Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Return of Paperboy? Honda unveils Bicycle Simulator]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/23/return-of-paperboy-honda-unveils-bicycle-simulator/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/23/return-of-paperboy-honda-unveils-bicycle-simulator/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/23/return-of-paperboy-honda-unveils-bicycle-simulator/#commentsFiled under: , ,



You remember Nintendo's Paperboy, right? Back in Triassic era of videogames, you had to deliver the day's print to the right house while not getting run over by a car or taken out by a tire. Not exactly the most direct way to learn bicycle safety, but it was fun. A more efficient way to stay safe on a bicycle is Honda's new simulator, which aims to teach two-wheeled folks better on-the-road safety.

Traffic fatalities have fallen in Japan but bicycle fatalities have apparently risen, with teens and older riders the biggest victims. The majority of the problems apparently stem from breaking traffic rules, so the simulator allows riders to learn the ways of the asphalt without getting clobbered by a Daihatsu, and provides both learning and a "rider evaluation session" after the demo.

Honda is accepting pre-orders now, and the simulator will go on sale in Japan starting next February. For the full scoop, check out the press release after the jump.

[Source: Honda]

Continue reading Return of Paperboy? Honda unveils Bicycle Simulator

Return of Paperboy? Honda unveils Bicycle Simulator originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 08:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bicyclegadgethondajapansimulatortechMon, 23 Nov 2009 08:29:00 EST<![CDATA[GoPro introduces HD line of Hero cameras]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/13/gopro-introduces-the-hd-line-of-hero-cameras/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/13/gopro-introduces-the-hd-line-of-hero-cameras/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/13/gopro-introduces-the-hd-line-of-hero-cameras/#commentsFiled under: ,

GoPro Hero Motorsports HD -- Click above for high-res image gallery

GoPro has unveiled its line of HD cameras specially adapted for motorsports, helmets, surfing, and R/C - although a bendy arm and a suction cup mean you could use them to record your performance vacuum cleaning as well, should you wish.

The cameras offer the option of five different shooting modes, from WVGA up to 1080p (1920 x 1080, 16:9), and even at the highest resolution you get more than four hours of footage. The 5 megapixel camera can shoot from intervals of 2 to 25 seconds and get you 2.5 hours of snapshots. It retails for $299, and if you want to see what else it's got, follow the jump for the press release.


Gallery: GoPro HD Hero


[Source: GoPro]

Continue reading GoPro introduces HD line of Hero cameras

GoPro introduces HD line of Hero cameras originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 13 Nov 2009 08:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gadgetGadgetsgoprogopro hd herogopro heroGoproHdHeroGoproHeroHD cameraHdCamerahelmet cameraHelmetCameramegapixelmotorsports cameraMotorsportsCamerarc cameraRcCameraWVGAFri, 13 Nov 2009 08:01:00 EST<![CDATA[REPORT: GT5 to get weather changes, night racing - and yes, damage rendering [w/POLL]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/13/report-gran-turismo-5-to-get-weather-changes-night-racing-an/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/13/report-gran-turismo-5-to-get-weather-changes-night-racing-an/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/13/report-gran-turismo-5-to-get-weather-changes-night-racing-an/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



Audi is obviously looking forward to being in the coming Gran Turismo 5. After all, the Quattro company has created a website to promote its car on the Nürburgring in real life and in the game, and it interviewed GT5 mastermind Kazunori Yamauchi about what fans can expect. Yamauchi-san revealed that the game is going to offer not only more vehicles, more online features, and increased detail, but it will also include night racing, damage rendering (previously confirmed), and weather changes.

If you watch the Audi R8 Meets Gran Turismo 5 video, one of the game developers even talks of one day providing weather reports for an entire 24-hour race, and you can read the interview with Yamauchi-san by clicking on a PDF link here. The graphical and gameplay additions are surely welcome and long overdue, and could return GT5 to the head of the racing sim pack - whenever it finally gets here...


