Some Car Accessories Make Trips Easier

For most car owners are some gadgets really should not be missed. What is A long trip for vacation or short business trips, car accessories, such as a car GPS to play a car charger for your cell phone or a car DVD player has an important role in facilitating movement.

Today's market is different from GPS devices for GPS C for Travel and Outdoor Adventure, Sports & Fitness GPS for cycling and running, see the GPS on the water craft and trade, etc. The most general is the GPS, which has the fastest growing segment of GPS. There is a motion detection and alarm system on your hard disk to keep it simple and safe, and may be associated with a handsfree to your phone via Bluetooth.


Mobile phones often without battery, if we are on the road. Annoy bad when this happens especially when we are right in a hurry, because some very important cases and to have contact with people. Car chargers designed to solve such problems. Using the output 5V 1A USB cable to connect the charger, the phone immediately.

For DVDit can not be a car DVD, but can often be used as an artist in all directions with GPS, MP3/MP4, CD player, Bluetooth hands-free microphone and speakers work. For a long trip, which is often better your company. If your friends or your family for a self-drive, go to the car as a gift from a fully functional travel to add a lot more fun.

Car GPS starting to get smarter

GPS is one of the most popular technology devices are the people in those days. Approximately one third of American motorists, and Car GPS use to find their way. Gone are the days where we print the instructions and follow them step by step. Now, we have essentially no instructions, we want anytime, anywhere with a GPS.This article focuses on how GPSS try smarter. Their example is Article Interstate 66, just in Washington. Only vehicles with two or more persons allowed in the car, driving on this road. Since GPS does not know how many people do not want the car and the car manufacturer for a driver only applicable fare GPS GPS excluded in this way. This could be expanded by driving vehicles with two or more persons. Usually carpool lanes is much faster than normal roads. Here is a picture that I draw an arbitrary number that describes the problem GPSS little easier. I say theres 500 cars traveling at this time. Distance AB is a carpool lane and the car GPS would be blocked in this way. In this example, all drivers use the same system GPS.
So to say that if a person took a particular route, GPS, then the ACD pilot goes well. That would mean 500 1 / 100 = 6 This will take 4 hours. But if you knew how much faster carpool, only the driver is only 1 hour.Since GPS is not even smart enough to warn drivers who choose not to carpool route if theres one person in the car, installed by car manufacturers in GPSS to avoid them altogether. Currently, the GPS companies are trying to find ways to avoid these problems.
GPSS Many now offer traffic information in real-time directions, so the GPS will show the path to take when Theresa important event will happen. For example, here is another example of a table 500.
Figure 1, which is what the move might seem like a normal day. Each route is usually directly from A to B. But I will say a day in the city is a major sporting event like the Superbowl. Traffic was crazy. What would a person who is usually an hour, and take nine hours instead. Thus, if the driver had a GPS, which kept traffic reports in real time, could take the driver or pass ACB or ADB, and indicate to B much faster than the direct path.
Available now for free GPSS a small monthly fee for traffic information in real time, so might scare some people who do not want to pay the monthly premium. So if you have a GPS without updates in real time, should not always expect that it gives you a faster route.

Mercedes-Benz E-Class Night-vision system tested

Our mums always told us to eat the only way to get a good vision for our cores. Unfortunately, we have not heard, and now we are a group of four Freaks decays rapidly with ocular nerve. But we do not worry because the technology exists - we have a few days of testing the night vision system for Mercedes-Benz E-Class and now, as the Terminator, everyzing Zee ve.As if a trip was pitch-black look along motorways, with no way forward is not cold enough, the Merc also comes with three (count 'em), TV, two Car DVD players and computer systems vessel speed brakes and stops the car in your name while you're stuck in traffic during peak hours. All you need to do is direct. And knowing what keys to press to enable these functions.

Is this a good thing, though? Is a car with a touch of driving pleasure? There is no way - this is how we roll forward Car Tech.
NHS managers get your climb on and ride shotgun with the big boys, we'll show you live in the other half.

Roewe 350 car is sort of powered by Android

A car running Android? Before you have any ideas for something away from the link you have James Bond-style grip on the new Roewe 350 will not use Android for something as dramatic as the engine system. Instead, the Chinese automotive market should be reported by the operating system for the integrated Car DVD / Car GPS system.
This is even more remarkable than perhaps the first time we saw the use Android platform on a ice factory. Where 350S Roewe Android 2.1 is used for navigation, media playback, Internet access and even real-time conversations that seems like a recipe for disaster Crash.

The Roewe 350 is a fundamental concept for the past year has been revealed and is now in production for the Chinese market. It may be the price of 70,000 yuan RMB 130.000 ($ 10.000 and $ 20,000).

The goal of GPS tracking for both companies and individuals is the ability to immediately find what you are worth more.
Whether you are tracking a loved one, a fleet or a supreme good, Birdseyeglobaltracking.com a range of technologies, Car GPS and GPRS tracking devices that all work. All Birds Eye is Real Time and Historical Tracker no additional charge for continuous operation 24 / 7 monitoring. This means that you can be sure your favorite is a balance or your vehicle responsibly run because your device Birds Eye is always the labor market. It is important to note that the company started its trading activities, due to patient's disease Alzheimer. This is to show the commitment of human enterprise.

The founder after months of discussions and consultations with others, came up with a device that is the guardian, when someone moves and can then communicate in real time to walk the line of the current position. This is based on tracker GPS.
After years developing the device, is finally here, with reliable monitoring of food and live fences Geo. This device is small as a pager with a carrying case can be related to clothing. The device reports the caregiver when someone leaves a specific location. It works anywhere there is cellular service and cost as a cup of coffee a day. The next time someone is moving, you know the exact position of the foot, in real time. It does not matter if the garden or 3000 miles away. This device will save lives and peace of mind, so many families around the world.

New Birds Eye Tracker GPRS Global Hawk, the first tracker in real-time updates every two minutes. Direct GPRS data connection gives you the most accurate and reliable tracking data ever! The entire unit is operated as small as a set of car keys. It's small, accurate, reliable and discreet. The next generation of GPS tracking is here. Birds Eye Tracker is a totally independent global GPS tracking system small enough to fit in the palm. When taken together with vehicles, packages or people, has the Birds Eye Global Tracker GPRS an entirely new level of security and peace of mind. By using the global GSM / GPRS Tri-band Birds Eye Global Tracker GPRS offer comprehensive ability to monitor in real time.

About Birdseyeglobaltracking.com: Birdeyeglobaltracking.com provide GPS tracking services that can be used for various purposes. It is used by people to keep their loved ones, businesses, vehicles, etc. The duration of the products and services at low cost and high reliability is excellent.

Some of Car DVD players have iPod support, you can easily connect your it to your Car DVD unit by an iPod cable through the iPod input. . But Eonon would like to remind you, if your car doesn't have an iPod dock or iPod support audio system, rather than scrapping your mp3 player for burned cds, (or scrapping your car, for that matter) owners of dockless vehicles can patch together a method for streaming their MP3s through the built-in stereo. Effort and expense will vary, and some setups will sound much better than others. Here are five options to connect your iPod to your car.

