Gadgetell | Tech News, Reviews, and Interesting Things

Here is how to take the ubiquitous car remote and bring new ideas to it.  Add in a screen with Kindle-like E Ink and you’ve got a notice you are low on gas, maybe your tires are low, or your oil life is nearly depleted.  This is just one of the cool things ultra low power E Ink can bring.

This specific device by Delphi, allows users to locate their vehicle in a sea of look-a-likes; turn on the car, adjust the climate in the car, and more.  Interesting and fun, who doesn’t love that?  Delphi says in volume, E Ink device can be made economically. 

The flexible shape of the E-Ink screen means this kind of innovation is coming to more and more devices like microwaves, refrigerators and remotes.  Where else would you love to have a simple screen for data?

Read [BusinessWire] via [dvice]

The new Pioneer AVIC-T10 comes loaded with many nice features, unfortunately, it is set to release only in Japan for the time being. The AVIC-T10 comes with a 5.8-inch VGA touch screen, 4GB of internal memory, Bluetooth capability for hands free calling, and has HSDPA support. To use that, you have to connect your device through your phone. Additionally, it comes with a TV 1Seg tuner, has decent format support including WMA, MP3, and AAC. It also comes with many useful services including Smart Loop Traffic Congestion Information, Parking Availability Information, Gasoline Price Information, and PinPoint Weather reports. My guess is that the first service, the Smart Loop Traffic Congestion Information provides traffic updates, the Parking Space service lets you know where there are available parking spots (that’s pretty cool), the Gasoline service lets you know where the cheapest gas in the area is, and the PinPoint service updates you on the weather. The last service is called the Rendez-Vous service, which basically chooses a convenient meeting place if you want to meet with your friend. It finds out that convenient place by searching through emails sent and received by the same person. All in all, it comes with some pretty nice and unique services. No word on exact pricing at this time, but hopefully it remains relatively inexpensive.

Via [Akihabara News]

QStarz’s BT-Q810, which was launched last month, is being touted as the world’s most powerful Bluetooth GPS receiver. Well, that is due to the fact the BT-Q810 sports a 51 channel MTK chipset and offers up to 32 hours of use courtesy of its low power consumption hardware. This GPS receiver also has an adjustable update rate which range between 1 and 5Hz. This update rate makes the GPS well suited for road racers, autocrossers, and circle track racers.

In addition, the BT-Q810 also features a G-Mouse + Bluetooth in one, a wired and wireless GPS receiver, auto on-off function for smart power control, LED function that indicates Bluetooth connection, navigation status and battery/charger status. The BT-Q810 was officially launched in Taiwan but pricing and release date is currently unavailable.

Product [QStarz] Via [NaviGadget]

Customers in Florida will now have access to information about traffic incidents, traffic updates and detours as Verizon Wireless has made its VZ Navigator Version 4 service available. The VZ Navigator is a location-based service (LBS) application utilizing GPS technology and real-time information feeds from government traffic monitoring groups.

With VZ Navigator, customers will have access to traffic integration information which updates them of traffic routes based on the analysis of both historical and real-time traffic information. This allows customers to know which traffic routes are affected by traffic lights, heavy traffic situation and activities in school zones. VZ Navigator also gives out information on location of gas stations closest to customers location and even includes gas pricing. So customers can plan in advance whether to stop by the nearest one or skip it and stop by the next station. Of course, like some GPS navigation services, VZ Navigator also provides turn-by-turn directions on how to get to the nearest identified gas station.

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XRoad is getting ready to offer up a third version of their V7 series GPS, which comes after its phenomenal success in Korea. Boasting an array of features, the XRoad V7 is packed with media player playback capabilities, an FM radio, picture-in-picture capability, a DMB tuner, and a 7-inch display screen with an 800×480 resolution.

Sadly, only Korea will be lucky to receive the XRoad V7 so people here in the US, you may forget about owning one. After all, XRoad hasn’t been shared any of the previous V7 models. Other specs include: 4GB flash memory, 128MB memory, 4200mAh Li-Ion battery and it is powered by an AU 1250 600Mhz Alchemy processor.

Via [NaviGadget]

During CES 2008, Becker announced the Traffic Assist 7827, and now, they are rolling out a similar GPS, the Traffic Assist 7977. This GPS looks to be one of the best that Becker has to offer. Some of the main features include a 4.3-inch touchscreen, live traffic updates, lane assistance, which basically tells you if you are in the correct lane or not, and maps of all of Europe. Additionally, it uses SD cards for memory expansion, can use USB drives for audio or pictures, Bluetooth capabilities for handsfree calling, and reality view which lets you know when you are coming near a freeway junction. This technology is also similar to Navigon’s Reality View, if you are familiar with that.

This GPS is so far already available in some parts of Europe, but no word on when it would be coming to the States, or for what price.

