GadgetReview

Controlling a car via the iPhone is pretty old news at this point, but the boys (and girls) at Waterloo Labs have modded an old ass, broke ass Oldsmobile using every day parts to control the vehicle using the handset.  If the Teenwolf Styles move (aka surfing the car) isn’t enough for you, check the modded power wheels.

[via Crunchgear]

Chiggity check these decked out Scion DJxBs by Five Axis on display at this year’s SEMA auto show in Vegas.  They’ve got TVs in the doors, a grill in the back with a sink, amps up the yin yang, slotted turn tables in the roof with dance floor and a whole bunch of stuff that truly does pop!

More pics after the ‘leap’ …Continue reading: Scion DJxBs by Five Axis At SEMA Are Gadget Freaked

It’s as if we need further proof that the iPhone can do just about anything.

Using the same platform used in the 2007 Darpa Urban Challenge (an autonomous vehicle system) the Spirit of Berlin team built an iPhone app that allows a minivan to be controlled right from Apple’s smartphone over WiFi.  A forward facing camera transmits real time video to the phone’s screen and a set of buttons control the gas, break and steering wheel, which is tied into the phone’s accelerometer.

While I wouldn’t hurdle myself into shotgun for the proverbial ghost ride, I’d love to give this thing a whirl.

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Speed bumps are great and all, especially if they prevent unwanted deaths in your local neighborhood, but for those law abiding citizens they can be a menace on your car’s suspension, especially if you’ve got ground effects.  The speed sensing speed bump detects when a car is traveling slowing and flattens, thus rewarding those that follow the posted speeds.  For those that speed, though, the metal plates detect the sudden force and harden creating what is commonly known as a speed bump…or hump in some places.  Built by Mexico’s Decano Industries, each speed sensing speed bump will cost roughly $1,500 to install and that doesn’t include the inevitable repairs from tampering.  Stupid video demo after the ‘leap’ …Continue reading: Smart Speed Bump Flattens To Reward Law Abiding Drivers (video)

What at first glance appears to be a defunct fighter jet of some sort is in fact the fastest fuel cell vehicle on the planet.  The Buckeye Bullet 2 (it’s older brother is electric and slightly faster) achieved a top speed of 304mph.  It’s powered by a custom 700hp electric motor and fueled by a combination of hydrogen and oxygen batteries.  Me want to ride in..drool.

[via Inhabitat]

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Thule, who is no stranger to external car accessory parts, has come up with a new and innovative snow tire chain that is both practical and easy to attach.  Crafted of metal studs and a plastic body, the K-summit attaches to one of the tire’s lug nuts and then using a crank tightening system fits into places providing that much needed grip to traverse even the most slippery of slopes.

The below video screams ‘concept’, but since it’s a 2008 product, at least according to their catalog, it should be available now, right?

[via Coolhunting]

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There are a ton of crap gadgets out there, but every once and a while there is a glimmer of hope in the realm of gimmicky ones.  The AutoExec WM-01 Wheelmate Steering Wheel Desk Tray should attach to any steering wheel and provide any road warrior with a flat surface for jotting down notes or scoffing down a meal.  I’m a bit skeptical on its application as a laptop shelf given the lack of space, but where there is a will there is a way.  You can grab one for about $30.

[via Random-good-stuff]

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Toyota, it seems, really doesn’t like the thought of you getting plastered and then going out driving their cars.  Thus, they’ve decided to figure out a way to wire a breathalyzer to your ignition column and make the car impossible to start unless you blow a clean meter, or, show that your blood alcohol content is less than that required by law in order to start your car.

On the one hand, this seems not only spectacularly intrusive but hard to engineer.  Considering that laws vary by state as to how much is too much, will they engineer these devices for each state?  Will you have to re-register when you move?  What about used cars?

But on the other hand, stopping drunk driving before it can even leave the parking lot is a hard thing to be against.

Similar devices already exist, they’re just generally reserved for people already convicted of drunk driving.

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If you’ve ever tried to battle a speeding ticket, or just about any driving offense then you know how challenging it can be.  As soon as you step into the courtroom the judge, which is part of the law, is on the police officer’s side.  Unless of course you have hard evidence to prove that you’re not guilty, chances are you walking away in cuffs or with a significant tab.

The Selfic Cube 7100 is a small, windshield mountable camcorder that can record 640×480 video at 30 fps while you drive.  It includes a microSD card slot so its recording time is virtually endless, and the built-in GPS keeps track of your location and speed.  Also, it can detect shock in the event of an impact and can record audio within the vehicle’s cab.  So it pretty much has you covered from all ends.

Now next time you step into the court room and the cop cites you for a marks lane violation while speeding you can simply whip out the data and video to prove otherwise.  And get this, it’s only $167, that is assuming you can get one out of Korea.

[via Technabob]

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Looking positively swanky, this radar sniffing aftermarket mirror attachment by Cheetah will actually minimize your blind spots as well as alert you to the long arm of the law.  Priced at $300 you won’t even be able to tell it’s an add on if you can hide the power cord.  It is so concealed that you may find it difficult to locate let alone operate the functions while driving.  The mirror digitally displays your speed, the time of day, the closing distance to an enforcement camera with known speed, red light camera intersection locations and it will give you visual and audio alerts upon approach.  You can also mark other locations for personal use and keep the mirror up to date by downloading new locations via the Cheetah website.  Too bad there aren’t any recording options that track and log your speed so you can use the data later if you have to.  Still, looks sweet.

[via Wired]

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