Autoblog

Amazon looking to bring Kindle to your next car?

Zach Bowman — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 08:45:00 EST

Filed under: Technology, Ford, Infotainment

Maybe so. The online retailer and digital media monolith recently announced the Amazon Cloud Player, an application for Ford Sync that allows users to stream media from their Amazon Cloud account directly to a Ford vehicle. This foray into automotive technology got the minds at Gigaom.com thinking about what could be next for Amazon. As Kevin Fitchard writes, the logical step is to make audio versions of your Kindle library selections available in your car. As he points out, Amazon has already laid the groundwork for such a move.

Amazon pulled the sheets back on Whispersync for Voice last year. The tech pairs ebooks with an Audible book for a small extra fee, allowing users to either read along with a narrator or switch between audio and text versions on command. Fitchard says it wouldn't be some great leap to apply the same principles to a car, where voice recognition software would allow users to pause or select chapters without ever taking their eyes off of the road.

It all sounds just fine to us, but Amazon hasn't said a thing about such a move. Still, we wouldn't be surprised to see the company come down this road in the near future just the same.

Amazon looking to bring Kindle to your next car? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 25 Feb 2013 08:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Watch a Volvo Amazon wagon race a Ferrari 599... and win

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 14:59:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Classics, Wagon, Videos, Volvo, Ferrari, Specialty

We're more than happy to admit we have an intense fondness for the classic Volvo Amazon, especially in wagon form. Among its many virtues are its timeless styling, rugged Swedish structure and, with its range of four-cylinder engines, reliability and economy.

Fast, however, it was not.

At least, not in stock form. But at least one enterprising man named Mattias Vöcks, who works for none other than Koenigsegg, decided to build an Amazon that was debuted back in 2006 at the SEMA Show in Vegas with a bit more power. As in 600 horsepower, courtesy of a turbocharged 2.8-liter inline six-cylinder engine. Yep, that ought to do it, eh?

In fact, it's enough power to embarrass a Ferrari 599 in a straight line. Don't believe us? Check out the video after the break for some terrifyingly fast turbo brick action.

Continue reading Watch a Volvo Amazon wagon race a Ferrari 599... and win

Watch a Volvo Amazon wagon race a Ferrari 599... and win originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 06 Jan 2012 14:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Light Mine Pro is naval warfare-inspired underhood illumination

Jonathon Ramsey — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 07:58:00 EST

Filed under: Etc.

We don't know how the folks at Risk Racing got from naval undersea mine design to the Light Mine Pro, but we're glad they did. The baseball sized, sci-fi-like accessory is comprised of two LED arrays - one white, one red - surrounded by 11 protrusions topped by neodymium magnets. Stick it to any metal surface on your car, and you've fire-and-forget illumination.

Running in three AAA batteries, the eight white LEDs can be used as low-power or high-power spotlights, the four red LEDs function as blinkers or for night vision. And those magnets should come in handy in other ways, such as retrieving dropped objects - assuming the object is at the end of a baseball-sized gap. The unusual multi-function light strikes us as a fair shake at around $20, but we'll have to buy one to see the quality for ourselves.

Light Mine Pro is naval warfare-inspired underhood illumination originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 02 Jan 2012 07:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GearHeadDeals is like Groupon for the car crowd

Zach Bowman — Tue, 03 May 2011 08:31:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Etc.

Hyundai may have been the first automaker to officially partner up with Groupon, but that doesn't mean that the automotive obsessed can't find similar deals elsewhere. Gearhead Deals rounds up all of the best steals of the interwebs for your car in one location. The site picks up automotive-related deals from sites like Amazon as well as directly from manufacturers.

Rebates, coupon deals and discount items are all listed daily for your enjoyment. If you're quick, you can save some serious cash on everything from brake fluid to full tool sets, jacks, wheels, tires and various electronic gadgetry.

Just be aware that some of the deals have expiration dates. The upside is that, unlike Groupon, you don't have to actually buy into the deal in order to reap the benefits. The savings are there for one and all. Now if you'll excuse us, we've got to go figure out how we're going to make more room in the garage for all our swag.

GearHeadDeals is like Groupon for the car crowd originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 03 May 2011 08:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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