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newVideoPlayer("/gamecar_gizmodo.flv", 506, 360,""); Because the DVD players and in-car PS3s were starting to bore the kids, three students at the Berlin University of the Arts have created a video game that uses what's going on outside a car's window, incorporating it into the game. Behold CARCADE! Utilizing a webcam and a laptop, the program detects the landscape outside the window and then lets players zoom around the obstacles. The game is currently in demo form but shows off some fairly awesome technology. [ Carcade via Gizmodo ]
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newVideoPlayer("/trickplate_Jalop.flv", 494, 400,""); Ever since James Bond showed off the rotating plates on his Aston Martin, people have been inspired to rig up their own devices to conceal their vehicle's identity. Recently, a trucker was nearly caught using such a device to avoid paying tolls. The trick plate was mounted on a hinge and connected to a cable which ran into the cabin, the end of which went through the old cigarette lighter socket, and was activated just by pulling out the lighter. It's brilliantly simple, and evidently rather popular among truckers looking to beat the system. Stick it to the man! [via Yahoo , Gizmodo ]
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newVideoPlayer("BMWe30drivingsim_jalopnik.flv", 494, 400,""); The cockpit of many modern cars may make the driver feel like they're in a video game, what with drive-by-wire steering, floppy-paddle gearboxes, and an array of electronic nannies. But what about a video game that makes you feel like you're in a real car? Thats what one Bimmerphile over at r3vlimited was apparently going for with this: a driving simulator cockpit that utilizes the ergonomic interior of an old E30 BMW 3-Series . But, this isn't just some junkyard seat sitting in front of a TV, everything is actually functional. The steering steers, the shifter shifts, the gauge needles pivot, the vents blow, the radio cranks out tunes, you even have to twist the key to restart the car if you stall out. Don't believe us? Check out the video. galleryPost('e30drivingsim', 6, 'But Wheres The iDrive?'); [ r3vlimited ] Hat Tip to TheGuinnessTooth !
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newVideoPlayer("exhaust-air-jack.flv", 463, 387,""); Feeling too lazy to use a manual jack? Next time you find youreslf stuck on the side of the road with a flat and no desire to use that emergency scissor jack in your trunk, you could consider using one of these. It's called the Exhaust Air Jack, and it does just what you think. Simply attach the hose to you tailpipe, sit back, and watch as exhuast gasses are rerouted into a bright orange bladder which inflates to jack your car up. Had too much of this world? Put the bag inside the car and use your knife to punch a few holes in the bag. [via Gizmodo ]
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newVideoPlayer("FordMirrorTech_gawker.flv", 475, 376,""); Starting in 2009, Ford will be offering two new features to aid blind-spot visibility for drivers. The first feature is the Cross Traffic Alert with Blind Spot Monitoring System, a new technology to alert the driver of objects in their blind spots when reversing and while driving. Basically, as you can see from the video above, the system shoots radar out of the ass of Ford, Lincoln and Mercury models equipped with the new technology and warns the driver. Warning occurs with either a tiny red light on the side view mirror (in the case of another vehicle sitting in your blind spot while driving) or on the side view mirror, on your vehicle information center and with a loud beeping noise (in the case of the cross traffic alert while reversing). This differs from the current system of "turn-and-look" by being able to detect objects not only directly behind the car, but to the sides as well. So that covers...
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newVideoPlayer("finger_tts.flv", 463, 387,""); Okay, we know Boston is a tough place for GPS navigation units, but we didn't know it was this tough. This morning, the Today Show pitted three drivers against each other using three different GPS navigation units from TomTom, Garmin and Magellan navigating in Boston. It seemed like a simple test, but Greg John, the driver using the TomTom needed to make it apparent he won by flipping the bird to WHDH anchor, Adam Williams after his victory. Greg John must have a lot of pent-up anger from having two first names. It's okay, buddy, it's just GPS, no need to be so hateful.
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newVideoPlayer("300c-part3.flv", 463, 387,""); So you've seen the brief introduction to Chrysler's MyGig entertainment center and you've watched me get my hands dirty setting it all up, so what's the final verdict? Well, watch the talking head above and see. I am very happy to bear witness to Chrysler taking another step towards the future of car entertainment and infotainment centers--which amounts to simply slapping a complete PC into the dash. So which manufacturer wants to be the first to have a factory installed Windows- or OS X-powered machine that is completely open to customization? Any takers? I guess I'll just to do it myself. galleryPost('300cheritageext', 3, '2008 Chrysler 300c Heritage Edition'); galleryPost('chrysler300cmygigint', 3, 'Chrysler 300c Interior & MyGig');
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newVideoPlayer("300c-part2.flv", 463, 387,""); Last week, I gave you a brief introduction to the Chrysler MyGig system in a 2008 300c Heritage Edition, and now I'm here to show how all of this hard drive mumbo-jumbo works. All in all, it's a really, really easy system to use. So easy I would be comfortable letting my grandmother attempt to save music to the hard drive. Stay tuned for part three when I give a final verdict, including putting on my favorite Negative Nancy hat. galleryPost('300cheritageext', 3, '2008 Chrysler 300c Heritage Edition'); galleryPost('chrysler300cmygigint', 3, 'Chrysler 300c Interior & MyGig');
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newVideoPlayer("mygig1.flv", 463, 387,""); Now that we've finished putting the Microsoft Sync system through the grinder , it's time to take a look at the MyGig system featured in a variety of Chrysler vehicles. To simplify, MyGig is a pretty standard infotainment center, but with a "ruggedized" hard drive slapped behind it. Check out the video preview of the MyGig system above and stay tuned for Part 2, in which I slip on my Speedo and dive into the MyGig system like nobody's business. galleryPost('300cheritageext', 3, '2008 Chrysler 300c Heritage Edition Exterior'); galleryPost('chrysler300cmygigint', 3, 'Chrysler 300c Heritage Edition Interior, MyGig');
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newVideoPlayer("final-review.flv", 463, 387,""); It's part three of my adventures with the Microsoft Sync. I unboxed the hell out of it , then attempted to set up the entire system and now I am going to take the 2008 Ford Focus SE out on a joy-of-technology ride around the greater Dallas area, try to not kill anyone in the process. Check out the video review above and see some of my final impressions of the system below. Overall, I was pretty happy with Sync. The media functionality was superb and actually using the system while driving is very easy. The commenters are ripping on me for owning a Zune (and likely my taste in music, as well), but Sync worked wonders when paired with this device, and would work just as well with players from Apple, Creative, iRiver, Sandisk and so on. With the CD, AM/FM, Sirius, USB, auxiliary input and Bluetooth connectivity, the entire spectrum of media is covered and capable of being played through the Sync system. Unless you still...
