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Car Christmas [Winnipeg Free Press (Canada)](Winnipeg Free Press (Canada) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Ten nifty gadgets for the auto aficionado 1. Cute little car kit Bluetooth manufacturers use many adjectives to describe their wares, but Bluetrek's Speaky Car Kit is the first we've seen marketed as "cute." The Speaky is not shaped like a traditional car electronic device but in the manner of a little Buddha-like character that sits on the dashboard and wirelessly receives and transmits calls from Bluetooth-enabled cellphones. Available in black or pink, users press the large belly button to receive and reject calls. The product has noise cancellation, a pairing process that doesn't require PIN codes and a motion sensor that detects when somebody is present and turns itself on accordingly. $70; visit bluetrek.com 2. LIVE goes live in Canada TomTom has unveiled the Go LIVE 1535M GPS and, with it, the introduction of the company's LIVE service into the Canadian market. LIVE provides en route access to Internet services such as TripAdvisor, Expedia, Yelp, Twitter and more. The five-inch capacitive touchscreen device features a built-in mount, voice recognition, integrated Bluetooth, an advanced lane guidance system and lifetime map updates. The 1535M is bundled with a free 12-month subscription to the LIVE service. $270; visit tomtom.com. 3. Stop airborne contaminants Sharp's newly unveiled IG-BC2B In-Car Plasmacluster Ion Generator fits in the cup holder and uses its purifying technology to combat the effects of mould, allergens, odours and viruses in the car. The device plugs into the cigarette lighter adapter and functions at a speed of 25,000 ions per cubic centimetre. The IG-BC2B has a lifespan of more than 19,000 hours, which equates to six years at eight hours per day. $150; visit sharp.ca. 4. Keeping them quiet back there The problem with an in-car overhead monitor during a family commute is that everybody has to watch the same stuff. Wise parents may choose to opt for a couple of Archos 35 Vision Personal Media Players, which arrive as a small 3.5-inch TFT screen and plays digital music and videos. On one charge, you will get up to 14 hours of music or up to five hours of video. And, at only 102 grams, the media player's weight is easily held by kids of all ages. $100; visit archos.com. 5. The iRoc denounces freedom The iPod and iPhone are so sexy that electronics manufacturers proudly develop stereos that are completely reliant upon Apple devices. So goes the new iRoc, which arrives as a single-DIN or double-DIN unit and can only play audio from an attached iPod or iPhone. This product is a proud slave to Apple, cradling and charging the Apple player and transmitting audio to the car speakers. You don't get AM/FM radio functionality, but this is more than replaced by Internet radio apps. The iRoc ultimately helps consumers to complete their Apple total lifestyle integration, essentially turning an iDevice into a car stereo. $400; visit iroconline.com. 6. Sound that will wow you Drivers who use their iPhones or iPods to play in-car audio will enjoy SRS Labs' new iWOW 3D, a device that connects the music player to the car stereo and converts compressed digital music into a full-fledged, almost IMAX-style 3D experience. There's a downloadable app that lets users customize the audio settings. SRS Labs is a company that has achieved massive success in developing audio software solutions that are used in all manner of consumer electronics. This device is among the company's first that's designed directly for consumers. $60; visit srslabs.com. 7. The Belkin button Accessory manufacturer Belkin has jumped headfirst into the car Bluetooth business with the innovative AirCast Auto HandsFree, which reduces the requisite car kit into one simple button. It's kind of a cool proposition, as this single button attaches anywhere in the vehicle, plugging into both the 12-volt socket and the car's stereo auxiliary port. It will wirelessly receive phone calls from Bluetooth-enabled mobile phones, and a microphone is built into the button. Audio is transmitted via the wire to the car stereo, and the product removes any need to use a bulky headspace-limiting Bluetooth device on the visor or jam a headset behind the ear. $80; visit belkin.com. 8. Smart Clip is in the eye of the beholder At first glance, the notion of attaching a smartphone to the steering wheel for easy access while driving might seem like a really stupid idea. And yet, this is the premise behind GoSmart Clip, a product that affixes to the steering wheel so phone calls and GPS use is more convenient while driver hands are busy operating the vehicle. While the thought of having the ultimate driving distraction front and centre may not seem safe, in practice, the product makes it awkward for drivers to actively engage in using the phone. The screen can be glanced at for navigation directions, but drivers would have to remove both hands from the wheel to text. With mature driver restraint, the GoSmart Clip is not unsafe, and it's an innovative product to say the least. $26; visit gosmartclip.com. 9. Curtain rises on augmented reality The Wikitude Drive app, only available for Android phones, uses something called "augmented reality" to deliver GPS navigation in a manner never before seen. The software makes use of the actual road ahead by utilizing the Android phone's camera. Wikitude Drive augments the reality of the photographic view by adding navigation data on top of the road image. So, when following the navigation path in street view, you will actually see the street ahead with a graphical indicator as to which way to go. The product utilizes NAVTEQ data in order to also provide points of interest, all of which pop up in new and innovative ways on the augmented reality platform. Only recently available in Canada, the product is technically still in beta form, and the technology is a long way from perfection. But it's worth getting a taste of the future. $14; visit wikitude.com. 10. BEARTek needs bikers with bread: Paired up with a Bluetooth-enabled mobile phone, Blue Infusion Technologies' BEARTek Bluetooth Gloves are ideal for motorcycle riders as it allows them to control their phone calls or music consumption by way of various finger and thumb motions. Glove wearers need only touch their thumb to the tip of a pre-set finger to control all aspects of their Bluetooth-enabled device without turning their head away from the road or taking their hands off their instruments. The manufacturer is taking pre-orders through a crowd-funding website at www.indiegogo.com, which means that, unless there are enough people interested in seeing this product come to fruition, it may never come to market. But if it does and it's good -- and we helped to make it happen -- that would be pretty cool. $130; visit beartekgloves.com. 11. Elegance in back-seat entertainment: Vogel's new RingO is a system that safely affixes tablets to the back of the front-passenger headrest to create an entertainment system for people in the back seat. The tablet is inserted into a holder that snaps on to the car mount, which is locked to the passenger's headrest. No tools are needed for installation, and attaching and removing the tablet is very simple. The result is a versatile entertainment environment for the back seat that does not require a complicated setup. $60; visit tabletonthewall.com. 12. Magellan has eyes for your car's back end: GPS manufacturer Magellan has departed from its core business with the launch of the Wireless Back-Up Camera companion product for its popular RoadMate navigation line. The product attaches to the vehicle's rear licence plate and transmits video directly to a compatible Magellan GPS navigator. When the car is put into reverse, the navigator automatically switches from map to rear-view mode, enabling drivers to see what is behind the vehicle. Dust-proof and waterproof, the fact the product is wireless means there's no need for professional installation to hide unsightly cables strewn across the vehicle. $150; visit magellangps.com. (c) 2011 F.P. Canadian Newspapers Limited Partnership |