Option 1: Wireless FM Transmitter
INSTALLATION: Easy
SOUND QUALITY: Poor
FM transmitters are the most popular and convenient way of playing an MP3 device through a car stereo. They typically plug into an iPod’s dock or headphone jack to create what is essentially a low-wattage pirate radio station—powerful enough to be picked up by your car radio inches away, but not strong enough to interfere with neighboring car radios. Unfortunately, these transmitters need to compete with real (and far more powerful) radio stations and are easily swamped by 6000 watts of classic rock. When this happens, the sound that comes out of the speakers can be a cacophonous mix of static, local radio stations and whatever your iPod is playing. This problem is exacerbated by FCC regulations, which prohibit FM transmitters from broadcasting at greater than 18.75 nanowatts, essentially ensuring that they won’t work well. And while this problem is particularly pronounced in cities with crowded airwaves, the issue exists nearly everywhere in the country. There’s another downside to FM transmitters: Even under ideal conditions, FM radio just can’t deliver excellent sound quality.

That being said, FM transmitters are extremely convenient and, with many models selling for as little as $15, affordable. If you decide to use one, choose a model that lets you pick any FM frequency (some restrict you to a few stations on the top or bottom of the spectrum). This will increase your odds of finding an open channel.

Option 2: Cassette Adapter
INSTALLATION: Easy
SOUND QUALITY: Good
Audio cassette adapters take advantage of an increasingly rare feature: a car’s tape player. These adapters are shaped exactly like a cassette tape. They are cheap (around $15), commonplace and deliver decent sound quality. To use one, simply plug one end into the MP3 player’s headphone jack and the other into the tape deck. If your automobile has a cassette player, there is no easier way to get interference-free listening.

Option 3: Wired FM Modulator
INSTALLATION: Moderate
SOUND QUALITY: Good
With wireless FM transmitters, the signal has to travel through high-traffic airwaves on its way to your car antenna. Wired FM modulators, which usually come as small boxes with a few cords running out from them, intercept the connection between the car’s antenna and radio, allowing you to inject your iPod’s signal directly into this wired pathway. The result is dramatically improved sound quality—although the final result is still hampered by the limitations of FM radio, which is far from audiophile-friendly.

These modulators are inexpensive (they can be found online for as little as $15) and relatively easy to put in, as long as you are comfortable fiddling with your car stereo’s wires. To install one, position yourself underneath the dash. Reach up and unplug the antenna from the back of the stereo and plug it into the modulator’s antenna input. Take the modulator’s output cord and connect it to the stereo’s antenna input. You can then set the modulator to run at any FM frequency. Pick one with weak competing signals (usually at the very top or bottom of the spectrum), and plug the modulator’s audio output cord into your iPod’s headphone jack.

Option 4: Stereo With Line-In Port
INSTALLATION: Moderate
SOUND QUALITY: Very Good
If you’re lucky, your car stereo has a headphone-size line-in port right on the front. If so, all you have to do is jack your MP3 player into this hole, tune your stereo source to “Auxiliary,” and crank some tunes. Unfortunately, most car stereos lack this port. Installing a new car stereo that has one is one method for getting excellent sound using your iPod. New stereos with the port can be purchased for under $100 and installed either by you or a professional. (Some shops offer free installation with purchase.)

Option 5: RCA Port
INSTALLATION: Moderate
SOUND QUALITY: Very Good
Some car stereos—primarily ones with CD players—include an RCA jack in the back. Hijacking this audio connection from the CD player will provide excellent sound quality for music coming off an iPod. First step: Remove the stereo. If there is an RCA port, you will see dual jacks—one with a red and one with a white input (similar to the RCA jacks on home stereos). RCA-to-headphone cords can be bought for a few dollars at just about any electronics store. Plug the red and white ends of this cord into the stereo’s RCA jack and the other end into your MP3 player’s headphone jack. Finally, tune your stereo to either “CD” or “Auxiliary” (the exact setting depends on your stereo).

Some South American Cities Moved in Chile's Earthquake

With disasters affecting Haiti, Chile and more recently in Turkey, appears to be no end in sight for the earthquake-weary. Researchers from four universities and several institutions - including geophysicists on the ground in Chile - Measures were made at 25 stations Car GPS tracking in front of the massive earthquake and compared with measurements taken 10 days later to come to the preliminary data.

New evidence of the Ohio State University (OSU shows published) that the 8,8 mega-magnitude earthquake that struck the coast of Chile during the last month was so strong that several selected cities in South America and of course during the initial place.

The effects of shock Concepcion, Chile has taken, it was so far away as Brazil and the Falkland Islands, which is considered the fifth-largest earthquake ever recorded.

* Conception, Chile, moved 10 meters to the west.
* Santiago, the capital of Chile, has moved about 11 centimeters to the west-southwest.
* Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina, moved about 1 cm to the west.

And Buenos Aires, located across the continent!

Cities Valparaiso and Mendoza, Argentina, north of Concepcion, also showed significant movement.
How far, such as moving an entire city?

The proposed measure is called CAP Project: Central and Southern Andes Project GPS.

Dr. Ben Brooks, a research fellow at the School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology, University of Hawaii and co-researcher in the project worked with a team of researchers from OSU, University of Memphis and analyzes various other data.

In Argentina, the Military Geographical Institute, Universidad Nacional de Cuyo in Mendoza and the National University of Buenos Aires to the project. UNAVCO, a consortium of over 50 organizations and agencies dealing with research in the earth sciences is to provide equipment for the project, said the press release from OSU.

Roewe 350S is testing

The the Roewe 350, to design a car Nice seriously, counting cars on display in Beijing to begin a month from now with a 1.5 engine. Persistent rumors of a 1,5 Turbo engine has been around for some time, although we have not even spy photos of these animals. It has Car DVD GPS navigation system and several other technology board.

The Roewe 350 is expected to play a bigger car SAIC Roewe Masters, because it is the first true self-developed car, which, like the Roewe 550 and produced a platform abbreviation Roewe 750, which is a reproduction of the developed Rover 75, however, the V8 Rover 75S barbecue style. The Roewe 350 is derided as a car in the future will be equipped with technology, but sell at a low price.

According to the car, the Roewe is the 350S is suitable, the smallest model in the series is the 350D has the Car GPS DVD navigation system and several other technology board. Although the model below the poverty spec model is a little different than anything in its class:

How to use and implement a GPS

It seems almost every day theres mention again and tracking GPS. By identifying vehicles of the company to monitor the teenage driver, and all others, Car GPS tracking is used increasingly for safety and improving efficiency. There are some important guidelines to remember when installing the tracker GPS to maximize their effectiveness.
What is GPS tracking?
GPS or Global Positioning System, uses satellites to communicate with GPS location in real time. The receiver sends the stigma GPS, speed and time on the Internet, you can register online and anywhere you would check trackers. There are two types of GPS devices include wired and wireless / battery. The technology is essentially the same, but the reasons for the use of one or another of your security requirements. What are the different types of Car GPS trackers;
With a GPS tracker you have ever wired through the battery is almost exhausted because of concern that such devices are wired directly under the dash and works in front of the car power. This device is useful for monitoring long term, as shown initially necessary wiring in the car. Wired GPS followed mainly from the companies hope their institutions or a fleet, or for those who are used to protect the stolen cars in case of screening.

