Gadget Zone » Automotive

F1Showcar Motion Simulator uses Real Race Car – Gadget Zone

Gadget — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 02:42:57 +0000

F1Showcar Motion Simulator uses Real Race Car

I had a chance to try out the SimCraft Racing simulator at CES, and I thought that it was a trip. However, just picture how cool it would have been if I had been sitting in a Formula 1 car!

I mean, if you can’t afford to drive a real car on a track, then maybe you can have the car! Okay, I’ll admit that was pretty sarcastic, but at least the car has real tires, racing seat and harness, steering wheel, and pedal system.

The car is mounted on a pneumatically powered motion platform that is similar to the ones used in Flight Simulator training. It has a nineteen inch monitor for viewing the road, which sort of pales in comparison with Simcraft’s wrap-around triple display.

The F1Showcar Motion Simulator will set you back $44,900. Yeah, this definitely a toy for those who clearly have money to burn, which does not include myself. I also don’t have the space in my place for something like this, either. Then again, it doesn’t seem right to buy a Formula1 car and just mount it on a platform.

Still, I think I can see why it was done. How else are you going to get the feeling of driving without using a real car? It reminds me of a video game in Japan called Initial D where the player was in an actual sports car to engage in The Fast and the Furious type races. I wrote about that here if you want more information.

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The CradleVue holds your laptop in the car – Gadget Zone

Gadget — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 07:09:43 +0000

The CradleVue holds your laptop in the car

By now just about every single mini van has a small portable DVD player. The ones that don’t are getting fewer and fewer. Except there are still several holding out, because it just seems like a ridiculous expense to some of us. After all, most households own at least one laptop, so why spend the money for something that is only useful within your car? The down side with the laptop is that it’s difficult to set it up in a vehicle at an angle that makes everyone happy. Well with this CradleVue, it would hold your laptop up high and you won’t have to spend money on a portable DVD player.

The CradleVue can be adjusted to hold onto any size laptop. It also can adjust to accommodate more than just mini vans, it’ll also work for cars, SUVs and trucks as well. It has a specific type of cord that is used to absorb all of the usual shock from riding around in the car. The biggest risk factor with this is wondering whether or not it would somehow wear out the hinges between the keyboard and laptop. You can try it out though for only $19.99, although it’s normally priced at $24.99.

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First iPhone 3GS Spy software rolled out – Gadget Zone

Gadget — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 07:42:12 +0000

First iPhone 3GS Spy software rolled out

Retina-X Studios, LLC, was first off the blocks with a spy software for the iPhone, and has recently announced the immediate availability of Mobile Spy version 3.0 for the recently released Apple iPhone 3GS. Apparently, there is no other spy software that is currently compatible with the iPhone 3GS, so let’s keep our fingers crossed that Retina-X Studios’ efforts will not be in vain, but will instead be able to be all it is meant to be. This unique spy software is able to enable users to silently track GPS locations, SMS messages and calls of children or employees using a secure online control panel. Sounds as though one’s privacy has been violated, but then again parents ought to have better control and keep tabs on their kids instead of leaving them to the nanny, TV and peers throughout the formative years.

Mobile Spy will operate in complete stealth mode and there won’t be any mention of the program whatsoever on the iPhone 3GS. The software will quietly run in the background behind all other applications. The moment the software is set up, it will get to work straightaway without the need for any prompting, silently recording the entire text of all SMS text messages, information about each call and actual GPS positions. We’re guessing this will be a popular software to use when it comes to warring couples who are suspicious of one another’s movements at work or when out of town, although we’re not too sure just how such evidence will hold up in the divorce court for grounds of infidelity.

All logged activities will be silently uploaded to the user’s secure online account, where these accounts can be securely checked online from virtually any web browser without the need to access the handset. All activity logs can be viewed in real time the moment they are recorded including complete texts and maps of GPS positions. Mobile Spy is compatible with all iPhone models and smartphones powered by Windows Mobile or the Symbian OS operating system.

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The Fake Car Key Security Spy Camera

Gadget — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 08:51:58 +0000

The Fake Car Key Security Spy Camera

If you thought that the keychain spy camera wasn’t quite stealthy enough, this car key might work a little bit better. Just close up the key part and it would cover up all of the spots that let on that it’s actually a spy camera in disguise. Closing up the key won’t obstruct the view of the camera itself though. There’s just a small hole at the bottom of the plastic part, that no one would ever suspect is a camera.

This fake key comes from Brando just like the keychain. It’s also extremely similar, the biggest difference is that they are two different shapes. This fake key has 2GB of built-in memory and can shoot at 29 FPS. The color video resolution is at 640 x 480 and then the image resolution is 1280 x 960 pixels. It has video as well as audio and a rechargeable Li-ion battery. You can purchase it for $66 from Brando, which happens to be the exact same price as the keychain. So you can pick and choose which look you like the best and not have to worry about price differences.

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Attention Assist Helps Sleepy Drivers – Gadget Zone

Gadget — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 08:22:55 +0000

Attention Assist Helps Sleepy Drivers

On the Volvo S80 is a new safety feature that I have never seen before, but I’m guessing it is probably needed. Attention Assist has an interesting feature that can detect whether the driver is nodding off, which is a cause of many an accident.

