Autoblog

Don't tell ME how to drive! - Next-gen Ford navigation system could have "emotions"

Dan Roth — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 15:58:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., I.C.E., Technology, Ford

In the near future, Ford vehicles may fire back a retort if you get cheesed off enough to yell at the car. According to the details of a patent filing, Ford is working on an Emotive Advisory System (EAS) that simulates emotions when interacting with occupants, and may also use an avatar to express itself.

The EAS also uses sensors to detect the emotional state of occupants and generate responses based on that data. We all tend to forge some kind of bond with our cars, but it's a little too fantastical and hilarious to imagine rocking down the blacktop in a new Taurus SHO and having the car say "You don't need to drive like a jerk just because you're mad at me."

Gallery: Ford Next-Gen Navigation System

[Source: swdelaw]

Don't tell ME how to drive! - Next-gen Ford navigation system could have "emotions" originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 10 Mar 2009 15:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google Maps-powered BMW Search added to 1 and 3 Series

Jonathon Ramsey — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 17:31:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Convertible, Coupe, Sedan, Etc., Technology, BMW, Lifestyle

BMW Assist -- essentially the Bavarian's version of GM's OnStar -- has made BMW Search using Google Maps available on the 1 and 3 Series. Previously, it was only available on BMW models from the 5 series up. If you subscribe to the BMW Assist Convenience Plan, you can use BMW Search to find businesses, then input the information directly into the navigation system, or call with your Bluetooth phone over the service's AT&T Mobility Network (you don't need to have AT&T, though).

BMW Search joins BMW's MyInfo service, which allowed customers and businesses to send listings and street addresses directly to the car. BMW Assist is standard on 5, 6, and 7 Series, and included in the Premium Package or as a stand-alone option on all other models.

Continue reading Google Maps-powered BMW Search added to 1 and 3 Series

Google Maps-powered BMW Search added to 1 and 3 Series originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 16 Sep 2008 17:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chrysler's in-car wi-fi makes weak first impression

Jonathon Ramsey — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 18:30:00 EST

Filed under: Gadgets, Technology, Chrysler, Lifestyle

A man who purchased Chrysler's uConnect in-car wi-fi recently gave his impressions... and he wasn't exactly impressed. His three main issues were: it's slow, there are no instructions for encryption, and you're limited to 1 GB for downloads.

The Autonet site lists speeds as 600Kbps-800Kbps, and the reader didn't give any idea of the speeds, but he said the router had a hard time keeping an EVDO connection and would go to 1x. Autonet says the "connection is secured with WEP encryption, MAC address restriction or WAN port restricton," but according to the reader, it isn't shipped with any encryption in place and the manual doesn't tell you how to do it or even that you need to do it.

As for the 1 GB cap, that's for the $29 plan. There's a $50 plan that gets you 5 GB, which would be the way to go if you really are going to have the kids on YouTube in the back seat. Of all he writes about, it seems the biggest gripe is the speed -- nothing like trying to watch a 30-second clip that takes eight minutes to download. That's not a minor drawback, but for the convenience of using any wi-fi equipped device, and not having to listen to that American Girl DVD again, it could be worth it.

UPDATE: The co-founder of Autonet Mobile, Doug Moeller, contacted us after reading this post to address some of these issues. He says the user was in a rural area of Vermont where coverage is very poor, so he was moving between 1x networks and no network at all. In fact, the area didn't have any of the EVDO networks that the company supports. Autonet's device can handle maintaining connections as you move between 1x, EVDO-0 and EVDO-A networks very well, but not much can be done if there's no network at all. Also, they don't do usage based billing so it's impossible to get a $800 bill. They even offered this customer a full refund, which is standard practice if anyone is unsatisfied with the service. Finally, Moeller offered Autoblog a unit to test, so look for our own hands-on review of the technology soon.

[Source: Gizmodo via Kicking Tires]

Chrysler's in-car wi-fi makes weak first impression originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 15 Sep 2008 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Drivers may surf .car websites while driving

Dan Roth — Mon, 19 May 2008 12:58:00 EST

Filed under: Gadgets, I.C.E., Safety, Technology

We already know that in-car web browsing is on its way. Both BMW and Chrysler have already revealed that the feature is forthcoming in their vehicles, and more automakers are sure to follow. But telematics provider ATX Group is sticking its nose in to ensure that the web we're one day browsing in our cars is safe to use (read: no fun at all). ATX is working with a group called the Connected Vehicle Trade Association to push a standardized method for getting web content into automobiles. ATX is exploring ways to adapt the traditional web experience to meet the demands of the automotive environment, similar to the way mobile versions of websites target cellphone browsers, nevermind that the mobile web experience pales in comparison to surfing normal websites on a device like the iPhone, which works inside cars last time we checked. One idea is to target automobile surfing through implementation of a standard top-level domain, .car, which would house content specifically designed to work with the to-be-determined vehicular web standard.

With safety in mind, we're guessing that ATX and the CVTA will kick around a text-to-speech function that allows pages to be read-aloud to a driver by the embedded hardware, and possibly a standardization of page size for reliably fast loading. Telematics also opens up another area for targeted services, such as remote diagnostics, parental surveillance via performance monitoring, and dynamic traffic information. Developing a standard also helps automakers avoid duplicating each others' efforts as they all race to deliver E! Online to your dashboard. Ah yes, in-car internet will no doubt be the latest whiz-bang distraction from the task of actually driving one's car.

