If you are looking for a windshield mount that will hold your smartphone with ease while offering a good degree of flexibility you will want to check out the iStabilizer Glass windshield mount for smartphones. It is part of the company’s growing line of smartphone and tablet accessories and, like all of the other products from iStabilizer, I’m rather impressed.
NOTE: This collaborative article was co-written with our special correspondent Wayne Beck. Got $190,000 laying around? Then you can make history and purchase GRID 2: Mono Edition, which includes an actual 170mph BAC Mono supercar in exclusive GRID 2 livery, BAC factory tour, branded racing helmet and race suit, and a PlayStation 3 console. Note: Terms and conditions apply. The standard edition of GRID 2 will release on Tuesday, May 28. This one lucky buyer will appear in the next Guinness World Records Gamer’s Edition as the “Most Expensive Video Game Commercially Available – Special Edition”. The GRID 2: Mono…
Tom Santora, the creator of Mi (Mobile Intelligence) Alerts, recently explained these new, multipurpose systems to me that all stem from one central communication hub – your mobile phone. “Our mobile intelligence technology called MiAlert involves several functions where people get important information via their mobile phone/device,” says Santora. “Our multi-phased plan will make this technology available for several practical uses including video footage immediately after incidents. The Mi (Mobile Intelligence) Alerts represents intelligent mobile alert technology with initial uses for automobiles/vehicles, homes/buildings, people (children, family, etc.), and pets. Users can monitor activity using their mobile phone using a free…
Some weeks ago, I had the opportunity to review the Rokform Rokshield v3 for iPhone 5 (read the review). The case itself offers nice protection, but that wasn’t what stood out for me. No, what stood out when I reviewed the case at the time was the numerous possibilities a case like this afforded any iPhone user. Why is that so? Simple, the Rokform Rokshield v3 for iPhone 5 is more a system than it is a case. The Rokform Rokshield v3 for iPhone 5 is a hard case, but it also ships with a rubber bumper that wraps around it…
The US Postal Service recently announced the release of a new set of commemorative Forever stamps celebrating five iconic muscle cars from America’s motoring past. The five vehicles being honored – 1966 Pontiac GTO, 1967 Shelby GT-500, 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona, 1970 Plymouth Hemi ‘Cuda, and 1970 Chevelle SS – all represent America’s adventurous spirit of the muscle car era as these vehicles rumbled and roared their way into the hearts and minds of driving enthusiasts. Artwork for the stamps was created by Tom Fritz, who said he based his work on photographs of the iconic cars, using bright-colored oil…
During Super-Storm Sandy, Wilson’s Sleek Signal Booster came in remarkably handy. That’s why I was so excited to review their brand new Wilson Electronics Sleek 4G Signal Booster and Home Accessory Kit. Before we take a closer look, let me share my story about Sandy. Super-Storm Sandy and the Wilson Electronics Sleek 4G Signal Booster I was in Cuba when Sandy ripped through and wreaked havoc. We were lucky to be on the other side of the island. As a result we got wind, rain — I saw palm trees doubled over — but that was it. We were able to return…
As our mobile environments are becoming more and more connected these days we struggle to accommodate the plethora of devices some of us carry with us and even use while on the road or stuck in traffic. Enter the PowerCup Car Charger and Tablet holder from USBFever.com. Here is a device that anchors in a center console cupholder and expands power functionality inside the vehicle by offering two cigarette lighter-style sockets and two 5V USB ports for charging mobile devices. A short flexible stalk leads to an expandable holder for your Apple iPad or Samsung Galaxy Tab. Of course, neither…
Ford is getting into the open-developer game at CES this week in addition to GM as they too announce a developer program to enhance future vehicles. Utilizing the SYNC connectivity system and AppLink application programming interface, Ford is launching an open developer program enabling software developers to directly interface with the vehicle and create apps that will enhance the driving experience. “The Ford Developer Program marks a dramatic shift in how we will innovate new features and add value to our vehicles throughout the ownership period,” said Hau Thai-Tang, vice president of Engineering, Ford Global Product Development. “Opening the car…
In addition to the news that future Chevrolet Spark and Sonic subcompact models will offer greatly enhanced infotainment options, General Motors has announced this week at CES in Las Vegas it will offer a new flexible application framework allowing drivers to add apps and features to their vehicles after the initial purchase. Debuting in select 2014 models, system framework will include a catalog that will allow owners to choose from a menu of available infotainment-based apps specifically designed for the in-vehicle experience and this framework will also allow developers to create a new category of vehicle apps. “There will be…
If you are an Audi enthusiast and in the market for a new Audi, you are in for a treat. Audi today announced they would be including the MMX computing module based on the NVIDIA Tegra Visual Computing Module in select models starting in 2013. This latest iteration of the Audi MIB will enhance Audi connect, permitting the live updating of satellite imagery for both Google Earth and Google Map Street View. Audi drivers with the new NVIDIA Tegra hardware will be able to see 360° street panoramas as well as pull up real-time gas prices, the latest weather forecasts…
