Car Stereo Thieves Looking Elsewhere to Make Those Ends
in-car posts
Mercedes-Benz Shows Off Internet-Connected myCOMMAND System
Mercedes-Benz has already toyed around a bit with some Internet-connected in-car systems, but it looks to really be going all out with its new myCOMMAND system, which it's now showing off at the Los Angeles Auto Show. Among other things, it would constantly pull various traffic information off the Internet and take it into account for route selection, as well as give you access to Internet radio stations, let you make VoIP phone calls, and even give you a browser that'll let you " surf the internet in the accustomed way."
Mercedes is also promising that the entire system will be completely intuitive, with most of the primary functions controlled with a single rotary pushbutton, and two secondary buttons provided for things like menu operation. Of course, it's all still very much a demo at this point, and Mercedes itself says it'll be least a "few more years" before it actually winds up in a production vehicle.
[Thanks, Jason]
Mercedes is also promising that the entire system will be completely intuitive, with most of the primary functions controlled with a single rotary pushbutton, and two secondary buttons provided for things like menu operation. Of course, it's all still very much a demo at this point, and Mercedes itself says it'll be least a "few more years" before it actually winds up in a production vehicle.
[Thanks, Jason]
Google-Enabled BMWs Coming to US Streets
All 2009 American BMW models, except for the lowly X3 mini-'Ute (which BMW doesn't bother manufacture itself), will get Google Maps integration, enabling the driver or passenger to search for businesses from the dash. Directions can be piped to the car's nav system and calls placed via in-car Bluetooth. At $199 per-year, it's not exactly a steal, but that does include standard BMW Assist functionality such as locating your car if it's stolen or dispatching an ambulance if you're in a horrible accident.
Yeah, we only care about the searching too.
Mobile Microwave Turns Your Car Into a Kitchen
We've written about mini-microwaves before, but here's a microwave that's not only mini, it's actually designed to work in your car, so you can heat up pop-tarts or nuke some links while you drive to work (theoretically, at least -- let's hope you do this cooking while parked).
Maplin, a UK electronics retailer (think Radio Shack), is selling a microwave that runs on 12 Volt DC power -- yes, it's meant to be plugged into your car's cigarette lighter, which means you'll be able to heat up your burritos, cold pizza, or even ramen noodles while you careen down the highway at 80-miles-per-hour. Just in case your lighter socket is malfunctioning or you're in need of a little extra juice to nuke that frozen TV dinner, Maplin built in the ability to hook this baby up directly to your car battery. How much will a mobile microwave run you? $180, though it's currently only sold by Maplin, which means you'll pay a hefty overseas shipping premium to get it sent to you Stateside. (Another option for US-in-car-gourmets: the Wave Box portable microwave, which came about about six months ago.)
We've been plugging our Nintendo Game Boys into the cigarette lighter since the early '90s, but we've only recently been noticing appliances originally designed for the home popping up in car-ready forms (Ford Flex's built-in refrigerator, for example, or Chrysler's in-car Wi-Fi router). Check out the gallery below to see some auto innovations (if you want to call them that) that range from said mobile wireless Internet hotspots to in-car refrigerators. [From: Maplin via OhGizmo]
Gallery: Mobile Appliances
Related Links:
_thumbnail.jpg "Vintage Keyboards")