[Source: ATX]

Continue reading Drivers may surf .car websites while driving

Drivers may surf .car websites while driving originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 19 May 2008 12:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mr. T comes to TomTom

Dan Roth — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 13:37:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Etc., I.C.E., First Drive

If your thing is paying to be verbally upbraided by a celebrity, Navtones has you covered. Novelty of novelties, you can now get celebrity voices for your TomTom satnav. I like the way the celebs will bust your chops if you miss a turn, or give you a verbal dope-slap to pay attention, but it might get old fast. If you've got $12.95 burning a hole in your pocket and a fascination with celebrity culture, Mr. T's dulcet instructional stylings can be yours. You can also choose from Burt Reynolds (no quotes from Smokey And The Bandit), Gary Busey, or Dennis Hopper. Amusing, yes, but we feel it's a grave omission to leave out the best nav voice ever, KITT, aka William Daniels (aka George Feeny from Boy Meets World).

[Source: World Car Fans]

Mr. T comes to TomTom originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 02 Oct 2007 13:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Take Autoblog on the road: WAAV Airbox X2

Dan Roth — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 11:03:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Etc., I.C.E., Technology

Okay folks, we're waiting to see the first hack that has gameplay running on the nav screen, so someone get on it! Cambridge, MA based WAAV has developed a new generation of cellular routers capable of delivering cellular internet at speeds comparable to DSL. Here's the important part, it'll do it in your car. That's better than cruising around neighborhoods with your laptop sniffing around for unsecured wireless networks. Besides, when you're using hijacked wireless, you can't drive around. Public transportation installations are another possibility, especially since the Airbox X2 is designed to serve multiple users. The catch is that you've got to buy the Airbox X2 for $1100 bucks, plus lock in to a minimum two year contract with their cellular data provider before they'll let you have one. That's a lot of scratch just so we can blog while stuck in epic traffic. Of course, getting posts done while languishing on the Mass Pike would convert that time into productivity. Hmm.

[Source: Straightline]

Take Autoblog on the road: WAAV Airbox X2 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 28 Sep 2007 11:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Slacker brings internet radio into your car

Dan Roth — Fri, 16 Mar 2007 11:05:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, I.C.E., Technology

It's like Pandora for your car! Slacker, a new web-based radio website has just launched this week. The channel selection is very similar to what's available on XM or Sirius, and we liken it to Pandora because the number of songs you can skip is limited, but the selection is large and the experience is flexible and customizeable. The website alone is a nice little diversion anywhere you've got a browser and bandwidth, but the exciting news is that there will soon be an iPod-like device so you can take your Slacker with you. That means never having to listen to the angry guy talk channel while stuck in a traffic jam again. It's also better than the four-song playlists each FM genre now spins, too. The portable device will store songs, and later this year Slacker will be unveiling a car dock that will be able to receive music from satellite signals.

Pulling down music from the birds is the same trick that Sirius and XM manage, but they cost money. Slacker is free once you purchase the hardware. How is that possible? Why, the very same way broadcast television and radio are free: advertising. If you're willing to sit through some ads, you get free music. In fact, the music is merely there to keep you interested enough that you'll continue to listen through the spots - of course, many of us are obsessive channel flippers (or worse yet, NPR junkies). You can have your Slacking and no commercials, too. For about half the price of Sirius, your $7.50 per month will keep the music rolling in and offer you unlimited skips and no ads. The price is so much lower because Slacker doesn't have big loans for satellites to pay off. The quality is in the MP3 realm, and sounds decent, which is encouraging. Some of us with finely tuned ears have a hard time listening to SatRad because of the digital compression artifacts. We'll see what happens if Slacker is able to popularize it's offerings, and deliver on the promise they're dangling tantalizingly in front of our noses.

[Source: Kicking Tires]

Slacker brings internet radio into your car originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 16 Mar 2007 11:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Striking a chord: Panasonic and Fender planning branded car audio system

Dan Roth — Wed, 17 Jan 2007 19:33:00 EST

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Trends, I.C.E.

Fender guitars rock. Even the cheapies are easy to play and sound good in the right hands. Panasonic and Fender are teaming up to create an audio system that will be offered to auto manufacturers. Nigel and Slash have already been snagged by Volkswagen with their First Act package deal (buy a VW, they throw in the guitar that plugs into the car's audio system). We're guessing that the pitch for the Fender/Panasonic system will be along the same lines, though; and aimed at the younger demographic. The working partnership of Fender and Panasonic even trotted out Dick Dale at the NAIAS to promote their idea. Hey, in the right car, this could be magic. You could turn all that traffic-jam time into productive practice! Campers would no longer have to settle for singing "Blowin' In The Wind." With a guitar-enabled audio system, you could, as Bob Dylan told his band at Newport, "play f***ing loud."

[Source: Edmunds]

Striking a chord: Panasonic and Fender planning branded car audio system originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 17 Jan 2007 19:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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