Over the course of the next two weeks there will be a plethora of news coming from foreign and domestic automakers and affiliated partners (in addition to all the other news we are releasing here). Two of the largest shows of the year are getting underway in the form of the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas that begins this week and the North American International Auto Show in Detroit next week. By now you know Gear Diary has a team on the ground covering CES all week, and a couple of us head to Motor City next week for…
If you are on the road a lot, then you know all about what it’s like to have your cellular signal act in a less than reliable manner. Watching your 4G/LTE signal drop down to zilch, then slide over to EDGE, 3G and then ultimately climb back to 4G — depending upon where you area, even though the areas are shown to have 4G coverage — is just part of using a mobile phone these days. . The same thing can happen when you are in a car, truck, boat, or any other moving vehicle. One way to combat this…
From now until 2013, we’re going to take a look at some New Year’s Resolutions and a Gear Diary way to help you keep them. New Year Resolution: Drive More Safely Okay, let’s get this out-of-the-way upfront – the safest place for your phone while driving is in your pocket or bag. That helps ensure that it won’t become a distraction while you fly down the road at 65 miles an hour. If you aren’t going to keep your phone out of the way, however, you’d best have a secure place to keep it lest it become a projectile during…
Machines fascinate a great deal of us and many love to “get your hands dirty” by tinkering and performing our own repair and maintenance work. For decades this meant utilizing some form of hazardous fluid for cleaning and parts washing. ChemFree Corporation offers a safe and “green” alternative with its new BenchtopPRO bioremediating bench-top parts washing system that is designed for the home garage or small repair shop. The BenchtopPRO system utilizes a pH neutral mixture of emulsifiers and surfactants to offers a safe and healthy approach to parts cleaning. It contains none of the solvents mechanics have come to…
I sold my iPhone 4S and bought an iPhone 5. That meant saying goodbye to my iPhone’s 30-Pin connector and welcoming the new smaller dock. I have an iPad mini, and it too has the new dock connector. At least I have a 30-pin dock connector on my iPad. Oh, wait, I ordered the new iPad and will be selling my loaded iPad 3 as soon as it arrives. That means that, within a short while, none of my “30-pin sporting” speaker docks will be of any use to me. Actually, that’s not quite true. Thanks to products like RadTech’s…
The iPhone is the great disruptor of personal electronics. It has crushed the stand-alone camcorder, taken a huge bite out of the point-and-shoot camera market and made buying an after-market automotive video entertainment system a ridiculous waste of money. And, issues with Apple maps aside, thanks to the iPhone there is less reason to buy a stand alone GPS unit. The list goes on and on. Yes, the iPhone (and other smartphones) turned many once must-have products into “why have” items of yesteryear. There are, however, some rare occasions when the iPhone not only doesn’t disrupt the need for a…
I’m coming up on my first year with the car I leased back in November 2011. That car reintroduced me to the joy of driving. Yes, driving a car that is smooth, fast, comfortable and has all the electronic bells and whistles is simply fun. Back in August we were contacted by Progressive Insurance and asked if we wanted to be part of a special SnapShot Test Drive promotion they were running. The SnapShot Test Drive involved driving, current technology, and saving money. What could be better? The program itself is rather simple. Once I signed up with the…
Would you look at this… the all-new Chevy Spark is??? remote-controlled?? As the release we received notes, While not for kids, the 2013 Chevy Spark is perfect for the city-dweller or….a mime? Over the next few months, Chevy is importing their export – the Spark – by releasing a series of videos highlighting its standout features in a way that is uniquely Spark. As a case in point we were sent links to the first videos in the lineup. In this video some rather forgetful mimes help save the day with a little help from the OnStar RemoteLink mobile app….
A short time ago we brought word that Nuance Communications, the company behind Dragon Dictation and many other voice-to-text technologies, was bringing even more woeful voice to the case through Dragon Drive! Messaging. Dragon Drive! Messaging ‘is Nuance’s new automotive-grade connected car service that lets people speak emails and text messages”. Now word comes that it will be available in the new 2012 BMW 7 Series, BMW 3 Series Touring and BMW 3 Series ActiveHybrid vehicles. Better still, the 2012 BMW 7 Series will be the first car ever to feature Dragon Drive! Messaging and it is coming to market…
Last week I had the opportunity to be among 250 guests brought to Dearborn, Michigan by Ford; we spent 2 1/2 days seeing what they’re up to, learning a bit about their philosophy and, of course, checking out some of their latest vehicles. Usually, when attending such a junket, you’d expect to find one or two really good nuggets, a few sessions that were quite good, and a few duds. You’d also expect to have a few logistical glitches along the way. Having now had a bit of time to digest everything that we saw and did over those days,…
I’ve spent the last three days with Ford in Michigan. We learned about their green tech, their company philosophy, and much more. The complete writeup is on the way, but I wanted to get this post and video up now before I leave. Why? Because I got to spend the morning with Ford at their test track driving some of their newest vehicles. There’s the Raptor, which was awesome off-road. Then there was the Interceptor. It is super-fast and a lot of fun to drive. Finally I got to take a Mustang GT out on the course. I had fun,…