Plug one end of the Bendi 3.5mm audio cable from IPEVO into the Aux/Line In jack of your stereo and plug the other end into the earphone jack of your iPod Nano or any other tiny audio player. The stiff Bendi cable is bendable, so it doubles as a mount so you don’t have to deal with a rat’s nest of cables. For $14 you get 2 Bendi cables. One is 6.7 inches long and the other one is 5.1 inches long.

Filed in categories: Car Gear, News

Tagged:

IPEVO Bendi is your Car and iPod Nano’s Best Friend originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on May 22, 2012 at 2:15 pm.

I love it when someone takes an item that we all use everyday and reinvents it to make it more convenient. For example, when was the last time you thought to yourself that you love the design of the everyday ordinary keychain split ring? Probably never… More likely, you swear under your breath every time you break a nail or pinch your fingers when you need to remove or add a key to your keychain. The FREEKEY is a reinvention of the split ring and it’s awesome. Trust me, I don’t say the word awesome very often.

Note: Click the images in this review to see a larger view.

I’ve been using the FREEKEY for a few months now, but didn’t post a review because I was unable to find any stores that sell them here in the US (or anywhere else for that matter). I don’t like posting reviews of products that you can’t buy because that’s just mean… so I held off until today. Something told me to google FREEKEY and I happened to find out that this Swedish made product is now being carried by Fenix Outfitters. So here we go…

What is the FREEKEY? It’s a sandblasted finished stainless steel split ring key holder that has been redesigned to make it much easier to use. In the image above, you see the FREEKEY on the Left and a regular split ring that we all know and love on the Right. The regular split ring has been around for years and years and does its intended job well. The only problem is that to add and remove keys, you have to wedge something between the two pieces of the ring to lift one end. Usually the thing we use as a wedge is our fingernail, which often ends with pain and suffering as nails break or finger tips get pinched.

That’s where the redesigned FREEKEY shines. It’s still the familiar circular shape, but instead of the layers of metal being flat, there’s a curved layer that creates a spring effect.

Squeezing the FREEKEY in a specific spot on the ring causes one end to lift up.

The squeeze takes much less effort than using your nail to pry the two layers apart on a normal split ring.

Just squeeze…

…and slide a new key on or off the ring. Simple! No broken nails, pinched fingers or swear words needed.

Put all your keys on one FREEKEY…

Or use the included group rings to organize your keys. Keep all your house keys on one group ring and all your work keys on another.

I absolutely love the FREEKEY and plan to never use an old fashioned split ring for my keys ever again. The only problem with the FREEKEY right now is availability and price. One FREEKEY (with 3 smaller organizational group rings included) is about $9. I know that’s very pricey. But once you use a FREEKEY, I think you’ll be hooked. Here’s hoping that this product will take off in a big way and we’ll never have to deal with those old style rings again.

Filed in categories: Car Gear, Gear, Reviews

Tagged: Car, EDC, Keychain, Keyring

FREEKEY Press to Open Keyring Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on May 19, 2012 at 2:45 pm.

When you live in Southern Indiana like I do, seeing a celebrity is a rare event. Lucky for me, I work for Cummins Inc. and our Cummins Turbo Diesel engine just happens to power the Tornado Intercept Vehicle 2 (TIV 2), featured on the Discovery Channel television shows “Storm Chasers” and “Mythbusters”. This vehicle has been designed to withstand 150MPH winds and I got a chance to see it up close and personal this afternoon when film maker and reality TV personality Sean Casey brought it by for a meet and greet.

Note: Click the images in this review to see a larger view.

About Sean Casey (from Discovery Channel website):

For the past 12 years, Sean Casey has been roaming the country chasing the shot that will end his IMAX film about tornadoes. With the guidance of leading tornado scientist Dr. Josh Wurman, Sean’s mission has been to get a one-of-a-kind shot from inside a tornado. To accomplish his goal, Sean built the TIV, or Tornado Intercept Vehicle. This 16,000-pound armored tank is outfitted with wind-resistant flaps and anchor spikes to keep him safe while filming inside a twister. Last season, Sean split from long-time partner Josh, and with the help of his own team of meteorologists, finally got The Shot he was looking for. But he isn’t satisfied. Passionate about making the best film possible, he returned to Tornado Alley in 2010 with a new team, determined to get a better intercept. With medic Marcus Gutierez driving the TIV and meteorologist Brandon Ivey navigating, Sean will continue to pursue his goal, as well as document Vortex 2, the largest tornado research project in U.S. history.

Powered by a Cummins Turbo Diesel, the TIV 2 has logged over 100,000 miles across the US, chasing tornados and severe weather. The Spring chase season is here and Cummins has been helping owner Sean Casey prepare for it by getting the TIV 2 road ready. The season lasts 8-10 weeks, with the TIV 2 logging over 35,000 miles.

This year, Sean and his TIV 2 crew will not only be capturing film for a sequel to his IMAX film currently in theaters “Tornado Alley”, but will also be capturing scientific data for a national Science Foundation grant to better understand the dynamics of tornadoes to increase warning times.

The TIV 2 is built like a tank and weighs over 14,000 pounds. Sean and his team started building it back in 2007 and based it around a Dodge Ram 3500 which was converted to 6×4 wheel drive. It may look cumbersome, but the Cummin’s engine produces 625 horsepower with a top speed of 100mph.

When Sean and his team do catch the storm they are chasing, six hydraulic skirts around the TIV 2 drop down to deflect wind over the TIV to stabilize it and protect the underside from debris. Four hydraulically operated anchoring spikes plunge into the ground to keep it in place.

The vehicle has bullet-resistant windows and a layer of armor made of a combination of steel, Kevlar, polycarbonate and rubber which covers a steel frame.

There’s a turret on top to allow for Sean’s IMAX filming.

The TIV 2 even has a siren so it can act as a mobile alert system.

I had to smile when I saw the picture taped on the dash next to the mess of wires, dials, knobs and levers in the Mad Max-esque cockpit inside the TIV 2. I guess even macho storm chasing guys with a vehicle that can withstand 150 mph winds will welcome a guardian angel’s protection.

It was really cool getting to see the TIV 2. My only regret… I didn’t get it for a week to test drive it!

Filed in categories: Articles, Car Gear

Tagged: Car, gadget diary

Julie’s Gadget Diary 05-02-12 originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on May 2, 2012 at 5:43 pm.

Recently I had the opportunity to spend 4 hours test driving the new 2013 Ford Escape small SUV through Northern California’s wine country.  Ford has come a long way since the first Ford I bought, a 1956 Fairlane.  The Escape is quiet, solidly built, fuel efficient and loaded with tech and convenience features, none of which attributes could be used with the ’56. Then again, my 1956 Fairlane cost me $200 used and the Escape starts at $23K new.  Is it worth the price?  I was looking forward to the test drive to find out.Firstly, I am not a professional car reviewer, although I met several during the Ford program for the test drive and picked their brains for some pointers.  Also, in the interest of full disclosure, I have owned several Ford products so far, including a 1958 convertible, 1960 Fairlane, 1979 Turbo Mustang, 1982 Escort, a 2000 Taurus, the 1956 Fairlane already mentioned, and one of my current vehicles is a 2010 Fusion Hybrid.

After about 12 sleep-deprived hours, I arrived at the old Ford Plant in Richmond California to take my turn at driving one of the test vehicles Ford had provided.  Because I arrived late, I missed the presentations on the engines available, so I wasn’t sure which vehicle I wanted to drive.  I had heard about the EcoBoost option, so I picked a vehicle with the 2.0 liter engine.  Happily, this was the Titanium model where the only missing option was a built-in blender.

The 2013 Escape is easy on the eyes.  Somewhere in the grill there are louvers that open and close. Ford calls it Active Grille Shutter System, helping aerodynamics and fuel economy.  I couldn’t really check it out at speed, so I’ll have to believe it works.

Here’s a shot from the rear.  A feature on these cars, as I have on my Fusion, is the capless gas filler.  You just have to open the gas door and stick the nozzle in.  No losing a gas cap or forgetting to put it on.

The front seating area and drivers position have leather seats and a soft material for the dashboard and other surfaces.  The steering column is adjustable in and out plus up and down.  I found the driving position comfortable and easily adjustable.  After the 4 hour test drive, my backside was no worse for wear.

In the center of the dash is a touch screen that controls the cellphone, entertainment, climate and navigation systems.  I was able to play with most features of the touch system with the exception of the voice control interface.  However, I do have the Ford Sync on my Fusion, and over the past 2 years I’ve had mixed results.  When we first purchased the Fusion new, it would recognize my and my wife’s voice commands 9 out of 10 times.  Today it’s getting dumber, and I’m lucky if it recognizes either of us 4 out of 10 times.  Hopefully my case is an isolated one, because when it works, it’s great.  I’ll be bringing it in to the dealer soon to have it looked at.

The display also acts as a backup camera.

And when you’re lost, the navigation system comes in handy.  On my 4  hour test drive, the NAV was on for the whole trip.  The spoken directions were spot on and the only time it was wrong was when we hit San Francisco during a time when certain roads did not allow left hand turns, which I’m sure would have confounded any navigation device.

The back seats are serviceable, but for comfort on long trips, 2 adult passengers would be my suggestion.

There’s plenty of flat cargo space, even with the back seats up.

It’s a snap to drop the seats down,

increasing the amount of treasure you can carry.  The piece across the top comes out.  I was too lazy to remove it.

Here I’m all ready to go. There is no ignition key in this trim level.  You carry a fob that is recognized by the vehicle.  As you walk up to the door, it unlocks.  Once in the vehicle, you put your foot on the brake and hit the start/stop button and the engine comes to life.  I adjusted the mirrors, familiarized myself with the controls, and put on my seat belt.  We were off.  The learning curve for operation of the Escape was very short.