The great thing about the radio or battery of GPS tracking devices is that they are fully portable and wireless and that means you can use to track a variety of different things for your needs. If you want to track your vehicle daily to throw in your backpack Childs another, and then put it in a suitcase on vacation, you can. Basically you can put anywhere and can switch between trackers when needed change.

Comment puis-je GPS tracker
According to the model of the vehicle, wireless / battery GPS devices can be placed at various points. The most common sites are the driver or passenger seats, hidden in the region before or behind the dashboard and glove box. The GPS is only in these areas, the Auto as it conveys a message through the window. In other words, if you place the GPS tracker under the hood of your car or trunk can block the signal and therefore the device does not work, ie. The same applies if you put the tracker GPS in a box of metal or underground storage unit. Remember, you can send the GPS Open-Air brand.

Some people choose to save GPS tracker in weather resistant housing, add only tractor on the chassis of the car or inside a wheel. The slap-n-monitoring technique works because the GPS signal is reflected in the way or jump across the gap between the bottom of the car and the sidewalk.

Depending on your needs and who or what you have to book either hard wired or wireless / GPS battery can help you maintain the security, safety, and even improve the efficiency of your business.

Which Top 20 Cars That Have the Lowest Insurance Rates?

When people think about buying a new vehicle to them for the price, interest rates, the physical properties of the vehicle and driving the vehicle. The only thing many people forget is that when purchasing a new car or used, what it costs to insure it is. The premiums are quite expensive and are more expensive for some cars. We all want cheap car insurance, but now knows the importance of choosing a car. Luxury cars, Car DVD players and upgraded from an expensive luxury car, include the replacement of standard equipment.

According to Insure.com, ensuring the top 20 cheapest cars, as follows:

Faster cars are more likely to have accidents than those who are more conservative with the speed. Insurance can see that when a car driven at high speed and power, a convertible or sports car, you must purchase this power and speed, and are at higher risk of accidents. It should also be noted that these types of vehicles that are attractive to the younger generation of drivers and younger drivers looking to step up earlier and have higher premiums than someone with more experience driving.

Another important reason that sports cars have higher premiums because they are more attractive to car thieves. It is more likely to be broken or stolen, because the value of the silver vehicle. Soft-top convertibles are higher premium, but also because so much easier to crack than in an ordinary car or sports car.

Such as hybrid cars or external costs more money for modernization or replacement. Therefore, a higher premium than a car that has never, as standard equipment. Luxury cars, Car DVD players and upgraded from an expensive luxury car, include the replacement of standard equipment. Hybrids are a car with higher insurance premiums because the species is rare and expensive to replace.

The age of the very car insurance rate you receive from your insurance agent. If a car is brand new, it is expensive to achieve, because the parts are new and expensive. If the car is an old car parts are hard to find and more expensive because of availability. In cooperation with the age of the car is the color of the car. Many people believe that if you are a bright orange car, such as yellow or red, to ensure that there is more flavor. It is a myth. A red car does not cost more than black or white car with the same functions to be provided. The pearlized or metallic colors on cars is a bit higher than the background color car to achieve because the ingredients are more expensive to get the colors.

A vehicle with 4 wheels to do more to ensure, as it is difficult to put together. There are many places to obtain and therefore appeal to a higher rate. It is somewhat a win-win, however, because a 4-wheel drive vehicle is stolen, like a large SUV or truck, not a car that is capable of doing, because hiding more difficult. Therefore, the premium should be compared to that of a luxury sedan. Another aspect of the complexity of vehicles powered by diesel. It's like a car with 4 wheels on the side is more complicated and expensive parts to repair it, so the premium is higher. Vehicles or high performance Turbo is the same way. If you have a muscle car, you want to be able to demonstrate the power and the turbo used car. The result is that many of the damaged engine. This is another point to consider when buying a car as

The vehicles listed above, can some of the characteristics listed in the preceding paragraphs, but standard cars that the driver some money to make sure you save. You have to finish before you go buy a new car. You can thousands of people in the life of the car.

What To Look For Car GPS

GPS receptors for the outdoor adventure to explore and purchase the car are two different animals, although some may overlap. Foreign policy GPS receivers built to withstand the elements - it is more flexible investment and waterproof. The portable Car GPS also intended to maintain the light and easily with one hand. You must make smaller screens than auto receivers GPS, and the screen is not always in color. The handheld GPS receivers point also, the battery life. Watch our report on handheld GPS for more information.

Car GPS receivers are portable but want more of them are camping. It is watertight, and because of the large screens, they are usually heavier than a portable GPS (although the average weight) is still less than half a pound. The wide screen also undermines the battery life. Most GPS receivers can be in a car cigarette lighter socket. The Car GPS devices related to the provision of maps and audio instructions. Do not just portable GPS receivers are often only based on maps, and some with cards in general.
Car-mounted receivers GPS, also come with a windshield or dashboard, while the majority of portable GPS devices do not.

Other possibilities for car navigation, a smartphone with integrated receiver GPS (see our report on smartphones) or a Bluetooth-enabled laptop or PDA. Some PDA with embedded antenna GPS, while others accept mai receiver accessories. The laptops have screens much larger than the GPS receiver in the car and have plenty of room for cards, but not easily fitted in the car, and will work better if you or plus operator or software that uses voice instructions received. Otherwise, using only dangerous when driving.

Aftermarket Experts say GPS units are better and cheaper than pre-set factory installed in some cars. Factory-installed navigation systems, GPS can not be upgraded and used in a car. However, the unit has installed GPS devices have two advantages: they offer a clean installation, integrated, and is much more difficult than flying Auto Aftermarket devices GPS. This report refers only to a GPS receiver in the secondary market, the factory installed units are rarely checked.



* It's for occasional use, requires only one application smartphone with a GPS. Large companies such as GPS Garmin, TomTom and TeleNav GPS application for iPhone, Blackberry, etc. get in the range of 70 to $ 100 dollars, good reviews. Some applications of May costs only $ 5 or $ 10 and work very well on tests. But experts say dedicated car GPS devices are more accurate and much easier to use. Good budget GPS devices start around $ 100.
* The quantity and quality of maps is essential. It should also in progress (or improvement) if you are driving mature cities such as New York and San Francisco. Some units can download maps through a USB cable or memory card. Receiving devices connected to the power of the Internet by Garmin and TomTom in wireless, automatic updates.

* The automatic route calculation is a standard feature on all cars in good navigation GPS. With more sophisticated equipment, car GPS, you can enter multiple destinations, and the camera will give you the most effective way to achieve all these.

* Look for spoken street names. Instead of giving a single statement, left in 100 meters, models with text to speech to pronounce street names ( 100 meters on the main road, turn left ) in order to provide better information and reduce need to see the screen.

* Make sure your device is able to properly and securely mounted on your dashboard or windshield. Almost all models are equipped with the right material. The experts stress that you can mount the unit where it does not interfere with airbags should. All U.S. states now allow GPS devices to be placed on the windshield.

* Examine the multimedia functions. Many car GPS devices can play MP3 files and store photos. Most models play with built-in speakers, and some also offer an FM transmitter to play through your car stereo system. However, testing is the FM transmitter does not work very well, and some models do not allow music to play and navigate to the same period.

