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.

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.

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.

It’s summer time, and that means people all over the country are setting out on vacations. For those of you that aren’t flying to your destination, the Energizer All-in-One Air Jump Power looks like it might be a wonderful traveling companion to stow in the trunk of your car. This 12-Volt system can jump start your car and inflate your tires. It also provides a flex-neck work light and two 12-volt DC cigarette sockets for powering 12V accessories, which might come in handy for recharging your mobile phone when you’re out in the wild. You can find the Energizer All-in-One Air Jump Power on Amazon for $149.99

Filed in categories: Car Gear, News

Tagged: Car

Take the Energizer All-in-One Air Jump Power on your Next Road Trip originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on June 30, 2011 at 12:00 pm.

The jury is still out on the verdict regarding the usage of 3D TV’s at home. In the meantime, Sony has showed additional usage for the capability of showing a different image to each eye — Dual-View. Dual-View enables two players to watch one screen, but to view two different images (instead of the split screen implementation in some games). The 24” display Sony presented at E3 can provide dual view in 3D to two players. It achieves this by supporting a 240Hz refresh rate, when each of the 4 separated pictures are being presented in 60Hz.  Providing a dual view might be a good reason to wear the special glasses.

The dual view idea is not new. Philips had presented a 3D TV with Dual-View capability in March. While this technology can enable two people to watch two different shows on the same TV, the sound track cannot be separated and therefore gaming is a good application. An even better application, and this time without the special glasses, is to enable the in-dash screen in a car to show different view to the driver and to the passenger. Several car manufacturers have presented the usage of a dual view capability in cara, including Mercedes SplitView technology (see picture below), which enable the driver to see the navigation instructions while the passenger can watch a movie. It will be interesting to see what additional use models the capabilities of the new displays will bring us.

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

Tagged: Car, TV

Sony shows 3D displays with Dual-View capability originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on June 21, 2011 at 10:00 am.

Viper has created technology that allows you to start your car from virtually anywhere with your smartphone.  Viper SmartStart works with iPhones, Blackberrys, and Android.  SmartStart allows you to heat/cool your car, lock/unlock doors, control multiple cars, personalize settings, and start remotely from practically anywhere.  There are three configurations:  VSM200, VSS3000, and VSS5000.  The configurations range from a stand alone keyless entry/remote start module to a fully loaded remote start/security system bundle.  You can learn more about Viper SmartStart at http://www.viper.com

Filed in categories: Car Gear, News

Tagged: Car

Gone Are the Days of Remote Start From a Key Ring originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on June 8, 2011 at 9:00 am.

I find myself with a conundrum.  I have a gadget to review,  but for the life of me, I don’t know what I would use it for.  Nevertheless, I’m going to take it on a ride and maybe I’ll have an aha moment.  It is available through Etronixmart.

Here’s the description from the retailer’s website:

Another new in car camera- Etronixmart010 Portable Car Camcorder. It allows you to take video recorder in Day/Night Selectable modes. Thus, Etronixmart010 carcam will help you capture clear images in low light environment once adjust to Night modes. At the same time, it will continue to record while being charging. With its 270 degree Swivel LCD display, it is very convenient to take video/photo in different situations.

Finally, it is alo a very good portable digital camera. Get one back home and find what other surprise you will get.

Now that we have that cleared up

Specifications:

• LCD display: 2.0inch LCD(4:3)
• Lens: 140A+High resolution wide angle lens
• Language selection: English. Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, Japanese, Russian
• Video resolution: VGA/D1/HD(1280×960)
• Video format: AVI
• Image resolution: VGA
• Image format: JPG
• Memory card: Micro SD  (not included)
• Microphone/Speaker: yes
• LED light: Dual super bright LED
• TV mode: PAL/NTSC
• Frequency: 50HZ/60HZ
• USB Port: USB2.0
• Power input: 5V 500MA
• Battery: Rechargeable Li-ion

I comes with most everything you’ll need to start recording your vehicle escapades, with the exception of a micro SD card.  The device has no onboard memory.  The windshield mount worked very well.

On one side are a set of function buttons.

On the back is the micro SD card slot.  You’ll notice that the image is inverted.  This can be flipped using one of the function keys, however, that also flips the graphics.

On the other side are some more function keys and the mini USB port.  The port is used to supply power and charge the internal battery as well as connect the device to a PC.

A look at the bottom reveals the slots for the window mount and shows the lens which has 180 deg of adjustment.  The 2 white dots on either side of the lens are L.E.D.s that provide illumination for the night mode.

The device is a car camera, so I stuck in one of my cars.  You’ll probably notice that I positioned it low on the windshield and there’s a reason to do so.  When I had it higher up, I would get underexposed video because the device appears to average the scene for exposures and when higher up, the frame has mostly sky, no matter how I adjust the lens.

The included mount seems very secure having a suction cup with a lever.  In the hundreds of miles I drove around with the camera, it never fell off.  I didn’t need the power cord plugged in for most of my tests, because the internal battery provided several hours of operation.  The battery can be charged with either the included 12v cable or the included USB cable and wall wart.  However, if you have the 12v cable plugged in , the camera will turn on and off when the 12v power is switched on and off.

