system which links “buddy” vehicles. Among other capabilities, this feature can show vehicle locations of friends, share directions and music, and provide “instant messaging” capabilities. Drivers can also create their own vehicle networking systems.

Passenger PC

Hidden in the dashboard is a personal computer that neatly slides out for front-seat passenger use. This computer gives the front-seat passenger the ability to use the Internet, access the navigation system, run vehicle diagnostics and read the owner’s manual, among other capabilities. All Internet features are available, from video conferencing to checking restaurant reviews and making dinner reservations on Zagat’s from the vehicle. The personal computer can be passed from the front-seat passenger to passengers in the rear.

Synchronization

Home/office link

This feature adds a harmonious link between the vehicle and the home and office. System capabilities include monitoring home and office, adjusting home/office lighting, powering up home appliances and utilizing intercoms.

Cell phone fobs

This technology links a “smart” phone to the vehicle. The phone can be programmed to allow starting of the vehicle, adjust power windows and locks and set vehicle temperature.

In addition, an in-vehicle camera can monitor security of the vehicles.

In the event of a lost or stolen vehicle, the phone can disable the vehicle and locate it using satellite imaging.

Finally, the system can relay diagnostic information to the phone, keeping the owner apprised of vehicle systems, such as state of battery charge.

[Source: Chrysler]

Cars have always been associated with sex — literally in the design of Ferraris and culturally in the importance of back seat mating rituals. It looks like the Winglet, in its attempt to reduce personal transportation to its bare essence, is also dropping any sexual innuendo in favor of barefaced literalness. The Toyota Winglet looks dildo-like.

Just 25 Toyota Winglets are destined for sale in 2009 in a trial run that will include factories, airports and parks. Full scale production is projected to begin in 2010.

The Winglet compares favorably to the Segway not just in its ability to serve as a “personal massager” but in its $3,500 price (Segway: $5,300+) and 22-pound weight (Segway: 105 Lbs +).

Toyota envisions uses ranging from security in public places to speedy inter-office transportation for on-the-go execs. Like the Segway, the Winglet won’t be road-legal in either Japan or the US and most places will ban it from sidewalks, so Toyota forecasts most sales will be to companies with large campuses or to public services with large areas to cover. [MSN Japan via The Scooter Scoop]

Toyota Motor Company has recently announced a new in-car proprietary telematics program named Safety Connect for its Toyota models and Enform with Safety Connect for its Lexus luxury brand. The new safety features will slowly make their production debut in select Toyota and Lexus vehicles over the next year. While sharing many similarities with GM’s OnStar system, the Toyota Safety Connect features four main safety and security features: Roadside Assistance, Emergency Assistance Button (SOS), Automatic Collision Notification (ACN) and Stolen Vehicle Location (SVL). These features are designed to allow ToMoCo’s customers to have a semblance of safety and security while on the road they wouldn't ordinarily get without such new technologies as a cell phone or a CB radio.

The Toyota brand’s Safety Connect uses embedded GPS and cellular signals to signal for help if an airbag has been deployed or a severe rear-end collision has been detected. In a case where the system isn’t activated automatically, an occupant of the vehicle can use the Emergency Assistance Button (SOS) to contact emergency services manually. The SOS button can also be used to contact Roadside Assistance in the event of a break down. If the vehicle is ever stolen, once a police report has been filed, the Stolen Vehicle Location feature may be activated to locate the car – think of it as a factory Lo-Jack system.

ToMoCo’s luxury brand, Lexus, receives all of the standard Safety Connect features and adds a few more conveniences to make up the Lexus Enform service. Additional features include Destination Assist and eDestination. Consider these two services as a personal in-car concierge that can help with directions as well as recommend local restaurants and hot spots. When the driver has made a choice the destination is sent to the vehicle’s navigation system. If the vehicle owner wants to plan the route themselves, the eDestination service is accessible from any PC and when planning is complete, it will send the information to the navigation system. All of these features will be accessible though the Lexus Flexible Voice Interface, a casual-speech voice recognition system, scheduled to debut on the 2010 RX model.

Look for the GM OnStar rivaling Safety Connect and Enform services to debut in select models later this year, each with an included one-year subscription.

PRESS RELEASE

Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Announces Dual-Brand Telematics Programs: Lexus EnformTM and Safety ConnectTM Available in 2009

LAS VEGAS (January 7, 2009) – Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), USA, Inc. today announced that it will launch its proprietary telematics systems in the year to come. The all-new systems will be available on select models with customized versions for both Lexus and Toyota brands.

