Autopartswarehouse.com | Solar Powered Bluetooth Headset

Today, most of our car phones are relying on batteries. Mostly they need about 6V - 8V and they need to be recharge. It's a little bit time consuming right? Now, They have solve the problem. Visor SUN developed the Bluetooth headset powered by sunlight.

Not content with making the world's first solar Bluetooth headset, mobile tech company Iqua has developed a solar car kit for your phone. Let's take a look at how Iqua's new Visor SUN compares to the Daddy of solar car kits, LG's HFB-500.

Both gadgets will set you back around £55. Both recharge from sunshine flowing through your windscreen and theoretically they'll never need a mains socket if the weather's bright. The key difference: Iqua's kit is designed to clip onto your sun visor, while LG's kit suckers onto your windscreen.

Battery life is rated at 20 hours of talktime -- better than LG's 16 hours -- although the Vizor SUN is a lot heavier than LG's model at 160g versus 72g.

There appears to be just one glaring problem with this new self-charging gadget: when your visor's up, it looks like the solar panel doesn't get any sun! Check out the photo below. I'm checking with Iqua to find out if that's true. If so, it'd mean you'd have to manually place the car kit on the dashboard to recharge it.

The Visor SUN's due on sale later this September via IQUA and its partners.Update: Tesco Direct is stocking it for £50.

Source: smartplanet.com

Autopartswarehouse.com | 10 Weirdest Car Gadget

Most of us got bored and invents something weird but actually it can sell. Here are some weird car gadgets.

Well-Insured Wheel Covers
These cardboard cutouts of empty wheel wells can be used to deter thieves who like cheap knockoffs.

Ozone Air Purifier
This nifty air purifier by OKI supposedly "eradicate[s] all disgusting smells from you car" by releasing UV rays while producing ozone. It plugs right into your car's cigarette lighter socket and has blinking LED lights to let you know its working.

Alert Driver Wristband
The Alert Driver wristband is a flexible rubber device that detects -- by communicating with an RFID tag placed in the car -- if a driver is suffering from fatigue, based on reaction time. If fatigue is detected, the device will start vibrating.

Tesla Coil Car Alarm
This could quite possibly be the "coolest security alarm ever" for your car. It basically consists of a giant Tesla Coil mounted atop the car's roof, emitting an electrical forcefield to fend off would-be thieves.

Shotgun Turret
Introduces the "HAMMER" unmanned weapons system and H2X-40 turret for law enforcement/military use.

For a demonstration, the firm fitted a turret with two 12 gage shotguns to the roof of an SUV. Such a system could be used to breach a door or gate, expose a hidden device, destroy a roadside bomb, and more

Michelin's Tweel Wheels
The Tweel sports a flexible spoke/wheel design that replaces the need for air pressure, deforming to absorb shocks.

Autoloc Car Flamethrower
Shown at SEMA 2006, the Autoloc Car Flamethrower could be one of the most useful (coolest) auto accessories we've come across, enabling drivers to shoot up to 20ft. flames from their car's exhaust.

High-Tech LED Rims
Spinner rims are so yesterday. Rims with built-in color LEDs become reality with "PimpStar". These fully programmable wheels can display any image, logo, or text using the included software. Prices range from $12,500 (22" w/tires) - $19,500 (26" w/tires).

Automatic License Plate Blocker

This gadget/device was created specifically for 2006 Bullrun, a 3,000-mile road race, to prevent red light cameras from snapping pictures of the Lamborghini Gallardo's license plate.

Parallel Parking Device
A group of college students demonstrate a strange parallel parking device that attaches to your car's rear bumper and "uses hydraulics to lift the rear end of the car -- enabling it to slide sideways into the parking spot."

More info at: techeblog.com

Autopartswarehouse.com | Cool Gadget for you and your car.

Some of us are putting lots of mod on our car. Then lets get ourselves cool gadgets.

Anti Sleep Driving Alarm

It's a pretty typical situation. You've been gaming for sixteen hours and downed plenty of Bawls and Foosh Energy Mints, but the inevitable has begun to happen - you're starting to get the dreaded drowsy head tilt. Maybe this means it's time to quit your session and get some rest. We think not. The better answer is to put on the Anti Sleep Driving Alarm and keep on going.

A device designed for long distance truck drivers or professional drivers who run the risk of falling asleep behind the wheel, the Anti Sleep Driving Alarm rests comfortably behind your ear. If your head tilts forward more than 30 degrees a high-pitched alarm will sound and bring you back to reality. Great for gamers, students, security guards, late-night coders, secret underground bunker employees, convenience store nightshift, pilots, etc.