Movie sample

The above clip was shot on an overcast day in the camera’s HD mode and demonstrates some of the issues with the camera.  Firstly, you’ll notice that the exposure changes dependent upon how much of the sky is in the frame.  Also, the sound has a consistent buzz and it’s not the engine of my hybrid car.  It was in battery mode for the entire clip.

When recording videos, one selects a recording time of 2, 5 or 15 minutes.  If set in motion sense mode, these clips will be repeated until the memory is full and then stop with a memory full message.

It took a while for me to get acclimated to the buttons on the camera, especially when it was mounted on the windshield.  When mounted the graphics are upside down.  Another issue is the night mode, which when enabled turns on the L.E.D.s.  They were rather bright, but all they did was glare on the windshield.  Perhaps I’m using this thing wrong and should be recording myself driving because then the L.E.D.s are quite effective.

The camera can also take still photos and above is an example.  I won’t be replacing my still camera anytime soon.  I did notice when uploading this photo that I have the date wrong.  It should be 2011, which brings up another point.  The menu structure on the device is a learning experience.  The manual that came with the camera leaves a lot to be desired.  With some patience and lots of time, I was able to figure out most functions.  For the picture mode these include a self time and burst mode, which take 3 shots at a time.

Using the display, the videos and stills can be previewed without attachment to a computer.  Again, figuring out the button sequences kept me busy for awhile.  If you wish to download the files to a computer, the device can be plugged into a usb port using the supplied cable and it will look like a removable drive.

After using the Portable Car Camcorder for several weeks, I’ve come up with some ideas how this might be practical.  It could be used as a security device to video someone who might want to vandalize your car.  You could keep and eye on your teen when he/she takes the family car out for a spin.  If you’re prone to frequent moving violations, you could record your interactions with law enforcement while they are writing a ticket.  Of course, if someone takes the micro SD card or the camera, you’ll have nothing

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

Tagged: Camcorder, Car

Portable Car Camcorder Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 10, 2011 at 1:00 pm.

When I first learned about the GoSmart Clip a few months ago, I thought it was a great idea for putting your smartphone’s display right in the center of your steering wheel, for easy viewing. They sent me one to review and now that I’ve had a chance to actually use it, here’s what I think…

The GoSmart Clip is made of plastic and is available in Red or Black. The Clip has two curved areas that hug the top and bottom edges of your 4-5″ tall smartphone. I tested the GoSmart clip with a Droid X and an iPhone 4.

To use it, you unhook the attached rubber strap, wrap it around the 12 o’clock position of your steering wheel and latch the strap the plastic post at the top of the clip to hold it in place.

The clip can be lengthened to accommodate your phone. Here you see it with the Droid X.

And here it is with an iPhone 4. Depending on the phone that you use with this clip, it may or may not cover important buttons. The clip worked better with my iPhone, since the power button and home button were not obstructed.

When used with my primary phone, the Droid X, the top part of the clip covers the power button. After attaching the GoSmart Clip to my 2006 Mazda 3′s steering wheel at the suggested 12 o’clock position, I immediately realized that it wouldn’t work well for me. In this position, the phone completely blocks my view of the speedometer. Ever since getting a speeding ticket a year ago, I tend to keep a very watchful eye on my speed. Not being able to see how fast I’m going makes me feel really uncomfortable. The FAQ on the GoSmart site says you can also place the clip in the 11 or 1 o’clock position, but I didn’t like that placement either because it felt in the way of my hands on the steering wheel.

Besides the placement issue, I was also annoyed by the fact that sunlight on the phone’s display would reflect glare in my eyes while I was driving. When the phone’s display was off, I could see my own reflection in the display like a mirror. The clip would shake with the vibration of the car, which was distracting. Since the clip is only held to the steering wheel from the top, it tends to wiggle around a bit as you steer and / or drive on bumpy roads.

I originally thought this holder would be a good idea to keep the phone’s display within easy view, but the more I think about it, the more I think it’s actually a bad idea. I think it might encourage or tempt people to use their phone even more while driving since it’s so easy to see. I can imagine that it would be really tempting to view and answer a text message with the phone in this position.

The only advantage that I can see for using the GoSmart is for GPS usage… But I personally wouldn’t use it since it blocks the view of my speedometer and feels awkward and in the way of my hands while driving. I think I’ll just stick with keeping it in my cup holder.

Filed in categories: Car Gear, Reviews

Tagged: Car, holder

GoSmart Clip Smartphone Steering Wheel Mount Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on January 23, 2011 at 3:56 pm.

Why haven’t we seen something like this before? The Go Smart Clip is an adjustable holder that places your smartphone exactly where you can see it. Right in the center of your steering wheel. It’s designed to accommodate almost any smartphone that is between 4″ (100mm) to 5″ (125mm) tall and less than 0.75″ (20mm) thick and can be used with any car that has a conventional steering wheel. The Smart Clip is available in Red or Black and can be purchased individually for $25.95 or in packs of 2 for $39.95 from Amazon starting Dec 1st. I’d love to try this with my Droid X!

Filed in categories: Car Gear, News

Tagged: Car, holder, Spotlight Gadgets

Go Smart Clip helps keep your hands at 10 and 2 originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 24, 2010 at 6:00 pm.

I know this isn’t exactly a gadget, but it sure is eye catching. It’s a collection of 3D car replicas that double as shelves for your wall. Made of resin and glass, these colorful front bumbers of some classic car models from the 50′s, 60′s and 70′s would be perfect for any man cave (or hey, a girl cave if you’re a female car nut). The price isn’t bad either at $89.95. They are available now from Gadgets and Gear.

