Recently in Auto Category

Garmin announced today that the new Suzuki SX4 will be equipped with Garmin's navigation system. This will be the first time a navigation system will be a part of standard fitmet on a vehicle under US $16,000. The system not only comes with an integrated mount but is also easy to remove and carry around for adventures on foot.

The system will be based on Garmin's nuvi 700 series and will be christened Suzuki T.R.I.P. (Travel, Real-time traffic, Information and Play) and will feature maps of North America. The device will feature a largish 4.3-inch touchscreen display and millions of POIs. The base version of this navigation system will be included as part of standard equipment but customers are free to choose an upgrade package to the premium version, which includes dynamic content from MSN Direct including real time fule prices, traffic and weather reports.

The POI database will be enhanced by Suzuki to add lifestyle-oriented, Suzuki-recommended destinations and landmarks. The 2009 Suzuki SX4 will hit dealer showrooms this summer.

Pioneer Electronics has recently announced the new Premier PRS-1900 4-channel reference amplifier. Redefining "state-of-the-art" with its mobile amplification, Pioneer Premier PRS-A900 car amplifier will deliver high performance and quality. Incorporating components that were first tested and then selected, the Pioneer Premier PRS-A900 Amplifier is a specially designed amplifier. Its simple and clean circuit ensures that it amplifies only the signal without altering the sound on its way.

"Our engineers painstakingly over-engineered each section of the PRS-A900 to produce one of the most accurate and musical automotive amplifier ever created, while at the same time achieving excellent dynamics, power output or reliability. Virtually every aspect of the PRS-A900, from the components on the circuit board to the bottom of the chassis, were designed for reproducing incredible sound quality," said Larry Rougas, vice president of marketing and product planning for the mobile business group of Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc. "What resulted is an amplifier that can satisfy even the critical listener."

Pioneer, the famous in-car product manufacturer has always come up with something new to entertain us in our cars and this time it is the new Premier PRS-A900 Amplifier. This amplifier from Pioneer includes a bottom cover that intends to isolate the pure audio signal and rejects noise. Pioneer Premier PRS-A900 Amplifier is available now at a suggested price of $ 1,500 from stores in the US.

Check out this concept car from Chrysler. The ecoVoyager features a futuristic design and true to its name runs off a lithium-ion battery pack and an advanced hydrogen fuel cell. Chrysler claims a range of up to 300 miles. It has a distinctive design where the front and back doors open in opposite directions.

While it looks a bit funny at first, it does seem sensible. More pics in the extended entry.

Chrysler ecoVoyager

MobileWhack was at the New York International Auto Show 2008 (last day is today!) that happened at the Javits Convention Center in New York. There were a host of new/concept cars on display including the Honda FCX Clarity - a fuel cell car. The fuel-cell stack in Clarity converts hydrogen fuel and oxygen into electricity that is then used to drive the engine. The end result is, you guessed it, water vapor, making it a truly zero-emission alternative.

As you can see, the current FC stack from Honday is much more compact compared to one they had in 1999. The FCX Clarity motor's rotor shaft has a hollow construction where the driveshaft passes through the center in a coax configuration, allowing the motor and gearbox to be combined into a single unit.

The Clarity is currently in limited availability in Southern California.

Honda FCX Clarity

Sony's new MEX-BT3600U CD tuner has it all: USB and Bluetooth interfaces, a quick-search interface that lets you browse your MP3 media and support for hands-free through the car stereo. If your Walkman or mobile phone can stream audio over Bluetooth, then the MEX-BT3600U can receive and play it back on the car stereo. Thanks to support for Bluetooth A2DP (advanced audio distribution profile) and AVRCP (audio/video remote control profile), you can skip tracks or pause audio from your car stereo.

A USB port on the front of the player provides a convenient way to connect your digital music player. The front-panel AUX input also lets you connect an external player's audio output. Featuring 24-bit D/A conversion and 52Wx4 channels, the Sony MEX-BT3600U has three separate pre-outs as well.

The unit also comes with a card-sized infrared remote. No word on the pricing yet.