"We are proud to introduce these services and advance our relationships with our customers by providing them the features they need to feel safer and more secure while on the road," said Jon Bucci, TMS vice president, Advanced Technology Department. "Our primary focus while developing our services was on three key traits: choice, convenience and control. We feel that our new telematics offerings deliver on these attributes, hitting the mark for what our customers have shown us they will be looking for in their next vehicle purchase."

The Toyota brand will introduce Safety Connect on select Toyota models, helping to bring its drivers an added peace of mind. Lexus will introduce Lexus Enform with Safety Connect, a service built on the foundation of valuable safety and security services with the added layer of more convenience-oriented features and specialized advanced technologies.

New Offerings Built on a Solid Heritage of Quality
With characteristic Toyota vision, sights have been set on bringing Toyota's proprietary telematics products to the U.S. for many years.

"Prior to entering the U.S. market full force, Toyota practiced a deliberate approach to product development based on our experience in Japan, in-depth research and relentless product testing in order to both deliver to customers' expectations and produce systems befitting the Toyota name," said Bucci. "Safety Connect and Lexus Enform are the results of several years of due diligence and dedicated teams working in
partnership with our highly experienced providers."

Safety Connect: A Secure Foundation
Available on both Lexus and Toyota brands, Safety Connect is the cornerstone of Toyota's new telematics offerings and will provide fundamental services to help extend confidence to drivers on the road.

"While a portion of the industry appears to be migrating to reliance upon wireless handheld devices to deliver in-vehicle safety, we've followed our engineering insights and Toyota's G-Book and G-Link roots in Japan," said Bucci. "Based on our experience and research, our core safety and security technology is embedded in the vehicle to help ensure reliability and responsiveness."

As the foundation of Toyota's telematics systems and available on select vehicles,
Safety Connect will include the following four safety and security facets:

Automatic Collision Notification (ACN)
Safety Connect's ACN will help drivers receive the necessary response from emergency teams. In the event of either an airbag deployment or a severe rear-end collision; the response center will be automatically notified via embedded cellular technology and GPS. Once the response center agent receives the vehicle ID and the vehicle's location, the agent can speak with the driver to ascertain the level of emergency. If the driver is unable to communicate, the agent automatically treats the call as an emergency. The response center agent then uses the vehicle's GPS location to determine the nearest Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) available to provide emergency support and will offer to stay on the line until emergency assistance arrives.

Stolen Vehicle Location (SVL)
Safety Connect subscribers will be able to rely on an extra level of security in the event that their vehicle is stolen. If this should happen, Safety Connect will assist in tracking the location of the stolen vehicle using the vehicle's GPS. Once a police report has been filed and the owner contacts the Safety Connect call center to report the theft, call center agents will assist local authorities to help recover the vehicle-keeping the owner apprised of the progress.

Emergency Assistance Button (SOS)
All Safety Connect–enabled vehicles will come equipped with an SOS button, with the call center's 24-hour emergency assistance only a press away. When an emergency situation develops, subscribed customers will be able to quickly reach the Safety Connect response center to communicate their emergency. Again using embedded cellular and GPS technology, the agent will assess the situation and dispatch the necessary assistance based on the type of emergency.

Roadside Assistance
When a driver encounters problems on the road, the Safety Connect response center will be available for roadside assistance 24 hours a day via the SOS button. Call center agents will help drivers receive aid for a wide range of needs, such as towing, jump start, flat tire, fuel delivery, etc. With this service, drivers will not need to rely on additional membership organizations for roadside coverage to help them get back on the road.

All Safety Connect calls will be sent directly to Toyota's dedicated, specialized telematics response center operated by ATX Group, a leading provider of global automotive telematics services for over a decade. Drivers can rest even easier with the added level of confidence that comes with having this service as the backbone of Safety Connect's security offerings.

Lexus Enform: Pinnacle of Convenience
Lexus Enform takes Toyota's telematics services to a new level of care with a diverse assortment of offerings ranging from information and convenience capabilities to up-to-the-minute weather reports.
"We specifically steered away from a one-size-fits-all approach," explained Bucci, "recognizing that we have two distinct markets for telematics products and services and catering our offerings to each of our valued customer sets."