AlcoHawk

The AlcoHawk offers an incredibly compact breath alcohol screener at an affordable price. The compact design makes it easy to carry in your pocket or even on a keychain. The AlcoHawk features a folding mouthpiece design and two digit LED display and contains a highly accurate semi-conductor oxide sensor. It also contains an advanced electric exhale pressure monitor to ensure that an accurate breath sample is obtained. All these professional features rolled into a unit this small and portable make it a great choice for alcohol screening on the go.

STFU

STFU is our favorite institution, and though many of us attended other universities around the world, we're encouraging as many people as we can to embrace STFU and its ideals. Tuition is cheap at STFU, in fact it's free. There are no books to buy, and since there's no physical campus, you can study as little or as often as you like; though we think you'll find the more you immerse yourself in the STFU lifestyle, the happier and more fulfilled all our lives will be.

Make your own statement by driving around with this STFU car flag prominently displayed. This is particularly effective in towns with large sports franchises in which everyone else will have their own car flags hanging out their windows. The STFU car flag features a one-sided imprint with the school name and crest on a durable polyester fabric. For those of you not familiar with the crest, it's "STFU" and "Subsiste Sermonem Statim" with a strangely-gagged mascot in white, orange, and blue. There is a 'distressed' effect on the whole design for maximum University appeal. For the non-Latin-inclined, the motto translates to "Stop Talking Now." The flag itself is 11 x 16, and the vinyl pole is almost 19 inches long, providing an excellent source of thwacking passersby when it's not actually on your car.

MagnoGrip

The MagnoGrip is a magnetic wristband guaranteed to securely hold nails, screws, drill bits, fasteners and tools. It allows professionals and do-it yourselfers to finish jobs in less time and with less frustration. The magnogrip is built to handle the most rugged of jobs. Its fabric construct consists of durable heavy duty canvas, industrial grade velcro and high-powered magnets that are strong enough to hold a hammer.


All those cool gadgets are available at thinkgeek.com.

Autopartswarehouse.com | New Technology For New Cars

New technologies will improve fuel efficiency, increase safety, aid navigation and repair. Automobiles industries are doing want they can to get more easy to drive cars. Cost efficient car are manufactured right now.

Here are some of the new technology expected to hit the marketplace within the next decade:

1) Active safety systems will include radar and cameras that watch for danger. “We’ve put airbags just about every place you can.” Says Toyota Product-planning Manager, John Weiner, “Within the next five years the car will use algorithms to anticipate hazards and intervene or warn the driver.

2) Keyless entry has already been implemented on certain Cadillac, Infinity and BMW models and will be introduced to approximately 40 different vehicles in the next three years. Credit card style systems will replace car keys.

3) Navigation systems such as computer-like screens on the dash, displaying navigation systems that employ global positioning satellite and onboard DVD’s to provide the driver with distractions, maps, and information on businesses such as hotels, hospitals and restaurants. The video screens will also have the capability to connect to PDA’s and cellular phones.

4) Wi-Fi hook-ups in almost every vehicle will provide weather, news, and other information. “We’re going to see hot spots in places like gas stations and restaurants,” says Peter Wengert, marketing manager for automotive products at Microsoft.

5) Data collection will give vehicles the capability to collect pertinent data that can be shared with dealers, manufacturers, and other vehicles helping service personnel perform remote diagnostics and help troubleshoot for a broken down motorist.

6) Onboard cameras will help detect blind spots, while helping parents watch their kids. Many recreational vehicles already have this technology at the rear and in front to “see” around corners.

7) 40 Volt Electrical Systems will become standard to accommodate the many new electric devices.

8) Voice commands are already in certain BMW’s, Jaguar and Lexus models and will become common and necessary in order to operate the various functions in cars.

9) Electronic pedals already in use in Mercedes, Chevy Corvette and all recent Audi vehicles, brake-by-wire and accelerate by wire pedals send an electronic signal rather than activating a physical connection to the engine and brakes. Emergency brake handles will also be replaced by electronic controls.

10) Programmable vehicles will let you use electronics to express your choice of vehicle you wish to drive, says Stanford professor of mechanical engineering Chris Gerdes. “You can have it be as sporty or luxurious, as you choose.” Drivers of the new Audi A8, for example can change the car’s ride by raising and lowering road clearance.