Ruggedized notebooks or cell phones is nothing new but Plantronics now brings the moniker to the sissy world of Bluetooth headsets with the Explorer 370. This sturdy headset can talk the talk (yes, pun intended!) with 7 hours of talktime and 8 days on standby and walk its water/dust/shock-resistant walk, being military standard and all. Apart from its tough exterior, there is also "windscreen technology" effectively filtering out noise no matter where you are and QuickPair for smooth pairing with your ruggedized cell phone.

The Explorer 370 will be available starting in March for a suggested price of $79.95 with its less hardy Explorer 360 sibling priced at $69.95.

Big corporate outfits are known to do their big bit in the ongoing battle against social issues afflicting the world today. To date, Microsoft and Dell have chipped in more than 57 million through their (RED) campaign to the ongoing fight against AIDS in Rwanda, Swaziland, and Ghana. In the same vein, the behemoths have now teamed up again to help customers make a difference in the fight against AIDS in Africa offering (RED) branded high-end products.

These products consist of Dell's premium XPS One (PRODUCT) RED PC, XPS M1330 and M1530 (PRODUCT) RED notebooks, and the 948 All-In-One (PRODUCT) RED printer. All RED PCs and notebooks will be powered Windows Vista Ultimate (PRODUCT) RED, making Microsoft the exclusive partner for all RED-branded Dell products. With each purchase, both the companies will contribute $50-$80 to the Global Fund and $5 Dell contribution for the RED-branded printer. All of the funds will be diverted to Global Fund-financed grants in Africa.

Pinpoint Labs has unveiled a portable edition of its popular SafeCopy 2.0, the SafeCopy 2.0 Mobile Edition. This new software works with U3 compatible devices enabling users to copy files without altering timestamps or metadata associated with the files. U3 is a standalone application environment that allows users to install and run software directly from a USB device. Professionals can use SafeCopy 2.0 on different PCs without having to install the software. This easy-to-use application allows for easy directory selection and supports drag-and-drop in Windows Explorer. It also has the ability to notify users of incomplete file copies and resume from where it left off.

"Providing a U3 version for our clients resulted from our own experience in the field and the feedback we received from our users," said Jon Rowe, Certified Computer Examiner (CCE), President of Pinpoint Labs. "SafeCopy 2.0 Mobile Edition provides fast, secure, portable and documented file collection."

SafeCopy 2.0 Mobile Edition is available as a trial on PinpointLabs site for download with $199 for the complete version.

If you are tired of playing the same old Vortex or Klondike on your nano and need a change, Gameloft is coming to your rescue and it's bringing its best-selling "Block Breaker Deluxe" to your beloved iPod nano, Classic, or the fifth-generation iPod. Available immediately, you can download the game on to your iPod for a meager price of $4.99 via the iTunes Store.

"We revamped the graphics of Block Breaker Deluxe for iPod to make it the most feature-rich, action packed wall breaker game ever created," explains Gonzague de Vallois, senior vice president of publishing, Gameloft. "We think iPod owners will be pleased with the stunning new animation effects, vibrant environments and innovative gameplay."

There are 50 night-life-based levels, 5 modern locations, 5 extraordinary bosses, 11 types of bricks, and 14 power-ups for quick moves. Additionally, an exclusive level editor allows iPod owners to build and play their own levels, which can be shared with others on the iPod community by iTunes.

Bluetooth speakers are ample in the market, but a new addition, especially from a company like Parrot, is always welcome. It has announced its new DS1120 Bluetooth speakers, which bagged the 1st place in the Bluetooth Special Interest Group Best of CES contest in the Music category.

Compatible with any A2DP-enabled and analog audio device, this Hi-Fi duo pack 30W RMS, a class D audio amplifier, a wideband driver, and has a Bluetooth range of 10 meters. There is a touch-sensitive three-button user interface for volume changes and pairing functions. The 3.5mm line-in jack is another nice convenience. All this is packed in a compact and sleek design with each speaker weighing in at around 950 grams.

The Parrot DS1120 will available in second quarter of 2008 for a price of 199 Euros.