The cornerstones of Lexus Enform are two convenience-based services: Destination Assist and eDestination. With these features, Lexus vehicles can become a virtual information tool-giving drivers the ability to send and receive the data they choose and need along the way. Both services also rest on the solid foundation of Toyota's dedicated ATX call center.

Destination Assist
Live-operator assistance with finding destinations will be just the press of a button away with Destination Assist. While either parked or driving, the driver will be able to easily connect to an operator to ask for help finding local points of interest from dining to gas stations, dry cleaners to museums. As an added bonus to Lexus drivers, Zagat's best-in-breed restaurant content will also be available via Destination Assist.
Destination Assist operators will steer drivers to the nearest or preferred destination, giving them either the specific business or address requested or nearby choices if, for example, the call is for a specific type of cuisine but the driver does not know the exact restaurant they would like to visit. Once the driver tells the operator their choice, the destination is sent wirelessly to the vehicle's navigation system.

eDestination
An expedient self-service feature of Lexus Enform is eDestination, which will allow the user to go online, via the Lexus owners' Web site, to select and organize destinations of their choice and then send them wirelessly to their vehicle. From any computer, Lexus Enform-subscribed owners will be able to simply log in to their account and search for destinations by one of three options, point of interest (POI) name, category, or address, in Lexus' POI database-the same nationwide database in the vehicle's navigation system. By entering either a city and state or a Zip code with their search option, they will receive a numbered list of relevant choices all called out on a map screen. The user can then simply select the destination of their choice and send it to a folder-creating a new one or inserting it into one they have already built. When finished making selections and creating folders, the user simply selects "save to vehicle" and their personalized destinations will be available to load into the vehicle's navigation system upon the next start up. Going hand in hand with the quality our drivers have come to expect and rely upon in Lexus vehicles, Lexus Enform drivers will also have easy online access to Zagat-rated restaurants nationwide via eDestination.

eDestination will enable users to build their library of destinations in up to 20 customized folders with up to 10 destinations per folder. This will enable Lexus Enform subscribers to select and send an unprecedented total of 200 personalized destinations to their vehicle. The folder cache will always be present online for users to save or update as they see fit. For example, folders with the addresses of friends, family, or favorite local restaurants can be saved and maintained while new folders can be created for specific occasions-a vacation ("Road Trip to Boston") or business meetings ("LA Biz Travel")-and updated to meet current plans. Wherever Lexus drivers need to go, they will be able to plan trips easily and in advance, and even update from the road, with eDestination.

Flexible Voice Interface
Because Lexus Enform is a navigation-based system, vehicles equipped with navi will automatically include one of Lexus Enform's most functional-and sure to be favorite-systems, the updated voice recognition system currently only available on the MY10 Lexus RX vehicles. This new casual-speech voice recognition system, called voice command, features VoiceBox Technology's award-winning, patented Conversational Voice Search, and allows drivers to speak more flexible, conversational commands for easier access and control.

Voice command software enhances standard voice recognition and functions as a supplementary layer "on top" of the existing voice recognition system, an application not seen before in the automotive world. Without voice command, users must speak commands in a specific order, e.g., "Phone > Dial by Name > Dial Bob." Now this same task can be completed simply by saying, "Call Bob at home." The voice command system also works to control many functions of the audio system, heating and air conditioning, and the navigation system. Commands such as, "Make it cooler," "Let's find XM channel 46," "I want a Japanese restaurant," and "Where's the nearest gas station along my route?" make tasks easier to accomplish, in fewer steps, with more flexible speech, and allow the driver to focus more on the road ahead.

Mobile Audio Casts with Lexus Insider
One thing we know about Lexus drivers is that they appreciate up-to-the-minute information about the world around them. With Lexus Insider, a complimentary service on all Lexus Enform navigation-equipped vehicles, customers will be able to listen to audio broadcasts in their vehicles with the push of a button. A first in the industry, brief
"hot topic" audio programmes, hand selected for our customers, will be sent regularly to vehicles and made available to drivers to enjoy whenever they see fit. Customers who would prefer not to receive Lexus Insider broadcasts will be able to easily opt out of the service. Those customers who do elect to receive them will be able to select whether or not to receive automatic notifications when news is available.