Filed in categories: Car Gear, Home Tech, News

Tagged: Car, Home, Spotlight Gadgets

Hang a classic car on your wall originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on October 19, 2010 at 9:00 am.

The new SafeDriver by Lemur Monitors. This device monitors and reports distance traveled, average speed and records hard braking.

“When you can’t be with them…” is the tag line for the SafeDriver monitoring device from Lemur Monitors.  Some might say “Or when you can’t trust them,”…either way, the SafeDriver wireless monitoring device is a sweet little “don’t even think about it” mechanism for that new driver in the household.

The second in a series of monitoring devices manufactured by Lemur and I’ve already had three friends with new teen drivers ask if they can borrow it.  The SafeDriver monitor plugs into your car’s OBD II port and once the fob is synced, will report how far the auto traveled, the average speed of the trip and a nifty little feature that tells you whether or not there were any “sudden brakes” applied.  Yep.  Sudden braking.  As in, “OMG, I totally almost hit that car in front of me!  Thank God my parents weren’t here, they’d kill me.”  Well, ‘fess up because they’re going to ask you about it.

The device does not record the severity of the braking but does record how many times the vehicle braked hard.  And Lemur is fair and defines this as “a sudden brake is counted when the vehicle speed is reduced by 15 mph in less than two seconds”.  In other words, a hard brake.   Put the texting away because SafeDriver is going to rat you out.   And don’t even think of resetting or trying to mess with the fob.  Lemur is already two steps ahead by programming in a special tamper proof pin number so the results cannot be changed.  And if you really want to dig your hole further and attempt to remove the sensor from the OBD II port , the fob’s battery removed or an invalid pin number has been entered then the words TAMPER appear on the fob that can only be reset by entering the valid pin number.

SafeDriver Sensor and SafeDriver Fob

While new drivers or kids who really want to head out somewhere else instead of the library “like they told their old man now”, will not really like the SafeDriver, I know parents who love the idea of it.   One friend in particular is not so interested in catching her daughter out as she believes the SafeDriver is a useful tool to help her daughter navigate the perils of being a new driver.

“My idea of a hard brake and her idea of a hard brake are easily two different things,” she told me.  “If I am out driving with her, she hits the brakes and the fob doesn’t record it, that’s one thing.  But if she hits the brakes hard and the fob does record it, there could be several reasons why she had to brake hard and it’s a good training tool to sharpen her reflexes. It also helps define what a hard brake is and since I was there, she’s really limited on the “it was not a big deal, Mom.  The fob is just sensitive,’ remarks.  The device isn’t sensitive because I was there the first time she did it.  Like it or not, driving is not learned overnight.”

I am not a fan of hard braking and since I live in Indiana, I have to pay serious attention because most of the drivers here are basically clueless to anyone on the road besides themselves.   When I tested the SafeDriver, it worked perfectly in all respects and was very useful but I did not employ any movement that would cause it to record a brake.  This is surprising since I was sure the soccer mom in the minivan in front of me, who was far more interested in texting than in driving, would definitely cause me to score a brake.

With the good, comes the not so good.  It’s necessary to sync the device after inserting the sensor but  before you start the car according to the instructions.  If you’re trying to catch your new driver in a lie, it’s a little suspicious to go out there to start the car for them and attempt to hide the fob.  I’m not sure if this is really a “con” or not.  All new drivers should be prepared to accept and discuss the results of the SafeDriver and adjust their driving habits accordingly.

This is a very useful device for parents and new drivers alike and at $69.95, it’s a reasonable price to have this in a house with new drivers.

Filed in categories: Car Gear, Reviews

Tagged: Car

Lemur Monitors SafeDriver Wireless Vehicle Monitor Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on October 3, 2010 at 9:51 am.

Scosche has announced the motorMOUTH II, plug and play Bluetooth handsfree car kit and streaming audio receiver. This is a compact device that plugs directly into the front Aux-in/MP3 jack on your car’s stereo. If you don’t have a front jack, Scosche provides a relocation cable along with a Y adapter for users that prefer to directly connect their music. The speaker phone features DSP echo cancellation and support profiles: HFP and A2DP. The motorMOUTH II is available now through Frys.com for $79.99.

Filed in categories: Bluetooth Gear, Car Gear, News

Tagged: Bluetooth Gear, Car, Spotlight Gadgets

Scosche Launches the motorMOUTH II Bluetooth Handsfree Car Kit originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 27, 2010 at 12:23 pm.

I drive a 2006 Mazda 3 5 Door and love it except for two things. The A/C is crappy and so is the stock stereo. I keep toying with the idea of replacing the stereo and these new Sony Xplod in-dash units might make me finally pull the trigger. Sony has introduced 4 different radios that range in price from $80 up to $160. So pricing isn’t really an issue. The top end model (CDX-GT650UI) has several features that appeal to me, including the ability to customize the illumination color to match the color that your car already uses. There are 35,000 color choices, so I don’t think I’d have a problem picking one to match. It also has a front USB connector for use with an iPod or other MP3 player, as well as a front aux-in jack. It even has an application called SenseMe that automatically organizes your music library into custom playlists to match your mood.

