Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Turn your iPhone into a garage door opener?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/23/turn-your-iphone-into-a-garage-door-opener/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/23/turn-your-iphone-into-a-garage-door-opener/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/23/turn-your-iphone-into-a-garage-door-opener/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Tech skeptics have been calling the iPhone a mere toy since its introduction, but the proliferation of apps and ancillaries tells a different story. From the "what will they think of next?" file comes MyDoorOpener, a two-pronged hardware/software solution for turning your iPhone into a garage door opener. That's right, to replace one thing, you need two! The rub is that you'll have your iPhone with you anyway, and if your car's not equipped with HomeLink, then the MyDoorOpener solution could mean one less thing to rattle around in the center console.

The software is not yet approved, oh, and you'll have to build the receiver unit, too. That's right, break out the soldering iron and get comfortable with integrated circuits and transistors. It's not simple for everyone, but it's not rocket surgery, either. Lest the tinfoil in your hat start to chafe your scalp, rest assured that communications between devices is encrypted for security. All the instructions and details are at MyDoorOpener.com, and at least they provide schematics so you can make the stuff yourself, instead of buying some black box that puts your monthly balance in the red.

[Source: MyDoorOpener.com | Photo: Oleg Alexandrov CC2.0]

Turn your iPhone into a garage door opener? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 23 Feb 2010 07:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>door openerDoorOpenergarage doorgarage door openerGarageDoorGarageDoorOpenerhomelinkiphoneiphone appiPhone ApplicationiPhone ApplicationsiPhone Appsiphone garage door openerIphoneAppIphoneApplicationIphoneApplicationsIphoneAppsIphoneGarageDoorOpenermydooropenerTue, 23 Feb 2010 07:58:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19367334/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/02/23/turn-your-iphone-into-a-garage-door-opener/19367334/article-detail.xml 19367334 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/02/garagedooropener_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/02/garagedooropener.jpg <![CDATA[Mini debuts first roadside assistance app for iPhones [w/VIDEO]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/21/mini-debuts-first-roadside-assistance-app-for-iphones-w-video/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/21/mini-debuts-first-roadside-assistance-app-for-iphones-w-video/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/21/mini-debuts-first-roadside-assistance-app-for-iphones-w-video/#commentsFiled under: ,

OnStar is soooo 2007. Rather than building some kind of old school cell phone telematics system into its cars, Mini is going the hip, modern route for roadside assistance. Mini USA has collaborated with insurance company Allstate to create an Apple iPhone app (also available for some GPS-equipped Blackberries) for owners to automatically call for roadside assistance. When you install the app, you put in your vehicle ID number and select a photo of your car if you want.

The next time you realize that the trip computer's range estimate was a bit optimistic and you fall short of a petrol station, or you leave the lights on or hear that familiar thump-thump of a flat tire, just pull out your iPhone. Open the app, select the service you need and Allstate will immediately dispatch help to the coordinates provided by the phone's GPS system.

Of course, if you forgot to plug in your phone last night... well, two strikes and you're out. There's no word yet on whether the app can use the phone's accelerometer to detect the excess deceleration associated with an impact and call 911 for you, but that would be a neat trick. Check out the video demo and the official press release after the jump.

[Source: Mini USA]

Continue reading Mini debuts first roadside assistance app for iPhones [w/VIDEO]

Mini debuts first roadside assistance app for iPhones [w/VIDEO] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 21 Aug 2009 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AppleApple iPhoneAppleIphoneiphoneiphone appiphone applicationiphone applicationsiphone appsIphoneAppIphoneApplicationIphoneApplicationsIphoneAppsminimini usaMiniUsaroad side assistanceroadsideroadside assistanceRoadSideAssistancevideoFri, 21 Aug 2009 11:30:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19135768/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2009/08/21/mini-debuts-first-roadside-assistance-app-for-iphones-w-video/19135768/article-detail.xml 19135768 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/08/iphone-with-roadside-assist-app_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/08/iphone-with-roadside-assist-app.jpg <![CDATA[People's Choice: 1.4m downloads for VW Polo Challenge iPhone game]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/15/peoples-choice-1-4m-downloads-for-vw-polo-challenge-iphone-gam/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/15/peoples-choice-1-4m-downloads-for-vw-polo-challenge-iphone-gam/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/15/peoples-choice-1-4m-downloads-for-vw-polo-challenge-iphone-gam/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Volkswagen Polo Challenge iPhone game - Click above for a gallery

What automaker isn't trying to cash in on the iCraze? Most are scrambling to include iPod and iPhone integration into their newest vehicles, and many have tried to mimic the look and feel of the Apple devices with their latest concepts. The "people's car" has as good a claim as any other automaker, and Volkswagen is looking to cement that with a new game for the iPhone and iPod touch.

Developed by German mobile game studio Fishlabs, the Volkswagen Polo Challenge, like other racing games, works with the devices' built-in accelerometer to control the car. Players can choose between eight different circuits to drive on while being serenaded by the music of Feinkost. When they're done playing, mobile gamers can find the nearest VW dealership to check out the car in person.

Just a month after its release, already 1.4 million people have downloaded the free game from iTunes. (Volkswagen's Spanish subsidiary has also released a similar game highlighting the Seat Ibiza Cupra.) If you can read German, you can check out more info in the press release after the jump, along with the images in the gallery below.

Continue reading People's Choice: 1.4m downloads for VW Polo Challenge iPhone game

People's Choice: 1.4m downloads for VW Polo Challenge iPhone game originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 15 Apr 2009 08:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>downloaddownloadsiphoneiphone appiphone appsIphoneAppIphoneAppsipodipod appsipod touchipod touch appsIpodAppsIpodTouchIpodTouchAppsitunesvolkswagenvolkswagen polovolkswagen polo challengeVolkswagenPoloVolkswagenPoloChallengevwvw polovw polo challengeVwPoloVwPoloChallengeWed, 15 Apr 2009 08:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/1515277/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2009/04/15/peoples-choice-1-4m-downloads-for-vw-polo-challenge-iphone-gam/1515277/article-detail.xml 1515277 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/04/polochallenge_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/04/polochallenge.jpg <![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 http://www.autoblog.com/feed/1324590/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2008/09/26/read-your-obd-ii-with-iphone-using-rev/1324590/article-detail.xml 1324590 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/09/obdii_rev_iphone_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/09/obdii_rev_iphone.jpg -1 2