Crutchfield is adding in some extra savings for this Cobra iRad-105 iRadar Detection System for Android!

Now here’s a very interesting take on radar detection. The Cobra iRad device utilizes the power of your Android smartphone and gives you true radar and red-light camera detection wherever you are. Just install the free Cobra iRadar app from the Android Marketplace and mount this to your windshield and thanks to Bluetooth wireless technology you’ll be detecting already. The detector will audio tone when it detects any radar signals and will map them all out onto your phone, so you can see where most radar congested areas are as you drive around. There’s 2 modes for city and highway and provides either a dashboard or map view depending on your driving style. It’s very easy to use, and thanks to connectivity with Android your options are limitless.

Use Crutchfield’s $20 coupon (3A825) at the check (where the CC is) to get this for $109.99.  S&H is free

Lose your keys often?  The Cobra Tag is a bluetooth tagging system that works with your smartphone to track down your misplaced keys all the while keeping tabs on them based on proxmity.

The fob can be attached to anything of your choosing, but clearly keys are the mainstay of this product.  It works with an accompanying app that installs on your smartphone.  Once the two devices have been paired via Bluetooth it can actively monitor the proximity of the fob to your phone.  If either one leaves a predetermined distance (probably 30m, since it’s Bluetooth) an audible alert will sound and the fob, if setup correctly, can somehow email, Twitter of Facebook its last known GPS location.

That’s not all.  In the event you misplace your keys you can activate an audible alert and vice versa if you misplay your smartphone.

This isn’t the first product we’ve seen of this ilk, but this is from Cobra, the radar detection company.  So we’re assuming some heavy R&D went into it, which hopefully means a solid product.  It will ship this July for $59.99.

Cobra Electronics Corporation(NASDAQ: COBR), a leading manufacturer of mobile electronic devices, today announced that Cobra Tag™; an ingenious Bluetooth tagging system that helps avoid losing car keys, smartphones, or other valuables; will be generally available in July 2011. In January, Popular Mechanics, one of America’s most trusted men’s magazines, recognized Cobra Tag with its Editor’s Choice Awards as among the most innovative new products at the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES), the world’s largest annual tradeshow for consumer technology. Cobra Electronics is showcasing Cobra Tag, along with its entire lineup of mobile/wireless products, in Booth #4863 at the 2011 International CTIA Wireless exhibition taking place March 22-24 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida.
Cobra Tag, powered by Phone Halo Technology, is a clever alarm and loss prevention system that consists of a smartphone app that is paired via Bluetooth to a small key fob device. Users download the Cobra Tag app to their smartphone and attach the Cobra Tag device to any item they wish to protect, such as car keys, a purse, or laptop bag. The Cobra Tag system monitors the distance between the phone and tagged items and produces an audible alert if they become separated.
In addition, the Cobra Tag app can record the GPS location and the time of day the items became separated, and sends this information to a pre-configured contact list via email, text message, or even to a linked Facebook or Twitter account. The Cobra Tag system also includes a handy two-way finder feature. Pressing a button on the Cobra Tag key fob device will ring the paired smartphone, and a feature of the app can also help locate the tagged valuable.
“Smartphones have become a crucial tool for many of us, and the software, music and data they contain can be virtually irreplaceable,” said Sally Washlow, senior vice president of marketing and sales for Cobra Electronics. “Cobra Tag is a versatile and brilliant little system for protecting our phones and just about anything else of value, and I think most consumers will find it to be an incredibly affordable investment in safety and peace-of-mind.”
Pricing and availability:
Cobra Tag will be available from retailers nationwide in July 2011 with a suggested retail price of $59.99. The Cobra Tag App for Blackberry® will be available at no cost from the Blackberry App World at that time, and the Android™ App will be available via the Android Market at https://market.android.com/. To locate a retailer, please visit www.cobra.com.

4 out of 5 stars

Pros:

• Works with the iPhone
• App includes a variety of settings to personalize your radar experience
• Free Cobra AURA database provides Google map locations of known speed traps and red light cameras in real time
• Slim car charger with built-in USB port

Cons:

• Standard radar detector form factor; it’s a bit large
• Doesn’t convey the direction of the radar being detected
• No battery for wireless operation

A standard radar detector works directly out of the box; plug in the power, mount it on the windshield and your ready to head off into the sunset exceeding the legal limit.  Cobra’s iRAD-100 iRadar Detector, however isn’t quite as simple an affair.  It links with the iPhone over Bluetooth to convey a variety of information on its screen ranging from red light cameras and speed trap locations on a map, to the type of radar it’s reading, to your car’s voltage output.

