A start-up company will debut a modular dashboard computer for cars at this year’s CES that will read off email and have several individual control functions for every seat.
It sounds like it’s perfect for multi-tasking nutcase executives addicted to email that can’t wait til they get to the office.
Car gadgetry is a growing market and building a technology that is moddable for many different types of cars is a good idea. Currently, most on-board computers in cars are one-off builds by either the car manufacturers or by big name brands. And they are often limited by the function of the car, like say, a screen that monitors ernergy consumption in a hybrid. But no one has yet created a must-get, interactive, full on entertainment/communications PC system in a car.
Dashboard Devices‘ double-DIN computer will run for $2,700 and will be called the ENV. It will be sold through computer resellers at first, and it will then be made available to car shops.
The system is probably not the be-all gadget that will bring moddable car PCs to the mainstream but it seems like it will have a lot of good features. It will include Wi-Fi, voice activation, GPS, HD radio, and will have 160 GB of space and 1 GB of RAM for downloading music tracks or movies. The rig will be centered around a 7-inch (800 x 480) touchscreen and will update its firmware automatically.
According to the company, it is also currently talking with AT&T to add full GSM cellular capability.