Topics will include vehicle technology insights, with tips on their specific model of Lexus vehicle and its capabilities; updates on Lexus-exclusive regional events; and selections from Lexus magazine lifestyle articles. Additionally, customers will also receive Insider insights into exclusive destinations appealing to Lexus drivers. Lexus drivers alone will benefit from the added convenience of having these broadcast transmissions also include the destination's information provided as a downloadable POI, enabling them to easily save the spot to their navigation.

Because broadcast data transmission to automobiles is necessarily complicated by the unpredictable nature of when, and for how long, vehicles will be powered on, Lexus Insider makes use of innovative technology to optimize delivery. Thus equipped, Lexus Enform vehicles can successfully receive audio casts in spite of disruptions to transmissions-helping to ensure that listeners receive Lexus Insider stories seamlessly and without complications.

XM – Beyond Radio
Lexus Enform vehicles will be factory ready for subscriptions to a variety of innovative XM services. Standard equipment on Lexus vehicles will include available XM satellite radio programming and its available "Best of SIRIUS" content. Additionally, Lexus Enform vehicles will also feature XM NavTraffic® and XM NavWeatherTM services. These XM services will offer three-month trials, after which subscriptions will be required. XM NavTraffic informs the driver of current traffic conditions with real-time traffic displays. When traffic problems are detected, in order to avoid them the navigation system alerts the driver so that the route can be adjusted. XM NavWeather will provide near real-time weather conditions as well as spoken and nav-screen forecasts, both based on official National Weather Service data. Lexus Enform will also provide the platform for XM® Sports and Stocks, a service included with audio programming, which provides in-car personalized updates on customer-selected sports and stocks so drivers can stay connected to their favorite teams and investment data while on the road. Additionally, Lexus Enform's advanced voice command system will be equipped to operate many functions of all XM services, adding a new level of flexibility.

Availability
Safety Connect and Lexus Enform will be delivered on select models beginning in late summer 2009 as embedded, factory-installed hardware that can be activated upon subscription at dealerships. An included one-year trial subscription will be offered for new vehicle purchases. More details on product roll-out will be announced closer to launch.

[via Toyota]

Like the Dashboard Devices in-car computer, the Swiitek unit aims to offer a direct replacement for factory head units, they’ve even designed a range of fitments for popular cars that don’t use standard double-DIN heads.

Unlike the Dashboard Devices unit, Swiitek uses a Windows OS (CE or XP), meaning you can work on spreadsheets in addition to accessing the internet, using on-board navigation and watching movies or playing music, all using the touchscreen LED display. There’s also WiFi, Bluetooth, USB and SD ports and, most importantly, the ability to look like John Hodgeman even while driving an Audi A6. This is not a good idea wethinks.

[Swiitek via Edmunds]

We were actually skeptical until we saw the shot of the double-DIN ENV-100 above and realized how nice it would be to have the full array of in-car entertainment, navigation and Internet access incorporated into one touch-screen device capable of fitting into existing dashboards.

Think of the possibilities, without clutter from wires or tacky add-on devices you could control your MP3 player via WiFi or Bluetooth, same for your phone and access the Internet.

Dashboard Devices plan to unveil its range of in-car computers at CES next month. It plans units capable of working with any size DIN slot and even a console that fits into sun visors. [Dashboard Devices via Edmunds]

Mercedes-Benz has announced it will provide customers with a new display system that they’ve dubbed Splitview Command –effectively transforming the front navigation display into a multimedia center for the front seat passenger.

Developed by Bosch, the 8-inch TFT-LCD display will display two separate images simultaneously by placing the pixels adjacent to one another using a filtering mask to separate them for viewing. The result is a display that not only allows the driver to see the COMAND systems navigation, but also allows the passenger to watch their favorite clip of Ray on CNBC.

The press release from Mercedes:

In future Mercedes-Benz is equipping its luxury class models as the first premium brand with a display screen that allows the driver and front passenger to view two different programmes at the same time. While the driver is checking the navigation instructions, the front passenger can sit back and watch a film on the very same display. This is made possible by new SPLITVIEW technology which the Stuttgart premium brand is introducing in the S-Class for the first time.

Mercedes-Benz has integrated the new SPLITVIEW technology developed by Mercedes-Benz and Bosch into the innovative control and display system COMAND, which is centrally located in the dashboard console. Its generously dimensioned, 8-inch (approx. 20 mm) monitor shows a backlighted active matrix colour display (TFT-LCD). This shows two different images simultaneously by placing pixels adjacent to each other. A filter masking the display divides this mixed image in such a way that depending on the seating position, only the pixels making up one or the other image can be seen. As a result, the driver and front passenger can view different programmes on the same screen at the same time.