Included in the box is a slim and slender car charger with a built-in USB port for charging your iPhone simultaneously (or whatever USB gadget you so choose) and a windshield suction cup mount.  I particularly liked the charger, not only because I could piggy back another device on top of it, but because I drive a VW GTI which has an awkwardly small cigarette lighter plug that more often than not doesn’t allow chargers to be inserted – not the case with Cobra’s.

Before I received the Cobra iRadar I was under the impression that it was half the size of your standard radar detector. Makes sense, right?  After all, it doesn’t have a built-in screen and some of the processing power is presumambly passed onto the iPhone. Boy was I wrong.  It’s the same size as today’s other radar detectors and as a result doesn’t make it any less of a clandestine operation; I was hoping for something a bit more nonchalant that could be easily hidden.

iRadar volume knob and power switch

Situated on the left side of the Cobra iRadar is a volume knob that doubles as a power switch.  Click it beyond 0 and the iRadar’s voice announces that it’s ready to go – it goes up to a volume of 10, which at a stand still can be ear numbingly loud.  On top is a mute button and the front portion, which faces the driver, is adorned with an LED light that glows red when disconnected from the iPhone.  When a Bluetooth connection is made with the iPhone it will emit a chime and the LED will change to blue.

iRadar iPhone app settings menu

The Cobra iRadar app, while not an absolute necessity to operate the iRadar – the voice and audible alerts will notify you of an impending radar – does vastly increase the radar detectors function. Within the app’s “settings” menu you can toggle the detection of each band on or off – there are a myriad of choices along with an explanation of each – if you would like to auto mute alerts (lowers the volume after a few excruciating tones) and how you’d like to use the GPS (speed warning set by the user, known speed traps, red light camera warnings, dangerous intersections and notification of your user marked locations).  You can also toggle the type of alert (voice or tone) and if you’re driving in a city or highway, which decreases or increases the sensitivity of the iRadar, respectively.

iRadar iPhone app dashboard provides speed, compass, car voltage and radar detected

While in the Dashboard section of the app you’ll be able to view your current speed, the direction your heading and the car’s battery voltage.  In the event a radar is detected the iPhone’s screen will display the type of radar, or provide a visual icon with bold font as a heads up to an approaching red light camera or speed trap, as well as provide an audible alert (verbal or tone).

While the voltage features seems useless, it’s not.  If the iRadar detects that the voltage of the car has dropped, which happens when the motor is not engaged, it automatically turns the system off to prevent the vehicle’s battery from being drained.  Alternatively, you can enable SmartPower, which also detects when the car’s engine has been disabled, but instead of powering down, the iRadar enters a Low Power mode after 15 minutes,which can be awakened by simply hitting the mute button, turning the iRadar off then on, or turning the car back on.

iRadar map displays red light cameras, speed traps and user marked locations

Before heading out onto the open road you can view a map, which conveys known red light camera locations as well as speed traps.  This information is provided by Cobra’s AURA database, which is constantly being updated.  Speed traps are represented by “red eyes”, while red light cameras by “red cameras”.  If you’re already driving the iRadar’s built-in GPS will show your current location on a Google map in relation to these known locations.  The page flip button, which resides in the lower right corner of the screen allows you to toggle between your “real/false” user marked alerts, as well as select the frequency (1 week, 1 month, 6 months, 1 year or never) in which you liked to have them auto deleted – this won’t delete the AURA info.

As already alluded to, the iRadar system allows you, the user, to mark detected radar locations on the map – they appear along side Cobra’s AURA known locations.  Contrary to safety concerns, the app will prompt you during the time of detection to determine if the radar is “real” (denoted by a red flag on the map) or “false (denoted by a gray flag on the map).  This user “mark location” features is a handy, especially in a city that is scattered with false alerts.