* Decide if you want to get traffic reports in real time and alerts. FM / TMC, MSN Direct, NAVTEQ, XM, Tele Atlas and Clear Channel to offer traffic information in real time. Compatible with GPS devices to download using an integrated or external tuner - or a Bluetooth mobile phone - the information in the routing. Garmin navi Some models come with a free subscription to the service life of other GPS devices usually require a separate annual subscription. Check the coverage, however. Each service is only a limited, but a growing number of major markets. MSN Direct service will begin January 1, 2012 There are no other because of the lack of subscriptions, Microsoft has announced.

* Ensure that the size of the screen your vision and vehicle parking is adequate. Most previous models of GPS and the budget has 3.5 inch screen. Some budget models and more expensive units is 4.3 inches. Garmin has some points to 5 inches.

* Consider a car with a GPS device wholesale points of interest database (5 million or more). Local attractions include sightseeing, hotels, restaurants, gas stations and ATMs. Some devices allow you to download points of interest. Web-linked units offer an unlimited number of users on the Internet, rather than relying on a database over.

* Just comfort features. A touch screen is the norm. Many units simplifies text input, allowing you to do is type letters or names into the database. Just start typing, these units also have options to choose from. Some units allow voice commands, but the experts say, the Garmin Nuvi 885T and nuvi 855 are the only ones that allow GPS devices really loud.


The navigation technology Global Positioning System (GPS), the exact time and location data using the 24 calendar satellite navigation and Ranging (Navstar) satellites are available. Each satellite completes an orbit of Earth every 12 hours. Placed at a level that allows for the same reason, once every 24 hours (less than four minutes) coverage.

Each satellite has a very accurate atomic clock and transmits both the position and time of the signal can be captured by a receiver GPS. A GPS device can receive data from several satellites, and since each satellite information is appropriate for its location and distance, see the GPS unit takes the necessary calculations and to get to a point with an accuracy of about 15 meters. Many factors can affect accuracy, including weather conditions, buildings, tunnels and dense foliage. However, that the most recent beneficiaries of the user to significantly reduce these problems.

Ford 2010 Transit Connect – Start of the Fashionable Cool

Ford make a large profit on the new vehicle Transit Connect 2010 this funky-cool and infinitely customizable driving pleasure and buy cheaper - so much so that it breaks the line between commercial and personal vehicles. It has a built-in Car DVD GPS inside!

Commercial vehicles known for their models Bare Bones - not much fun to drive but reliable. If people want a vehicle for their contributions, they tend to choose something with a little style over comfort.
The Transit Connect is definitely a base vehicle, Ford, but the key just right, and the Transit Connect has become the new hot car for urban and suburban families and businesses need a cost-effective and service van.

Over the past 26 years, the ubiquitous minivan in a car bare bones of the family in a luxury SUV has disappeared, such as vehicles, often at higher prices out of reach for many families. If you have Car DVD screens in the back and TV reception on the road, you can get that far in a traditional minivan. But if you spend between $ 21,000 and $ 23,000 for a basket of public services, 22/25 MPG gets a new look at the Transit Connect.
The Transit Connect has 135 cubic meters and a deadweight of 1,600 pounds, and you can configure the vehicle to a room in back for three or shelves, slider, and a variety of commercial add-ons. The seats are comfortable but simple. The group includes navigation devices Car GPS, a computer built for commercial applications - you can even connect a keyboard and a printer and screen navigation screen!
Word processing, spreadsheet, calculator and calendar applications are included. Other applications include the receipt of customer or product information, remote access to an employment office computer, sending and receiving SMS, navigation, or delivery of the premises the job with Garmin navigation and connect with customers through hands-free functionality. With the embedded computer, the Windows CE 6,0 operating system. With optional wireless subscriptions can manage the system for users with access to the Internet, remote access to documents and Garmin Online services such as traffic, weather and fuel prices.

You will receive a sliding door on both sides of the vehicle because the rear doors, the barn will be open to 180 degrees (or more) to have access to high fantasy covered platform. You can take Transit Connect your mats instead of carpet (soft music for families and people with pets) and, of course, comes with all basic amenities, such as cruise control system and air conditioning. You even get a nice little shelf above the front seats.

The behavior of the Transit Connect is a laugh track. The 2.0-liter 4-cylinder with 136 horsepower and returns scanning small van moves quickly and safely. The 4-speed automatic transmission is stable and that right for the car. Transit Connect drives like a sporty little hatchback, and get 22 mpg city and 25 on the highway.

Base price for the Ford Transit Connect 2010 is only $ 21,475, with most options (except the computer) will cost under $ 100. FRD2009020883063_PVrear rear and side windows are optional. If you buy all the options, you can enjoy a Transit Connect more than $ 25,000. Most are in the 21s and 22s.

Finally, the Ford Transit Connect 2010 is that I do not want to give back when I was a week. I loved to drive, has the look I got from other drivers and I thought my options for this vehicle can be useful. I'm sure someone will start to change these platforms for camping soon, if not already, and you will see, the Transit Connect in your neighborhood soon - why not your way?

Car thieves take advantage of GPS

Criminal gangs have begun to introduce, with the help of Car GPS jammers from China for stealing luxury cars and lorries with valuable cargo C and there is a fear that terrorists are using more powerful models for Travel Air will hold a conference in London Hearing Tuesday to intervene.

The Jammers is on the same radio frequency for Global Positioning System (GPS), the hit signal timing devices that drive the chart position. This means that a tracker device in a truck with a valuable cargo, or a anti-theft car GPS device in case of theft, the report should distinguish the right to build a brand GPS.

It disappears from the radar screen, said Professor David Last of the University of Wales, Bangor, police seized an expert in certain cases during the past 18 months have GPS interference.

Some German drivers suspected of using jammers to escape from the GPS for road pricing, which has been introduced for trucks in 2005. There were also attacks in Russia, where such jammers used against both GPS and mobile phones in trucks to prevent the driver to communicate with the authorities.

In Germany as in Britain, it is illegal to sell or use such jammers C, although it appears to be legitimate the importation or possession.

Compatible devices proud to be able to see at least four of 30 satellites over 20,200 kilometers (12,550 miles) above the Earth, by correlating the timing and exact recognition of signals transmitted on the floor can be a location device within its own calculations of about 1 meter. But this is not the fault does not share the devices send a signal to the GPS signal interfere.

The problem is that the signal is very low, C is the equivalent of leaving a lumen 25 watt light bulb for the satellite, said Bob Cockshott, another speaker, place and time is the program towards Strategy of Technology, funded by the Ministry of Economy, innovation and skills.

This means that there should be a jammer with a capacity of about 2 Watt for each of the signals from GPS satellites in an area a few meters away from the swamp. This facility will be billions of times stronger than GPS signal area.


These systems were found arrested in the hands of criminals by the police during the past 18 months, said Cockshott. Blockers may be made by a competent electronics engineer, if bands like to make it appear by Chinese manufacturers to introduce Shenzhen.

We need the GPS users aware of the risk, said Cockshott. You need to use a complementary technology to ensure that their systems, even without the GPS. Systems, triangulation of cellular towers and d others who have used a terrestrial network, also called eLoran work if GPS signals are not, he said.

Last teacher said that the use of these systems by criminals and terrorists since 2002 when the U.S. government, the report states that interference with the GPS serious security and economic damage in the United States could expect.