Tata has given a tight slap on the faces of those people who think ill about India. Indian people have been subjected to a negative perspective. But TATA has made whole world stand agape at the announcement of the WORLD’S CHEAPEST CAR, TATA NANO.

The launching of Tata Motors' Nano car in New Delhi is like a trumpet of revolution prophesizing the usher of a new era where even the middle class group will be able to enjoy the comforts of a luxurious life. The Tata Nano car is expected to be available at only £1,300.

The big brands like GM, Ford, Toyota, VW, Mitsubishi and Renault-Nissan, who were trying to expand their markets in India, must have faced a set back with Tata’s Nano. The Nano has a rear-mounted two-cylinder engine that not only saves fuel and but creates interior space as well.

Verizon Wireless has revealed its list of top-selling ringtones, ringback tones, and full-length tracks on its premier V CAST service for 2007 at the International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Topping out on ringtones and V CAST is "A Bay Bay" by Hurricane Chris. Other names worth mentioning are Fergie, Soulja Boy, and Timbaland.

Here is the complete list.

Ringtones
"A Bay Bay," by Hurricane Chris
"Beautiful Girls (Main Chorus)," by Sean Kingston
"Buy U A Drank (Shawty Snappin')," by T-Pain
"Crank That (Soulja Boy)," by Soulja Boy Tell 'Em
"Glamorous," by Fergie
"Party Like A Rock Star," by Shop Boyz
"Rockstar," by Nickelback
"Stronger," by Kanye West
"The Way I Live," by Baby Boy Da Prince
"This Is Why I'm Hot (Chorus)," by MIMS

Ringback Tones
"Apologize," by Timbaland
"Beautiful Girls (Main Chorus)," by Sean Kingston
"Big Girls Don't Cry (Personal)," by Fergie
"Buy U A Drank (Shawty Snappin')," by T-Pain
"Crank That (Soulja Boy)," by Soulja Boy Tell 'Em
"Glamorous," by Fergie
"No One," by Alicia Keys
"Party Like A Rock Star," by Shop Boyz
"Rockstar," by Nickelback
"This Is Why I'm Hot (Chorus)," by MIMS

V CAST Music -- Full-track Songs
"A Bay Bay," by Hurricane Chris
"Big Girls Don't Cry (Personal)," by Fergie
"Buy U A Drank (Shawty Snappin')," by T-Pain featuring Yung Joc
"Crank That (Soulja Boy)," by Soulja Boy Tell 'Em
"Cyclone," by Baby Bash
"Hey There Delilah," by Plain White T's
"Kiss Kiss," by Chris Brown
"No One," by Alicia Keys
"Party Like A Rock Star," by Shop Boyz
"Umbrella," by Rihanna

BlueAnt Wireless is definitely peddling a lot of it wares at CES, be it portable speakers, or this new first-of-its-kind BlueAnt V1 Bluetooth headset. The BlueAnt V1 is the world's first completely voice-controlled headset. Yes, I mean control with voice commands like "pair headset," "accept call," "volume up," and so on. And how cool would it be if it responds back to you? Yes, it does that too.

This surprisingly tiny 41x17.5x11.2 mm headset uses the Sensory's BlueGenie Voice Interface, the first time this highly advanced voice recognition tech is ever integrated into a Bluetooth headset. The model also comes with dual microphones to allow Voice Isolation Technology, separating the user voice signal from other sounds around. The Voice Recognition and Voice Synthesis technologies enable the device to recognize commands and reply back to the user.

The V1 works with Bluetooth 2.1 and its multi-point technology allows connecting two cell phones at the same time. It can give up to 6 hours of talktime or 200 hours of standby and can be charged using its multifunction car and desk charger or via USB.

As for buttons, there's only one to speak of with the BlueAnt logo on it.

BlueAnt is using CES 2008 as a launchpad for its new portable Bluetooth Speakers. Dubbed "the world's most powerful speakers," the BlueAnt M1 Stereo Speakers are fresh off the block from BlueAnt and has many expectations to live up to.

