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The Facts About California, Washington's Cell Phone Bans
We hate to be the bearers of bad news, California and Washington state, but today, July 1, is the day that a new hands-free driving law goes into effect. Luckily for you, we're here to break down the new rules and explain what you can and can't do, along with providing some alternative options. Don't live in California or Washington? Check out our guide here to see what's happening in your state. More »
1:20 PM on Tue Jul 1 2008
By Travis Hudson
2,172 views,
34 comments
alternative energy
Honda Looks To Follow GM By Fueling Hydrogen Hopes With Hollywood Hype
Honda's hoping to snag some love from the Hollywood hype machine for their new green machine, the hydrogen fuel-cell-powered FCX Clarity. Honda's producing 200 of the fuel cell vehicles for distribution to celebrities and other Hollywood luminaries to build buzz for the 73 MPG technological wonder. True, these drivers may not need the fuel efficiency as they drive around with their poodles to pick up their grande skim latte, but whatever, they're influential. Wait a second — why does this sound so similar? More »
accessories
Mercedes-Benz Adds Factory iPhone Integration
Mercedes-Benz is getting hip with the youngsters by announcing that it will support the Apple iPhone by way of a center-console mounted cradle. The good news about this is that the switching between audio and telephone functions seems to be pretty seamless using the center display and steering-wheel controls. The bad news is that the iPhone's dock is in the center console, between the seats. Even if all of the interface controls can be operated using the vehicle's controls, having the phone in the center console still makes it a pain in the ass to easily remove and replace. Oh, and forget about using the iPhone's GPS. Full release after the jump.More »
news
Dallas Implements Unenforcable Cell Phone Driving Ban
With just two weeks left until one of the most car-crazy states in the US bans handset usage while driving, it seems other places are taking note. Dallas, Texas has announced it will be banning handset use in all 651 area school zones. The idea behind the ordinance is understandable, with crosswalks, bus stops and roaming bands of children adding to the usual targets for distracted drivers. But we think enforcing this law may prove challenging. More »
gadgets
TomTom To World: 'Huh? iPhone?'
So all of that talk of TomTom secretly developing iPhone GPS software followed by the revelation of Apple restrictions on such development, has apparently been blown a bit out of proportion. An anonymous TomTom source explained everything to BoingBoing Gadgets. More »
safety
Teenage Drivers Ignore Cell Phone Driving Bans, Arby's, Zune
A study released by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reiterates a fact made apparent by James Dean in the classic Rebel Without A Cause: teenagers are some rebellious bastards (for no apparent cause). In 2006, a law was enacted in North Carolina that completely banned persons under the age of 18 from using any type of cell phone device, including hands-free Bluetooth headsets, while driving. A study was conducted before the law went into effect, and again after the law was enacted, and yielded some alarming results. More »
gadget
Apple To TomTom: 'Oh No You Di'int!' *snap* *snap*
The unofficial happiness between TomTom and the iPhone has taken a turn for the worse, as Apple has more or less forbidden applications from doing what the TomTom application is designed to do. Hidden deep in the iPhone's Software Developer's Kit agreement is a bit of legalese explaining...well, you can read it for yourself. More »
auto branding adventures
Sony Ericsson Teams With Ducati For Cell Phone, Rich Dudes In Loveless Marriages Rejoice!
