Hasta La Gadget!

ATX, a major but rarely heard-of telematics supplier, has become the first to offer full handsfree text messaging. While the Ford Sync already allows the sending of pre-canned missives by voice command, this new system transcribes your messages and is fully voice-operated, freeing both hands for driving. Given the forthcoming ban on regular old button mashing, you could probably do worse than grabbing one of these and continuing your bad habits. It won’t be easy though, as ATX doesn’t offer retrofits and market leader OnStar has said it won’t be offering a competing product, leaving you to choose from among the upcoming models by Toyota, Lexus, BMW, Peugeot, Mercedes, Maybach and Rolls-Royce. Maybe we’re just jaded, but we’d rather engage in the lost art of talking to people on our good old Gordon Gekko-styled carphone.

[Via Dallas Observer]

Filed under: Transportation

ATX In-Vehicle Text-by-Voice reduces the subtleties of your chatter to cold, hard SMS originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 Aug 2009 12:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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With the whole “direct to consumer” approach failing epically, Clarion has evidently resorted to pushing remaining inventory of its largely unwanted MiND mobile internet device onto Nissan dealers in Los Angeles. In all fairness, we do suspect that these are moving more briskly than, say, Celio’s REDFLY, but we can count the amount of MIDs we’ve seen in public on two or three hands. At any rate, Nissan has signed on to offer the multifaceted Atom-powered device as an optional accessory in its Cube, but at least initially, it’ll only be made available at select dealers in the LA area. For those opting to outfit their new whip with one of these, Nissan will include a dedicated docking kit harmonized to the vehicle’s instrument panel, and the user interface will also be tweaked for in-car usage. Look — this is absolutely better than those lackluster, overpriced NAV units shoved into most dashboards, but at $799 plus installation, it’s not like you’re getting the steal of the century here.

[Via Pocketables]

Filed under: Handhelds, Transportation

Clarion’s MiND finds a home in LA-area Nissan Cubes originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 26 Jul 2009 20:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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And you thought those self-driving whips in DARPA’s Urban Challenge were hot stuff. As the mighty Hokies look to prove their dominance in the field of engineering, a student team from Virginia Tech has assembled what amounts to a vehicle that can actually be driven by blind individuals. In short, the specially equipped dirt buggy is outfitted with an array of laser range finders, an instant voice command interface and a few other related systems that enable drivers to respond to whatever the vehicle “sees.” Best of all, the project is far beyond the drawing board, with a blind driver (Wes Majerus) already singing praises about the vehicle and deeming it a “liberating” experience. Regrettably, there’s no information on what the team plans to do with the vehicle going forward, but we do know it hopes to pass along the same technology to more street-legal motorcars.

[Thanks, Trisha]

Filed under: Transportation

Laser-equipped Virginia Tech dirt buggy can be driven by the blind originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 18 Jul 2009 06:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ah, yes… the future. Remember that? That magical land of flying cars, wearable chariots and Robot Apocalypse? Well, none of that has come to pass (yet!) but if researchers at Liverpool University have their way (and all indications are that they will) the next Ford you purchase will use a laser beam ignition system instead of spark plugs. According to The Telegraph (UK), lasers can be split into multiple beams and aimed at multiple ignition points, making the new system much more reliable. In addition, the engine’s cold weather performance is improved — and as the article points out, “this is the time when around 80 per cent of the exhaust emissions are produced and the engine is at is least efficient.” And if that weren’t enough, the laser system produces more stable combustion, using less fuel in the process. Consumers can expect to see this technology hit showrooms “within the next few years.”

[Via Auto Blog]

Filed under: Transportation

Ford to swap out spark plugs for lasers, windshields for googly eyes originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 17 Jul 2009 14:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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In 2004, it was all about iPodding your BMW, but in 2009, it’s all about Palming it. No, not “palming” as in concealing your car in the palm of your hand — “Palming,” you know, as in the act of hardwiring a Touchstone into your center console so that you can charge a Pre on the road with the greatest of ease. Ironically, this modern marvel of technology is mounted right where the iDrive controller in most newer models would normally go, which means you’re stuck making the nearly impossible choice between this hack and BMW’s.

[Thanks, Mike]

Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds

Dude hardwires Palm Touchstone into BMW, charging ensues originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 18 Jun 2009 15:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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