Via [NaviGadget]

Directionally challenged people know who they are. That is why electronic GPS devices are such hot items. They help you to navigate just about anywhere from around your town or across the country.

As you can imagine, it may be hard to get those results from a simple pen and paper. Have you ever started writing down directions and then realized that the paper was too small. The lines of instruction get smaller and smaller and then start circling around the edges. You drive along trying to read the scribbles and give up when you cannot tell which line came first. Hopefully you wrote down the phone number. It is hard for me to imagine that some people prefer low-tech devices. For those few there are low-tech navigation options – the most popular being ordinary paper map or pen and paper. Not too stylish but functional.

However, for those that prefer low-tech with some style thrown in there is an answer.  The Paper GPS notepad fulfills the need for organized and readable directions for as little as $6.50. Each of the 60 sheets allow for 10 turn-by-turn directions with pre-printed arrows and even a box for the distance between each turn. Simply circle the correct directional arrow, write down the street names or landmarks and the distance between each. At the bottom of each sheet there is ample space for jotting down other pertinent information such as a phone number. In case you keep a notebook of directions there is also a spot to notate whether you got lost or not. 

This is just another one of those “Wish I’d though of this” items.

Via [OhGizmo! ]

Garmin’s first try in the phone industry, the Nuvifone, finally has managed to partner up with a carrier, and rumor has it that it will be the same carrier as the historical iPhone, AT&T. We also previously knew that this phone would be coming in Q3 of this year, but now we also know the price, $500. A hefty price tag, but this phone is destined to go head-to-head with the iPhone, so the price seems fairly reasonable.

To recap what we already know about this phone, it comes with integrated Wi-Fi, Bluetooth functionality, 3.5G, still camera, touch screen, video camera, and integrated Google Local Search. In addition, it was set to come with the same access as Garmin’s GPS’ have, such as real time traffic, gas prices, and weather.

Now what we just learned starting with GPS. It is set to come with 6 million POI’s, a touch screen that is comparable to other Garmin GPS’, and turn-by-turn directions. It can even find out where you parked your car in case you can’t remember. Of course, a normal Garmin GPS might be better suited to fulfill your GPS needs, however, this phone does a pretty nice job of at least meeting, if not exceeding your expectations. It also comes with audio and video playback, acting like a PMP, similarly to the iPhone. Moving onto Wi-Fi functions, it comes with high speed cellular internet, and, obviously, Wi-Fi. Garmin even says that the web on the phone is “PC-Like”.

Here’s the interesting part, a snapshot of a recent survey by Garmin asks a question to the person who was taking the survey.

“Now, how likely would you be to buy the Garmin nüvifone (for yourself or as a gift) if offered by AT&T for $499.99 with a two year contract? You would be required to have both a data plan that would include unlimited Internet browsing and unlimited Navigation for $19.99 per month and one of the standard voice rate plans for a monthly fee.”

What would your answer be to this question? If I were being asked, I think I would say “yes”, mainly because it comes with basically identical features as the iPhone, but comes with a reliable, and high quality integrated GPS. In today’s world, GPS is becoming a necessity, so that aspect will play a big role in drawing customers in buying such a phone. If you don’t feel like answering the above question, do you think it will be able to match the iPhone, in both popularity as well as quality?

Via [Engadget]

TomTom, adding to their plethora of nice GPS units, recently introduced the new TomTom XL330S. This GPS seems to be a basic GPS, but still offering lots of nice features.

Some of the main features include a 4.3-inch touchscreen, text-to-speech functionality, revamped audio quality, and EasyPort. Basically, EasyPort is a new addition that allows the mount to fold into the GPS, allowing the driver to not have to leave the mount on the windshield. If you are worrying about the mount causing it to be bulky, you’ll be pleased to know that it still remains small, and should not be bulky at all. So far, there are a few other GPS units that have been added into the XL lineup, however, this is one of the main ones.

No word on exactly availability date, however, it is set to cost a meager $300. It looks to be a nice little GPS that gets the job done, while maintaining high quality.

Via [NaviGadget]

Suzuki has recently announced that they will be incorporating a free Garmin GPS in every 2009 SX4 as a standard option. Within the car will be a special compartment called “T.R.I.P”, in which the GPS will be housed. T.R.I.P stands for Travel, Real-time traffic, Information and Play, hey that’s clever, Suzuki. Otherwise, the GPS comes with Bluetooth functionality, for hands free calling, traffic updates, and MSN Direct, however, the MSN Direct feature is still unconfirmed as of now. Some speculation is that this Garmin GPS is a customized Nuvi 780. If you don’t want to purchase this car, and get another car, the same type of GPS will set you back $500 when purchased by itself. This sounds like a good plan to me to boost Suzuki car sales, however, I doubt people would be buying the car just for the GPS. Although, for customers on the fence about this car, throwing in the GPS might make people go for it. More important hopefully other car makers will see this as a good move and follow with similar offerings.

Via [NaviGadget]