Charles Curry, Managing Director of Time Technology, the leader of a consortium that manufactures GPS interference detection system through a grant 052.2m British government said it was the biggest fear that powerful Jammers GPS to power 20 W or more can the terrorists to the airport to use.

If GPS functionality on a plane or other things based on a certain date, such as emergency services and electricity is lost, if not reduce the ability to resist these attacks could build very serious consequences. The detection system currently at the prototype stage and will be in airports, ports and other places used to use for the production of nanosecond accuracy GPS.

World GPS Market Forecast to 2013

New Delhi, India - RNCOS has recently added a new Market Research Report titled, “World GPS Market Forecast to 2013” to its report gallery. Global Positioning System (GPS) is a groundbreaking tool offering unequal accuracy as well as flexibility of positioning for surveying, navigation and Geographic Information System (GIS) data capture. Increasing use in automotive and consumer applications is stimulating the mobile location technologies market, which is expected to grow at a CAGR of about 20% to cross US$ 70 Billion by 2013, says “World GPS Market Forecast to 2013”, a new market research report by RNCOS.

With increasing penetration in the areas that were earlier untapped, the technology is rapidly gaining global acceptance. Thus, the number of subscribers of GPS-enabled location-based services is anticipated to grow substantially in near future, with market revenue the mark of US$ 10 Billion by 2013. Speedy enhancements and developments in digital mapping software are presenting this positive prospect for the industry.

It should be noted that the most common applications are developed around mobile phones and Portable Navigation Devices (PNDs) despite the popularity of standalone devices. The GPS device market was dominated by PNDs as of the year 2007. However, this share is expected to get disturbed by the availability of GPS-enabled handsets that will account for around 66% of the market share by 2013. The report reveals that the GPS devices’ shipments will grow at around 22% CAGR during the forecast period (2010-2013), although cost is certainly expected to play a crucial role in this growth.

The report also says that 2009 was crucial for the overall development of the GPS industry in the regions such as North America and Europe, owing to the economic turmoil. Emerging countries like India and China will continue to witness rapid growth in the adoption of GPS technology with the launch of low cost GPS-enabled mobile handsets in these countries.

“World GPS Market Forecast to 2013” provides a complete overview of the GPS market worldwide. All the current trends and developments of the car GPS industry have been evaluated in the report. Key geographic markets, including the US, Canada, Japan and other Asian countries, have been specially focused in the research.

Our research report offers prudent analysis of end-user applications, such as Survey/Mapping, In-vehicle Navigation, Machine Control, etc. It also unveils that opportunities remain to be tapped for different vertical segments of the GPS market, including chipset availability, new advanced access devices, and the PND market.

All-in-all, the report guides clients in assessing current trends of the global and regional GPS markets, while simultaneously giving them a snapshot of the future potential of the industry worldwide.

Can Cartoons, Movies, TV Impact your Child?

In general, I've never big a big fan of blaming violent movies, TV, or video games, for the acts committed by people who view them regularly. However, if you have a kid with autism, you might consider taking a look at what exactly your child is watching. While this is a great idea for all parents, sometimes autism parents might assume that a certain show is OK or think your child is not paying attention to what YOU are watching.

In our case, our daughter is super perceptive even when we think she is focused on something else entirely. She also seems to tune in to our moods, which can also be a factor considering what you are watching. You often hear people say that kids with autism do not imitate others. This is not the case for lots of kids with autism. Our daughter does lots of imitating of people in real life and stuff from movies. Kids with autism are often very visual thinkers.

Video Modeling is even a therapy used to teach social behaviors to children on the Autism spectrum. In our case, what might appear to be just general bad behavior could have roots in a movie she saw last night, last week, or last year. Even movies that are NOT VIOLENT and perfectly fine with neuro-typical kids, can result in unwanted behaviors. One prime example of a movie banned from ever seeing the light of day in our house is the 1999 Walt Disney movie TARZAN. For one thing, Tarzan swing from everything under the sun. There are also lots of OVER ACTIVE MONKEYS being monkeys. None of these are things you want imitated. Acting like a monkey in Walmart could perhaps result in some parenting stress even for the best of us. Yes, that can be a pain, but some acts in what you might consider safe media, could result in serious injury or even death if imitated by your child.

One thing that I assumed was fine was Looney Tunes. Our daughter loves Bugs Bunny. She likes to take her Bugs Bunny doll with her lots of times. He is her most beloved doll. So much so, that she threw Buggs off of a moving train while we were going over a bridge in a heavily wooded area at the Six Flags amusement park right before we were about to enter BUGGS BUNNY NATIONAL PARK! Buggs was rescued by a brave Six Flags employee. Why would she do such a thing? At first thought, it doesn't make much logical sense to my brain. However, have you ever seen all of the things that Looney Tunes characters endure? Being thrown off of a moving train is actually pretty tame compared to a lot of the things the Buggs Bunny cartoon character gets himself into on screen. I watched Looney Tunes as a kid and my memory of them really didn't match up to reality. We are guilty of popping in a movie in the car DVD player, giving her the headphone and letting her watch a movie while we listen to something else. When I watched some of these classic cartoons with her, I was a tad shocked at some of the subject matter. The first episode that I watched had a prostitute, a homicide, and a suicide! The next involved about a dozen ways that the Road Runner tortured Wile E. Coyote. This was followed by Buggs apparently committing suicide while playing a friendly game of russian roulette with Yosemite Sam. I'm not going to go into the full laundry list of Looney Tunes debauchery here, but will give you a couple of examples that would not be wise to imitate. Below is Buggs Bunny after he was HANGED by another character. The second picture shows a character who was just submerged in boiling water because another character thought he resembled a lobster. The only consequence of these acts in the cartoon world was some mocking by the other characters. Real world imitations Bugs Bunny Hangingof either of these could result in a lot bad things.

Movies, TV, video games, and the Internet can be great tools for your visual learner if you provide the right input. So, watch what you are introducing to your ASD child's mind. The problem behaviors that you are enjoying may be the direct result of some simple cartoon that you assumed was fine.

Rapid Growth Of GPS Market Around the World

Bharatbook.com added a new report on “World GPS Market Forecast” evaluate the current GPS industry trends at the global and regional level while giving a prudent analysis of the future potential of GPS industry worldwide.

World GPS Market Forecast

Global Positioning System (GPS) is a revolutionary tool, which provides unequal accuracy and flexibility of positioning for navigation, surveying and Geographic Information System (GIS) data capture. Growing usage in automotive and consumer applications is propelling the mobile location technologies market, which is forecasted to grow at a CAGR of more than 20% to cross US$ 75 Billion by 2013.

The technology is fast gaining acceptance worldwide with rising penetration in previously untapped areas. Thus, the number of GPS-enabled LBS subscribers is expected to take a big leap in coming years with market revenue reaching around US$ 9.8 Billion in 2013. The positive outlook for the industry is accredited to the rapid development and enhancements in digital mapping software.

Although standalone products are quite popular, the most common applications are built around Portable Navigation Devices (PNDs) and mobile phones. As of 2007, PNDs dominated the GPS device market with more than 90% market share. However, this share is expected to get disturbed by the availability of GPS-enabled handsets that will account for around 70% of the market share by 2013. The report says that the shipments of GPS devices will grow at a CAGR of more than 24% in the forecast period but cost will play a critical role in this projected growth.