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newVideoPlayer("focus-setup.flv", 463, 387,""); The "unboxing" of Sync yesterday didn't go quite as well as I was hoping , but no fear, there's a trusty 80-page manual to guide me through setting up the Sync in-car entertainment system. I was able to connect my Zune to the system pretty easily yesterday, so today's setup revolved mostly around setting up my cellphone, which was quite the task. See some of my frustrations in the video above, and hit the jump for commentary about the Sync system, how I decided to approach it and setting up a cellphone. Don't be intimidated by my unboxing yesterday. I approached the Sync the same way I would review any other kind of consumer electronics--and the way any ordinary human being would use a similar type of electronic doodad. Meaning: Play first, read later. The first hurdle setting up Sync was determining the method of standard operations. It took me a little while to figure out the menu system for...
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newVideoPlayer("focus-unboxing.flv", 463, 350,""); You've seen the commercials , but really, how easy is the Microsoft Sync in-car entertainment system to use? I decided to give Sync an unboxing, similar to the ones our brethren do. I'll give you a hint how it went: Don't get your hopes ups. This is only Part One of a three-part series, in which I'll wrestle with the technological gods and attempt to achieve success with Microsoft Sync. Stay tuned later this week for my attempts to set everything up and provide a full blown review. A correction to the video: Sync DOES work with a wide variety of MP3 players and cellphones, not just the Microsoft-branded Zune. You can consult SyncMyRide.com for a list of all compatible gadgets. galleryPost('2008focusse', 3, '2008 Ford Focus SE Exterior'); galleryPost('focusmsoftsync', 3, 'Microsoft Sync');
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We'll be there live on Tuesday when GM CEO "Slick" Rick Wagoner gives the keynote address at the 2008 Consumer Electronics Show in Vegas -- and boy are we glad we're going. We're hearing the General's main man will be devoting part of his speech to GM's desire to really create KITT from Knight Rider . No, not an advanced crime-fighting vehicle with turbo boost, rather, a driverless car -- and one that could be ready for sale within a decade using technology described in the above video from earlier this year. At least that's what Business Week is reporting this evening. More after the jump: "Much of the technology already exists for vehicles to take the wheel: radar-based cruise control, motion sensors, lane-change warning devices, electronic stability control and satellite-based digital mapping. And automated vehicles could dramatically improve life on the road, reducing crashes and congestion. If people are interested...the company plans to test...
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newVideoPlayer("SuperBumper_gawker.flv", 475, 376); We get a lot of product pitches over here in the Jalopnik tips e-mail box . I guess y'all should be flattered all these PR-types all want to get their random crap product in front of your eyes. In fact, we get so many we don't even have time to read through most of them, leading to many getting nothing more than a cursory once-over before being relegated to the Trash bin. That was the fate for this here product -- the "SUPERBUMPER" -- an energy absorbing, receiver mounted ball mount -- when we first saw it. According to the press release, it: "combines a ball mount with an energy absorbing bumper or "Hitch Step" that protects your vehicle from rear-end collisions, reduces whiplash injuries, shields your gas tank from under-ride, eliminates parking lot and parallel parking dents and dings while lowering insurance claims. The patented compression system passed a 5 mph "Rear Into Pole"...
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newVideoPlayer("NissanAroundView_gawker.flv", 475, 376); Called the " Around View Monitor" and it's the latest bit of techie goodness we'll be seeing from the minds at Nissan . It uses cameras mounted at the front and rear and on both sides of the vehicle to take pictures of the surrounding road surface. Those shots are then "synthesized" by an image processing technique into one view that is shown on the dashboard. Basically, it creates a "Bird's-Eye View" of the vehicle to better allow the driver to park, turn, and do all sorts of other "tricky" maneuvers. Sounds great for larger vehicles. We guess that's why the first vehicle it's showing up in is the Nissan Elgrand van in Japan. What makes far less sense is that the first vehicle it'll be showing up in here in the United States is the new Infiniti EX35 . Because that's what the EX35 needed -- more toys. [via FarEastGizmos ]
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