Filed in categories: Car Gear, News

Tagged: Car, Radio, Spotlight Gadgets

Sony Announces New Xplod In-Dash Car Stereos Designed For Connectivity and Customization originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 18, 2010 at 1:58 pm.

If you’ve ever had the misfortune of the Check Engine Light (CEL) in your car come on then you are stuck there wondering what the heck is wrong. You could take your car to your dealership or even to an auto parts store but you don’t even know if your car can make it that far. What a hassle. Or you could just pop in the handy and helpful device called the CarCheckup.

The CarCheckup is a portable device made to work with foreign and domestic vehicles from 1996 and newer.

A nice thing about having this device is that it can pull up the error codes from your cars on-board computer.  But more on that later.

The CarCheckup is excellent if you keep logs of your mileage and trip times for business and it is a handy tool for those parents who are concerned for their new teen drivers, also.

To use the CarCheckup, you connect the front of the device (the Data Link Connector or DLC)

to the cars OBD2 port, or the on-board computer. It is a port under the steering column usually directly underneath or off to the left. Then you drive around and let the device gather information. Unplug from your car. Connect to your computer. Upload to their website and voila!

All the necessary data is collected and displayed for you on your computer screen.

After you plug the device into your car a blinking green light on the back will let you know that it is ready.  When the device is recording data information the light will change to orange. Just be sure not to disconnect the device until the light starts blinking green again or you could damage the device.

It took me a few minutes to download all my data. I didn’t have to wait long at all. A Quick Start Guide pamphlet is included so you can get started but the CarCheckup device is fairly self-explanatory.

There is an impressive amount of data collected from the CarCheckup device and it shows. You’ll get information like miles traveled,speeds you were going,  what your RPM’s were, braking and acceleration. An all in one driving summary and report. It can even giveyou the date and times that the data was collected.

The CarCheckup device has a swing-arm USB connector that plugs in to any USB port on your computer.  It is nice having the swing-arm and not a USB cable that you have to attach later. So no messy wires and no misplacing the cable. However, the their website offers a USB extension cable if you need one for $20.00.

Having a device that can read your car’s error codes is a nice feature to have when you need it.  The CarCheckup read my car’s CEL and found a code that my mechanic found when I had my oil changed prior to using the device. So I felt that it did as good a job as a professional code reader like the ones that a mechanic uses.

Fortunately my code was nothing serious. Just a dirty valve that needs a shot of carburetor cleaner.

When you register with CarCheckup on their website you are allowed one year subscription for your car so if you have more than one car and want to use the device on another car you have to pay for another subscription.  Every car added is $25 for a year.

Unfortunately, this device doesn’t have a LCD readout on it which would be nice to pull up error codes so you wouldn’t have log on to the website just to view the codes. But this device is more of a data recorder/tracker with the ability to read codes as a bonus.

But it is nice to have all the data stored electronically so you can eliminate the paper mess and make a printout for a later time when you need one.

The CarCheckup has a MSRP of $149.97 and comes with a 30 day money back guarantee.

Filed in categories: Car Gear, Reviews

Tagged: Car

CarCheckup Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on July 27, 2010 at 3:04 pm.

Starting in 2011, OnStar will begin offering a smartphone application at no extra cost as part of their basic subscription plan for all GM brands. Smartphone users will be able to use many of OnStar’s features right from their phone. Some of those features include the ability to remotely start their vehicle, activate horn and lights, and lock/unlock their vehicle’s doors from their phones. They will also be able to check vehicle information such as: fuel tank level and range, remaining oil life, current and recommended tire pressure and lifetime average miles-per-gallon. Watch a demo video after the jump.

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

Tagged: Car, iPhone, Spotlight Gadgets

OnStar to Expand Service to Smartphones in 2011 originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on July 22, 2010 at 9:30 am.

The FuelDoctor FD-47 is a device that can help increase fuel economy by conditioning electrical signals (e.g., aberrant noise, harmonics, spikes).  It consists of a set of electronics filters encapsulated in a shell that is inserted into the cigarette lighter of the car.  The concept is sound:  filter out transient spikes and help the electronic control unit of the car function more efficiently and, ergo, improve fuel use.

The Fuel Doctor slips into the cigarette lighter of the vehicle

I’m not overly happy with the fuel economy of my vehicle so I was very interested in seeing how much improvement I could get.  I’m also amused by people who claim (very vocally, in fact) that there is no possible way that that thing could work and that there is no way they would allow it attached to their vehicle.  Whatever.  Let’s see how many big bucks this thing saved me.

The FuelDoctor is inserted into the cigarette lighter of the car.  A power indicator light and a battery charge light illuminate when the car is running, letting you know that signals are getting to the FuelDoctor.

Since many of us use the cigarette lighter for charging USB devices or brewing coffee, the company also sells a dual socket adapter and USB port (both sold separately).  (It’s important to note that these accessories do not contain the FuelDoctor electronics; that threw me off since the company sent all three items and I assumed that the accessories were also FuelDoctors.  Only after taking apart the dual socket did I realize that they were not actual FuelDoctors.  Just an FYI.)