The course that was laid out by Ford was 140 miles of mixed roads.  Some was city, some was Freeway and some was scenic twisty hill road.  I liked the latter the most, but I don’t think my riding companion from Ford felt the same as evidenced by the white knuckles.  However, the curving roads demonstrated to me the  road-holding capability of the Escape.  I felt very comfortable attacking the turns and feedback from the steering was positive.

We also drove over potholed roads and the Escape did an excellent job of soaking them up.  Which brings me to road and wind noise.  There wasn’t any to speak of.  I was amazed being used to the noise of my 2005 PT Cruiser where I have to turn the radio volume to max to overcome the wind noise at highway speeds.

Power in the Escape was plentiful for our road trip.  Although it’s only a 2.0 Liter 4 cylinder engine with the EcoBoost technology, it puts out 240 hp @ 5,550 rpm.  This is better than the 168 hp for the non-EcoBoost 2.5l four and 178 hp for the EcoBoost 1.6l four.  Unfortunately I didn’t get a chance to drive the 2.5 or 1.6 liter variations, so I can’t personally compare.

Ford’s EcoBoost uses several techniques to get more horsepower and better fuel economy from a 2.0 liter engine, the main component being turbocharging.  I’m very familiar with turbocharging, having had it in my 1979 Mustang.  At that time, a turbo was plagued with something called turbo lag;  you would punch the accelerator and power wouldn’t kick in until the turbo spun up to a certain speed.  The EcoBoost in the Escape exhibited none of the turbo lag and whining noise of turbos from the past.  I punched the accelerator and the power was delivered instantly and smoothly.  Also, it delivers the power at an EPA-certified  30 mpg highway.

In my opinion the 2013 Ford Escape is a solid, fashionable, and practical vehicle.  It can be the family sedan and the weekend utility vehicle.  Personally, I would opt for one of the EcoBoost engines to realize both moderate power and reasonable fuel economy.  As for the gadgets (options), I’d be inclined to load it up and, as a matter of fact, I’ll be in the market for a new vehicle in a couple of years.  If the Escape at that time is as good as this, I’ll buy it.  The 2013 Escape comes in several models with the S: starting at  $23,295, the SE: starting at $25,895, the SEL: starting at  $28,695 and the Titanium starting at $31,195.

Filed in categories: Car Gear, Reviews

Tagged: Car

2013 Ford Escape Test Drive originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 29, 2012 at 12:00 pm.

For the past 2 weeks I’ve been lucky enough to test drive a new car. The first car was a 2012 Mazda Mazda 3 and this past week it was a KIA Rio EX 5-Door. I loved the KIA Optima I test drove last year, so I was excited to try the smaller, more economical Rio.

Note: Click the images in this review to see a larger view.

I want to start this “review” out like I’ve done the other 2 test drive articles, by letting you know that this isn’t going to be a super detailed vehicle review like you’d read in a car magazine or see on a car show. I don’t know much about engines and don’t care. I just like to drive cars and know what I like and don’t like about them. If you want more info about gas mileage, horsepower, torque and all that, you’re going to be disappointed in this article. But if you want to know what it feels like to sit in and drive the 2012 KIA Rio, you’ve come to the right place.

Style, Fit and Finish

The Rio is a cute compact car with a style that is familiar to me because it has the same hatchback shape as my 2006 Mazda Mazda 3 5-door. They brought me the Signal Red version of the Rio and the color is an eye turner.

Close up, the paint has tiny sparkles, with flat Black accents in the grill and around the windows.

For such a small car, it has a nice sized trunk. I had meant to test loading some of my luggage, but completely forgot about it. Sorry. That said, it I had no problem loading it up with groceries one night.

The Black interior which seems to be the norm for cars these days, feels roomy and comfortable. Although this Rio model lacks some luxury features like heated leather seats, I have to say that the cloth seats are probably the most comfortable that I’ve sat in. The driver’s seat felt like it was made just for me and really contributed to how nice it felt to drive this car.

The back seat has a nice roomy bench seat.

This is the first car I’ve driven that has a button that will automatically fold in the side view mirrors. I don’t park in many parking garages or other tight spaces, but that feature would come in handy if you do.

I liked the little extra bit of daylight offered in the front corner of the driver and passenger windows. I think it helps make the interior feel larger than it really is.

The optional leather wrapped steering wheel and gear shift knob add some class and comfort.

The gauges for fuel and speed are easy to see day or night.

Tech Bells and Whistles

I found the touch controls for the stereo and cruise control to be laid out well on the steering wheel. But I didn’t like the location for the call start and end buttons because I couldn’t easily activate them with my thumb while my hands were at the standard 10 and 2 positions.

The temperature controls were easy to use and see in sunlight and darkness.

The week I had this car, the temps were pretty cool, so I didn’t get a chance to really test the air conditioner.

The SiriusXM stereo with CD/MP3 and 4 speakers is a standard feature on the Rio EX. New owners are eligible for a 3 month free subscription.

FYI, I have no idea what that square shaped slot is to the right of the stereo display. It’s not quite wide enough for an iPhone. I’m not sure what it is meant to be used for.

The standard radio didn’t have a GPS navigation system, but it did offer a rear view back up camera which automatically switches views when you back up and goes back to the screen you were on when you put the car back into drive.

Also included is a Bluetooth hands free speakerphone that is controlled through the steering wheel and an Aux In/USB jack with 2 12V sockets. There’s even an iphone sized tray in the center console area.

I made calls and streamed music using Bluetooth and my iPhone 4S and was very happy with the audio quality/clarity.

Behind the Wheel

All these switch blade style key fobs I’ve been seeing and using lately are making me jealous I want one for my 2006 Mazda <pout>.

Driving the KIA Rio was much more fun that I thought it was going to be. After being slightly underwhelmed with the 2012 Mazda Mazda 3′s performance, I didn’t think the Rio was going to be exciting. I was really surprised to find its 1.6L 4-cylinder engine to be nimble and peppy. I had a lot of fun driving it around town, on the highway and on the curvy rural roads I live on. I felt comfortable driving it in the day time and night time. It had accurate steering, good brakes and just enough get up and go to make trips enjoyable.

I didn’t have the Rio long enough to comment on gas mileage, but it’s rated for 30 city / 40 highway.

I think KIA really knows what they are doing when it comes to designing cars. My Dad loves his 2012 Sorento, Jeanne still loves her 2007 Sorento, I loved the 2011 Optima I tested last fall and I wouldn’t turn down the 2012 Rio EX 5-Door if someone wanted to give me one. When I decide to trade my 2006 Mazda for something new, I will definitely consider a KIA.

Filed in categories: Car Gear

Tagged: Car

2012 KIA Rio EX 5-door Test Drive originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 22, 2012 at 3:30 pm.

The Devium Dash is an interesting concept in car stereos. It’s a two component system that consists of a faceplate and a body. The body (shown above in Black) is installed in your dash in the spot where your current car stereo resides. It interfaces with your vehicle’s speakers. The faceplate connects to the body with magnets. It’s designed to hold (and charge) an iPhone 4/4S. Once installed, you can use your favorite music apps, calls, GPS, etc through your car’s speakers and you won’t be required to learn a brand new interface.

It’s a cool idea, but I am skeptical about the longevity of the product. Devium claims “No matter how frequently you update phones, Dash will be there ready to support you. Our innovative interchangeable faceplate design allows you to keep your phone at the center of your car.” That remains to be seen. I don’t believe that they will create a faceplate for every phone that comes on the market. Their iPhone 4/4S version is available for pre-order at $289. I have been looking for a replacement for my Mazda’s stereo, but I don’t think this one will be it.

[Via Gear Journal]

Filed in categories: Car Gear, iPhone, iPad, iPod related, News

Tagged: Car, iPhone

Devium Dash – Turns Your iPhone Into an In Dash Stereo originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 21, 2012 at 11:00 am.

Is this the ultimate high tech baby capsule?  The Carkoon is a child restraint seat made of Kevlar to protect from side impact.  In the case of an accident, a Kevlar airbag deploys to protect the child from any flying debris.  It also protects from smoke should there be a fire, and it has enough air for 20 minutes. An emergency beacon transmitter  is also activated to advise authorities of the incident.

Personally having been through 3 kids, I’m not all that convinced about this product.  I mean what happens if the accident isn’t that bad and the shield and beacon deploys, and what happens if poor old bubs in inside for longer than 20 minutes?

The prototype is still undergoing testing in Britain’s Transport Research Laboratory before it’s ready to ship, though they’re claiming it may ship as early  2013 for £499 (approx $800US).

Filed in categories: Car Gear, Kid Gadgets, News

Tagged: car seat, Safety

Keep Baby Safe with Carkoon originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 20, 2012 at 8:00 am.

Last week the same people that allowed me to test drive a 2011 KIA Optima SX Turbo last Fall, contacted me with an offer to do another 1 week test drive. I had a lot of fun with the KIA, so I was happy to accept their offer to take  a look at a 2012 Mazda Mazda3 i Grand Touring 4-Door. I was anxious to see how this particular model has evolved in the last 6 years as I own and drive a 2006 Mazda3 5-Door which is essentially the same thing minus the hatchback. Buckle up and let’s go for a ride.

Note: Click the images in this review to see a larger view.

I’ve been suffering from a raging case of the “I want a new car, but don’t really need one” virus for several months now. Just when I think the symptoms have subsided, they come back again worse than before. So a 1 week test drive of a new car could not have come at a better time for me.

