Cars + Trucks
New Automotive Gadgets From CES 2010
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If you have yet to check out the article on Ford’s recent upgrade to their cabin tech interior, then you may be in the dark about the Consumer Electronics Show (CES). CES is an annual gathering of the world’s foremost innovators in technology in Las Vegas, Nevada. As you would expect, these innovators include giants like Intel, Microsoft and many other large technology corporations. At the same time though, small companies bring a few novel ideas of their own to the show, which is typically seen in the automotive gadgetry sector. These are just a few gadgets that I personally see making some big inroads into the market because of their practicality for the average driver.
CarMD
My favourite item in the automotive gadgetry category from CES comes to us from the company CarMD, which fittingly named their gadget “CarMD.” For the burgeoning self-mechanic out there, this handy little device allows you do diagnose a Check Engine Light on your auto. It’s a small device that you simply insert into your vehicle’s PCM port (typically located under the dash on the driver’s side). Then you push a button and it will display the proper codes for your auto’s troubles. It even works with hybrids. After getting the codes off of it, you simply check out CarMD’s website, enter your vehicles information and the codes and it will tell you what the problem is and how to fix it. You can pick up the device for around $99 USD, which is pretty cheap for an automotive diagnostic device.
A Couple Gadgets For Nervous Parents
The age old dilemma of stressing about a new teen driver is still present, but thanks to technology, nervous parents can feel a bit more at ease when they start letting their teens drive on their own. One device that helps to alleviate parental anxiety is the “SafeDriver” by Lemur. This little device is essentially a high tech key chain that you snap onto your teen’s key ring. After that, you simply insert a wireless sensor into the car’s PCM port (again, under the dash). The sensor transmits data from the engine to the high tech key chain. If you want to check up on your teen driver, simply install the software that comes with the SafeDriver on your PC and download information that includes maximum speed, distance travelled and sudden braking count. Don’t worry; you can lock the key chain with a pin number.
Another more expensive and less covert way of keeping tabs on your young driver comes to us compliments of Inthinc’s “Tiwi.” Just like some GPS devices, the Tiwi mounts to the windshield of your teen’s car or truck and gives you the ability to virtually keep tabs on your young driver. Thanks to a built in cellular modem and GPS, you can track the vehicle’s speed, location and a given area’s speed limit. For those interested in the device, it doesn’t come cheap, as it runs a hefty $299 USD.
Entertainment
The electronic entertainment sector of the automotive industry has made leaps and bounds over the past decade. Nowadays a CD player isn’t enough for some, which is why various companies, both big and small, are introducing new ways to keep a driver entertained. The advent of the iPod has brought about many unique devices to bring one’s music collection to the car or truck, but Sony unveiled their DSX-S100 at CES to up the ante a bit. The device looks like and installs just like a standard CD player, but it comes equipped with a “TuneTray.” The TuneTray allows someone with an iPod or another compatible personal music player to load it into the device and play music just like a standard CD. It is scheduled for a June release and will run around $150 USD.
Another popular device geared towards autos at CES was Kenwood’s KIV-BT900. It looks like your standard third party CD player, but it comes equipped with the ability to play digital music and videos. If you happen to own any sort of iPod or Zune, then this device is perfect for you. For the technological astute crowd out there, it can handle audio formats like MP3, WMA, AAC and Wave. The KIV-BT900 can play video format in MPEG-4, WMV and H.264 via a three-inch screen on the device. Finally, it comes equipped with Bluetooth technology, meaning that you can rig up a hands-free calling set or connect a personal music player with Bluetooth capability to it. Be on the lookout in April for it, even though it does run a hefty $500 USD.
More Auto Technology
Companies are always coming up with new and exciting gadgets to make driving more convenient, safer and more entertaining. This year’s crop does not disappoint.
Photo: www.carmd.com
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