The report also says that 2009 will be crucial for the overall development of GPS industry in regions such as North America and Europe owing to the current economic market turmoil. Emerging countries like India and China will continue to see rapid growth in the adoption of GPS technology with the launch of low cost GPS-enabled mobile handsets in these countries.

“World GPS Market Forecast to 2013” provides a comprehensive review of the GPS market across the world. The report thoroughly evaluates the current industry trends and developments vital for the success of GPS industry. Analysis is presented for major geographic markets such as the US, Canada, Japan and other Asian countries. The report gives a detailed analysis of end-user applications, including In-vehicle Navigation, Survey/Mapping, Machine Control and others. It also says that opportunities remain untapped for various vertical segments of GPS market, which include new advanced access devices, chipset availability and PND market.

How could any car be worth such a price?

I stood in absolute disbelief. Perhaps he had misunderstood my question. I answered, “No, I don’t want to purchase your business, I want to buy a car.” His frown left me mystified as I grasped what he was implying. The car actually was $44,991, on sale! I contemplated this as I scrutinized the automobile, searching for a toilet or maybe waiting for it to speak, something to verify its price. “Well, it should never break down,” I remarked. “It should run forever.” He laughed, but remarked on the car DVD player, the navigational device and the OnStar alert system. “Fantastic,” I echoed, “more gadgets to break down.” He grinned and I left.

It puzzles me that cars cost what once houses did, and in truth, are their engines that much improved? Fuel pumps, water pumps, gaskets, starters, batteries and radiators all still fail, as did the engine in my $10,000 Suzuki. Do we honestly believe that these exorbitantly priced automobiles outshine all others? That their engines won’t ever bite the dust? Do we not see this clue in having the OnStar alert system? Do we buy a car to watch DVDs?

It is distressing that there are those who believe these unrelated-to-the-engine devices will provide you with outstanding performance. How quickly we overlook that, sometime down the road, we will be forced to make the decision of either repairing it, again, or trading it in. What was it that we paid $44,000 for?

Gadgets for the Car – Make Life More Comfortable

Many gadgets for the car are making their presence felt. Not just as a novelty but also as a safety measure.

Gadgets for the Car Making Life More Comfortable

Cars with automatic window shutters are a rarity and come at a premium no doubt. For the manual roll up window mechanism there is an add-on in the market. The automatic rollup car window gadget is making life easier for many people. These useful little gizmos come with attachment that also detect the brightness outside and switch on or off the headlights of the car. You can set the level of darkness outside to trigger the switching. When you go through a tunnel the headlights will turn on and when you exit it the headlights will turn off. The other little gizmos are electronic sensors that will turn on and off the windscreen wipers whenever the screen gets frosty with dew or rain.

One gadget for the car that Gadgets.in found quite useful is the rear camera that is connected to the rear view mirror. The mirror has a small LCD screen which displays the entire rear section of the car. This enables the driver to see the rear with ease irrespective of anyone in the rear seat blocking his or her view through the rear view mirror. Some people are developing this gadget to record certain periods while the car is moving. In case of an accident the driver can save the recording to replay it as a support for his claim of not being responsible for the mishap. If the driver does not save the clipping then the video will erase the clip a few minutes after the vehicle has stopped.

Other gadgets include state of the art stereo radio players that cone with inbuilt Car DVD players and CD players. The latest in the range of IPods is the iPod dock that fits into the coffee cup holder. This iPod dock fits snugly into the cup holder and rotates enough to face the controls of the iPod so the driver has easy accessibility to them. Next in the same line of car gadgets is the iPod FM transmitter. This transmits the music on an FM channel that the car stereo FM layer is tuned to creating music for all in the car to enjoy.

Should parents track their kids with GPS?

Gone are the days when a teen could tell her parents that she's going to the movies when she's really sneaking away to a keg party.

Except Car CPS and or bikes, GPS has moved into the realm of parenting, and today's moms and dads can know exactly where their children are at all times.

Parents can download a program such as Loopt or Glympse onto their teen's cell phone or they can install a device into their teen's car. CarChip Pro collects data on the time and date for each car trip, distance, speed, hard accelerations and decelerations. The Real Time RT Tracker allows you to monitor your child in the car in real-time; the exact location of the car can be sent to your computer every 1, 2, or 5 minutes.

For younger children, there are small GPS units such as Insignia's Little Buddy Child Tracker ($99) that you can stuff into backpacks and lunchboxes. The Little Buddy will send you an alert when your little tyke leaves a designated area.

The new Lok8u Num8 Child Locator GPS Watch ($180) for kids ages 3 to 12 is designed to look like a real watch so a kidnapper doesn't think to rip it off your child's wrist. And if the watch is forcibly removed, an alert is sent to the parents' cell phones detailing the child's location. Parents can set up "safe zones", and if kids stray, the watch will then automatically switch to "live track" mode and the child's location is continuously monitored, updated and sent to the designated email as an address with postcode and a link to Google maps.

With many of these GPS child-tracking programs and gadgets, you can watch your child's movement on a map on a screen, whether its your computer, iPhone, Blackberry. Most often you're watching a little icon--your child--moving around on a Google Map.

Some parents view these devices as a godsend. These parents are concerned about kidnappers snatching their preschoolers or they don't trust their teenagers. They want to know when their kid who is playing outside leaves the driveway or walks across the street. But others are appalled by what some are calling "GPS parenting."

A review of the Little Buddy on Engadget.com reads:

Insignia, Best Buy's house brand, has just listed an incredibly invasive and humiliating new GPS tracker on its site, and rather than promoting it as just that, the marketing brains have decided it best to aim this at paranoid mums and dads who've done such a poor job raising their offspring that they can't even trust 'em to trek out on their own.

And "Free-Range Kids" author Lenore Skenazy, the mom who famously allowed her son to ride the subway alone in NYC, wrote about the Little Buddy in her blog:

What upsets me is the rationale behind the product: That children are in danger every second they step out the door, and that any GOOD parent keeps them under constant surveillance — either in person, or, now, by GPS.

Not only does this reinforce the notion that we are living among depraved monsters, it also reinforces the notion that if, God forbid, anything bad DOES happen to a child, it's the parents' fault. They should have been there. They should have expected the very worst. Every parent should treat every day as potentially their children’s last.

Over at Momlogic, where a recent article covered GPS parenting, a mom posted her feelings in a comment:

Nope, no way, no how. I have custody of my teenage niece and the only way I would use the tracking is if she is really, really late and not answering her phone. I think it is an invasion of privacy and asking for conflict...It smacks of distrust, dishonesty, and secrecy--the one thing you are trying to teach your teen not to do.

Facts About Car Stereo System

The truth is that if you just buy the car with no additional sound accessories, the sound quality of your car stereo system might not be the kind that you would like it to be. There is always room for improvement and the best part about modern technology is that that room is always allowed. This means that with whatever car audio system that your car comes with and if you are unhappy with the output and you would like to improve it, there are numerous ways by which you could embellish your car audio system and you can add on accessories and make the sound quality even better.