The driver still has access to all the information from the control and display system COMAND on the display, while the front passenger uses the remote control to choose his own entertainment programme with DVDs, TV channels or music videos. To avoid distracting the driver with his entertainment programme, he also has the option of enjoying the programme via headphones. As before, the driver is able to view all the information provided by the COMAND system on the display.

Mercedes-Benz is introducing the new SPLITVIEW technology in the S-Class for the first time in summer 2009.

[via eMercedesBenz]

Cables have been buried in the ground several feet from the road, running parallel to it. The electromagnetic field they emit has been calibrated to detect the interruptions caused by deer, elk, or other large animals passing over it. Signs positioned along the roadway then light up to alert drivers to the presence of the animals. For the trial phase, radar detectors are being used to calculate both the volume of traffic and its speed. Should the alerts be capable of convincing a significant enough portion of drivers to slow down when animals are present, the system could be rolled out across frequent animal crossings statewide.

We’d love to see technology like this applied to roadways. Combined with other advanced warning systems like BMW’s night vision-equipped 7-series it could make the road a safer place for humans and animals alike. [via Treehugger; photo nrcdeer.com]

TOKYO (Sept. 24, 2008) — Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., NTT DOCOMO, INC. and Sharp Corporation announced today that they have jointly developed a mobile phone capable of functioning as an intelligent key for automobiles - a world's first. The device will incorporate Nissan's Intelligent Key system, already a standard feature in various Nissan vehicles.

The convergence of automotive and cellular technologies was made possible by DOCOMO's expertise in the marketability of mobile phones, Sharp's development of the phone itself and Nissan's provision of technical support to ensure the key's operability with its vehicles.

Nissan's Intelligent Key system, installed in more than 950,000 units of various Nissan models since 2002, employs two-way wireless communications technology to automatically unlock/lock the car door and start/stop the engine. Nissan and Sharp has now integrated these electronic intelligent-key, wireless communications and electromagnetic technologies into the new handset.

As mobile phones increasingly become a daily necessity, the integration of these technologies and the potential to further expand related functionality helped to bring together the three parties, who expect users to appreciate the seamlessly integrated features of their new handset.

Nissan, DOCOMO and Sharp will demonstrate this mobile phone with built-in Intelligent Key in their respective exhibits at CEATEC Japan 2008, which begins September 30. The three firms will continue to develop the product with an aim for commercial distribution in early fiscal year 2009.

[via Gizmodo]

AUDI BACKED ‘TRAVOLUTION’ PROJECT GETS THE GREEN LIGHT

New traffic management system enables communication between cars and traffic lights to reduce ‘stop-start’ inefficiency

* Audi lends its support to ‘Travolution’ project aimed at streamlining urban traffic flow through interaction between cars and traffic lights to minimise fuel-sapping ‘stop-start’ traffic
* Travolution software can alert Audi drivers when a light is due to change to green, and calculate the speed that should be maintained in order to pass through in the green phase
* System also reduces duration of stops by improving synchronisation and traffic light phasing across the network

Frustrating, fuel-sapping stops at red traffic lights could soon be the exception rather than the rule thanks to a new initiative being championed by Audi aimed at streamlining urban traffic flow and reducing CO2 emissions.

The experimental ‘Travolution’ system, developed with Audi support by traffic management experts in the brand’s German home town of Ingolstadt, will not only improve synchronisation and phasing of traffic light networks to reduce stopping times, but could also dramatically reduce the number of actual stops needed by creating a communications link between cars and the traffic light network.

Communications modules built into each traffic light are able to send messages to cars in the vicinity, alerting them to the time remaining until their next green phase. The car’s onboard system is then able to calculate the speed which the driver must maintain in order to pass through the light during this green phase, and displays this via the Multi Media Interface display.

A network of 46 of the ‘intelligent’ traffic lights has been installed in the centre of Ingolstadt, the software to which they are all linked optimising their phasing to bring stopping times down to a minimum, reducing fuel consumption and pollution in the process.

Of the 46 light gantries, three have been upgraded to enable communication with the specially modified A5 and A6 Avant models provided by Audi as part of the 1.2-million Euro pilot project. A further 20 cars and 50 light installations are to be incorporated as the project evolves.