The Mercedes-Benz S500 as well as the new E-class of the model have this Attention Assist safety feature, which uses seventy parameters that signal to the car that the driver is drifting into slumberland. Granted, I have no idea why seventy is needed, because I believe that the only possible indicator would be on the steering wheel.

In fact, how can a car tell when you are nodding off? Maybe they have a “power nod” detector that I don’t know about. If you’re not familiar with the “power nod”, just think back to college when that boring professor put you to sleep, but you tried to stop yourself. The end result was classmates in the back shouting “whiplash”!

If the car does detect your drowsiness, the indicator light will come out. Oddly enough, a picture of a cup of coffee appears on the dash. So what is this, some sort of signal that you need caffeine? If so, I would prefer having a Mountain Dew can in there in lieu of the coffee cup. I’m not a big coffee achiever guy.

Now, if the car has a GPS, it could give the driver directions to the next coffee shop. For me, there would have to be some compass pointing to the nearest Mountain Dew machine.

Keyring Alcohol Breath Tester – Gadget Zone

Gadget — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 07:03:20 +0000

Keyring Alcohol Breath Tester

There is nothing quite like painting the town red to celebrate a joyous occassion like a marriage or promotion on the job, but drinking responsibly is another important thing to consider even if you decide to let your hair down. For folks who do not trust cabbies to bring them back in one piece after a hard night of partying, there’s always the Keyring Alcohol Breath Tester that allows you to know whether you need a friend to bring you back or not.

Just hold down the power button until the LED turns green and blow across the top of the grill. If the light remains green, then you’re under 0.05% BAC, and in theory in the clear. If the yellow LED comes to life, then you need to use caution (and probably a bus) as it means you’re hovering dangerously close to the legal alcohol limit of 0.08% BAC. If the red and yellow LEDs come on, then you should throw your car keys into the nearest river and start weaving your way home as you’ve had far too much to drink.

Of course, if you can’t even remember where you’ve parked your car, then there isn’t even any need to purchase this £7.99 device.

Scamander RRV can go just about anywhere – Gadget Zone

Gadget — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 08:30:33 +0000

Scamander RRV

Before he died, Peter Wheeler wanted the ultimate car – one that would not only go fast, but go anywhere. And by anywhere, he meant ANYWHERE. Over land, over water, over just about anything. The end of the day, he had the Scamander.

Because he loved driving fast, but shooting in the outback, Wheeler needed something that wasn’t bound by the roads it ran on, or having to waste hours driving around lakes and streams that block his way.

So he built a vehicle with huge 35 inch tires, and the rear wheels have paddles attached to them. Powered by a 2.0 litre Ford Zetec engine, the Scamander also was designed with individual braking systems which can isolate each wheel separately for better traction. The body, is built from foam plastic pods that are form fitting aerodynamically and positioned around it’s aluminum frame. This keeps the RRV light enough to wade through any lagoon.

The driver sits dead in the middle of the front seat with a near 300 degree field of view from five windows included a very large windshield. Two passenger seats occupy the rear along with covered pickup style bed for more utilitarian purposes.

But will Detroit be seeing something like this any time soon? Not likely as Wheeler was investing his own money into the project and with his death, the fate of the Scamander is very much in doubt. But one thing is for sure, it definitely works.

Supermarket Parking Lot makes its own power – Gadget Zone

Gadget — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 08:03:10 +0000

Supermarket Parking Lot

At Coolest Gadgets, we love to report on new ways to make energy from methods where energy goes to waste. About a year ago, it was the Revolution Door, a revolving door that is connected to a turbine, harnessing the energy for when people walk through the door.

Here is a another gem of an idea when it comes to energy conservation: a power-generating parking lot. It works with a series of plates that create a rocking motion when cars drive over them. The rocking motion can turn generators and thus make power.

Ecco GPS Keychain helps you find your car – Gadget Zone

Gadget — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 03:40:48 +0000

Ecco GPS Keychain

If you have the tendency to lose major things, such as your car, you might want to consider this Ecco GPS Keychain. It’ll make sure you never have to admit to anyone that you haven’t the faintest idea where you parked your car while you’re out and about. Plus, if you’re someplace new, you can set the keychain to help you find your way back to someplace like your hotel. It’d make sight seeing a lot easier if you have a device to tell you how to get back to where you came from.

The GPS device is small enough to carry on your keychain, so it’ll always be handy. When you need it, you can program in 3 different locations to find your way back to. It will let you know the direction you need to head by pointing the way. It also lets you know exactly how close you are to your destination. It’s not exactly something that you would want to use in the car, but it’d be nice while you’re out walking. It recharges by utilizing your USB port. You can pick it up for £69.95 or about $113 from Firebox.

The Future Of Car Technology, As Seen From The Recent Past – Gadget Zone

Gadget — Fri, 22 May 2009 04:01:00 +0000

The Future Of Car Technology

Futuristic concept products—especially gadgets—always inspire the same thought: in about ten years, this is going to seem ridiculous. Jalopnik takes a look back at the technological dreams of the car industry, circa 1999.

Gadget Zone » Automotive

F1Showcar Motion Simulator uses Real Race Car – Gadget Zone

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The CradleVue holds your laptop in the car – Gadget Zone

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First iPhone 3GS Spy software rolled out – Gadget Zone

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The Fake Car Key Security Spy Camera

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Attention Assist Helps Sleepy Drivers – Gadget Zone

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