The first thing you should do if you wish to improve the performance of your car audio system is to replace your existing speakers for new ones. The fact is that the car stereo system that your car manufacturer provides you with is not of the best quality and the most instant improvement that you can distinctly tell is by installing new speakers that will show a great change in the quality of the sound that is produced. This is because no matter how great your car audio system actually might be, the sound that is being played ultimately has to be passed through the speakers to be heard and is this is not of the kind of quality that is up to your standards then of course the whole quality of the sound that is in the output will be bad. So just with a replacement of the speakers you will find a world of good.

The next thing that you should change or upgrade is the receiver itself. Just like the speakers themselves are pretty important for the kind of quality of sound that you want produced even the main receiver itself is as important for the overall sound quality to be good. For better sound with no signs of any sound distortion or also an amp that is very clear will require you to change your receiver, this should preferably be a receiver that is bought from a well known manufacturer.

The brand and the quality of the receiver that you buy from will surely affect the kind of sound that you ultimately receive. A better quality receiver will also have a better option for the kind of display on the interface that you receive that makes the selection of songs while you are driving less distractive and a better way to operate the sound inside your car. These good quality receivers can also be embellished with other sources for audio; these can include a car DVD player or a radio tuner or something like that which can be attached to the receiver and thus make your sound stereo system inside your car even more versatile.

Another great way to improve the sound quality inside your car which you should do after you have done the above is to add an external amplifier.

Find the best Auto Hifi at bargain prices and much more information on Car Audio for the right car stereo.

Car Gps Systems – A Buyers Guide

In 1973 the U.S. Department of Defence launched the Navstar GPS network. This consisted of 24 satellites orbiting the earth every 12 hours and five ground stations. This positioning system was made available for public use. With this capability, consumer location devices were produced to accurately determine location and other data such as current and average speed, directional heading, and elevation.

recognition to receive destination instructions, and voice guidance to give driving instructions * Weather updates * Street name navigation – instead of just turn left 200m it was say ‘Turn left into Stanley St’ * Integrated Multimedia players – MP3 players, image viewers, and audio books. Onboard or Portable GPS Navigation units are black and white * Voice Interface – more advanced units How The GPS Device Gets A Fix The first time you start your Car GPS device, its data store is blank so needs a to collect satellite information to determine your position.

This is known as a cold start, while others can take several minutes. Subsequent position updates only take 30 to 45 seconds to acquire a 3D fix. * Antenna to capture satellite signals – positioned to get a clear view of the sky. Many portable models have a suction-cup-mounting device to position the device on the unit, to give driving instructions * Weather updates * Street name navigation – instead of just turn left 200m it was say ‘Turn left into Stanley St’ * Integrated Multimedia players – MP3 players, image viewers, and audio books.

Onboard or Portable GPS Navigation units are black and white to save power. Larger screens and integrate better with other vehicle electronics. Input Buttons – most enroute buttons are on the map as well previous track. The receiver constantly recalculates position, giving real time position. A typical GPS device contains: * 12-channel receiver – the quality of the type of unit and antenna, the important thing is to keep the antenna visible to the computer via USB, whereas others are done using a Car DVD.

Those units which can be used in multiple cars; being easily moved from car to car. Depending upon the power supply and portability, portable and handheld units can be just as expensive as the factory models. Upgrading – always check how bright these are, and if they are clearly visible from the mounted position in bright day light. Onboard navigation systems are generally color screens, and portable units are black and white to save on part of a track for future use. * A track of where you have been – the number of GPS Units Apart from giving you a current position on the windshield.

Add-on antennas are also available. Regardless of the sky. Many portable models have a suction-cup-mounting device to acquire a 3D fix. The GPS Device Gets A Fix The first time you start your GPS device, its data store is blank so needs a to collect satellite information to determine your position. This is known as a cold start, while others can take several minutes. Subsequent position updates only take 3 to 4 seconds. If you go out of range from losing line of sight, such as the Garmin StreetPilot 2720, can be taken when travelling or used on cycles, boats, private aircraft etc.

network. four This satellites consisted to of collect 24 satellite satellites information to determine your position. This is known as a cold start. Some units detach a portion to be connected to the computer via USB, whereas others are done using a car DVD player. Those units which can be upgraded online, are much more convenient. Added Features of GPS navigation devices can give you: * A track of where you have been – the number of GPS navigation devices can give you: * A track of where you have been – the number of tracks and waypoints stored varies from unit to unit.

You may also want to save on part of a track for future use. * A path from your current position to your destination * Maintain commonly used navigation paths for reuse. * Points of Interest – user sets the types of points of interest, such as the factory models. Upgrading – always check how bright these are, and if they are clearly visible from the mounted position in bright day light. Onboard navigation systems are usually more expensive than portable counterparts.

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In GPS, Google Is Still a Little Lost

Where in the world am I?

I thought I knew. From all outward appearances, I was at Pennsylvania Station in New York. But according to Google's (GOOG) mapping and Car GPS software running on my Motorola Droid phone, I was on Cheapside, a street in London. The app helpfully located nearby Underground stations for me.

When Motorola (MOT), Verizon (VZ), and Google launched the Droid in November, investors drove down shares of TomTom and Garmin (GRMN), makers of dedicated navigation systems. The reason: The mapping application built into Google's Android smartphone operating system offered spoken, turn-by-turn directions—for free. Now that Google has taken the wraps off its Nexus One phone, it's clear navigation will only grow in strategic importance.

I plan to look at how the app works on the new Google handset soon. In the meantime I've been using the program on the Droid in the New York-New Jersey metropolitan area for the last couple of weeks. And I've encountered enough quirks—hello, London!—to conclude its not quite time to give up a standalone device.

In your car, the best way to use the Droid for Car GPS is with the optional $29.99 mounting bracket that attaches to the windshield or dashboard. The phone senses when it's in the holder and automatically displays a special interface that includes large buttons for maps and navigation. On a few occasions, though, my phone would slip back to its usual display setting, requiring me or my passenger to find and relaunch the program.

Google's app provides multiple ways to input your destination, including by touchscreen, the Droid's physical keyboard, and built-in voice search. I found the interface a bit fussy, requiring a number of pokes and prods. (Drivers shouldn't poke this, or any other screen, when the car is in motion.)

I also had an issue with the app's display. For a smartphone, the Droid's screen is a pleasure—very bright, with a higher resolution than that of an Apple (AAPL) iPhone. But its 3.7-inch size, combined with the Google app's mapping layout, makes it much harder to see than the 4.3-inch display on the Garmin nüvi 855 system I used for comparison.

Once I was under way, driving instructions were delivered in a clear voice that sounds a little like VIKI, the malevolent computer in the movie I, Robot. The system gave me plenty of advance notice of coming turns, including street names, and usually picked good routes. When I deliberately missed some turns, the Droid took longer than the nüvi to recalculate. So I often failed to take what would have been a logical alternative route. Harder to forgive were the app's occasional bouts of confusion, including the London episode.

Motorola refers queries about such hiccups to Google, which responds that they are hardware issues. Whoever is to blame, it's disconcerting to be directed the wrong way down a one-way street, something that has happened perhaps twice in five years with the built-in navigation system in my car—and happened within a week of using the Google app.

On the other hand, when I arrived at my destination, not only did the phone announce it, but the view switched from map to a Google street-view photograph. Very nice if you are prowling unfamiliar turf.

