Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[A glass of water a day can help keep your fuel consumption at bay]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/24/a-glass-of-water-a-day-can-help-keep-your-fuel-consumption-at-ba/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/24/a-glass-of-water-a-day-can-help-keep-your-fuel-consumption-at-ba/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/24/a-glass-of-water-a-day-can-help-keep-your-fuel-consumption-at-ba/#commentsGlass of water

The idea of driving around with a glass of water on your dashboard may seem ludicrous, but if Toyota told you that a single glass of water could help you reduce your fuel consumption by 10 percent, would you think differently? Now, Toyota doesn't want you to literally place a glass of water on the dash. Instead, the company is pushing the idea that driving in such a way that a theoretical glass of water there remains full would reduce fuel consumption significantly. To spread the word about this fuel-saving concept, Toyota has created a website appropriately called "A Glass of Water."

So, how do you keep this imaginary glass of water topped off at all times? Well, provided you aren't in a hurry to get somewhere, it should be quite simple. Begin by accelerating gracefully, leave plenty of distance between you and the vehicle ahead, brake gently, and apply tactics used by hypermillers.

If you'd like to learn more about Toyota's "A Glass of Water" challenge and are interested in giving it a try, then click here. iPhone users can also download a virtual glass of water app by clicking here.

[Source: A Glass of Water]

A glass of water a day can help keep your fuel consumption at bay originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 24 Jul 2010 15:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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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[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 <![CDATA[iPhone app finds your car, dude]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/14/iphone-app-finds-your-car-dude/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/14/iphone-app-finds-your-car-dude/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/14/iphone-app-finds-your-car-dude/#commentsFiled under:

We've known for a while that the new iPhone 3G would have the magic of GPS, but we didn't fully realize how that power might benefit car owners. While we've seen a few semi-cool, car-centric applications available for the device -- from mpg calculators to maintenance reminders -- this program could prove the most useful for the forgetful among us.

After parking your car at a crowded shopping mall, users of G-Park tell their iPhone where their car is. When they wrap up their shopping, the application will provide directions back to the car.

PosiMotion says their application will even work on the first-generation iPhone, though without the accuracy of GPS.

There's no word on when the application will be available or what it will cost, but avoiding the shame of wandering parking lots for hours looking for a tan Camry is worth any price.

[Source: Gizmodo via Gizmag]

iPhone app finds your car, dude originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 14 Jul 2008 09:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>g-parkgparkgpsiphoneiphone applicationsiphone automotiveiphone cariphone g-parkiphone gpsIphoneApplicationsIphoneAutomotiveIphoneCarIphoneG-parkIphoneGpsMon, 14 Jul 2008 09:59:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/1254141/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2008/07/14/iphone-app-finds-your-car-dude/1254141/article-detail.xml 1254141 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/07/gparkscreen_2_ab_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/07/gparkscreen_2_ab.jpg -1 2