More info at: motorpoint.com

Autopartswarehouse.com | Most Useful New Gadgets For Your Car

Its not the latest car colonges. They are the names of some of the most innovative multifunctional electronic devices available for your car.

It’s enough for a gadget to do just one thing well. The latest trend is to combine multiple functions in one compact unit, to improve convenience and safety for drivers. Example of this device are the Alpine eX-10 is an Apple iPod adapter that doubles as a Bluetooth receiver. The Kenwood DNX8120 is a navigation system that also works like a radio. And yes, it has Bluetooth too. Then there are the in-car computers that let drivers navigate, email, and store MP3s.

Aftermarket accessory manufacturers have been devising ways for drivers to bring their favorite music along for the ride. Some radio uses tape adapter or radio trasmitter to play IPod through car speakers. Now Alpine eX-10 allows drivers to play their devices through their car speakers without using a radio transmitter or tape adapter, both of which compromise sound quality.

Todd Ramsey of Ramsey Consulting Group in Phoenix, Ariz said “The iPod is clearly the leading application for portable media player integration in cars,” He also said, “But the industry will continue development of support for more ubiquitous USB-based devices like thumb drives, portable hard drives, and a wide range of competing portable media players.”

With some devices, drivers can leave the iPod home using a Azentek Atlas CPC-1200, a personal computer that can be install in the dashboard. It has a 120-gigabyte hard drive that can store enough music for any road trip.

As is the case with the verbal route guidance, luxury cars have been offering voice-command functionality for some time, but now it's trickling down to the masses. The Ford Sync and Scosche Blue Fusion both take advantage of wireless technology (like the ever-popular Bluetooth) to make operating cell phones and audio systems safer and easier. If you want to make a phone call, simply say the word. The stereo even knows to turn the volume down so you can hear the person on the other end.

More info at: ForbesAutos.com

Autopartswarehouse.com | Top Mobile Electronics Cars

The SEMA show is a car show for audio installers. A show for who got the better audio design and how loud it is. Here are the top cars with nasty audios.


Cool Caddy

The Orion Dragillac by Auto Core Customs of Phoenix greeted SEMA attendees when they entered into the North Hall—and stopped many dead in their tracks at the Directed Electronics booth where it sat. The slammed ’60 Cadillac sports a chopped convertible top, rear suicide doors and shaved cowl, front bumper, door handles and side moldings, all coated with a Candy Yellow Fade paint job. On the audio/video side, the cool Caddy houses five Orion amplifiers and pairs of 10- and 12-inch subwoofers, along with two Directed Electronics 17-inch LCD monitors hanging from the trunk lid and another 17-inch in the center of the dash.

Pickup Game

The other Caddy that caught our attention was a 2002 Escalade EXT pickup in the MTX booth. The interior was gutted to make room for two massive 22-inch subwoofers, and it also sports eight amplifiers that produce 18,000 watts of power. To supply enough current for all of those amps, the truck has five alternators under the hood—four that supply 1,800 amperes just to the amplifiers. A Windows-based computer accesses audio and video files mounted on a hard drive, all controlled via a 15-inch touch-screen in the middle of the dash.

Mad Max Mobile

As a fitting display for the company’s new Warhorse 10,000-watt amplifier, the folks at Kicker turned an ordinary 2006 GMC Savannah 3500 van into something straight out of Mad Max. Two Warhorse amplifiers bolted to the driver’s side wall of the van power four Kicker SoloX 18-inch subwoofers with an extraordinary 22,000 watts of power. It takes 10 Kinetik HC2400 Power Cell batteries housed in a diamond-plate aluminum box and two Powermasters XS Volt racing alternators just to keep the Warhorse amplifiers supplied with current, while the van’s electronic goodies consist of Clarion CD and DVD players, a 17-inch monitor and two backup cameras.

Pseudo Lambo

No one in the right mind would cut up a 2008 Lamborghini Murcielago Superleggera to install a bunch of car audio gear, so we were somewhat relieved to find that the one in the Sony booth was a replica. That would explain the 7-inch monitors installed in the pop-ups in the rear side scoops in each rear quarter panel and the 17-inch LCD monitor under the hood, along with a 10-inch subwoofer.

Pony Expressive

There’s no lack of cool pony cars at SEMA, but the one in the Metra booth had to be the coolest with a car audio system. The fiberglass dash holds a trio of 6.5-inch midranges and a pair of 1-inch tweeters, as well as a pair of 7-inch video monitors. Each door also got the fiberglass treatment and houses an 8-inch woofer, 6.5-inch midrange and 1-inch tweeter. The trunk has its own tricks and treats, including two JBL amplifier and four 12-inch subwoofers.