Accessories -- these do not contain the FuelDoctor filtering hardware

I used the FuelDoctor on a standard transmission 2006 Subaru Baja.  I used it for both highway and city driving for 30 days (the amount of time provided for the product’s guarantee) but didn’t see any fuel-use improvement.  This could be because the car is still too new to have developed any electrical pollution that could affect the electrical system.  However, several newer vehicles were reported to have increased fuel economy according to the technical sheets on the FuelDoctor web site.  My normal fuel mileage is from 21-24  MPG city and from 25-29 MPG highway.  With or without the FuelDoctor, the mileage remained in that range.  Disappointing.

So a friend offered to use the FuelDoctor on his 2003 GMC Sonoma.  He commutes about 80 miles every day to and from work so we thought this would be an interesting test.  He too, however, reported that there was no significant difference in his fuel mileage.  He did report, though, that when driving at 55 MPH, his fuel economy went up significantly.  But I can’t drive 55.

For a final test, I cobbled up a PC oscilloscope probe and a copy of Visual Analyzer to monitor the voltage and frequency spectrum at the cigarette lighter port with and without the FuelDoctor.  This too was inconclusive since my diagnostic hardware didn’t show anything nearly as obvious as the photo on the FuelDoctor website.

From the FuelDoctor web site -- demonstrating the filtering capability of the device.

There are some compelling technical test results on the FuelDoctor web site, a summary of which is provided in the following table, but it appears that for the bottom line, your results will vary depending on your vehicle.  Since the product comes with a 30-day guarantee, it doesn’t hurt to try it out.

Table extracted from various technical sheets found on the FuelDoctor web site.

Filed in categories: Car Gear, Reviews

Tagged: Car

FuelDoctor Fuel Saving Device Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on June 30, 2010 at 1:00 pm.

The HomeRight Iconic Clean Washing System is a large blue canister that takes your tap water and turns it into de-ionized (DI) water. The canister has a 20 foot hose with a soft bristle brush attached, and a three way (Off – Bypass – DI) switch on the end. You’re supposed to be able to wash windows, cars, boats, and other similar surfaces with the system and water only. Having just spent a weekend scrubbing windows “the old way” (soap, water, elbow grease) I was pretty skeptical. I was also interested to see if it could best my results. I am pleasantly surprised to report that for the most part, it works exactly as advertised.

Parts Parts Parts

The Ionic Clean comes in a long box that (at least for my review unit) didn’t fully protect it during shipping. Once you dig out the parts you’ll have the following spread out on your floor:

The initial setup involves connecting the 20′ hose to the wand, attaching the wand to the brush, and putting the hose attachment onto the bottom of the canister. You can just see the small pile of plastic bits in the photo – that’s what’s left of the on/off valve the UPS guy managed to kill:

Fortunately for me, this is an inexpensive part (a few bucks at the local home center) or it can be unscrewed from the wand and then you  simply use the OFF position on the canister itself. In either case, I proceeded to put it all together. Then, I had a go at getting the end-cap off to see what the filter looked like, and how hard it is to replace:

I’m no body builder, but I do hit the gym nearly every day. Let’s just say you want someone strong to help you with getting that end cap off! After a bit of struggling, I got it to release. You can see in the photo the orange stuff in the middle. That’s the ionic filter that does the magic of converting tap water into de-ionized water. It’s also the only down-side to this whole thing. Those filters have a run-life of MINUTES. If you have really hard water, just 35 minutes. Most people’s city water comes in around 200ppm, so you should get 70 minutes or so out of a filter. The filters cost $50 each, so you’ll want to pay attention to that… washing a car and using 5-10 minutes of rinse is the same as $3.50-$7.00. Washing windows, where you spend a minute or two per window rinsing, is 75 cents per window.

The Test Subjects

Sadly, there is no way to review this product without first showing some of the dirt. So, for your pleasure, I give you some shots of a dirty garden window (which is truly a pain in the back to wash) and my neglected car:

Garden Window… yuck. This is only a few weeks after washing it by hand, with soap…

You can almost see through that glass!

This is the rear window of my car.

This is the passenger side window of my car.

That’s the roof.

For this test I just followed the directions. First I scrubbed (gently) with the brush and the canister on Bypass. That got rid of most of the dirt, but if left alone at that point the result would be a spotty mess. After the scrub, I flipped it to the DI setting and gave a few scrub/rinse passes. Then I left it alone.

Action Photos

Here’s a few shots of the ionic rinse. It’s very noticeable when you are in DI mode – the water just sheets right off of any surface. I found the 20 foot hose to be long enough that I could leave the canister on the ground nearby the car or window, and the telescoping wand/brush was long enough to reach across the car window, or up and over the top of the garden window. So other then keeping an eye on the clock when in DI mode, the whole thing was a breeze:

Weird sheeting action of DI water…

Long reach of the wand…

Closeup of DI water sheeting action.

Results. Wow.

Like I said, I was prepared to be disappointed, but in fact it worked exceptionally well. With no soap at all, just a pre-rinse with regular water and then a quick rinse with the DI water, both the garden window and the car came out sparkling clean. The glass results rivaled those you get after a lot of windex and a pile of rags. The car finish sparkled, and all the grime was gone.

Garden window, nearly perfectly spotless.

Two drops… that’s all that I could find on the glass after the rinse.

Windshield… clear, spotless, and shiny. This is with no wipe-down.

The same side window as before, only now you can see reflections.

Yes, there are still a few spots. But this is about as bad as it gets, and the car was filthy before.