Like I mentioned above, my current vehicle is a 2006 Mazda Mazda3 5-Door. It’s in great condition and only has 36,000 miles on it. I like everything about it except for the radio and the anemic air conditioning unit. Getting a chance to see what improvements Mazda may have made to this model was an exciting prospect.

They dropped the Mazda3 i Grand Touring 4-Door at my house last Thursday and I’ve been driving it to and from work and around town during this time. Before I start talking about my impressions of this car, I have to make it clear that this is not going to be a super detailed car review like you would read on a car review website or magazine. I’m not going to spout a bunch of specs and jargon about engine performance and car parts. I’m just going to tell you what I think and feel about this car after having driven it for the past week. So with that little disclaimer out of the way, let’s get started.

Style, Fit and Finish

The shape and style of the Mazda3 is sporty and youthful. So, it’s probably not a car style that your 80yr old grandma would choose. The one I was sent is an eye turning Sky Blue Mica with flat Black accents.

In my opinion this car hits a sweet spot as far as size goes. It’s not too small and definitely not too big. It’s just right.

Is it just me or does this car have a huge smile?

I like that the bottom skirting isn’t as low to the ground as my own Mazda, which I constantly scrape on parking curbs. Fortunately, I’ve not had that problem with this car.

The color of this car is very pretty, but it shows dust badly. I live on a gravel road and this is what the car looked like after 2 days.

The interior is Black with Black leather bucket seats. Again, the color does show dust easily and seems to hold in heat on hot days. Speaking of heat, the seats are heated, which is a wonderful luxury that I have had the pleasure of using this week due to mornings that have been in the 30′s (heated seats are not standard. They are an available option).

The seats are comfortable to sit in and the driver’s seat was easily adjusted with the 8 way power settings (this is not a standard feature, but is an available option).

Mazda has added some nice little touches that I don’t have with my older model. One thing I noticed the first morning I started it up, is that the floor area where your feet are is illuminated in Blue. It’s hard to tell if it comes on due to a light sensor or if it is on all the time. It’s not a feature anyone desperately needs, but it’s cool.

The backseat… There is a cup holder built into each door, both front and back. There are also 2 cup holders between the front seats. That makes a total of 6 holders.

Tech Bells and Whistles

This particular model has all the bells and whistles including Bluetooth, GPS navigation, CD and SiriusXM satellite radio. There are controls on the left side of the comfortable leather wrapped steering wheel  that let you control Bluetooth phone answering / hangup, volume and initiate voice commands. On the right side are buttons that control the GPS and also let you toggle through the color LCD modes.

There are two LCDs situated side by side on the dash above the center air vents. These displays are located in the perfect spot on the dash. You don’t have to look down, you can just flick your eyes to the right to see the info. The one on the right displays the radio info along with various status icons. The color screen on the left can be toggled between several views. Here you see the average fuel MPG info and average speed info. There’s also a screen that shows a live view of the current MPG that constantly changes as you’re driving. I’m not really sure how useful that particular screen is.

Here’s the GPS view. I apologize for the image quality. The screen’s background is white and I wasn’t able to get a very good snap of it. The GPS is pretty basic. I’m not sure if I had something turned off or what, but I didn’t notice any voice turn by turn directions. The directions were just on the screen.

You can also view a more detailed SiriusXM radio display that lists the genre, channel name, song title and artist name. The outside temp and time are also shown in all modes.

I’m getting spoiled by these cars with built in satellite radio and am going to have to pull the trigger on a new head unit for my car soon. The standard Bose speaker system in this Mazda3 was very nice. Satellite radio sounded good and when I plugged my iPhone into the Aux In jack, it sounded exceptionally good. The Aux In jack is located in the center arm rest storage area. Next to it is a powered 12v port, which makes it very convenient for stowing an audio player to keep it out of sight.

Behind the Wheel

Switch blade style keys seem to be in vogue lately. This car has one and so does the latest car I’m test driving (I’ll be writing about the KIA Rio soon…). I love this feature and wish I could get one for my own 2006 Mazda. Maybe I can buy replacement fobs with a built in switch blade key and I just don’t know about it…

When I first get behind the wheel of a new car, there is a short adjustment time where things just don’t quite seem familiar. You know what I’m talking about… your buns don’t feel like they fit perfectly in the drivers seat, the steering wheel feels wrong in your hands, the controls aren’t quite where your fingers are programmed to find them. That wasn’t the case with this Mazda. Everything felt very normal. Of course this is mainly due to the fact that I’ve been driving an older model of the car for the past 6 years.

The 2012 Mazda3 i Grand Touring model has a 155-hp SKYACTIV-G 2.0L 4-cylinder engine with a SKYACTIV-Drive 6-speed Sport automatic transmission that is rated for 28/40 mpg. My 2006 Mazda3 has a 160-hp 2.3L 4-cylinder 5-speed Sport automatic transmission engine. So it’s not completely fair to compare the two as far as driving experience. I’ve been really happy with how smooth and zippy my Mazda is. The newer model is also a smooth ride. The car feels somewhat heavier though. Mazda is long known for being zoom zoom peppy. I’d have to say that in my week of driving the 2012 model, that it felt more like 1.5 zooms instead of 2 zooms. I really only noticed the acceleration lag when pulling out onto the highway or when driving up a hill.

Driving around town felt normal as did turning, braking, driving in reverse, etc. I only had the car for one week, but during that time, the miles per gallon display showed it getting better gas mileage that my 2006 version. I also found the air conditioner to perform better than mine.

While this model isn’t quite as zippy as my older version, the 2012 Mazda Mazda3 i Grand Touring is a nice looking small sized car that gets better gas mileage and has a better set of standard features that enhance the driving experience. Prices for this model start at $15,200 and the price of the vehicle that I was given to test drive was $24,970.

Filed in categories: Car Gear, Reviews

Tagged: Car

2012 Mazda Mazda3 i Grand Touring 4-Door Test Drive originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 15, 2012 at 3:32 pm.

The SoundFly VIEW Bluetooth FM Transmitter from Satechi is a car gadget for those of us that are not fortunate enough to own a Bluetooth enabled vehicle (like my 2006 Mazda 3). Here at The Gadgeteer, we’ve reviewed Bluetooth speakerphones before and we’ve reviewed FM transmitters. But I think this might be the first Bluetooth FM transmitter that we’ve reviewed. Let’s take a look.

Note: Click the images in this review to see a larger view.

Hardware Specifications

Bluetooth A2DP & AVRCP
3.5mm auxiliary input & output
USB charging port
SD card reader

Package Contents

Satechi SoundFly VIEW Bluetooth FM Transmitter
IR remote
3.5mm patch cord
User Manual

The SoundFly has a sturdy construction. The main controls are on one end, while the other end has a standard 12V cigarette lighter connector. Between the ends is a 6 inch gooseneck that can be bent, twisted, turned and formed however you like.

The device has a 2 inch LCD display, 4 buttons and a jog button/knob. The buttons all have multiple functions that control phone features and audio features. The jog knob brings up menus and also allows for scrolling through them.

Below the jog knob is the microphone. However, there are no speakers built into the SoundFly itself. Audio has to be routed through the FM transmitter or the 3.5mm Audio Out jack which not pictured, but located on the left side of the device with the Audio In jack. More about this in a minute.

On the bottom of the SoundFly you’ll find a USB port that can be used to charge your phone or audio player. I tested this with my iPhone 4S and had no issues with it charging my phone. The USB port can not be used to play songs from a USB flash drive. It’s for charging only.

A full sized SD card slot is located on the right side of the device. If you load up the card with MP3 or WMA files, it will play them through the FM transmitter or Audio Out jack to your car’s stereo. The jog knob and buttons allow you to navigate through the songs. It recognizes up to 32gb (approx. 1999 files) and supports 99 folder directories with up to 5-level folder depths.

Also included with the SoundFly is a remote control. I guess it’s there for your passengers to be able to control music playback while you’re driving. As the driver, I wouldn’t use this remote and promptly stowed it in the glove box. It worked fine, but just seems odd to use a remote control in the car…

To start using the SoundFly as a Bluetooth speakerphone, you have to pair it with your phone, which is a simple task. You only need to pair it once and from then on, when you power up the SoundFly, it will connect to your phone if it is in range. An Asian female voice will announce “Bluetooth Connected” after a few seconds. You’ll only hear this after you’ve programmed in the FM transmitter frequency and/or connected the SoundFly to your car’s stereo via the Audio Out jack.

Like all FM transmitters, you have to find an unused FM frequency on your car’s radio and then set the SoundFly to that same frequency. Depending on where you’re located, it might be easy or difficult to find a frequency that isn’t being used. The SoundFly seems to work better than some of the past FM transmitters that I’ve tested. I haven’t noticed any bleed through sounds while using it.

After your phone is paired and you have an audio connection with your car’s stereo, actually using the SoundFly is pretty straight forward.

You can initiate a call using your phone or you can sync your phone’s contacts with the SoundFly and initiate the call from the SoundFly’s phone book.

I had no problems syncing my iPhone’s contacts with the SoundFly. Navigating to the desired phone number is just a matter of using the jog knob to first pick the letter and then scroll through the contacts till you find the right one.

My experience using the SoundFly’s speakerphone feature was not as good as using its MP3 player feature… As the call originator, I had to sometimes turn up the volume on my car’s radio in order to hear the other side of the conversation. That wasn’t too big of a problem, but after quite a few test calls over the course of a week, I was told that call quality on the other side of the conversations was the worst of any Bluetooth headset / speakerphone I’d ever tested. The first time I called Jeanne with it, she said I sounded horrible, like I was several feet away from the microphone and down a well. In fact, my mouth was approximately 24 inches away. Every subsequent time I’d call her with it, she’d say “Are you STILL using that thing? It sucks!” I thought moving my mouth closer to the microphone would improve things, but all my tests resulted in the same negative comments.

