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iPhone 3G, 3GS: Car Gadget Round Up
Control Zipcar From Your iPhone

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domino
06/09/09

In reply to iPhone 3G, 3GS: Car Gadget Round Up
so now i can escape from enemy agents driving from the back seat of my armored bimmer with an iphone, while the German woman from BMW voice control directs me to the nearest safehouse? awesome.
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Triborough
06/09/09

In reply to iPhone 3G, 3GS: Car Gadget Round Up
Who cares about this crap.

You have to spend an absurd amount of money for the thing which only works on a crappy provider's network, then you have to shell out more money for these add ons. By the time you are done you could have gotten a Lemons car or two with that sort of money.
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Alphamazing
06/09/09

@Triborough: Not necessarily. For some of the stuff, it does require an iPhone. However, many applications will run on the iPod Touch, which can be had without contracts for much cheaper. And when you weigh in its features as a music player and more, it actually is a pretty good deal. Many applications are only $1, including fun games, time wasters, and convenient things like workout calculators and logs.

I agree that the iPhone is a bit expensive, especially when you don't really need it, but the iPod Touch gives you most of the functionality without the crazy contracts.
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domino
06/09/09

@Alphamazing: the ipod touch is worth the price, imo. the catch with some of the apps is that you need to be in the range of wireless internet. mine fits in my purse and has replaced many simple functions of my laptop.

best timer app: BigStopWatch by Yuki Yasoshima :)
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Uncle Bo
06/09/09

In reply to iPhone 3G, 3GS: Car Gadget Round Up
First, it was glass-mounted radar detectors. Once stolen, a thief could avoid getting a speeding ticket. However, it assumed the thief had a car in the first place.

Next, the glass-mounted GPS navigation device. Once stolen, a thief could carry it with them, ensuring they would not get lost on the way to committing their next crime. However, beyond a locating device, navi's are a bit limited in usefulness.

Now, we have a glass-mounted $400 cell phone with GPS capability and a host of other features. Once stolen, a thief can make phone calls to their crack whore girlfriend, make reservations at their fave restaurant, use the Fandango app to buy movie tickets with your credit card, watch a movie trailer, read the New York Times, and a myriad of other fun things all on your dime using ATT's 3G network. Hooray!!
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Chris Hamrick
06/09/09

@Uncle Bo, piston forger: All those features and apps, and you still can't send a picture or video message...
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A strolling player
06/09/09

@Chris Hamrick: Yes you can. That's coming with software version 3.0 as well.
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engineerd
06/09/09

In reply to iPhone 3G, 3GS: Car Gadget Round Up
The Tom Tom app is cool, but I still like my Storm. I have Google Maps on it and my wife can hold it.
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Captain Liverspots
06/09/09

@engineerd has lost the funny:

That's what I don't get: the iPhone already has Google Maps nicely integrated, and I've found it to be preferable to The Missus' Magellan GPS unit. I need to pay for a branded app exactly why?
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A strolling player
06/09/09

@Kapitän Lebertransplantation: Google Maps ain't turn-by-turn with voice direction, basically.
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MrBangBam
06/09/09

@Kapitän Lebertransplantation: You don't NEED to.
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Syrax
06/09/09

In reply to iPhone 3G, 3GS: Car Gadget Round Up
Why the hell would I need a compass?
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pauljones
06/09/09

@Ambiguously Unfunny Syrax: Why the hell would I need any of that shit?
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Syrax
06/09/09

@pauljones: Good point. And is the Digital North different than the Magnetic North?
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Van Sarockin, rogue trebuchet
06/09/09

@Ambiguously Unfunny Syrax: Depends on how pixelated your screen resolution is. And in localized conditions, it might point directly towards Steve Jobs.
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sos10
06/09/09

In reply to iPhone 3G, 3GS: Car Gadget Round Up
The days of stand alone, non build in dash, GPS units are counted.
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pallendo
06/09/09

@sos10: I doubt that. I see integrated GPSs going the way of the dodo. Let's see, $1500 option to the car, or $200 for a stand alone that does a MUCH better job, is more easily upgraded, usually better UI, and if it breaks, I can buy a new for cheap, and if I have 2 cars (or 3, or 18) I can just suction cup it to the next car's windshield. Also, some people just want a phone to be a phone.
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zeeboid
06/09/09

@pallendo: But you forget of those who drive Lexus and Accura, who feel the need to show off to the joneses next door. that probably accounts for 60% of the integrated sales, where as someone like me would through an AVIC-Z3 in it and call it "Awesome"
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sos10
06/09/09

@zeeboid: @pallendo:

The days of stand alone, non build in dash, GPS units are counted.
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MushyHeirloom
06/08/09

In reply to Control Zipcar From Your iPhone
You see it rollin'

You hatin'

Controllin', unlockin' that heap of merde...

(Honkin' that heap of merde...)
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Boosted Lego Wagon
06/08/09

In reply to Control Zipcar From Your iPhone
Up Up Down Down A B A B Select Start.

Congratulations! Every zipcar in the Area wil now play "La Cucaracha" on its horn for the next hour!
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leavethegun-takethecannoli
06/08/09

In reply to Control Zipcar From Your iPhone
Can you use the ipod touch as well?

Obviously the phone doesn't emit a radio frequency pulse to unlock the car, does the order travel through the net?

How long does it take to unlock the car?
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BЯдΖǐL-ЯЄРΘЯΤЄЯ
06/08/09

@leavethegun-takethecannoli:A good car thief can do it in 7.3 seconds.
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engineerd
06/08/09

In reply to Control Zipcar From Your iPhone
Unlocking? Honking the horn? Do they limit it to after you rent the car?

I hope so. Otherwise, I can see a bunch of bored desk jockies randomly honking the horn on a zip car just to see the reaction of passersby.
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EndlessMike
06/08/09

@engineerd: I can see myself paying for an hour and doing this anyway.
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IN THE FACE!
06/09/09

@EndlessMike: Me too, if they had any of these where I live/work...
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.357
06/08/09

In reply to Control Zipcar From Your iPhone
Skynet can control cars now?
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Schm, enjoying his first desert winter. .
06/08/09

In reply to Control Zipcar From Your iPhone
So, by "control," you really mean "unlock."

A lot less exciting than I thought.
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IN THE FACE!
06/09/09

@Baron Schm Von Shamwoüzen und taxis: Looks like you can make it honk too! That's something... I guess...
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