Rear glass. You can see a few spot-trails, but again with no wipe down, and no soap at all, that’s pretty good.

The new shine.

Conclusion

I’m a believer. The whole process went very quickly, since there isn’t much more cleanup then re-capping the canister (or letting it drain out for a while) and then putting it away. The actual cleaning process was done in minutes – a scrub pass and then a DI rinse pass, and you’re done. The only lingering doubt I have is the cost over time of the filters. My guess is I wasn’t as efficient as possible since I was doing this for a review and was pausing for photos – even though I was turning off the canister I expect I used a few more minutes of filter time then I otherwise would have. Still, washing a window and a couple cars, I used at least 10 minutes of filter time. So I could see needing a new filter after washing all the windows in your house twice, or washing your cars once a week for a couple months. On the up side, the Ionic Clean system is very gentle on your car, or whatever is under your windows!

Filed in categories: Car Gear, Miscellaneous, Reviews

Tagged: Car, Outdoor

Ionic Clean Washing System Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on June 26, 2010 at 10:28 am.

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of NAVTEQ. All opinions are 100% mine.

It’s almost the middle of June, which means most, if not all kids are out of school for the summer and it’s time for an epic family vacation. If your family is planning to spend any part of your vacation driving, it’s time to update your in-car navigation systems and stand alone GPS units with the latest mapping data. NAVTEQ is the company whose technology and maps power most of the GPS devices in the U.S., from Garmin to BMW, to Nokia, so chances are yours is one of them.

If you’ve had your GPS device for quite a while and have yet to update it, a visit to www.updateyourmap.com is a good idea. You can make sure that your GPS device will make sure that the “shortest route” and “fastest route” functions of your navigation system work most efficiently. The latest updates from NAVTEQ can also save you time and fuel by making sure that the POIs (point of interest) locations are also correct. Most GPS units allow you to easily see nearby POIs such as the closest gas stations, restaurants, ATM’s and more. The only gotcha to updating your GPS is that it won’t be free. You’ll be required to buy the new mapping data file before you can download it. Prices vary depending on the device.

If your Dad (or the designated driver) doesn’t like to stop to ask a human for directions when they are lost, then a GPS is definitely the way to go. I know that I hate to stop at a gas station to ask for help, mainly because I usually forget what they told me as soon as I walk out the door. We always use a GPS when we go on trips because it is the easiest way to get from destination to destination and having the latest mapping data is one of the items we always add to our trip check list.

Filed in categories: Car Gear, GPS, News

Tagged: Car, GPS

It’s Road Trip Season – Make Sure your GPS has the Latest Maps originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on June 13, 2010 at 11:43 am.

CarCheckup is an automotive information system that can be used to monitor driver performance as well as tell you in plain English why your check engine light is on. While plugged in to the OBDII port, it records telemetry like speed, RPM, hard braking, hard acceleration, miles traveled, average speed and more. To read the recorded info, you just plug it into the USB port of your computer, login to the CarCheckup website and upload the data. The device costs $149.97, which includes a one year subscription to the CarCheckup website for one vehicle. Additional vehicles can be added for $25/yr.

Filed in categories: Car Gear, News

Tagged: Car, Spotlight Gadgets

Find Out What that Check Engine Light Means with the CarCheckup originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on May 31, 2010 at 12:35 pm.

Today Ford is announcing an innovative new SYNC feature called AppLink, which will make Ford the first automaker to be able to voice control smartphone apps inside the car. The first application partners are Pandora internet radio, Stitcher “smart” radio, and OpenBeak which is a Twitter client. Ford is also announcing the first phase in the creation of an app developer community, which will allow Ford to work directly with application owners (such as Pandora), to “enable” their apps to work with SYNC. You can see AppLink in action by checking out these videos:

SYNC AppLink and the New 2011 Ford Fiesta (2:28)
Ford SYNC and Pandora (2:43)
Ford SYNC and Stitcher (5:48)
Ford SNYC and OpenBeak (1:35)

Press release after the jump.

SYNC AppLink to launch on 2011 fiesta, MAKING FORD FIRST TO DELIVER voice control of smartphone apps

• Ford will first offer SYNC^® AppLink, a downloadable software program, on the 2011 Fiesta, allowing owners to access and control Android^TM and BlackBerry^® smartphone apps with voice commands and vehicle controls
• Pandora internet radio, Stitcher “smart radio” and Orangatame’s OpenBeak are the first SYNC-enabled mobile applications
• Ford to create SYNC developer community with launch of new “Mobile Application Developer Network” (www.syncmyride.com/developer),  giving developers a pathway to partner with Ford on SYNC-enabled applications
• Ford’s platform approach with SYNC is poised to harness smartphone app development and mobile web access; apps expected to be a $4 billion industry by 2012; analysts predict the mobile device to become the No. 1 source for Internet access by 2015

SAN FRANCISCO, April 20, 2010 – Customers have spoken — asking for safe, convenient access to their smartphone apps while in the vehicle – and Ford is responding by announcing the new SYNC AppLink software that will allow hands-free voice control of popular smartphone apps.

SYNC AppLink, a downloadable software upgrade, will be released for 2011 Ford Fiesta owners with the award-winning SYNC communications and infotainment system later this year, allowing drivers hands-free control of apps on their Android or BlackBerry smartphones via voice commands and vehicle controls. Ford will introduce AppLink on all SYNC-equipped vehicles next year, as well as provide interoperability with iPhone and other smartphones.