Do not be deceived by the smallish form factor as the BlueAnt M1 Stereo Speakers come with a whopping 28W RMS, the highest as of now for any portable speaker system, enough to satisfy any serious music lover. The built-in subwoofer uses an anti-distortion circuitry resulting in a highly detailed replica of any music you want.

It is compatible with any A2DP-enabled device letting you blast your music anywhere, be it your car, beach, or even as a tiny replacement for your music system at home. Best of all, it's wireless taking away the clutter of wires. Optionally, you can plug in any MP3 player, iPod, or iPhone if you are the wired kinda guy. Portability is its major plus point and it can also be recharged.

The BlueAnt M1 Speaker System will be available in the first of 2008, being priced at $199.

Atlantic, Inc., a leading manufacturer of media storage products, has launched the successor to the CES 2008 Innovations award-winning iceBar with the iceBar2 Speaker System.

As a part of Atlantic's EGO line of iPod accessories, the iceBar2 is compatible with all three generations of iPod nano and is a light-weight, pocket-sized, waterproof sound system that allows users to take their iPod nano just about anywhere, be it a pool party, a hike, rain, snow, or even the shower. Made of a transparent, bullet-proof polycarbonate material with corner bumper safeguards and shock-absorbing iPod compartment, it ensures that the precious iPod stays safe and dry even under extremely wet conditions. The speakers are made of waterproof neodymium, a clickwheel membrane, and are fitted with a silicon O-ring inside to ensure a tight fit.

Weighing in at just half a pound, the iceBar2 is powered by four AAA batteries and provides up to 16 hours of nonstop playback at medium to high volume. There is also a convenient external power button allowing instant on/off functions. A jack port on top of the can be used to switch sound from speakers to earphones. A flip-out stand facilitates stationing on a desk for listening while at work or home. Another useful accessory is a removable nylon wrist strap, which assures security while toting the system around.

iLuv, a maker of some very interesting iPod accessories, has finally revealed its lineup for CES 2008. Among other products, making its debut is the new i1255 desktop iPod/DVD player, a sleek and sexy player.

This versatile accessory can play audio CDs, MP3 CDs, and music from docked iPods. The integrated dock is compatible with iTouch, iPod Classic (80GB & 160GB), iPod Nano 3rd Gen, and iPod with video (30GB, 60GB, & 80GB). A remote control is included for easy control of the player. The built-in DVD player supports DVD, VCD, MP3 CD, audio CD, and also picture CDs. It supports 5.1 channel audio output for an enhanced audio experience. Other prominent features are multiple subtitles, angles, fast/slow-motion playback, and zoom control. It also has on-screen display for easy navigation of stored media files on an iPod.

You can expect the i1255 to hit the stores in March with a price tag of $129.99.

Mecha has always been a big part of the Japanese anime culture. If you have no idea what mecha is, think Transformers. Every kid who's ever watched mecha wishes for a real life counterpart at least one time during their entire lives. Well, Honda America brings us the nearest thing to mecha they could. For the upcoming New Year's Day Rose Parade, Honda has built a giant ASIMO replica which will "pilot" the Honda Ridgeline.

The Ridgeline according to Honda:

"the hood of the truck to fold forward to become an aircraft cockpit, the doors and sides of the truck to unfold outward to become wings, the wheels to tuck under the body, and the bed of the truck to open and take on the form of an aircraft tail section, complete with rocket engines - and even real fire."

When was the last time a scanner was on your Christmas list? Approved on the FCC's list a couple of days ago was this scanner from RadioShack. Identified as Scanning Receiver AMWUB351, the confidentiality request has the following note: "Because public disclosure of the material might be harmful if information used in this application were used to modify the unit to illegally scan or tune Cellular Radio Service channels, this letter is to remind all persons involved that scanning receivers are automatically protected under 47CFR Section 0.457(d)(1)(ii) that the following be should withheld." It, of course, refers to the circuit description and schematic diagrams.

The scanner requires a mounting area that measures 50mm x 180mm x 135mm. It is powered either by a wall outlet or your vehicle's cigarette lighter. The antenna length can be modified according to the frequencies you want to monitor. You can listen in onto the CB band, police (fire/emergency), aircraft and HAM band services.