This device doesn’t work well as=s a Bluetooth speaker phone, but as an audio player, the Satechi SoundFly VIEW does a much better job. If you load up an SD card full of MP3s or WAV files and insert it into the slot, it will automatically start playing songs when it powers up. If you press the Call End button (Red handset button) before you turn off your car, it will set a bookmark so it will continue playing where it left off.

The display shows the artist and name of the currently playing song.

The buttons allow you to to move backwards and forwards through songs. You might notice from the images that the buttons are not backlit. This makes it hard to see/find them when you’re driving at night.

In addition to playing MP3s from an SD card, you can also play music on your phone and have it stream via Bluetooth to the SoundFly, which then will play the music using the FM transmitter or Audio Out jack. Playing this way will also display the song’s artist and title.

I even tested the SoundFly by playing Pandora and Slacker Radio apps on my iPhone. Both worked great and also display the artist name and song title.

It’s unfortunate that the Satechi SoundFly VIEW’s Bluetooth speakerphone feature is not up to par with other speakerphones I’ve reviewed. That said, this device is an above average FM transmitter that offers a SD card slot and a built in USB charging port. I can’t completely recommend it, but don’t think it’s a total waste of money either.

Let’s hear from you. What is your favorite speakerphone brand / model?

Filed in categories: Bluetooth Gear, Car Gear, Reviews

Tagged: Bluetooth Gear, Car, FM Transmitter

Satechi SoundFly VIEW Bluetooth FM Transmitter Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 4, 2012 at 3:00 pm.

It has been a relatively long time since I have reviewed a Bluetooth hands-free device. Washington State has been really cracking down on drivers talking on their cellphones while going down the road. It is now a primary offense, and you can be pulled over and ticketed for no other reason. As the story goes, I purchased my wife a Journey Bluetooth Car Speaker from Jabra for Christmas. Her old device was dying a quick death and she definitely needed a new one. After seeing the device in operations from both sides of the conversation, I jumped on chance to use/try one myself when Julie offered.

The Journey is one of many Bluetooth enabled in-car speakerphones Jabra currently has on the market. In my opinion, from the pictures on their website, the Journey is the sleekest one of the lot.

Package Contents:

• Journey Bluetooth Speaker
• USB Car Charger
• USB Cable
• Quick Start Guide
• Warranty card

Device Setup:

Jabra has made setting up the Journey quick and easy with its step-by-step process. It is a Siri-like experience, where the device talks you through the process….start to finish. Simply turn the device on, and it begins the process to pair with most Bluetooth-enabled smartphones.  Once your phone sees the Jabra Journey, select it and you are good to go.

The Journey has the ability to announce incoming calls that match contacts in your device’s address book.  Within your smartphone’s Bluetooth settings, you can have your smartphone sync your contact info with the Journey. When in vibrate mode, the phone continued to vibrate, but the Journey announced the incoming call by name.  When the ringer is set to on, the ringtone rings normally along with the notification from the Journey.

x

x

Specifications:

• Bluetooth compliance Bluetooth® 3.0
• Supported Bluetooth profiles Bluetooth® Headset and hands-free, A2DP, PBAP profile
• Compatibility Jabra JOURNEY is compatible with other Bluetooth devices with Bluetooth 3.0 (or higher) specifications
• Security 56 bit Encryption
• Operating range Up to 33 feet (10 meters)
• Paired devices Up to 8, one at a time
• Talk time Up to 20 hours
• Standby time Up to 45 days
• Charging time Approximately 2 hours 30 min
• Weight 3.24 oz (92 grams)
• Dimensions, folded (off) L4.09 X W2.20 X D0.70 in (L119.2mm X W58.7mm X D15.8mm)
• Microphones HD Voice Microphone – Directivity Omni-Directional microphone
• Sensitivity, Impedance –40 dB +/- 3 dB (1kHz, 0db=1V/Pa), Max 2.2 kΩ
• Speaker Size Ø 36±0.5mm x 5.8mm
• S.P.L 90 db +/-3 dB (0.1 W / 0.1 M)
• Impedance 4Ω +/- 15%
• Digital Signal Processing Up to 20 dB noise reduction on transmit signal, Acoustic echo cancellation
• Battery Internal rechargeable 1100mA Li-Polymer battery
• Operating temperature Charging 32 F to 113 F (0° C to 45° C); Discharging 14 F to 140 F (-10° C to 60° C )
• Storage temperature Less than 1 month: -4 F to 113 F (-20° C to 45°); Less than 6 months: -4 F to 95 F (-20° C to 35° C)
• CLA power adapter 12-28 V input; 5 V 750mA output
• Charging plug dimensions Micro-USB
• Pairing passkey or PIN 0000
• Warranty 1 year world wide

Features:

• Answer calls, End calls, Reject calls
• HD Voice Mic.
• Voice dialing*
• “Answer/Ignore” voice control**
• Volume control
• Three way calling
• Music streaming (A2DP)
• Last number redial
• Mute
• Auto paring
• Call transfer
• Auto off
• Caller name announcement (PBAP)
• Status light for battery, call, pairing and connection
• Auto On G-sensor, Auto off, Advanced Multiuse
• End user upgradeable SW

The Journey’s design is sleek, slim, and highly professional, as well. It’s matte black finish and chrome highlights will look good in any car. The Journey is approximately the size of a smartphone and fits very well on the visor. The Journey takes about 2-1/2 hours to fully charge the battery.  Once fully charged, the battery is good for approximately 20 hours of talk time and up to 45 days of stand by time. For me that is a huge amount time between charges….probably about once a month or so.

To make the Journey even more power-efficient, Jabra engineered it’s Standby mode very smartly. It has motion detection. If motion is not detected for 10 minutes the Journey shuts off saving on the battery. Once movement is detected, it turns back on and says “Connected.” Very slick.  Saving you from having to turn the device on and off. The Journey is very good at reconnecting as I get into my car.

The Journey’s buttons are very accessible and well placed.  The speaker is loud and clear. The volume control buttons are located on either side of the device and are easy to use without the need to look away from the roadway. There is a LED indicator light embedded/centered on the large answer/end button on the front of the Journey.  This indicator light shows: pairing mode, battery, mute and call status.

The Journey’s right side has it’s power switch and microUSB power plug port.

The left side has nothing noteworthy to mention. The visor clip is strong and sturdy enough to keep the Journey in place.

Voice Control:

Tapping the voice button enables you to give commands to the smartphone via the speakerphone. I would say it worked fair, at best. An incoming call can be answered by speaking “Answer” or “Ignore.” The call can also be answered or rejected by tapping the answer/end button. Redialing the last number is as easy as a double tap of the answer/end button. There are other control features you can find in the manual.

Call Quality:

The call quality is good, more than adequate for understanding those you are talking with and vice versa. Overall, everyone said they could hear me well.

As I said previously, the Jabra Journey looks very sleek and professional – nearly stock. The Journey’s MSRP is $79.99 but can be found on the Net for about $60, very reasonable considering it’s looks, form, feature set, and overall call quality. I really like the device for its ease of use and allowing me to drive down the road legally.

Filed in categories: Bluetooth Gear, Car Gear, Reviews

Tagged: Bluetooth Gear, car gear

Jabra Journey Bluetooth Car Speaker Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 31, 2012 at 1:00 pm.

My daughter has her learner’s permit now, and I’m really not relishing the idea of her being on the road by herself in the near future.  The Tiwi Driver Mentoring Solution system could be just the thing she, or any beginning driver, needs to remind her of safe driving practices when an experienced driver isn’t with her.  The Tiwi connects to the on-board diagnostics port of your car to monitor speed, braking, seat-belt usage (for certain cars), and the like.  It doesn’t just record driving information for later review, though.  It gives real-time, verbal instructions to the driver to remind them of the speed limit, to put on their seat belt, to stop driving aggressively – without you having to be there to do it yourself.  You’ll need a service plan so the data can be transmitted to the Tiwi web portal.  The Tiwi monitor is $599.99 to purchase, but you can get a subsidized price of $299.99 when you sign up for 1, 2, or 3 year service plans.  Monthly service plans vary from $24.99 a month to $54.99 a month.  Options let you receive an immediate call to notify you of driving infractions, and you can even add a road-side assistance option.

Filed in categories: Car Gear, News

Tagged: car accessory, Safety

Help Your Child Become a Better Driver with the Tiwi Driver Mentoring Solution originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 25, 2012 at 9:00 am.

The smarter, more capable, and tech-gorgeous our devices get, the more power-hungry they become. Even though battery technology is becoming more and more efficient, most of us regularly find ourselves looking for places to plug in our smartphone or tablet while on the fly. The Highway from Just|Mobile is a stylish option for charging your USB device when a 12V socket is available.

Just|Mobile puts it in writing, you see their motto for the Highway as soon as you open it’s box….’Drive with Style…‘

• 2A output
• Fused for surge protection
• Green micro-LED
• Apple certified – Works with iPod, iPhone & iPad

• 2.5 x 2.5 x 5.9cm
• 0.98 x 0.98 x 2.32in

As you can see, the Highway is a petite cigarette lighter/power port, USB charger with excellent looks.

The USB port delivers a 2.1A output to quickly charge your devices (to include the iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch).  Just|Mobile engineered the Highway with a built-in fuse to protect them from power surges. The Highway’s diamond-tread aluminum head is very nice looking and well made. Just|Mobile engineered a ‘subtle’ green micro-LED indicator, power light on the front face of the aluminum head.

The Highway is also available in a stealthy all black.