“The growth in smartphone mobile apps has been explosive, and Ford has worked hard to respond at the speed of the consumer electronics market,” said Doug VanDagens, director of Ford’s Connected Services Organization. “SYNC is the only connectivity system available that can extend that functionality into the car. AppLink will allow drivers to control some of the most popular apps through SYNC’s voice commands and steering wheel buttons, helping drivers keep their hands on the wheel and eyes on the road.”

The Android Market^TM and BlackBerry App World™ are among the leading growth markets for mobile apps. The new SYNC AppLink will seamlessly integrate apps using the vehicle’s voice and user interface controls, including buttons on the steering wheel, increasing eyes-on-the-road and hands-on-the-wheel time.

The first SYNC-enabled apps available later this year include Pandora internet radio, Stitcher “smart radio” and Orangatame’s OpenBeak app for Twitter, with additional apps on the way. Updated versions of each app, incorporating the SYNC application programming interface (API), will be available through Android Market and BlackBerry App World for customers to download.

Built-in, Beamed-in and Brought-in: The SYNC App Ecosystem

From its introduction, Ford has been building an ecosystem of available SYNC apps, continuously improving the consumer experience.

• Built-in apps, including Vehicle Health Report and 911 Assist^™, are downloaded and installed directly on the in-car SYNC operating system
• SYNC apps like Traffic, Directions & Information rely on beamed-in, or “cloud-based,” information. Drivers access the Ford Service Delivery Network, a network of data centers providing turn-by-turn directions, business searches, and on-demand news, sports and weather information, through a simple voice-connection using their cell phone.
• SYNC AppLink represents the third category of the ecosystem, brought-in apps, leveraging apps installed on a user’s smartphone, such as Pandora, Stitcher and OpenBeak

Studies show mobile app development – a niche market just three years ago – is expected to blossom into a $4 billion industry by 2012. Sites serving specific mobile operating systems, such as Android and BlackBerry OS, have experienced massive growth, with analysts predicting the mobile device will become the No. 1 source for Internet access by 2015, surpassing the home computer.

Ford and SYNC will answer the consumer demand by offering the only platform available for drivers to safely control their mobile devices and applications in the car. Leveraging SYNC’s safer voice commands and steering wheel controls, drivers are able to keep their hands on the wheel and eyes on the road. “Brought-in” apps residing on a consumer’s smartphone also eliminate the need for yet another piece of hardware to be installed in the car which only serves to add cost and complexity.

Customers will be able to download SYNC-enabled mobile apps through the same app store interfaces currently used. As SYNC-enabled versions of existing apps are released into the app stores, users will be prompted to download the latest version upon connection. Also, as developers grasp the notion that the vehicle interior has opened to them, a new dimension of apps designed from the outset to maximize the unique in-car environment will follow.

Opening the door to developers

To facilitate future SYNC-enabled app development, Ford has also activated a new developer network on its SYNCmyride Web site (www.syncmyride.com/developer). Interested developers can find a link to submit innovative ideas, and sign up for the latest information and news about the SYNC application programming interface (API) and software development kit (SDK). The package will allow developers to modify existing applications and create all-new apps that can successfully interface with SYNC.

Working with trusted partners, Ford is completing beta-testing on the SDK. Once beta-testing is complete, a broader release of the development tools is planned for later this year. Initial reports have been positive, with one of Ford’s development partners creating a SYNC-enabled version of its app just three days after receiving the development tools.

“We’re very pleased by the rapid development time and positive feedback we’ve seen from our first partners,” said VanDagens. “We want to encourage all developers to visit our site and submit ideas, helping us tap into the global pool of innovation and creativity.”

# # #

About Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 198,000 employees and about 90 plants worldwide, the company’s automotive brands include Ford, Lincoln, Mercury and, until its sale, Volvo. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford’s products, please visit www.ford.com.

The BlackBerry and RIM families of related marks, images and symbols are the exclusive properties and trademarks of Research In Motion Limited.

Android and Android Market are trademarks of Google, Inc.

Filed in categories: Car Gear, News

Tagged: Car

2011 Ford Fiesta to Receive New SYNC AppLink Capability originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 20, 2010 at 8:45 am.

The reVIVE II Dual USB Car Charger from Scosche allows you to charge your iPad and another device while travelling by car.  The reVIVE II has a 2.1A USB port for charging your iPad.  There’s also a second 1A USB port to charge another device simulataneously.  The reVIVE II Dual USB Car Charger is $24.99 from Scosche.

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

Tagged: Car, power adapter

reVIVE II Dual USB Car Charger for iPad from Scosche originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 14, 2010 at 10:45 am.

Skinning your phone and other gadgets with custom vinyl decals is nothing new, but how would you like to be able to do the same thing with your car? Original Wraps Inc. (headed up by the original founder of SkinIt.com) is providing car owners the same capability with today’s launch of its vehicle graphics personalization technology. Ford Motor Co. and MINI USA are already on board. American Idol fans may have noticed the Ford Fiesta commercial spots on the show that have been featuring custom designs. Full press release after the jump.