The iRadar provides what Cobra claims is 360 degrees of protection from both laser and radar guns of all types.  While I’m a bit hesistant to agree with this statement since it depends on how you mount the iRadar, I can’t present evidence to prove otherwise. But last I heard you needed to mount detectors on the rear of your vehicle, or least facing backwards to truly achieve 360 degree coverage.

iRadar Cigarette plug is nice and slim and includes a USB port

During my initial testing of the iRadar I ran into a few problems.  Bluetooth connectivity was a bit spotty at times, the alert screens that showed the type of alert and its intensity didn’t always appear, and the map failed to include known speed trap or red light camera locations.  I’m pleased to report that an app update, which was just issued last week seems to have fixed all these problems.

In terms of actual use the iRadar consistently alerted me to the presence of red light cameras, although one of five instances it was after the fact, though the light was green at the time – no harm no foul.  Unfortunately (or fortunately), during my testing I did not run into any speed traps. Driving around Santa Monica and Los Angeles, CA caused the iRadar 9 times out of 10 to alert me to a K band, which according to the app is often found in automatic door openers – this is where the user marking feature earns its keep.

While there is nothing glaringly wrong with the Cobra iRadar, I had hoped for a slight bit more.  I would have warmly welcomed a battery, which means I wouldn’t have to drape a cord across my dash.  I would’ve also liked to know which direction the radar was coming from. And as already mentioned a smaller form factor, though I’m not sure it could be as effective.

At $130 the iRadar isn’t cheap in today’s market, but one thing is for sure, it’s stands alone as the best iPhone friendly solution, if not the only iPhone radar detector solution.  Just make sure you have a car mount that places your iPhone in easy viewing and reaching distance.

Amazon has the Cobra iRadar for a tad under $91 or select from one of the retailers below.

UPDATE.  If you can’t yet afford a system that checks you’re awake at the wheel, driving way above the speed limit will hopefully stave off the sleep demons.

And because you don’t want to stop and collect a ticket every time someone turns on a police radar, the Cobra has thought of combining their radar detection technology with the computing power and usability of the iPhone.

Cue the Cobra iRadar, a radar detection system so powerful it declares its own existence. Cobra says the iRadar connects to the iPhone through Bluetooth and displays  radar alerts, control settings, log alert history, and warnings about the malevolent speed and redlight cameras that lie ahead.

The hardware unit, also sentient, is known as iRadar and provides 360 degree detection for all radar and laser guns. The pair of them, the app and the hardware, cost $169.95.

I take this opportunity to thank Apple for literally giving life to thousands of gadgets by starting the ‘iDevice’ craze. I wonder what happens after we’ve added ‘i’ to every word there is…

Update: Checkout our Cobra iRadar Radar Detector review.

Read

Cobra has pretty much maxed out their line of radar detectors when it comes to bells and whistles, except for one thing: touchscreen.  So today the company announced the XRS 9970G and XRS 9965, which incorporates the same great red light and GPS features found in previous models but adds a 1.5-inch touchscreen interface.  Other features include Super-Xtreme Range Superheterodyne Technology for detecting all 15 radar/laser bands, GPS Locator and Lifetime Subscription to AURA, 8-point electronic compass, voice alert, car battery voltage display/low car battery warning, dangerous intersections, and reported Speed Trap locations for entire United States and Canada.

Read

10.  GIJoe RAM

This way one of the more simpler but highly remembered vehicles that I know I had.  Released in 82′ it was only $3.  I definitely got my money’s worth and this instantly hit me as soon as I saw the picture.

9. GIJoe APC

Arriving on the scene in 83′ for $9, the GIJoe APC [Amphibious Personnel Carrier] was another simple but effective design in jarring my memory.  Pushing around the living room I imagined barren tundras and sparce landscapes.  I think I might have also brought it to the beach and or the bath tub.

8.  GIJoe BridgeLayer

1985′s BridgeLayer had special meaning to me because my Grandfather had driven one in World War 2.  While I can’t actually remember if he ackowldged me having it, I had a great time making gaps out of stacked books for it to lay bridges across.  This went for around $10.

7.  Cobra ASP

Arriving in 1984, I think I liked this due to it’s intense midnight blue color and the fact that it looked like it set up shop and just blew things away.  I noticed that the designers were really trying to stretch acronyms out of these earlier toys.  This one stood for Assault System Pod and cost only $4!

6. GIJoe VAMP

Back then, if it was offroad it was cool.  82′s $6 VAMP [Multi-Purpose Attack Vehicle] was the Hummer before the Hummer.  Easy to hold in one hand this was of my favorites to take with me outside of the house.  Having very few small parts also made it robust and easier not to worry about it breaking.  Like I thought that then.