Since Motorola is the phone of Ferrari, Sony Ericsson has decided to jump on the rest of the dentist-anesthesiologist demo with a Ducati-branded Z770 cell phone. The big difference here is that Ducati bikes are appealing and svelte, while this mobile phone isn't. Like most auto-branded cell phones, the Z770 will include the usual array of screensavers, backgrounds, themes and more featuring the Ducati namesake. The Ducati Sony Ericsson Z770 should be hitting the Italian shelves soon and should make a great companion to the completely unecessary Ducati USB flash drive [TechDigest]
toyota fchv-adv
Toyota FCHV-adv Gets New Fuel Cell Hybrid System, Has Over 500 Mile Range
The Japanese government (who didn't have anything to do with Prius development) has given approval for domestic market leasing of Toyotas newest fuel cell hybrid, the FCHV-adv. We don't know if our assumed graphic update properly represents the new look of the updated FCHV, but the updated goodies under hood and better regenerative braking gives the new zero-emissions Highlander a total range of 516 miles. Wait, that's actually pretty damn impressive. Where do we sign up for the sports car version? [ Yahoo News]
safety
The Science Behind Cell Phone Use While Driving
Not a day goes by without a local news report discussing the dangers of driving while talking on a cell phone, but now researchers at the University of South Carolina are taking things one step further by analyzing what goes on in the brain that makes cell phone use while driving so damn dangerous. A series of experiments by Dr. Amit Almor demonstrated that preparing to speak or actually speaking was four times more distracting than simply listening. Another experiment by Almor lead to some findings that could definitely change the landscape for the future of communicating while driving. More »
gadgets
Unnamed GPS Manufacturer Scared Of iPhone GPS
The next-generation iPhone is coming soon and one of the big rumors is that the phone will include legitimate GPS and not the half-assed location-based GPS like the current generation. That has some other GPS manufacturers shaking in their boots. One unnamed president of a GPS manufacturer said the prospect of the iPhone with real GPS has him "scared shitless." We're not too surprised by this notion, either. With windshield suction mounts available, there wouldn't be a reason to drop a few hundred on a top-of-the-line GPS navigation unit when your mobile phone can accomplish the same job. More »
safety
Survey: 80% Of Americans Use Cellphones While Driving
A recent survey by the Nationwide insurance company has shown some surprising results in regards to cell phone usage among Americans.- 80% of cell phone owners talk while driving
- 40% of cell phone owners between 16 and 30 text message while driving
- 60% of teens use cell phones while driving
- 65% of baby boomers between 45 and 61 use cell phones while driving
- 78% of users between 18 and 30 use cell phones while driving
- 80% of users between 31 and 44 use cell phones while driving.
The report cites some of the strict usage laws as the reason the teenagers are the lowest cell phone users while driving. The survey also cites American's need and pressure to always stay in touch as the reason behind these high numbers. You know what should be done to curtail this problem? More »
motorcycles
Suzuki Takes Crosscage Hydrogen Fuel Cell Concept To The Test Track
Proving that their Crosscage emits hot water instead of hot air, Suzuki just took their fuel cell-powered concept testing in Europe. Riding impressions are non-existent, but luckily for you, I've ridden the Intelligent Energy ENV that the Crosscage is based on.More »
alternative energy
GM Says Challenge X Is The Future, We Say We Want It Now
Looking at the array of biodiesel hybrids, ethanol hydrogen hybrids and fuel cells on display in Central Park this morning, the impression we got was GM is looking to these technologies as the future. All we could think was how much they should be the present. You see, this wasn't a display of pie-in-the-sky concepts or prototypes, but actual vehicles capable of competently carrying humans and all of them designed and built by students on a limited budget. If a couple of pubescent geeks still waiting for their first pocket protectors can put a functioning biodiesel hybrid on a driveway, why isn't GM doing so right now?More »
3:00 PM on Fri May 16 2008
By Wes Siler
1,170 views,
16 comments
Latest by n/a: Actually I believe that the major problem isn't that GM isn't technically capable of putting something like this on the road. It's that GM's cost premium for doing so is so high that they'd rather not sell anything than more »
safety
Study: California Hands-Free Law Could Save Hundreds Of Lives
It's inching closer to July 1, the day that California, one of the highest vehicular-populated states will enact a law requiring the use of a hands-free type of cell phone device while driving and completely banning mobile usage for those under the age of 18. A recent study has shown that this law could prevent upwards of 300 fatalities per year, all in the highly lucrative profession of event planning. More »
gadgets
New Delphi Tech Ensures No More Dead Keyfob Batteries
Delphi, makers of all kinds of vehicle electronic gadgetry, will become the first manufacturer to use what is being called "segmented display cell." SDC is a type of e-ink used in electronics and will soon be implemented into a wireless bi-directional keyfob. SDC will make integrating displays into keyfobs a little more reasonable. SDC also looks a hell of a lot better than the third-party jobbers with displays that look like those handheld videogames from the 1990s. This technology isn't just about looks, either. More »
auto branding adventures