Nifty little addition to your car, if you're tired of your iPod or Sirius satellite radio. No word on the pricing or availability yet.

Parrot announced a slew of Bluetooth devices at the Specialty Equipment Market Association's annual show. One of the new devices is a high-performance car stereo with integrated Bluetooth car kit, two are new music kits that support audio streaming and there's also a hands-free phone solution for people riding a motorcycle. The Parrot RK8200 car stereo is a full-fledged Blutooth car kit boasting AM/FM RDS stereo, internal memory that can store up to 300 MP3 tracks, and support for external memory in the form of an SD card reader.

The RK8200 also comes with an iPod connector, input jack for analog devices and USB port for flash drives. This car kit can stream audio over Bluetooth thanks to its A2DP (advanced audio distribution profile) support. Thanks to automatic phonebook sync, call record maintenance and storage capacity for as many as 8,000 contacts, voice recognition and Parrot TTS (text-to-speech), you won't ever have to worry about using your phone while driving. The dual microphone system on the RK8200 handles echo cancellation, while the Parrot dynamic choice of best microphone (DCBM) technology helps in noise reduction.

Priced at US $279.99, the Parrot RK8200 Blutooth car kit will hit the stores in Q2 2008. A bit far away. If you want something quicker than that, you can opt for the Parrot PMK 5800, a Bluetooth/FM portable device that runs on your vehicle's 12-volt outlet. Priced at US $119.99, the PMK 5800 ships in November.

Sony announced four new Xplod in-dash head units for your car. The top-end CD receiver, CDX-GT520, supports MP3 and non-DRM WMA/AAC files. It is also compatible with HD radio, satellite radio and even the Apple iPod. The CDX-GT520 features front/rear and subwoofer preamp outputs. A 13-segment, LCD/blue LED system takes care of the display. Another model in the new line-up is the CDX-GT420IP, a CD receiver with iPod control interface. With a 4.9-foot cable and 30-pin connector for most iPod models, the car stereo provides full menu control.

The Sony CDX-GT320 and CDX-GT120 CD receivers round up the new CD receivers. Both support MP3/non-DRM WMA playback as well as iPod, HD Radio and satellite radio compatibility. All of them also include an aux-input on the faceplate allowing you to use any portable music player with a standard 1/8-inch mini jack cord. Except for the CDX-GT120, all the players also come with remote control.

The new CD receivers are now available at Sony Style stores nationwide as well as online.

Prices:

Motorola has a new Bluetooth wireless music/handsfree car speaker. Called the MOTOROKR T3, the device features a sun-visor clip and control buttons on the front to answer calls and play/pause the music. Volume controls are provided on the side of the ROKR T3. Pair the MOTOROKR T3 with your Bluetooth mobile device using the usual "0000" passkey and you're good to go.

The Bluetooth device also supports streaming audio thanks to the A2DP profile. The best part about the MOTOROKR T3 is that it also comes with an integrated FM transmitter - so the audio that it receives over Bluetooth can be conveniently broadcast to your car's radio. I think this will be the USP of this device -- I am pretty sure I will be getting one of these. I have a Nokia N73 (the music edition, with 2GB memory) - and with the MOTOROKR T3, I won't have to carry a whole lot of other devices to listen to my music collection on the car stereo.

No word on the pricing, but the device has cleared the FCC hurdle, which means it should be on its way to the market soon.

Motorola

Garmin unveiled the new Garmin GMR 24, a 24-inch 4 kilowatt marine radar. It features dual rotation speed for fast near-target updates and the reliability on Garmin Marine Network. The GMR 24 features a 3.6 degree horizontal and 25 degree vertical beamwidth, which aids in acquiring and separating the targets more accurately. With a maximum effective range of 48 nautical miles and a minimum range of 20 meters, the GMR 24 lets you switch the rotation speed from 24 RPM to 30 RPM for rapid target updates.