5.  Cobra NightRaven

This thing was awesome.  As one of my bigger toys at the time, 1986′s Cobra NightRaven had a definite place by my bedside so I could see it first thing every night and morning.  This was about where I maxed out as far as bigger GIJoe toys got.  My dad must have loved throwing this one away.  Back then it cost around $20.

4.  GIJoe SnowCat

So if it was off-road and snow worthy is was a must have.  The GIJoe SnowCat looked positively fantastic and performed well in all of my rigorous play scenarios.  I loved the colors and the rear treads and just imagining it raging through field of snow.  Strong flashback indeed.  Hipster word: Indeed!  The SnowCat came out in 1985 and cost around $7

3.  GIJoe ssault Copter Dragonfly [XH-1]

1983.  This was it.  So sleek and refined and it came with that wily scallion Wild Bill as the pilot!  What a cool dude he was too.  I think this had to be my first GIJoe vehicle that could fly.  It was ready to go right out of the box and it must have given me weeks of enjoyment before I wanted something new.  Nine dolla!

2. GIJoe Hovercraft Killer W.H.A.L.E. [Warrior: Hovering Assault Launch Envoy]

First released in 1984 for a price of $18, I must have bugged the s**t out of my parents for this one.  I can’t remember if this floated or not but I must have tried.  I know I had it!  If only I still had all this stuff!

1. GIJoe Aircraft Carrier U.S.S. Flagg

At a whopping $90, I thought this was the greatest toy ever made.  I only saw it once at some kid’s house and I wanted to sleep on it.  It was the coolest thing I had ever seen and I was stupified by it.  It took up the whole floor in this kid’s room.  The year was 1985 and I was somewhere in the San Francisco area.  I would still probably fall to my knees if I saw this today.

Honorable Mention:

GIJoe Defiant: Space Vehicle Launch Complex

I had grown out of GIJoe at this point but I can still recognize how awesome this was.  It was actually ten dollars more than the aircraft carrier at $100 and came out in 1987.  Mad cool.

]]> http://www.gadgetreview.com/2009/07/gadgetreviews-top-ten-gijoe-vehicles-from-back-in-the-day-1982-1986.html/feed 6 http://www.gadgetreview.com/2009/02/iwood-cobra-iphone-casei-would-not-buy-this.html http://www.gadgetreview.com/2009/02/iwood-cobra-iphone-casei-would-not-buy-this.html#comments Fri, 20 Feb 2009 01:44:09 +0000 Christen Costa http://www.gadgetreview.com/?p=20198

Holy expensive iPhone case!  The iWood cobra is crafted from what I hope is some sort of rare and opulent wood.  Better yet, I hope the rain forest experienced extreme deforestation, otherwise I just won’t know how to justify the price tag of $150!  It’s available in two tones: Padouk/Maple and Wenge/Maple.

[Miniot]

Features:

• 6-band radar/laser detector
• Alerts of upcoming road work, etc
• Car mounting bracket and cord included

Features:

• 22 mile range
• 22 channels, 10 call tones, 2 rechargeable batteries

Once you’re caught on a red-light camera here in LA you’ll do just about anything to avoid another one of these costly tickets.  Hmmm, only if there were a system that could keep you abreast of red-light camera locations and perhaps keep the popo of your tail for doing 45 in a 35? Oh, but there is.  Cobra’s latest flagship radar detectors, the XRS 9960G (pictured) and the XRS R10G include built-in GPS (hence the USB device jammed in its side)  that works in combination with Cobra’s vast database of red-light camera locations and alerts you if you drive within proximity.

Both devices also include OLED displays (1″ and 1.5″ respectively), Cobra’s Super-Xtreme Range Superheterodyne (S-XRS) technology to pick up on the laser and radar guns, and 15-Band detection.

[Crave]

Features:

• 72 channel two way radio with 18 mile range
• Weather radio channels, rechargeable Lithium-ion batteries

Buy it: Cobra Electronics PR4200-2WXVP Two Way Radio with 18 Mile Range – $37

Don’t forget Circuit City’s 10% coupon: JEALGSLAHS

Features:

• 360 degree laser protection
• 12-bands and VG-2 undetectable alert
• Ultrabright display for sunny scenarios
• Safety alerts

Buy it: Cobra XRS9340 Radar Laser Detector – $72