Center-Drive Scion

A stereo system’s “sweet spot” is typically right in the middle of the speakers, but the driver and passengers are usually sitting too close to the speakers on one side of a vehicle and too far away from the ones on the opposite side. Which is why Chris Roberts created his center-drive ’05 Scion xB, with a single front and rear seat in the front in the middle of the interior, and the steering wheel and pedals are positioned accordingly. On each side of the steering wheel is a teardrop-shaped panel with instrument cluster on the left and the shifter and air-suspension system on the right, while on the floor is real marble tile. Flanking the centered rear seat are four Alpine amplifiers, while four 10-inch subwoofers are arrayed behind the rear seat.

A Tiburon With Bite

It’s a drag when you work hard at getting a vehicle ready for SEMA only to have it damaged in transit. That’s what happened to Mike Edens of Colonial Heights, Virginia when he showed up to find the front bumper, hood and right front fender his ’04 Hyundai Tiburon smashed up. But luckily it didn’t affect the vehicle’s interior, which features a pair of Boston Acoustics 12-inch subwoofers in a hatch-mounted enclosure that’s connected to a custom center console that flows through to the front of the car. The center stack was also reconfigured to hold five gauges and a Pioneer AVIC-D3 head unit.

Not-so-Simple Civic

At first glance, Jason Syner’s 2005 Honda Civic looks like just another slick car stereo showcase for a half dozen amplifiers, a trio of 12-inch subwoofers, 24 other speakers and a total of 13 video screens. But look closer and you see details that make the car stand out. For example, while many cars sport a gauge cluster on the driver’s side A pillar, Syner’s Civic has one that runs down the middle of the windshield. The layout of the custom-built door panels forms the outline of a car, with speakers constituting the wheels and LEDs making up the headlights and taillights.

Super Supra

Jojo Pagulayan’s ’98 Toyota Supra would look hot even without all of the audio gear he installed. Under the hood is a turbo-charged engine that produces close to 500 horsepower. Audio firepower comes from two Phoenix Gold 12-inch subwoofers and other PG speakers scattered throughout the yellow-accented, carbon-fiber swathed ride, and all powered by a pair of Phoenix Gold amplifiers. Peeking out the rear side windows are two 6.5-inch video monitors.

Restrained RSZ

While Wayne Watkins’ 2003 Acura RSX can’t exactly be called subtle, it definitely had restrained sense of style compared to many of the other wild car audio creations at SEMA. The four JL Audio amplifiers and the two Focal 12-inch subwoofers were integrated into the hatch and rear seat with sleek silver-colored fiberglass, while the speakers are covered with stainless-steel grilles. The same cosmetic theme carries through to the door panels, and below the radio is a custom switch panel to activate many of the vehicle’s accessories.

More Images at: autoshow.autos.msn.com

Autopartswarehouse.com | Getting Your Car iPod Ready

Getting your car IPod ready is very simple. You just need three basic options - RCA cable, go wireless with an FM transmitter, or connect via cassette tape. If you use a FM transmitter, just follow the instructions that come with it. Sometimes they involve installing software on your PC, downloading the radio stations to your iPod, finding a station with no feedback at all, and matching the station on your stereo to the station on the iPod.

Here are the Steps:

1. Buy a cassette adapter at your local Radio Shack or Best Buy store. They generally run about $15 dollars, and it's an easy way to have a good quality hookup to your car. You simply plug a standard plug into the earphone jack of your iPod, and a cord runs from that to a cassette which you place into the cassette player. Tune your car stereo to cassette, and you're ready to go (any cassette adapter at those stores should work with the iPod, so don't get suckered into buying the most expensive name brand). It is worth noting that the cassette tape is an analog medium, and therefore suffers some loss in audio quality.
2. Buy a wireless transmitter- these devices usually attach to your iPod, and require you to tune your radio to a designated FM frequency. While this is certainly the quickest and easiest fix, wireless transmitting has it's drawbacks. First, you will notice a slight decrease in your overall battery life. Second, FM radio transmissions do not usually exceed 96 Kbps, which means that any high-quality audio files (128 Kbps MP3 or higher, AAC, FLAC, MP4, etc...) are down-converted before being transmitted to the radio. This loss in quality is irrelevant to the untrained ear, but intermediate and advanced listeners may notice a drastic difference, especially on high-end stereos.
3. Try using RCA cables for better sound quality.
4. Remove the stereo from your dash. If it's a newer vehicle, you may need a special tool which usually just looks like 2 U's. The pointed ends are inserted into small holes on either side if the stereo. Pull the handles away from each other (pull the left one to the left, and the right one to the right). Pull, and the stereo will slide right out. If you have an older car, you will have to find out how to remove the dash and/or stereo. Sometimes it is just a couple of screws, and the rest is held on with clips. On others, you have to figure it out with trial and error (but remember, the more errors you make, the worse your car will probably look in the end). Ask some friends who may have the same car as you, or look it up online so it's done right.
5. Be sure that your stereo has some type of input in the back. If your stereo has a CD changer input in the rear with RCA inputs, you aren't out of luck - but you may be out another $50 because you need an adapter that changes the CD changer input into simple left and right RCA inputs. If you already have RCA inputs, there will be 2 of them (left and right audio). Usually, one is red, one is white, and they may or may not be covered by small rubber caps (depending on how old it is). If there are caps, you can remove them.
6. Decide where you will be putting your iPod and where you want the wire going. Once you've done this, drill your hole. For a way to make sure the wire never falls through the hole (forcing you to take everything apart to get it), go to step 7. Otherwise, skip to step 8.
7. If its RCA then the RCA to 1/8th inch jack should be fine, get an extension for the 1/8th inch if you need it but don't go splicing wires! Don't drill any holes; instead, find a way to run the cable under the dash.
8. Check that everything works, which usually requires switching to an "input" mode or "auxiliary" mode on your stereo. If it works, you're all set. Replace your stereo and dash. You're done.

Reminder: Check if there are no metal is exposed on the wires when you're done. If yes, removed or do it again because it will damage your iPod, car stereo or both.



Source: wikihow.com

Autopartswarehouse.com | Positioning Without GPS Signal

Its Navison that developed the software-only positioning system that relies on wi-fi and phone positioning plus it shares the GPS data from other Navizon customers who own a GPS device! They came up with a version that is compatible with Windows Smartphones.

When GPS signals are available Navizon uses this information to build an accurate map of the WiFi and Cellular “Landscape” around a user (it determines the exact Latitude/Longitude of Wireless Access Points and Cellular Towers within a city, neighborhood or territory) and then stores this positioning information locally on your device. While Navizon is building this “Wireless Map”, you can still access and operate your favorite Pocket PC GPS applications (as you would normally) since GPS Positioning Mode is totally transparent to your device and its GPS applications!

GPS POSITIONING MODE is popular for active GPS users… but Navizon “kicks it up a notch” for you GPS geeks and gadget fans by extending and enhancing the functionality of your devices — and your entire GPS user experience. Since it “works where GPS doesn’t”, especially when “line of sight” is obscured or blocked in dense cities, urban canyons, indoors, underground, etc.

Navizon is the ultimate Pocket PC companion to have when GPS signals or devices aren’t available.

Because Navizon users ALWAYS have access to accurate positioning information in urban areas they can navigate almost anywhere using a WiFi or Cellular Pocket PC and the Navizon Wireless Positioning System (Software Only GPS). When GPS devices or GPS signals aren’t present, Navizon automatically engages to deliver accurate Positioning Data to your Pocket PC applications & maps — which are totally oblivious to the absence of GPS!

With this new system you will not need a GPS Signal.

Detailed info: Navison

Autopartswarehouse.com | USB ports in Cars

Considering that many of our mobile electronics have USB ports for charging, it is very convenient to have a USB port while traveling in the road.

Previous in car chargers have only 1 USB port. You can actually charge anything on it too but how can you charge 4 gadget all in the same time. The new in car charger 4 USB port is the answer. You can charge all your gadget in one device using the power of your car.

Now travelers can charge their IPod, Mobile Phones, Digital cameras and other USB port charging device. With the new in car charger you can use four USB Ports to charge your gadgets.

The charger is located near the cigarette lighter. It works within a range of 12-24 volts, and a fuse that can be changed out. It is very useful for people always on the road except people that do smoke a lot. Just try to imagine lighting a cigarette when you’ve got four cords plugged in to this In car charger. Worst case scenario you will burn the plugs.

If you have all the gadget using USB ports and always travel a lot you can get it on the USBFever website for about $22.99. USBFever nailed this one, it give the motorist their cigarette outlet back with 4 USB fort.
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*Any fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius - and a lot of courage - to move in the opposite direction. - Albert Einstein*