18 Feb, 2006
Video of Streetdeck
CNet has posted a video of the Streetdeck software running. This software looks pretty cool. I really like the gestural interface.
[via Autoblog]
Technorati Tags: Streetdeck
18 Feb, 2006
Bluetooth for car audio
I though that I had found a solution to allow me to integrate my cell phone with a car head unit. The Panasonic CY-BT100U is a handsfree kit for Panasonic head units. When a call is received, it automatically mutes the audio and shows the CallerID on the display of the head unit. Then you press the button on the dash to answer the phone call.
One thing that I don't like about it is that you can not make calls with the car kit. Also you can't make calls with the phone when it is paired with the car kit.
Technorati Tags: Bluetooth, CY-BT100U
10 Feb, 2006
StreetDeck
The StreetDeck looks like a very easy way to get a computer into a car. The StreetDeck is a 1.5 GHz PC with 512MB of RAM, running Windows XP Home. It comes with a built-in GPS receiver. Optionally, you can connector a FM or XM tuner. You can also connect this to the car CPU through a OBD-II connector.
The StreetDeck Trunk Mount Bundle includes the CPU and a 7 inch motorized touch screen monitor. The bundle is $1699 at MP3Car.com.
[via Gizmodo]
Technorati Tags: StreetDeck
12 Jan, 2006
Picture of car with new springs
I finally got around to taking a picture of our Sentra with the new springs. I'd have to say, I really do like the way that the car handles now.
17 Dec, 2005
Bluetooth Car Headunit
rjpierson commented in this post about how Jensen has come out with a head unit that supports the bluetooth handsfree profile. The Jensen MP8610BT is a MP3/WMA/CD receiver that has bluetooth so you can talk on your cell phone handsfree. I assume it will automatically mute the audio when you talk on the phone.
I was really interested in getting one of these for our Sentra. When I was looking for more information on it, I saw that the major electronics manufacturers are planning on adding bluetooth support to their head units. I assume that they will be announcing these at CES. The main thing that I want is a head unit that has built-in bluetooth and is satellite radio ready, so I think that I will wait for their announcements.
(More)
6 Dec, 2005
Installed new springs
Last week, I had new springs installed into our Nissan Sentra. I decided to go with the Eibach Pro Kit Lowering Springs, which only lowered the front and rear by 1.2".
I like the way the car drives now. The only problem that I had was to train my expectation of where the location of the seats are. I will take a picture when I get a chance.
Technorati Tags: Eibach Springs, Nissan Sentra
12 Nov, 2005
C'etait un Rendezvous
This post has a link to a torrent of the 1978 film where a Ferrari 275 GTB drives through the streets of Paris at up to 140 MPH. The footage show the driver running red lights, weaving though traffic and pedestrians.
This short reminds me of a lot of the car chases in Ronin.
Someone posted a page that put the route on a map via Google Maps
[via Participatory Culture]
15 Oct, 2005
Mercedes Minivan?
I just saw some pictures of the 2006 Mercedes R-Class. They call it a "Grand Sports Tourer", but it looks like a minivan to me. It is funny that luxury car makers do not want to make minivans, even though I think that there is a market for them.
9 Oct, 2005
Integrated car computer
The ICEPAC is a pretty cool way to get a computer into your car. It is has 1Ghz cpu, 256 MB RAM, 40GB hard drive and a DVD/CD-RW drive. All of this fits in a single DIN unit. The motorized LCD fits in a second DIN slot.
One cool thing about this is that CDs and DVDs can be played without Windows having to be booted. With an external GPS antenna, the computer becomes a GPS navigation unit.
I don't know how well this would integrate with a XM receiver. It doesn't have line in, but it does have a Firewire connection. But I don't think that there are any XM receivers that have a Firewire output.
[via Autoblog]
Technorati Tags: ICEPAC
2 Oct, 2005
Saving money with hybrids
I have been wondering if hybrids really save any money. The last time that I filled my tank, I calculated that I got 25 mile/gallon on my 93 Nissan Sentra, and that in city driving, with me driving aggressively with the flow of traffic. I am sure that I could easily get 30 miles a gallon in city driving.
A bureau cheif for the Wall Street Journal did the calculations, and determined that you will not be able to recover the extra cost of the hybrid in gas savings or in government subsidies.
I would claim if you want to save money and save gas, you should buy a older 4 cylinder engine. If you did that, you could uses some of the money that you saved, and add the extra features that you would get factory installed in the newer cars.
Technorati Tags: hybrid
14 Sep, 2005
Bluetooth head unit
This post on Engadget mentions the kind of head unit that I want to get. It looks like Parrot is going to come out with a head unit that integrates a bluetooth hands free unit into it.
I wonder how much this will cost. Also will this be able to control a XM receiver?
Technorati Tags: Bluetooth
12 Sep, 2005
MP3 player for VW
I saw this post on Engadget. It looks like VW is going to install a USB connector into their cars. This connector will allow USB drives to be connected, and the mp3 files will be played from the media.
When connected, the head unit will treat 6 folders as cds in a cd changer. Then the cd controls will change the mp3 tracks. So it seems that the head unit has support for probably the ISO 9660 file system, as well as a mp3 decoder.
(More)
21 Aug, 2005
Europe gets the cool car head units
It seems that all of the cool head units are available in Europe and not here. A while ago, I was looking at Single DIN Navigation units for my car. I don't like the look of the ones that have the screen that pops out of the unit itself. There were only two available in the US. (The Harman Kardon TrafficPro and the Blaupunkt TravelPilot.)
Europe has a lot available. Here is a page from the gps warehouse that lists all of the single din navigation head units.
(More)
13 Aug, 2005
"Discovered" feature of Navigation
I am sure that this was in the manual, that I haven't read, but I just noticed a cool feature of the Honda Navigation unit. If you click on the icon that shows the GPS signal strength, it will show you the GPS coordinates. Then it also gives the address that is closest to your current position. It also allows you to save this position for later.
I think that this is an easier way to save your current destination, as opposed to doing a lookup for the name of the business or address.
Technorati Tags: Honda Navigation
10 Aug, 2005
Fuel cell bus
Yesterday, I was running some errands and I saw a strange looking bus. It looked like it has a white exhaust, but then I realized that it was steam. The VTA has 3 fuel cell buses.
I think that this is great. I would hope that as municipalities start implementing these sort of things, they would make the fueling stations available to the public. I think that this would allow fuel cell consumer vehicles to proliferate faster.
Technorati Tags: fuel cell