Original Wraps Inc. Brings First On-Demand Vehicle Customization to Auto Industry

With nationally secured partnerships including Ford and MINI USA, new graphics program enables OEMs to offer customers complete vehicle personalization

(Golden, Colorado – April 13, 2010) – Original Wraps Inc., the leading international provider of vehicle personalization and customization products, announces the launch of its vehicle graphics personalization technology providing drivers, auto manufacturers, car dealers, automotive retailers and wholesalers with a complete, on-demand vehicle customization program. Already offered by Ford Motor Company and MINI USA, with plans for other OEMs later this year, Original Wraps proprietary personalization technology enables OEMs to offer personalized vinyl graphic solutions to car owners and dealerships, with no up-front costs associated with adding the program.

Founded in 2006 by Skinit.com original founder, Tom Stemple, Original Wraps offers auto OEMs access to the creative development, manufacturing and distribution of high-end, vinyl graphic personalization products for any vehicle and most vehicle accessories, large or small, with no up-front costs. Printed on professional automotive grade 3M Scotchprint On-Demand vinyl and laminated for protection and fade prevention, Original Wraps products enable dealers to offer customers a way to truly personalize the look of their car, while not having the inventory, tooling and risk associated with traditional customization products. Implementing the on-demand customization services for dealers at point of sale, Original Wraps handles all manufacturing, warranties and shipping.

“In a drowning economy, auto manufacturers were looking for ways to offer customers a little something extra during the car-buying experience,” said Tom Stemple, CEO, Original Wraps. “With Original Wraps technology, OEMs are now able to offer complete on-demand vehicle personalization, without all of the up-front infrastructure costs. With partnerships in place with most of the major auto makers, we already own the marketplace and are the definitive name in custom auto graphics.”

“Ford knows that customers want a vehicle to be all their own,” said Jim Abraham, Licensed Accessory Manager, Ford Motor Company. “The fordcustomgraphics.com and fordcommercialgraphics.com Web sites complement our strong accessory portfolio and enable customers to put a personal stamp on their vehicle. The product is installed at a Ford dealer and backed by a warranty.”

Through partnerships with Ford and MINI USA, Original Wraps already powers vehicle customization programs Ford Commercial Graphics, Ford Custom Graphics, Fiesta Movement Graphics, and MINI Motoring Graphics, which all made recent announcements. Ford recently gave each of the top twelve “American Idol” contestants a unique opportunity to work with Ford designers and create their own customized 2011 Ford Fiesta graphics by Original Wraps, as showcased on the March 17th episode of American Idol on Fox.

MINI Motoring Graphics meanwhile recently re-launched their Web site, which now enables MINI Cooper owners to customize everything from A panels and interiors to full car wraps. The site offers users a catalog of products including stripes, panel stripes, sun roof graphics and full roof graphics, which can be personalized using graphic designs provided on the Web site, or by uploading their own creation.

Original Wraps’ vehicle customization program is currently available for all OEMs. Graphic materials are designed to be replaceable, without leaving a residue, and last up to three years. For more information about Original Wraps technology and products, please call 720.746.1600 or visit www.OriginalWraps.com.

About Original Wraps, Inc.
Original Wraps Inc. is the leading international provider of vehicle personalization and customization technology. Their technology provides auto manufacturers, car dealers, automotive retailers and wholesalers with a complete program offering a comprehensive selection of vehicle personalization products. Original Wraps’ products are manufactured utilizing professional automotive grade vinyl, which is custom printed through a 6-color process with one of thousands of unique or licensed designs. The “wrap” is then coated with a scratchproof finish and custom cut, creating a product that fits a specific vehicle perfectly – providing a long lasting stylized automotive makeover. With Original Wraps products, consumers can personalize their vehicle through thousands of vehicle dealers, private labeled distributor Web sites – as well as through the company’s online partners and wholesalers. For more information on Original Wraps, visit www.originalwraps.com.

# # #

Filed in categories: Car Gear, News

Tagged: Car, Custom, Skins, Spotlight Gadgets

Skin your iPhone and now your car with Original Wraps originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 14, 2010 at 9:45 am.

The Just Mobile Xtand Go is a dash or windshield mount for your iPhone 3G3 or 3G. It has a folding arm that allows the iPhone to be rotated vertically or horizontally and maintains access to side controls and the dock connector. What I like about it is that it doesn’t have one of those plastic levers to control the suction cup. This one uses a screw collar design. It’s available now at myGearStore for $39.95.

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

Tagged: Car, iPhone, Mount, Spotlight Gadgets

Keep an eye on your iPhone with the Xtand Go originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 8, 2010 at 1:48 pm.

Lemur Vehicle Monitors offers 3 different wireless modules for your car that look pretty useful. EconoDriver will display cost per trip, current gas mileage and the Green rating of your driving performance (hmmm, not sure exactly what that means…). The SafeDriver module displays the maximum speed, miles traveled and number of sudden stops since the last reset. This would be a good one for parents of teen drivers. The kids can’t reset the device unless they know the PIN number. There’s also a module called AlertDriver that is designed to warn you when you’re driving too fast. All the monitors are easy to install and include a special module that plugs directly into the data port of your car to transmit the data to the vehicle monitor wirelessly. Prices range from $49.99 – $69.99

Filed in categories: Car Gear, News

Tagged: Car, Spotlight Gadgets

Plug and Play Wireless Vehicle Monitors originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on February 19, 2010 at 5:46 pm.