• /
    • Archives / January 2013

Archives For January 2013

Toyota, Audi Show Off Driverless-Car Tech at CES

pygmalion05 —  January 14, 2013 — Leave a comment
Handout photo from the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles.

Handout photo from the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles.

Manufacturers are really keen on making self-driving cars a reality!

When we’re driving, we want to DRIVE. But certainly it would be nice to let the computer take over during bumper-to-bumper rush-hour traffic.

We won’t get there for a while, but Toyota and Audi showed off the state of the technology at CES last week with some demos.

Nevada has already legalized autonomous vehicles for public roads, issuing Google the first license of its kind last year.

More companies undoubtedly will follow suit.

These computer-controlled vehicles use visual indicators, artificial intelligence software (which is what they’ll use to take over the world!), GPS and various sensors to navigate their way.

Check out more on the robot-driven cars from CNET here.

In New Technology , , , , , , ,
permalink

At CES 2013: Viper SmartStart, Start Your Car With Siri!

pygmalion05 —  January 8, 2013 — Leave a comment

SmartStartFeaturesSmartStartGPSViper SmartStart Now Integrated With Siri Voice Control!

Viper SmartStart can now make your life even easier — you can launch the Viper SmartStart app by saying “SmartStart.”

You can define a specific command that’s executed when it launches.

With a single word you can start, lock or unlock your car. And you now have in-app controls over SMS and email notifications.

Note: you must have a iPhone 4S or iPhone 5  with the iOS6.

Come check it out at our booth at CES: 1514 North Hall!

In VIPER SmartStart , , , ,
permalink

Auto Apps: Safety, Connectivity and YOUR Car

pygmalion05 —  January 4, 2013 — Leave a comment

2012-07-24 16.00.50Everyone is talking about CES, with the massive show taking place in Las Vegas starting Jan. 8. (Come see us in our booth, by the way, at 1514 North Hall.)

However, the Auto Alliance showed off some very cool connected car technologies at last month’s L.A. Auto Show.

The problem they’re trying to solve is providing drivers with a safe way for them to manage new features that mobile phones bring into the car.

Livio’s Livio Connect helps you access and control smartphone-style apps through the radio in the dash. Livio can mirror your apps and gives you a better way to use them.

Qualcomm and Intel are also working on solutions for car connectivity. Aaaaaaaaand of course you already know about developments like the driverless car that’s in the works from Google.

Of course, when it comes to the latest, most innovative connected car technology on the market right now, it begins and ends with the Viper SmartStart app.

Read full coverage on the connected car at the L.A. Auto Show from TechNewsWorld here.

In Hot Cars, New Technology, VIPER SmartStart , , , , , , ,
permalink

Happy New Year! I Just Stole Your Car!!!!

pygmalion05 —  January 3, 2013 — Leave a comment

2012-07-24 16.00.48This just in … New Year’s Day is the second most popular holiday for car thieves.

A new study from the National Insurance Crime Bureau (pdf) reports that New Year’s Day is the No. 2 holiday for car theft, with 2,286 vehicles reported stolen in 2011.

No surprise, Halloween clocked in at No. 1 — with 2,328 thefts reported in 2011, according to the NICB report.

So why the heck is New Year’s so popular with car thieves?

Most experts speculate that the heavy use of alcohol at holiday parties, which makes revelers more careless about where they park their ride, is a major factor in the uptick in illegal activity.

An interesting write-up from TheCarConnection.com on the NICB study pointed out that Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day had the lowest reported thefts among all big holidays. That report pointed out that, unlike New Year’s, those holidays are more family-focused and end up with revelers most like at or near their home — instead of carousing downtown.

Well, it’s 2013, don’t wait around to end up like the “other guy” — resolve to keep your vehicle safe with a Viper system right away!

In Breakin' the Law, VIPER SmartStart , , , , , , , , ,
permalink

Victory for Google! Search Giant Intros Maps for iPhone

pygmalion05 —  January 2, 2013 — 2 Comments

google_mapsThe victory for Google is official.

You can now get the Google Maps app for your iPhone for free on iTunes.

According to a recent story on the update from CE Outlook:

“Apple launched its own Maps this fall, but reviewers found it riddled with wrong directions and omissions of key destinations such as bridges and airports.

The poor reception to Apple Maps, caused Apple CEO Tim Cook to offer a public apology.”

Anyone who’s tried has noticed Apple’s map software wasn’t sufficiently Apple — which has Apple making nice with Google once again.

For now at least …

In New Technology , , , , , ,
permalink