Just|Mobile has recently released the ‘Highway Pro‘, a dual USB charger of equal build quality and looks of the Highway . Like the Highway, the Highway Pro has a 2.1A USB port, but also includes a 1.0A one as well.

The CallPod USB charger pictured above is what I have been using to charge my iPhone while on the road…..and let’s face it, its relatively bulky and pretty ugly (especially compared to the Highway).

Let’s also face the fact, the Highway looks very nice in my fun-car It’s small form-factor and diamond-tread aluminum look awesome in my SLK.

At just under $35, the Highway is definitely a luxury/splurge item. There are MANY other 12V USB charging options out there on the market for a fraction of the cost. But NONE of them are as good looking as The Highway.

Filed in categories: Car Gear, Reviews, Travel Gear

Tagged: Car accessories, USB charger

Just|Mobile Highway Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 17, 2012 at 11:00 am.

Filed in categories: Audio, Video, TV Gear, Car Gear, News

Tagged: MP3

Kia Rio and Spotify Want to Know What’s Your Best Songs to Play With Your Windows Down? originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 15, 2012 at 1:00 pm.

So you read our previous review of the LandAirSea SilverCloud GPS real-time tracking unit (see related posts at the bottom of this review), and you want something SMALLER and easier without the hassle of recharging batteries?  Say hello to the Live Trac EZ from LiveViewGPS.

Like the SilverCloud GPS, the Live Trac EZ consists of a GPS receiver and a built-in cellular radio, and it provides real-time tracking from their website or smartphone in 5 to 10 second intervals.  No pinging required, and you don’t have to connect the device to a computer to fetch tracking data.

The EZ is small, measuring in at only 1.8″W x 2.18″L x 1.08″H.  It operates on GSM frequencies: 850/1900 (United States), 900/1800 (elsewhere).  (Click here for coverage outside the United States.)

The big difference?  You plug the Live Trac EZ into your OBD port in your car.  The On Board Diagnostic Port, better known as the OBD-II port, is found on most passenger cars and trucks built after 1996.  The port was designed to help technicians diagnose and troubleshoot vehicle problems.  The OBD-II port is typically located somewhere on the driver’s side of the vehicle under the dash.

The OBD port under the dash of my car.

Installation: DONE

Installed, viewed further back. A ghostly disembodied finger points to the Live Trac EZ

The Live Trac EZ is completely powered by your vehicle.  When the EZ detects that the ignition is off, it goes into a sleep state, where it updates the location once every 30 minutes to save power.

To locate your Live Trac EZ-equipped vehicle, simply log into the LiveViewGPS website.  From here, the position of your vehicle will be updated every 5 to 10 seconds, depending on your subscription plan.

Clicking on the vehicle icon (which you can change to a set of pre-defined ones) reveals snapshot information, such as coordinates, speed, direction, and the number of GPS satellites received at that moment.

It appears that LiveViewGPS uses Microsoft’s Bing maps.

Controls are found on the left. You can hide this window.

"Bird's Eye" image

LiveViewGPS also has iPhone and Android apps for tracking as well.  The apps are free, but it will cost you $4.95/month per device to actually use them. (If you own 5 or more devices, the cost drops to $1.95/month per device)

iPhone 4S screenshot

Screenshot with hybrid map overlay

Additional info screen on the iPhone. Battery power, door, and remote starter does not apply on the EZ, but does for other LiveViewGPS products.

I don’t currently own an Android device so I can’t test the Android version.

Minor installation woes

Wait, didn’t I say this was easy?  Yes, but I faced an unforeseen annoyance.  My OBD port is located such that the EZ sticks out where my smallish feet (size 8-1/2 4E shoes) aaaalmost sccrape the bottom of the GPS unit.

OOPS

The solution?  I just happened to have an OBD cable extension with a right angle adapter.  No I’m not kidding, I actually have stuff like this lying around.  I bought mine here.

Totally sold separately! Costs about $10.

Cable with the EZ plugged in

Right angle OBD extension installed. It's a little shorter.

The right angle OBD extension solution works but now you have to tuck this 2 ft long cable with the Live Trac EZ somewhere out of sight, and away from your feet.

In the end, the Live Trac EZ is everything I’d want in a small real-time GPS tracking device.  No battery hassles and it swaps between vehicles in a snap.  Leave it in the car and track it remotely in real time.  Check your OBD port location first to make sure you don’t end up whacking your knee or kicking the EZ with your foot.

Below are some YouTube videos of the Live Trac EZ in playback.

Filed in categories: Car Gear, GPS, Reviews

Tagged: car tracking, GPS, OBD

LiveViewGPS Live Trac EZ Real-Time GPS Vehicle Tracking Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 8, 2012 at 11:00 am.

I’ve been playing with several different kinds of GPS tracking devices for a while, including the nu.m8 GPS Child Locator Watch. The nu.m8 GPS tracking system used a GPS receiver to determine location, and would “report” it’s location when “pinged” via SMS or computer to give the latest position.  So for the most part, it wouldn’t give a “James Bond/secret agent” style blinking dot on a map, moving in real-time like you’d see in the movies.  However, when I was told the SilverCloud Real-Time GPS Tracking System from LandAirSea gave updates every 3 seconds, I got excited.

Types of GPS tracking

Today, there are three main kinds of GPS tracking gizmos available to consumers.  I’ll try to sum them up:

• “Passive/track now, report later”:  This kind of device quietly records GPS position and must be plugged into something like a computer to retrieve data at a later time.
• “Ping to get position”:  A GPS receiver determines position, and a remote user sends a request for position via the cellular network (SMS, for example).  You get a single “breadcrumb” showing the tracked device at the last recorded moment.
• “Real-Time”:  Same as above, but an on-board cellular device is in constant communication to the service provider to relay real-time position to the user.

As you can imagine, real-time GPS tracking is more complicated and consumes more resources, such as power and data.  So how does the LandAirSea SilverCloud Real-Time GPS achieve this?

Out of the box, I got the GPS unit, a USB charger and cable, 12V vehicle charger and cable, and a magnetic attachment base.

Package contents

In my nu.m8 GPS review, I was asked in the comments if the thing worked overseas.  LandAirSea has a list of countries and rate plans for international use.

Other optional accessories are also available, such as extended-run batteries, 12V hardwire kits, waterproof boxes, and bundles.

The magnet mount attaches to the GPS unit with screws. You don't need to use the mount for the unit to work.

The door reveals the SIM card (included), removable battery, and a power switch. The unit automatically goes to sleep after it senses it hasn't moved for a while.

There are four LED indicators for power, GPS status, cell network status, etc. Here they are all lit up at once in a long exposure.

Mini USB port on the side charges the internal battery. Unit will operate while being charged. If not, the battery is estimated to run 5-6 days at two hours per day.

Installation

Charge it up, turn it on, and let it go.  That’s it.

It’s small enough to put on a person (pocket, purse, backpack) but I decided to test it on a vehicle. But wait, don’t GPS devices need a clear line-of-sight to the sky?

So on my car, I tried installing this in some pretty out of the way places, as if I were trying to hide it from the bad guys who might want to steal my ride.

I tried:

• Inside the glovebox
• In the center arm rest
• Under a floor mat
• In the trunk in the spare tire well under the carpet

Guess what?  I got a signal in all of those locations.  I was impressed.

As for power, I used the included 12V adapter to feed the GPS unit with a steady supply of juice when the car was on.  This gives several advantages:  I’d never run out of power while driving, and the GPS would have a built-in battery back-up in case of a mishap, such as a car accident, car battery stolen, car being towed, etc.

Now it was time to log in.

Browser login screen

Once logged in, your GPS unit (shown with a blue van icon on the map, below) is shown on the familiar Google Maps interface.  You can even use the satellite imagery and Google Earth (with plugin).

If the GPS unit is in motion, the maps are updated in almost real-time.  LandAirSea offers tracking options of 5 minute, 1 minute, 10 second, 5 second, and 3 second intervals.  The smaller the interval, the “smoother” the refresh rate.

Screen shot of the tracking screen. Click on the vehicle for the pop-up bubble (above) to show approximate street address, speed, time/date, and power status.

Another feature is the Geofence Alert.  You can draw a rectangle or circle and give it a name (School, Home, etc), and like an email filter, set up rules:  send a custom canned email or text message upon entering and/or exiting the zone, and even set up a schedule when the rule is active.

One thing I learned is that the alerts only work if the system has a lock on your GPS unit.  The GPS unit gets a satellite fix pretty quickly after the initial startup out of the box (like any GPS unit).  I park in an underground garage, so I don’t get any signal until I’m out on the street.  If I set an alert to let me know the GPS unit has left the garage, I may not know until the unit is perhaps a block or two away.  For this reason, I set the Geofence Alert borders a little wider, as in this example.  (No, I don’t live there)

Geofence alerts can inform you of when your GPS unit moves in or out of a preset area.

Here’s a screen capture of the action as it happens.  (I only windowed in a small portion of the screen for recording.)  You can see my mouse moving around… sorry about that!  I click on the “car” and the pop-up window appears.  Halfway through the video clip I switch the background to satellite view.

The web interface also offers a historical playback feature, which sort of works like Tivo or a DVR.  Missed something earlier?  Not a problem!

But what if I’m not near a computer and I want to see where the GPS unit is?  I tried surfing to the tracking website on my iPhone and logged in.  It worked!  No Flash required.

iPhone screen, map view

iPhone screen, satellite view

Since this has a cellular data device, you have to subscribe to a rate plan.  As of this writing, they are as follows:

SilverCloud Data Plans

SilverCloud Pay as You Go, no contract. One time activation fee of $29.95 will be applied.

Prepaid plans are also available that give up to a 12% discount.

The rates may seem steep, but keep in mind that you get UNLIMITED data.  This means you can keep your browser window open all day to watch your tracked device and no incur any other fees.

The LandAirSea SilverCloud Real-Time GPS Tracking System works exactly as advertised.  The ability to run off battery and off external power (via mini-USB plug) in a vehicle is like having a built-in battery backup – plus you don’t have to worry about keeping the battery charged.  I was surprised how well it worked hidden in places in the car, although for best results, you should probably mount it where it gets a good GPS signal (not under metal).  LandAirSea’s 3-second interval is the fastest I know of at the time of this writing, and the ability to track via iPhone without Flash or a separate app is a nice bonus.

Filed in categories: Car Gear, GPS, Reviews

Tagged: GPS, tracking

LandAirSea SilverCloud Real-Time GPS Tracking System Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on February 23, 2012 at 11:00 am.

A few weeks ago, I and a good friend had the opportunity to test drive Lexus’ new 2013 GS sport sedan on the Las Vegas Speedway. In celebration of their very first Super Bowl commercial, Lexus flew us and approximately 40 others tech folks from around the country to Sin City to interact with their auto experts, test drive the GS, play with its fancy new high tech cockpit, ride in the LFA, and wrap up the weekend watching the Super Bowl/commercial.

This write up will be part trip report and part review of the GS sedan itself. Fortunately Lexus not only flew me to Vegas but a good friend of mine as well. It just so happens, my friend, Troy, is a through and through car guy. He reads/studies about them, builds them, races them, etc. While I appreciate a fine vehicle, Troy can tell you in great detail about most cars on the road today. He will be guest writing with me on this review, providing a more gear-head perspective. My comments will be in normal text and Troy’s will be Blue italicized.

Thanks so much for inviting me Dave! What an awesome deal, to get in on the launch of the new GS. Coincidentally, I have been lightly shopping the previous generation Lexus GS450H as my wife and I look to replace her 13MPG daily driven SUV with something a little more responsible and luxurious. This opportunity was both fun and timely for me on a personal level.

Friday of Super Bowl weekend, we flew into Vegas and was met by Lance our very nice limo driver.

Lance proceeded to drive us to the Palazzo hotel where we were greeted by several Lexus reps who briefed us and got us dialed in for the rest of the weekends activities.

Friday night, all of the tech writers/bloggers had a meet and greet with the Lexus folks over dinner and drinks. All of us talking excitedly about the the next day out on the raceway.

The Driving Experience

The Lexus GS has been completely redesigned inside and out; a new, more extreme look, better handling and responsiveness, and a more powerful, fuel efficient engine/powertrain. The GS is available in Premium, Luxury or F SPORT packages with rear-wheel drive (RWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD) configurations.  The GS’s 3.5 liter aluminum V6 engine produces 306 horsepower and can go 0-60 in 5.7 secs (all of the GS specs can be found HERE).

This seems to be the current target for most major auto companies, a 300 hp V6, (and I would guess a 400 hp V8 to follow), better gas mileage than the previous model, 7 or 8 speed transmissions, and a significant up tick in the interior quality of materials. Lexus is right in the middle of this hunt if not leading the charge.

The thing that surprised me the most about the GS after seeing it in person is that I don’t hate how it looks. In preparation for this event I did a bit of research and picture hunting. Nothing I found really seemed to stand out and shout except for the pictures. I honestly was a bit put off by the new nose. My first impression after seeing pictures was to ask, “Who are they targeting?” Will a company executive want to buy a car that looks as if it has had its front bumper cover replaced with a piece from “Street Extreemz” or something of the sort? My surprise was that the aggressive look of the car in person is not as extreme as it is in the photos. The look is supposedly going to be the new face of Lexus and it just might stick. I am not sure how the pinched trapezoid would be adapted for use on a full up luxury sedan such as the LS, but on the sport/luxury GS it works.

The GS has four driving modes: Eco, Normal, Sport and Sport Plus.

• ‘In ECO mode, a calming blue light surrounds the gauge cluster while the throttle response and engine power output are moderated for increased fuel efficiency. The climate settings are also optimized by periodically switching to recirculation mode to reduce ventilation loss and even using the heated seat function for more efficient warming’.
• ‘Normal mode provides the optimal balance of fuel efficiency, engine performance and, on Luxury-equipped models, the degree of road feel’.
• ‘Sport S mode changes the gauge cluster lighting to a fiery red and alters the powertrain for faster gear changes and more dynamic throttle mapping’.
• (The available) ‘Sport S+ mode goes a step further by also tightening the suspension and increasing steering response. In both modes, the transmission’s shift points are automatically altered coming into and out of corners for sharper acceleration’.

By noon Saturday, we were all out on the racetrack getting briefed on the days activities. The days events included driving the 2013 GS on a timed autocross and road coarse, interacting with the PM responsible for the advanced technologies built into the cockpit, and ending the day with an insanely cool ride in the Lexus LFA. Lexus had many professional drivers available to us to ask questions, instruct us, and ensure our safety while putting the GS through its paces.

The first part of the afternoon was a competition between all the writers and their guests to see who could get the best time around the autocross track Lexus had setup for us. After the scenario and safety briefing, we all took turns pushing the GS to perform…squealing wheels, smoking brakes, sliding around turns, the whole nine yards. As a matter of fact, out of our entire group Troy came in first place in the competition by nearly a full second.

I got lucky on that one, but to give a little perspective here, my time was two full seconds slower than the best time posted by one of the instructors. Two seconds on a 33 second track is an eternity, definitely showing the difference between a pro and an amateur. 

While a ride in the LFA was an incredible once in a lifetime moment, driving the GS ‘like we stole it’ was honestly the best part of the weekend. I know both Troy and I pushed the sport sedan as far as our driving skills would allow. The GS took our abuse (of all 40 of us and the pro drivers) and was ready for more. We all had the chance to drive the various GS models on the autocross course as many times as we wished.

We were also given a chance to ride on the autocross course with pro driver, IMSA and SCCA champion Scott Pruett. Obviously a fun ride for all. The thing is, as I sat there hanging on for dear life during my 33 second ride, it occurred to me that Scott had been beating an apparently stock GS350 for over a half an hour with not one little hiccup from the car. Just consider it for a moment, a family sport sedan, street tires, automatic transmission, no apparent additional prep by Lexus, being beaten repeatedly as hard as possible by a professional race driver. Full throttle to maximum anti-skid braking, late apex trail braking, power sliding, one foot on the gas the other on the brake, driven harder than any owner will ever drive their luxury GS, and not one little complaint from the car. WOW!

Checkout Troy’s and Scott’s lap around the course, I believe many of you will be surprised/impressed just how hard Scott pushed the vehicle.

The group then took the GS out on a two mile course and was able to make it truly giddy up and go. Each of us road with a professional driver giving us instruction on how to safely get the most out of GS at speed while whipping it around sharp, hairpin turns.

Various models of the GS were provided during this portion of the event, from the base GS350 to the all wheel drive GS350X to the GS350 with F sport package and even a hybrid version was on hand to drive. There was not enough time to drive each different car individually; however, just the idea that Lexus would make each of these cars available to amateurs for some racetrack time suggests that they are confident in their product! I suppose it is noteworthy that all of the cars made it through the day unscathed!

The New Technology

Along with being a ‘drivers vehicle’, the GS is a tech-person’s car as well. Lexus has gone beyond just a fancy navigation system that can talk to your smartphone and added much greater functionality to the vehicles driving experience. The highlight of the new system is a 12.3-inch high-resolution split-screen multimedia display. It provides access to navigation, audio, climate controls and the new Lexus Enform system.

Within the Lexus Enform system, Lexus engineers have integrated multimedia/social ‘apps’ that include Pandora, Facebook, Bing, Yelp, etc. According to the experts we talked to, they are continuing to develop useful tools to assist the driver better manage a hectic life. As Lexus develops new applications and improves the user interface, the system is capable over-the-air updates to seamlessly and easily tweak or enhance how it operates.

The main interface with the system is a two button and joystick/mouse configuration. The control system is very well thought out and polished but does take a bit of getting use to. Some of the apps have the ability to be controlled by voice.

I really liked how the controller gave a little bump of feedback each time the cursor moved into a new menu area on the large screen. That tactile signal will hopefully help the average user manipulate the system more effectively while reducing time spent with eyes off of the road. For me that is the real question here, is it reasonable to expect drivers to be able to operate the infotainment system in a way that doesn’t put themselves or other drivers at risk. How far does this need to go and what are the possible consequences. We are probably all aware of the efforts to restrict handheld device use in our vehicles. Now the vehicles themselves will be the device. Does this make us any less distracted as drivers? Now our car will be able to Yelp, Bing, Pandora and Facebook just to name a few. To what end? Will this make us safer? Certainly we will be more connected and Lexus seems to think this is the next thing that consumers want.

Troy and I regularly discuss/debate the integration of tech into cars from a multitude of perspectives. But we both agree, the bottom line is…this is the way of the future. Case and point, I have several very nice, zippy, fun cars that I love to drive. But my BIGGEST wish is that when I get in them, my iPhone would seamlessly/wirelessly connect, allowing me/the car to take calls, stream Pandora, use Siri, etc. This desire may potentially be one of the single most driving reasons that I someday upgrade vehicles.

THE LFA Supercar

Lexus and Scott Pruett gave each of us a ride in the $375,000 LFA supercar you see pictured here. The 553 horse-powered car throws you back in your seat like a jet fighter leaping off the runway. It was a two dimensional roller coaster ride that was simply awesome. You can watch my ride in the car here and Troy’s here. We hit speeds in excess of 125 mph and went around the two mile track in what seemed like the blink of an eye. Literally everyone who went on the ride with Scott had a huge ‘cat ate the mouse’ grin on their face as they got out of the car .

The Super Bowl Commercial

On Sunday, all of us, tech writers/bloggers, guests and Lexus folks, met to watch the Super Bowl/Lexus commercial and further chat with each other about Saturdays fun and the game itself.

For those of you who did not watch the game, the Lexus commercial was aired at the end of the first quarter. To be honest, I should have not watched it online and waited for its actual premier….but that was my choice. It was a great first effort in the Super Bowl commercial arena (where many are flops). It definitely showed off the 2013 GS and hinted at the rest of Lexus’ redesigned lineup.

The newly redesigned 2013 Lexus GS sport sedan performs incredibly. Both Troy and I were impressed by its handling, ride, luxury interior, and sportiness. It was also great we could checkout/go hands on with its new high-tech Enform navigation and multimedia system. After our time with the GS, I know both Troy and I look forward to seeing how Lexus transforms the rest of its 2013 lineup with the new look, performance, and technology.

Filed in categories: Articles, Car Gear

Tagged: Lexus

The Lexus GS Super Bowl Event Trip Report originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on February 12, 2012 at 1:00 pm.

I have reviewed some very cool and unusual devices, items and accessories here at the Gadgeteer. Everything from building lightsabers to lasers that can burn thru Legos to handmade leather bags from the far reaches of the Globe. But my latest assignment may be the most exciting and cool thing that I have done so far.

Lexus is flying me to Las Vegas this weekend to celebrate their lineup of 2013 vehicles, particularly their all-new, redesigned GS. The highlights of this trip will be seeing and driving the latest Lexus vehicles (and the integrated tech within), meeting and greeting other tech and auto folks from around the country, and viewing Lexus’ first ever SuperBowl commercial during the actual game (in Vegas no less).

For those of you who can not wait to see it during the game, on the big screen…here is the commercial, that Lexus is calling ‘The Beast’.

It is my plan to take lots of pics and report back to you all on tech, cars, and fun of this weekend .

Filed in categories: Car Gear, News

Tagged: Car

It’s Vegas Time, Baby… originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on February 2, 2012 at 10:00 am.

Extreme is right!  The Monaco Extreme Charge Car Power Adapter, simply put, is the best money you’re going to spend for car charger.  And you’re not going to spend that much. WirelessGround sent one of these chargers to The Gadgeteer for review, and you’ll find that their price of $14.95 isn’t going to break the bank. You can pay more and you will do worse.

If you’re anything like me, you’re running low on juice for ALL of your electronics.  You see, I’m not a nerd, I don’t even play one on TV.  But I love them.  I love nerds, geeks, smarty pants…whatever you want to call them.  Some girls like rogues who speak in flowery (read: B.S) words.  I like a guy who can sing the Periodic Table of Elements to me.  What can I say…I’m weird like that.

But for all my quirks, I just don’t recharge my toys with the same fervor as say…my husband the software engineer.  For him, everything gets plugged in at night before bed religiously.  Like brushing his teeth, he plugs in his laptop, tablet, phone, Sprint Overdrive…whatever…if it’s electronic and he needs it to get 3 to 4G coverage, it’s plugged in at night.   So you can imagine his consternation when I get into the car and my phone is dead or my laptop is powered at 15% or I just don’t get that the Overdrive needs to charge.

The Monaco Extreme is the Bang for your Buck that you’re looking for.  At 3.1 amps (2.1 and 1.0 respectively for the two USB outlets), you will charge and charge fast, and you can charge two devices at the same time.  If you’re like me…you’ve got electronic devices running on fumes.  You want that second port.  You NEED that second port.

Your 2.1 AMP port is going to charge your tablets, iPads etc., while your 1.0 AMP port will charge smart phones, iPods, iPhones etc.  Totally compatible with just about everything.  ”Compatible with the (but not limited to) Apple iPad, Apple iPad 2, Apple iPhone, Apple iPhone 3G, Apple iPhone 3GS, Apple iPhone 4, Apple iPhone 4 (White), Apple Verizon iPhone 4, Apple iPhone 4S, Motorola Xoom, Samsung Galaxy Tab, Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus, Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7, Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9, Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 devices and other USB supported smartphones, tablets and devices.”   No kidding.   It’s sleek, it’s sweet, it’s inexpensive, and it just works.

Easily in the Power Outlet in your automobile. No fussing around.

In the photo just above, notice my power outlet with the Monaco Extreme Car Charge Power Adapter plugged in. (And please look past the obvious need to vacuum my SUV.)   And let’s face it, those of us who run TeleNav or other GPS applications from our smartphones know full well what a juice suck those apps are.  It helps to have a cool charger with 3.1 AMPS to power up your gear when you’re mobile.

It’s normally priced at $29.95 but theWireless Ground currently has them priced at 50% off.  I’d stock up.

Filed in categories: Android related, Car Gear, Reviews

Tagged: car gear, USB charger

Monaco 3.1 AMP Extreme Charge Car Power Adapter Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on January 25, 2012 at 11:00 am.

Winter snows will soon be here for many parts of the country – assuming you haven’t been hit already.  Keep the Auto Safety Kit and Sport Utility Shovel in your car’s trunk, and you’ll be ready for emergency snow removal if you get stuck somewhere away from home.  The kit comes from L.L. Bean and includes a blinker, forever flashlight that never needs batteries, safety vest for visibility while shoveling out your car, gloves, a travel blanket, and a shovel.  The blanket has a water-and-wind resistant side and a fleecy side for warmth.  Everything folds up and stores in a pocket on the blanket.  It’s a $59.95 insurance policy to keep you and your family safe this winter.

Filed in categories: Car Gear, News

Tagged: Car accessories, Safety

L. L. Bean Auto Safety Kits originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on December 24, 2011 at 10:45 am.

Plug the 45,000 Station Car Radio from Hammacher Schlemmer into your car’s 12V power outlet, connect it to your iPhone via Bluetooth, and you can stream any of 45,000 AM/FM and internet radio stations to an open FM station on your car’s radio.  A free iPhone app streams the stations, including nationwide NPR stations as well as Pandora and Grooveshark stations.  The buttons on the transmitter can control the iPhone’s app for scanning for stations.  And if your car’s radio has an auxiliary input, you can connect the transmitter directly so you don’t have to worry about radio interference.  The transmitter is $99.99, but I’m thinking the real expense will come from data plan overages.

Filed in categories: Audio, Video, TV Gear, Car Gear, News

Tagged: car accessory, Internet Radio

The 45,000 Station Car Radio originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 22, 2011 at 9:00 am.

A few days ago I was given the opportunity to review a 2011 KIA Optima SX Turbo. This is undoubtedly the biggest and most expensive “gadget” that I’ve ever been offered to review and you all know that I didn’t even have to think about it for more than a second before agreeing to a 7 day test drive period. I’ve been having a blast driving this car around for past week and will be sorry to see it go.

Note: Click the images in this review to see a larger view.

Before I get started, I have to tell you that this won’t be a typical car review.  If you’re expecting a highly detailed article about engine performance, gas mileage specs, etc, you won’t get it here. I’m going to approach this review from more of a styling and overall driving experience angle.

The 2011 KIA Optima is a winner of the Best Red Dot Design Award. The only other vehicle to receive this award in 2011 was the new BMW 5-Series. The Red Dot is an international competition that has been recognizing innovative styling and inspiring design since 1955. More than four thousand products entered the competition in 2011. Among the other winners are Apple’s 13” MacBook Air and HTC’s EVO mobile phone.

I can understand how it won because it’s a nice looking car. I’ll admit that the KIA Optima hasn’t been on my radar though. I never really knew that KIA offered a luxury mid-sized sedan. It’s interesting to note that my family owns 2 KIAs. My partner has a 2007 KIA Sorento that she really likes and my Dad just bought a brand new 2012 KIA Sorento that just happens to be the same color as this KIA Optima that I’m writing about – Snow Pearl White. I’d never considered buying a White car in the past. I always thought White was a really boring choice of car color. I have to say though that the White used on the Optima is really nice. It has sparkles in the paint like an opal, so it shimmers in the light.

This isn’t your grandma’s 4-door sedan. The Optima has a very sporty design and the 6-speed Turbo Sportmatic transmission had me totally forgetting about my Zoom Zoom 2006  Mazda 3.

This car offered a lot of firsts for me…

When they drove it down from Chicago last week and dropped it off to me at my workplace, I was excited to see the key fob. Or I guess I should say keyless electronic fob that allows you to open doors and the trunk without a key. My Mazda has a key fob that will do this too, but I still have to use a key to start the car. Not with this Optima, no key is needed…

Opening the door reveals a roomy interior with leather bucket seats in the front. The driver’s seat can be adjusted electronically and then the settings can be saved in case you have 2 drivers. Just get in the car press the button for setting 1 or 2 to reconfig the driver’s seat to your personal preference, and just like Goldilocks, it will feel just right.

There’s also a large leather bench in the back.

The front seats can be individually heated or cooled depending on the temperature needs of your tush.

The gas and hood latch buttons are located in the driver’s door along with the normal set of window, lock and mirror adjustment switches.

Being the geek that I am,  the things that make me like the KIA Optima most are all the electronics and connectivity features that are built into this car.

There’s an iPod, iPhone cable that charges and routes the audio of your iPhone through the KIA’s speakers.

It also has Bluetooth so that you can make and answer calls by using the car’s LCD touch screen.

In addition to regular AM/FM radio, Sirius satellite radio is also built into the car and a GPS.

Another first for me is the back up camera that automatically displays on the LCD when you shift into reverse. It shows zones to help you determine how close objects are to the back of your car.

Other cool features are the rear view mirror with an LCD compass display in the upper corner and built in garage door opener buttons that will learn the codes from your existing opener.

All the bells and whistles won’t mean much if the driving experience is bad. I’m happy to say that driving the KIA Optima was very enjoyable. This car has a lot of spunk for a 4 door sedan. You’ll notice the – and + paddles on the steering wheel. They let you shift up and down through gears like you might on a manual transmission. My Mazda has a similar feature on the automatic stick shift.

Driving felt smooth and effortless in this car. It’s definitely a car that I could get in trouble with. The ride is so smooth that you don’t realize you’re driving 80 mph in a 65 mph zone till you look down at your gauges and suddenly notice.

I can’t really comment on gas mileage as I didn’t have the opportunity to drive it long enough to keep track. I’d be happy to test one for an extended period of time if the folks that let me borrow this car would like

I like everything about the car – looks, feel, features, etc. It was hard to find any faults in it, but I do have one small thing that I can’t even call a complaint… It’s that the leather seats feel a little too firm to my buns. Maybe that’s how all leather bucket seats feel though… I guess I’m just too used to the cloth seats in my Mazda.

Other than the seat issue, I’ll be very sorry to see this car go back to the dealer. When I switched cars tonight to put my Mazda back in the garage in anticipation for driving it to work tomorrow, it felt really klunky compared to the KIA. The doors didn’t feel as nice to shut, the stick shift didn’t feel as smooth to move, etc. Sniff… Oh KIA Optima, I hardly knew ye…

Filed in categories: Car Gear, Reviews

Tagged: Car

2011 KIA Optima SX Turbo Test Drive originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 13, 2011 at 8:07 pm.

Ford is set to introduce their MyKey – Do Not Disturb technology into their cars  in 2012.  This innovative system is a further attempt to reduce the accident rate involving teenagers. Parents can have a special MyKey for their teenagers which restricts a number of functions while their own key has none of the restrictions. The technology allows parents to block their teens from receiving phone calls and deter text messages while driving with a new MyKey® Do Not Disturb technology.

Other MyKey functions include:

•  Ford’s Belt-Minder system typically provides a six-second reminder chime every minute for five minutes. With MyKey, the Belt-Minder chime continues at the regular interval and the audio system is muted until the safety belt is buckled. A message center display, “Buckle Up to Unmute Radio” also appears on the instrument cluster
• Earlier low-fuel warning. Rather than a warning at 50 miles to empty, MyKey provides a warning at 75 miles to empty
• If MyKey is in the ignition, features such as park aid and BLIS® (Blind Spot Information System) with cross-traffic alert cannot be deactivated

Additional MyKey features that can be programmed through the vehicle’s message center setup menu:

• Limited top speed of 80 mph
• Traction control system, that limits tire spin, cannot be deactivated
• Limited audio volume to 44 percent of total volume
• A speed alert chime at 45, 55 or 65 mph

These features should go a long way to keeping our teenagers safer on the road in their early driving years. However having just returned from a trip with my 17 year old son, it’s a pity that the system can’t do anything about their road awareness. “Didn’t you see that car parked in the middle of the road?” “No!”  :(

Filed in categories: Car Gear, News

Tagged: Car, Safety

Ford’s MyKey Do Not Disturb Technology Prevents Distracted Teenager Driving originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 7, 2011 at 9:00 am.

Ever wonder where your employees drove the company car?  Or if they are driving recklessly?  I’ve always wondered that so I thought a review of the CarChip Fleet Pro would solve all my problem.

The CarChip Fleet Pro has an option for a GPS add-in which I’ve asked Julie to request from Davis Instruments but they didn’t send it to me.  This review will be purely just the CarChip Fleet Pro.

The CarChip Fleet Pro came in a small cube box and the DriveRight Fleet Management Software came in a plain white box with a label showing the system requirements and package contents.  My first impression is that this packaging wasn’t really appealing to a customer that just bought it.  The CarChip Fleet Pro costs $149.  One would assume it would come with the software for free, right?  Wrong.  The DriveRight Fleet Management Software costs $395.

The DriveRight Fleet Management Software requirements list that it’s compatible with Windows 2000, XP or Vista.  Luckily the installation wasn’t a problem and the program runs on my Windows 7 Ultimate 32-bit.  The box also lists that there are 2 CDs, but it only came with 1 CD.

The package contains one CD, a serial cable for DriveRight (different equipment not reviewed here), USB cable for CarChip, starter guide, and database selection guide.

The CarChip is a small device that gets plugged in your car’s OBD-II port, which is usually located under the the steering column, about half way between the steering wheel and your gas/brake peddles.

The CarChip must be configured before usage.  Installation went without a problem on my Windows 7 PC despite it not listed as being supported.  But the tricky part comes when you first run the program.  It begins by asking a lot of technical information which might confuse the average end-user.  It asks you to choose a type of database, ODBC driver, port number, username and password, etc.  The problem is that the manual doesn’t describe in detail on how you should fill these out.  Not very user-friendly for the average user.

After the initial setup, you’ll get a plain looking screen with the menu and a row of icons on the time.  The manual included with the $395 DriveRight Fleet Management Software doesn’t provide any information on how to use the DriveRight program at all.  Using trial and error, I found out that I would need to add and setup the CarChip in to the DriveRight program.

Adding the CarChip will require answering a lot of questions.  For example, is it assigned to a car or driver, car type, VIN number, license plate, make/model, driver names, odometer, etc.

It also asks what type of parameters I would like to set for speed, hard breaking and acceleration.  These are the default choices that the CarChip will monitor on its own.

Then you’ll get to choose 5 different parameters for the CarChip to monitor.  There’s an option for GPS logging as well.

On the settings review page, you’ll get an option to have the CarChip beep or blink a LED light if any one of the default parameters are met while the vehicle is being driven.  Click on the “Set” button to program the CarChip, and then you’re ready to plug it in to the car’s OBD-II port.

Plugging in to the car’s OBD-II port was easy.  My only question is why the CarChip gives an option to blink the LED light because the OBD-II port is located so low and out of the driver’s view that it’s pointless to include such option.

DriveRight Fleet Management Software came with a lot of options because this software handles both the DriveRight and CarChip systems.  I wish they had an option to disable the parts of the program that are specific to the DriveRight system.  It does get confusing when you click on a functionality and find it doesn’t work because it’s not available for the CarChip system.  Or it would be better to have separate programs for the DriveRight system and the CarChip system.

I plugged the CarChip in to one of the company vans used for onsite work.  At first I left the beep notification sound on and the employees started to complain that it gets pretty annoying – which means they’re driving the van recklessly.  So I decided to turn the beep off and have the CarChip record data for a month.

After a month I plugged the CarChip in to the computer, started the DriveRight software, and selected the trip summary report.  It showed me a complete list of vehicle trips, showing date, start/end time, trip duration, idle time and distance driven.  It’s pretty good data to determine if the employees are driving more than they are charging our customers.

The vehicle activity report shows a bunch of statistics on the vehicle.

The graphical day report shows it all graphed out which is pretty nice since it gives a nice overview of the van’s usage throughout the day.

The odometer report was pretty simple and shows the miles driven.

All in all, the CarChip does what it needs to do by providing statistics on the car’s usage.  It’s definitely not for the home-user or small/medium sized business.  The CarChip Fleet Pro and DriveRight Fleet Management Software are geared toward huge corporations with many company vehicles (think Verizon or Cablevision-sized company).  It was more than what I needed for my store, and the user experience could’ve been better.

Filed in categories: Car Gear, Reviews

Tagged: car tracking, carchip

Davis Instruments CarChip Fleet Pro Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on October 21, 2011 at 11:00 am.

Install the Parrot Asteroid receiver in your car, and you’ll be connected to the internet, GPS, telephone, radio, and your mobile device.   Main functions are accessible using the jog wheel, but you can also control the unit with voice commands.  The Asteroid comes with a GPS dongle, so you can navigate without requiring a separate GPS device.  If you supply your own 3G service, you’ll be able to access the internet via Android apps.  The unit can connect to your Bluetooth-enabled phone to make calls, and you can connect MP3 players directly to the unit and control playback with voice commands.  Connect devices to the Asteroid via Bluetooth, USB, iPod/iPhone cable, or audio cable.  There’s much more information on the Parrot website to help you learn if the Asteroid is right for you.  The Asteroid will be released later in 2011, and there is no pricing information on the Parrot site yet.

Filed in categories: Android related, Car Gear, News

Tagged: car audio, GPS

Parrot Asteroid – Apps, Web, Phone, and Music in Your Car originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 30, 2011 at 12:00 pm.

If you’re an iPhone user that also happens to be shopping for a new head unit for your vehicle, you might want to check out Oxygen Audio’s new O CAR stereo which has been designed specifically for the iPhone. The O CAR features a built-in RDS-enabled AM/FM tuner, Bluetooth connectivity and a 4-channel, 55-watt amp that links to a vehicle’s factory or aftermarket speakers. The iPhone slides into a special dock that turns it into the radio’s faceplate, allowing you to control standard car stereo functions like volume and tuning, as well as browse and play your iTunes library and internet radio station apps. The O CAR also provides hands-free calling and battery charging. It has an MSRP of $299.95, which seems a bit steep, but I’d still love to try this in my 2006 Mazda 3. I could then do away with cigarette lighter chargers, FM transmitters and other connection methods since my car doesn’t have a built in AUX-in jack.

Filed in categories: Car Gear, iPhone, iPad, iPod related, News

Tagged: Car, iPhone, Radio

Oxygen Audio O CAR – Car Radio Built for the iPhone originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 25, 2011 at 1:00 pm.