View Poll


[Source: GT Planet]

REPORT: GT5 to get weather changes, night racing - and yes, damage rendering [w/POLL] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 13 May 2009 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>audiaudi r8AudiR8gadgetgadgetsgamesgaminggran turismogran turismo 5GranTurismoGranTurismo5gt5lifestyleplaystationplaystation 3playstation3ps3r8videogameWed, 13 May 2009 11:29:00 EST<![CDATA["Ya'll turn left now, ya hear?" - NASCAR-branded Dale Earnhardt Jr. sat-nav hits the market [w/VIDEO]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/21/yall-turn-left-now-ya-here-nascar-branded-dale-earnhardt/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/21/yall-turn-left-now-ya-here-nascar-branded-dale-earnhardt/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/21/yall-turn-left-now-ya-here-nascar-branded-dale-earnhardt/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Follow the jump to hear Dale, Jr. giving you directions on the RightWay Spotter GPS

The Dale, Jr.-edition Spotter GPS has Junior gearing you up for the ride with "You drive, I'll ride shotgun." The portable device offers turn-by-turn directions and features Junior-isms like "Hang a right" and "Park it, we're here." The RightWay Spotter comes installed with 1.7 million points of interest, which includes a point-of-interest tour of Charlotte, North Carolina that can also lead you to some of Dale's favorite places. If that weren't enough, the GPS plays MP3s and videos, displays photos, and has an e-book reader, all for $299.

Admittedly, we were kinda hoping it would only instruct left turns, which, in the words of our tipster, might go something like this:
"Alright y'all are gonna go down here a ways, then turn left. Keep going then turn left. Merge over to the high side and and at the next corner turn left. Then make an immediate left. Continue down this stretch of road then y'all need to turn left...
Follow the jump to watch a video of the real Dale, Jr. telling you how it's done. Thanks for the tip, Derek!

[Source: Twice]

Continue reading "Ya'll turn left now, ya hear?" - NASCAR-branded Dale Earnhardt Jr. sat-nav hits the market [w/VIDEO]

"Ya'll turn left now, ya hear?" - NASCAR-branded Dale Earnhardt Jr. sat-nav hits the market [w/VIDEO] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 21 Apr 2009 16:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dale earnhardtdale earnhardt jrdale earnhardt jr.DaleEarnhardtDaleEarnhardtJrDaleEarnhardtJr.gadgetgadgetsgpsjuniorlifestylemotorsportsnascarnavinavigationpndrightwayrightway spotterRightwaySpotterTue, 21 Apr 2009 16:56:00 EST<![CDATA[Audi centennial timepiece celebrates 100 years on four wheels with four hands]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/03/28/audi-centennial-timepiece-celebrates-100-years-on-four-wheels-wi/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/03/28/audi-centennial-timepiece-celebrates-100-years-on-four-wheels-wi/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/03/28/audi-centennial-timepiece-celebrates-100-years-on-four-wheels-wi/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Audi teamed up with Munich-based watchmaker Chronoswiss to create the Tachoscope, celebrating 100 years of Audi. The mechanical timepiece has a chronograph and tachometer function (to measure velocity) inspired by the Auto Unions that helped define the Audi adventure: the second hand's numerals are derived from the tach in the Auto Union Type C Grand Prix racer.

Also novel is the fact that the hour hand resides in the upper inset dial -- the large hands are the second hand and chronograph. The watch face is enamel and the crown is diagonally fluted like a gear, and the back cover is glass. The Tachoscope comes in two flavors: white gold and platinum. Thankfully, the back cover is glass so you can see where your €14,900 ($19,800 USD) has been spent if you plunked down for white gold, with the platinum edition setting you back €24,900 ($33,000 USD). Only 100 examples will be made, and you can read all about them in the press release after the jump.

[Source: Audi]

Continue reading Audi centennial timepiece celebrates 100 years on four wheels with four hands

Audi centennial timepiece celebrates 100 years on four wheels with four hands originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 28 Mar 2009 11:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accessoriesaudigadgetlifestyletimepiecewatchSat, 28 Mar 2009 11:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Read your OBD-II with iPhone using REV]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/26/read-your-obd-ii-with-iphone-using-rev/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/26/read-your-obd-ii-with-iphone-using-rev/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/26/read-your-obd-ii-with-iphone-using-rev/#commentsFiled under: ,



Here's another iPhone application that demonstrates that soon there is nothing you won't be able to know if you have just one device. DevToaster has created an app called Rev that reads information straight from the OBD-II port on your car and displays it on your iPhone. When it's fully operational, Rev can display things like vehicle speed, RPM, fuel consumption, calculated engine load, and a host of other parameters. You'll even be able to check and reset engine and error codes.

The only hitch is that you need an OBD-II/WLAN interface that can beam the information from the port to the phone. DevToaster is working on that now; in the meantime, you can download Rev Lite at their site and we have a feeling California's going to work on more phone-centric activities to ban.

[Source: DevToaster via WRX Fanatics]

Read your OBD-II with iPhone using REV originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 26 Sep 2008 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>devtoastergadgetgadgetsiphoneiphone appiphone applicationiphone applicationsiphone appsIphoneAppIphoneApplicationIphoneApplicationsIphoneAppsobd-iiobd-ii readerObd-iiReadertechFri, 26 Sep 2008 19:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Forget Gran Turismo, Bus Driver is greatest next-gen driving sim]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/11/forget-gran-turismo-bus-driver-is-greatest-next-gen-driving-sim/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/11/forget-gran-turismo-bus-driver-is-greatest-next-gen-driving-sim/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/11/forget-gran-turismo-bus-driver-is-greatest-next-gen-driving-sim/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Click above for more screen shots of Bus Driver

When I was in Kindergarten, I rode Bus 11. It was an oil-burning 32-passenger GMC that was ready for retirement by 1982. It was driven by Sarge. I'm not sure why she was called Sarge, but her demeanor definitely lived up to the moniker. Frequent exhortations to"SIT DOWN AND SHUT UP" kept us all in line. Nobody ever laughed when she ground the 2-3 upshift. Think you'd enjoy ruling passengers with an iron fist? You could go get the endorsement on your license and then hit the job market, or if that takes too much effort, just buy Bus Driver, the video game.

Hey, at least it's still a driving game, but it's the staid, responsible version of gaming. Rather than speed around a track or create mayhem, your mission is to follow routes in your school bus, city bus or tour bus while picking up and dropping off fares. What fun, the replays must be enthralling. It could be worse, though - it's still a wheeled conveyance you're controlling rather than some Wiimote-powered silliness. We do wish that Meridian4, the game's publisher, had included the DeLorean bus that never got off the ground.

Gallery: Bus Driver: The Video Game


[Source: Winding Road]

Forget Gran Turismo, Bus Driver is greatest next-gen driving sim originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 11 Mar 2008 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>busbus driverBusDriverdriverdrivinggadgetgamegamingmeridian4toyvideo gameVideoGameTue, 11 Mar 2008 09:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Ferrari and Acer team up on PDA]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/06/08/ferrari-and-acer-team-up-on-pda/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/06/08/ferrari-and-acer-team-up-on-pda/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/06/08/ferrari-and-acer-team-up-on-pda/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

A Ferrari PDA. Joy of joys. People still use these things? If you must have one more thing strapped to your belt or stuffed in your pocket, might as well get the one with the Prancing Horse. That way, when everyone else pulls out their toys and starts twiddling as a way to avoid human interaction, you'll have something red, black and flashy.

The Acer 500 is the fruition of an ongoing relationship between the computer maker and the Italian exotic car firm. Launching soon in Europe, the PDA will be equipped with Bluetooth, GPS and an SD card reader. Of less note are the USB 1.1 port and behind-the-curve OS, Windows Mobile 5. We doubt there's been any cranking up of bus speeds inside the unit, but at least this one won't be as costly to fix when you crack it up.

[Source: Caradisiac]

Ferrari and Acer team up on PDA originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 08 Jun 2007 09:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acerbrandingferrarigadgetpdaFri, 08 Jun 2007 09:07:00 EST<![CDATA[New Twingo's dash features rubber grass]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/03/14/new-twingos-dash-features-rubber-grass/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/03/14/new-twingos-dash-features-rubber-grass/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/03/14/new-twingos-dash-features-rubber-grass/#commentsFiled under: ,


click above image for high-res version

We're filing this under "Wish I'd thought of that."

Renault, in its redesigned Twingo (appropriately named New Twingo), is offering an option it calls "Grass-mat" dashboard trim. Essentially, it's a toothbrush turned bristles-up that holds all those gadgets we love so dear in our cars. The rubber fingers sit in a divot in front of the steering wheel, looking much like an abnormally blue sea anemone ready to coddle your Nemo-like iPod in motionless safety. No more digging under the seat for the phone that went flying in turn three, no unsightly Velcro on dash and phone, no more mining the seats for change at the toll booth. Genius.

Click on the above photo (or here) for an up-close, high-res look at the Renault's rubber grass, and click here to see what a New Twingo looks like.

Thanks for the tip, James!

[Source: T3]

New Twingo's dash features rubber grass originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 14 Mar 2007 17:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>automotive gadget holderautomotive gadgetsAutomotiveGadgetHolderAutomotiveGadgetscar gadgetsCarGadgetsgadgetgadget holderGadgetHoldergrass-matnew twingo gadget holdernew twingo gadgetsnew twingo grass matNewTwingoGadgetHolderNewTwingoGadgetsNewTwingoGrassMatrenaultrenault new twingorenault new twingo grassrenault new twingo grass matrenault new twingo grass-matrenault new twingo rubber grassrenault twingoRenaultNewTwingoRenaultNewTwingoGrassRenaultNewTwingoGrass-matRenaultNewTwingoGrassMatRenaultNewTwingoRubberGrassRenaultTwingotwingotwingo gadgetstwingo grass matTwingoGadgetsTwingoGrassMatWed, 14 Mar 2007 17:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Another answer to an unasked question: Saab's Little White Purse]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/02/20/another-answer-to-an-unasked-question-saabs-little-white-purse/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/02/20/another-answer-to-an-unasked-question-saabs-little-white-purse/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/02/20/another-answer-to-an-unasked-question-saabs-little-white-purse/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


We're not sure why strains of "Little Green Bag" are going through our head. Perhaps because it's about as funky as this little white purse. Saab teamed up with fashion designer Osman Yousefzada to create "The Little White Purse." The impetus behind the lash-up is to reduce the approximately one day per year the average woman spends digging around for her keys. This from the car company that mounts the ignition lock on the floor. It costs about $150, and is constructed of Italian leather and a nice, heavy silver plated chain. The compact purse (isn't it always the case, the more you spend, the less you get when you're buying designer goods?) can fit inside another purse, be worn as a necklace, or used as a torture device. Like any good exclusive Euro accessory, the Little White Purse isn't available in the US, but you can order it through the Saab UK website. We have two more pictures of the purse in action on the arm of a young woman after the jump.

[Source: gizmag]

Continue reading Another answer to an unasked question: Saab's Little White Purse

Another answer to an unasked question: Saab's Little White Purse originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 20 Feb 2007 19:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accessorydesigneretcfashiongadgetpursesaabTue, 20 Feb 2007 19:32:00 EST<![CDATA[Fiat rolls out mobile phones]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/05/12/fiat-rolls-out-mobile-phones/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/05/12/fiat-rolls-out-mobile-phones/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/05/12/fiat-rolls-out-mobile-phones/#commentsFiled under:

Forget fleeces, backpacks and skiwear -- Fiat wants its name on the ultimate fashion accessory, the moblie phone. Starting this month, Fiat will offer a number of different cell phone models, including some that are MP3 compatible and take digital photos and video.  Some of the phones are even 'waterproof' -- perfect for those who can't bear to catch a wave or two without phone access. The aluminum and blue finish boasts a high-tech look, while still drawing upon the ages-old Fiat logo, and the packaging draws upon the automaker's heritage as well -- the phone's sales packaging is a plastic tube designed to mimic the look of an an engine piston.

[Source: Italiaspeed]

Thanks to Noah for the tip.

Fiat rolls out mobile phones originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 12 May 2006 10:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cell phoneCellPhonefiatgadgetmobile phoneMobilePhoneFri, 12 May 2006 10:03:00 EST