The unit also helps you avoid traffic on the water using the unit's MARPA target tracking feature, which allows you to track the bearing, course, speed and predicted closest approach of multiple targets. The unit measures 24" (dia), 9.8" (height), and weighs in at a hefty 9.1 kg (20.1 lb). Obviously it's got IPX7 Waterproof rating.

Packaging includes mounting hardware kit, power/network cables and the most important bit, the installation instructions. Priced at US $1799.99, the Garmin GMR 24 is now available.

IOGear's new Bluetooth hands-free car kit will hit the markets soon. The model, cryptically called the IOGear GBHFK211W6, lets you make/receive calls when driving, and also doubles up as a portable speakerphone for your home/office. The device claims superior noise cancellation in the form of Digital Echo Cancellation and Background Noise Reduction. If you have a Bluetooth enabled laptop, you can use it to make VoIP calls as well.

One of the nice things about the IOGear GBHFK211W6 is that it can be charged using a standard car charger or over USB. A class 2 Bluetooth device, it supports a range of about 30 feet (10m). If disconnected from a Bluetooth device for more than 30 minutes, the device shuts itself off to save battery.

The packaging includes the Bluetooth hands-free car kit, a USB charging cable, car charger, easy-to-plug-in Sun visor clip and two AAA rechargeable batteries, along with a user guide. Pairing is easy, use the usual "0000" code with your Bluetooth mobile phone or compatible computer.

No word on the pricing yet.

Garmin unveiled a much-needed affordable GPS device in the nuvi 200 series. The new Garmin nuvi 260 is capable of calling out street names instead of giving never-really-approximate distances. For example, instead of saying "turn right in 100 feet" you get to hear the street name instead. While this feature is already available in several premium GPS devices, the nuvi 260 appears to be the only budget GPS device to offer this useful feature.

The Garmin nuvi 260 comes in a thinner form factor and is apparently easier to mount on the car. As usual, the home screen lets you enter a destination or search a category. If you miss a turn, the nuvi 260 recalculates an alternate route - again telling you the street names. With over six million points of interest and maps of the US, Canada and Puerto Rico, the 260 is a useful addition. Other goodies on-board this GPS device include an image viewer, calculator, currency converter, world clock and unit converter.

The nuvi 260 also comes with the Garmin Lock, a theft prevention system for the GPS. A 4-digit PIN controls the functionality. In addition, you can also use preloaded maps with customized POIs, including school zones and areas with safety cameras. The GPS comes with a 3.5" touchscreen. For additional memory, it supports SD memory cards.

Expected in August 2007, the Garmin nuvi 260 retails for US $499.99. Packaging includes a vehicle suctino cup mount, power cable, dashboard disk and manual.

Offering outstanding picture and sound quality, Sony introduces the XAV-W1 visual entertainment system. The system provides the ultimate in-car listening enviroment with features including easy connectivity to MP3 players and personalization options.

It's large 7" WVGA TFT display, sets a new standard for high-end picture quality in a vehicle. With three audio/video inputs, it is possible to hook up devices including video game systems, cameras, and other audio/video devices. Passengers can enjoy all their favorite DVD, DVD-R/RW, SA-CD, VCD, CD and CD-Rs in superb audio clarity with support for Dolby® Digital surround sound and dts® Digital Surround Processing playback. The player additionally supports WMA and MP3 audio formats, as well as JPEG video formats.

With the Sony XAV-W1's intuitive user interface, it is easy to connect to other entertainment devices to playback videos or digital music files. The system is satellite radio and iPod ready. With a controller device, which is sold seperately, drivers can control their digital music libraries from their connected device. Additionally, with support for Sony’s HD Radio™ tuner, users can enjoy additional HD Radio content. Stations which offer information including artist names and song titles are provided on the stereo’s display.

The Sony XAVW1 unit provides personalization features to let the driver customize their display and sound settings. The driver can customize their display to their favorite photo using the capture function, displaying the image as a wallpaper. With it's digital EQ7, audio can be aligned and tweaked to provide 52 watts of rich, clear sound across four-channels.

Available in August, the Sony XAV-W1 car video system will be priced at $800.

Other Cool Sony Products: