WORLD RACING AUTOCARS: gadgets

Showing posts with label gadgets. Show all posts

Android App Locks Down Your Cell Phone When You’re Driving

Written By nyit on Monday, April 4, 2011 | 2:20 PM

Oh, if only all those futurists from the 1930s could have predicted a device as wondrous as the Smart Phone. It’s the communicator from Star Trek, a world atlas, the world’s largest department store and a personal assistant / concierge all rolled into one. You could organise a wedding or run a global empire from one of these things, and many people do.

Unfortunately, like seemingly everything humanity invents, it has its downsides as well. For some of us it can be addictive and overuse of these distracting devices can result in devastating consequences for one’s self and others, especially when use in conjunction with another wonder of the last century: the automobile.

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MINI Launches New USB Flash Drives for the Car Gadget Geeks

Written By nyit on Wednesday, March 16, 2011 | 11:30 AM

For all you MINI fans and car gadget geeks, BMW’s British subsidiary has released a new collection of USB flash drives. The data storage devices come in three unique shapes: an 8GB stick in the form of a MINI ignition key with an illuminated ring; a 4GB unit in the shape of a bulldog, which is said to reflect the firm’s British heritage, and a dual-purpose liquid mouse with a white MINI miniature swimming around in a two-tone, transparent orange fluid. More photos after the jump.

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Playseats’ Red Bull F1 Game Simulator is the Coolest Way to Race in Your Living Room

Playseats, a Netherlands-based gaming seat company, has signed a licensing agreement with Red Bull Racing for the creation of a pricey but admittedly cool new F1 game simulator. Designed and developed by Playseats, the simulator is branded with the Red Bull Racing logo and sports the Austrian racing team's F1 colors.

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Chrysler Launches New “Imported from Detroit” Merchandise – And no, They’re Not Made in China…

Written By nyit on Tuesday, March 15, 2011 | 1:19 PM

Chrysler has released a new dedicated lineup of clothes and apparels featuring the brand’s “Imported from Detroit” motto, which first appeared on the 200 Super Bowl commercial with Eminem. And yes, the possibility that the merchandise may not be made on this side of the world did cross our minds too, but Chrysler’s website put those dastardly doubts to rest stating that the clothes and apparels are all made in the USA.

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BMW’s M Division Presents its First Ever Bicycle, the Carbon Racer

Written By nyit on Friday, March 11, 2011 | 9:27 AM

Initially created to facilitate BMW’s racing program, the Bavarian firm’s M Gmbh division gradually expanded its activities to include the development and manufacturing of the company’s sportiest production cars, and more recently, crossover and SUV models as well. Now, the M brand is entering new territory with the introduction of its first racing bicycle, the M Bike Carbon Racer.

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French Hybrid Design Study Uses Wind Turbines To Recharge Batteries

Written By nyit on Thursday, March 10, 2011 | 5:13 PM

Remember a few years ago when every wannabe gangsta was buying those awful “spinner” alloys for their beat up old Chevys and Oldsmobiles? Well, French artist and teacher Thierry Dumaine (who sounds like a character from a historical romance) has taken the concept of the spinner and applied it to an imaginary hydrid he calls the Ventile.

It’s all very simple. You know those bicycles that have pedal powered lights? Same principle, though in this case the fans are turned by the circular motion of the wheels and not by being affixed to the wheels themselves.

The fans power a generator that helps recharge the Ventile’s batteries. I don’t know how well this would work in the real world, mostly due to the Law of Conservation of Energy, but really who cares.

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VIDEO: This is How They Imagined Our Automobile Future in 1948

In the late 1940s, as the world started to recover from the wounds of war, people were trying to leave the past behind and focus on the future. In fact, some individuals were so fascinated with the future that they tried to tune in it and predict the outcome. In this nostalgic video, we see how some people imagined the future of automobiles in 1948. Watch the clip after the break.

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A Future of Smarter Cars as Automakers and Regulators Seek to Cure Driver Error

Written By nyit on Monday, March 7, 2011 | 4:41 PM

In 2010, “unintended acceleration”, a phrase that had been somewhat forgotten in the automotive lexicon returned to the hearts and minds of many Americans. After exhausting research by the NHTSA and other independent agencies, the culprit was found to be a combination of poorly designed floor mats, “sticky” accelerator pedals...and driver error.

As our roads become more congested and the traffic rules more and more complicated, incidents of driver error resulting in accidents are likely only to increase. The solution: smarter electronics that take the “driver” out of “driver error”.

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Ford Brings SYNC Technology to Europe Starting with the New Focus

Written By nyit on Monday, February 28, 2011 | 5:13 AM

Ford will offer the infotainment and connectivity system to its European models starting from 2012, the company announced today. The all-new Focus will be the first vehicle in Europe to feature the SYNC technology, with other models to follow. Ford said it wants to have 2 million SYNC-equipped cars on European roads by 2015.

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Chevy Launches MyLink Infotainment System in Response to Ford's SYNC

Written By nyit on Saturday, February 19, 2011 | 9:21 PM

The 2012 Chevrolet Volt and Equinox models will be the first to offer Chevy MyLink, an in-car infotainment equipment that integrates internet radio, hands-free, voice and touch-screen controls, all of which can be accessed via Bluetooth connectivity.

Three years ago, Ford introduced a similar system, called SYNC, whose aim was to reunite in a friendly and efficient way the various in-car controls that a driver can access while driving. Now Chevy is ready with its own technology, developed together with GM's subsidiary OnStar.

MyLink provides drivers with stereo audio streaming, wireless control of smartphones, voice-activated commands and a full-color 7-inch touch screen display that centralizes media sources. For example, the driver can initiate phone calls, select radio stations or stored media only by using his voice.

Other features are Pandora internet radio, which allows users to personalize their radio experience, or Gracenote, which identifies the user's music collection and presents information such as artist name, genres and album cover art on the MyLink screen.

Basically, MyLink does everything that SYNC does, plus the future integration of the Powermat wireless cell-phone charging system that eliminates cords. The MyLink infotainment system will expand to other Chevrolet models in the next 18 months.

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Chevy Launches MyLink Infotainment System in Response to Ford's SYNC

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VIDEO: Remote Control Cars Drifting on Realistic Looking Miniature Road is Pure Ecstasy

Written By nyit on Sunday, February 13, 2011 | 4:13 AM

If you enjoyed Phil's video of the RC drifters from the recent Tokyo Auto Salo, then you're in for a really special treat with this 4 minute-long clip shot at the 2010 Korea RC Street Drift Challenge. By far this is the most amazing RC drift setup that we have ever seen. Just follow the jump and you'll see what we mean.

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Hit the Slopes in Style with Audi Carbon Ski

Written By nyit on Friday, February 11, 2011 | 11:16 PM

If you're looking to add some style to your winter-time outdoor activities, you may want to take a look at these cool skis from Audi. Initially designed and developed as a concept study at the Audi Concept Design Munich, the Carbon Ski is now heading for production with the Ingolstadt-based automaker estimating that it could be available for sale as early as this year.

As its name implies, the Audi Carbon Ski is made out of carbon fiber for reduced weight as well as optimal stiffness. More precisely, a cab of high-strength carbon fiber encloses layers of aluminum and titanium, as well as a wood core. The result is 170cm-long ski that tips the scales at 1,550 grams. According to Audi, the ski weighs 200 grams less than comparable models.

“As a long-time partner and sponsor of the German Ski Association, a ski produced by Audi is a logical consequence of this partnership. This is how the Audi Carbon Ski concept came about. And the ski’s brilliant handling characteristics have been confirmed by professionals from the sport,” said Wolfgang Egger, Head of Design for the Audi Group. “The serial-production ski was able to borrow from the concept study, and it features outstanding technical properties. At the same time, its minimalist design underscores the technical nature of the carbon.”

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Hit the Slopes in Style with Audi Carbon Ski

Written By nyit on Wednesday, February 9, 2011 | 12:58 PM

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VIDEO: Remote Control Cars Drifting on Realistic Looking Miniature Road is Pure Ecstasy

Written By nyit on Tuesday, February 8, 2011 | 10:28 AM

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VIDEO: Remote Control Cars Drifting on Realistic Looking Miniature Road is Pure Ecstasy

10:28 AM | 0 comments | Read More

Sandy Sanderson’s Can Cars Are Automotive Art Par Excellence

The automobile is such an integral part of so many people’s lives that it’s no wonder than artists and sculptors often use them for inspiration. Take Sandy Sanderson of Hamilton, New Zealand, for example. He takes beer and soft drink cans and crafts them into meticulous, highly detailed replicas of hot rods and other classic cars. And Mr. Sanderson really is a meticulous sculptor.

Check out the amount of detail he puts into the suspension, interior, engine and wheels of his cars. Even the gauges, gear shift and hand brake are replicated in detail. It boggles the mind. Each car takes as few as eight and as many as thirty soft drink / beer cans to construct, the whole process taking Sandy up to a month from start to finish.

Most of the cars are purchasable too, with prices ranging from NZ$800 to NZ$2,000 (US$472 to US$1,537). Pricey yes, but these things are gorgeous. My favorite is the “Coruba Climax”, a replica of the Cooper Climax race car of the 1960s made of Coruba Rum cans (don’t worry if you haven’t heard of Coruba Rum - I hadn’t until I read it on Sandy’s website).

You can check out the full gallery of images below. When you’ve had a look, tell us your favorite in the comments section below.