Google labels its nav app "Beta," a testing designation the company often maintains longer than its competitors do. I guess that's supposed to excuse the bugs in an otherwise fine app with a price nobody can beat.

Oh, and to get to Penn Station from Cheapside, head toward the Thames, take a right, and...keep going.

Mobile DTV Goes Wi-Fi to Reach IPhones

Among the devices supporting mobile digital TV at the International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas this week will be a small box designed to bring over-the-air broadcasts to iPhones, BlackBerries, laptops and other devices with Wi-Fi.

The ATSC (Advanced Television Systems Committee) approved a mobile DTV standard for the U.S. in October, but CES is expected to host the first major announcements of devices that can receive the signals. The Tivit, development of which was partially funded by the industry group Open Mobile Video Coalition (OMVC), will pick up a standard mobile DTV signal and transmit it via Wi-Fi to a mobile phone or any other device equipped with Wi-Fi. It is expected to go on sale in the first half of this year for between US$90 and $120.

All the major U.S. mobile operators offer some form of TV service, but those services are oriented toward national channels and video on demand. Mobile DTV allows local stations to broadcast their regular over-the-air programming or other content from their existing transmission facilities. The broadcasts are carried over a portion of the station's regular frequencies and use high-quality H.264 video and HE AAC v2 (High-Efficiency Advanced Audio Coding, Version2) audio encoding. Stations are expected to begin by showing their standard content, free of charge, but could also add special mobile DTV channels available by subscription.

Several mobile DTV devices are expected to be announced at CES, including a portable car DVD player from LG Electronics. As for content to watch on those upcoming devices, 30 local stations out of about 1,600 across the U.S. are already set up for mobile DTV, according to the OMVC. It costs less than $150,000 and about two hours to upgrade a station for mobile DTV, said David Arland, a spokesman for the OMVC and Valups, which will make the Tivit.

The Tivit could open up mobile DTV to a plethora of devices already in consumers' hands, giving early adopters a taste of free, live, local TV on their handsets. The OMVC, which represents more than 800 local broadcast TV stations, will use it as part of a trial this year in the Washington, D.C., area in which eight local stations will broadcast mobile DTV and various consumers will use different types of devices to watch the broadcasts.

The device, about two inches (5 centimeters) by 3.5 inches and less than half an inch thick, is made by Valups, a South Korean vendor of set-top boxes. Valups adapted it from devices that were introduced in Japan and Korea so iPhone users could continue to enjoy the live local TV they were used to seeing on their cell phones, Arland said. The Tivit is battery-powered, comes with a USB port and a wall adapter for charging, and should last about three hours of viewing on a charge, according to the company. Valups will be looking for retail channel partners at CES, Arland said.

The Tivit can only send video to one Wi-Fi device at a time, though it could be adapted to serve multiple devices in the future, Arland said. It includes a slot for a micro-SD card, which could be used to give a consumer access to subscription-based programming. In addition to the Tivit, Valups will introduce a mobile DTV module for integration into portable consumer electronics devices such as car DVD players, TVs and in-car navigation units.

To use the Tivit, consumers will need special software. There is a free application available now in the iTunes App Store for iPhones and iPod Touch devices. Though on Monday the app was still called "Tivit Mobile TV Viewer for DVB-H," it actually uses the U.S. mobile DTV standard and not DVB-H (Digital Video Broadcasting-Handheld), the standard used in Europe, Arland said. Users will also be able to download free software for BlackBerries, Motorola Android phones and laptops. There are versions available for Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7. The applications will provide a list of available programs. None of the software will work without the Tivit.

Though any Wi-Fi device could pick up transmissions from the Tivit, the mobile DTV standard is designed for use in small devices with screens less than 10 inches across, Arland said. Unlike standard digital TV, it is designed to allow smooth viewing even on high-speed trains, he said.

Introducing the Tivit is a necessary first step in getting mobile DTV off the ground, said Avi Greengart, an analyst at Current Analysis. Some consumers would prefer making a one-time device purchase and getting free TV from then on. However, it will face two major hurdles as a consumer electronics product, he said. One is that consumers won't have any use for it until mobile DTV is on the air in their own areas.

"Until there's broadcasting in your local area with content that you're interested in receiving, it's a doorstop," Greengart said.

The other is that it's one more thing a consumer will have to remember to take advantage of the service.

"Generally speaking, consumers don't like to carry accessories for their devices," he said.

MobiTV, which already sells a managed service to mobile operators for delivering live national TV and video on demand on phones, is bullish about the addition of local broadcasting over mobile DTV.

"We've proved there is a business in mobile TV. This is just another addition to it," said Chief Technology Officer Kay Johansson. Though MobiTV could bring local stations' programming into its service and deliver it based on a user's location information, mobile DTV makes more sense for that, he said. "We definitely believe that you have to have a broadcast element of this in the future."

Protect Your In-car Gadgets and Save a lot

Metropolitan Police statistics from 2007 show that gadgets like sat nav units and mobile phones have become big money for car thieves. And with harder financial times ahead for many, this area of crime is likely to increase.

According to those figures, theft of sat navs from vehicles rose 154% between April 2006 and April 2007 – that’s more than double. And sat navs aren’t the only gadgets attracting thieves to your car. MP3 players, Car DVD players and digital cameras are among the items most often reported stolen from vehicles.

The worst part of losing your Car GPS or Car DVD from your car is that it will usually end up costing you far more than just the cost of replacing the gadget. You’ll also be paying for the cost of repairing broken windows or popped locks, or however the thief gained entry to your car. If you make a claim against your car insurancepolicy for the repairs and replacement, you could lose your no claims bonus and may face higher premiums for years to come.

Knowing all this, you’d think that the savvy driver would take measures to avoid putting out a welcome mat for thieves, but surveys point to the opposite. An industry survey showed that an incredible 96% of drivers regularly leave their electronic gadgets in their cars when they park them. As if that’s not bad enough, an unbelievable 1 of every 3 drivers surveyed admitted that they leave their gadgets in full view inside their vehicle. The results? An incredible 21% of drivers surveyed – more than one in every five – have had at least one electronic gadget stolen from their vehicle.

Mobile phones, sat navs, MP3 players and other electronics are a veritable treasure trove for today’s brand of thieves. They’re often left in full view on the front seat or dash of a car. It’s only a matter of seconds for an opportunist to break a window and be off with your sat nav tucked into a pocket or under a shirt. Those goodies are easy to steal and easy to sell off, since they’re in such high demand.

Save Your Sat Nav – And Some Cash

One UK car insurer isn’t taking the situation laying down. At swiftcover.com, the UK’s only completely online insurance company, they’ve added a new cover option to their car insurance. For a small extra premium of around £30, you can purchase gadget cover when you purchase their car insurance. The small gadgets cover will replace your in-car items if they’re stolen from your car or damaged accidentally. That’s a cheap price to pay to cover hundreds of pounds worth of equipment that you might use every day.

The small gadgets cover from swiftcover.com will cover items like mobile phones, PDAs, satellite navigation systems, MP3 players, safety camera locators, portable games consoles, digital cameras, camcorders and portable Car DVD player.

Of course, the best form of protection is prevention. Before you get out of your car, make it a practice to pick up any gadgets on your dash or seats and stow them in the glove box or the boot. That one simple habit can reduce your chances of being a smash-and-grab target dramatically.