Tag: Cars

Car Porn: North American International Auto Show 2012

The North American International Auto Show, Detroit’s annual showcase of the most breath-taking offerings from the automobile industry, has been underway for about a week and a half but the public segment of the convention kicked off this weekend. As you would expect, many attendees who are also inside the Internet have been posting about some of their favorite exhibitions on various websites. Glimpse below some tweets, pics, YouTubes, and Flickrs of what people have seen and shared from NAIAS.

I gotta say, in some of these YouTube videos, with the way some of these cars were presented onstage at NAIAS, you’d expect these cars to commence with a pole dance while car aficionados approach the stage and stuff $2 bills into the car’s hubcaps. No wonder everybody gets excited about this stuff. Anyways, check out some previews of the 2012 NAIAS gathering below.

@coolhunting
Cool HuntingThe @SmarCarUsa For-Us urban pick-up includes built-in rack and chargers for eBikes #smart #NAIAS http://t.co/KP5LPYSx 6 days ago via Instagram · powered by @socialditto

@AutoweekUSA
AutoweekThe Shelby Super Snake 50th anniversary edition is revealed. 800hp in top tune. #NAIAS http://t.co/UzInTcYt 6 days ago via TweetDeck · powered by @socialditto

@thecleversheep
Rodd LucierStill another of my faves #naias http://t.co/H7NPQmV1 1 day ago via Twitter for iPhone · powered by @socialditto

@DaveSerino
Dave SerinoAnd, some @PureMichigan luv at #naias in Detroit! http://t.co/qJ9Qse6Z 1 day ago via Seesmic · powered by @socialditto

@JonMcCloskey
Jon McCloskeyNAIAS #detroit #autoshow #mercedes http://t.co/dTWVZ7qL 14 hours ago via Instagram · powered by @socialditto

@C_Eazy84
Chris EconomeasProbably my favorite car from the #AutoShow http://t.co/WEIbTaMA 33 minutes ago via Seesmic · powered by @socialditto

@Porsche
PorscheThe 2012 #Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet revealed at #NAIAS: http://t.co/u8PJ29jm 6 days ago via Twitter for iPhone · powered by @socialditto

@rczamor
rczamorIt’s pretty cool to see Ford pay for non-auto industry bloggers to come to #naias to learn about their new lineup. http://t.co/OJqSrOqD 36 minutes ago via HootSuite · powered by @socialditto

@jamdraper
Jameson DraperI don’t know if I’ll be able to wear a hat to #NAIAS tomorrow… That sucks because a hat is MY STYLE. #HatsAreForEveryOccasion 10 hours ago via Echofon · powered by @socialditto

@MoyerDesignArt
Jason MoyerSuch a sick ride. Edsel Ford’s 1934 Model 40 Special Speedster #ford #naias http://t.co/0o6zqetn 10 hours ago via Flipboard · powered by @socialditto

@Honda
Honda First 1983 Accord marks 30 yrs US production, on display #NAIAS Detroit. Ready 4 news conf tmrw! http://t.co/FvqAMqQH 6 days ago via Twitter for BlackBerry® · powered by @socialditto

@jmikevel
Mike Velasquez“I like the car with the butterfly doors!” #naias #shitalisays 14 hours ago via Twitter for Android · powered by @socialditto

@wondersage
amanda roeperThe #ford #fusion was my favorite #NAIAS reveal! What was yours?! #fordNAIAS http://t.co/WY0yPcIO 12 hours ago via Twitter for iPhone · powered by @socialditto

@stoneben
Ben Stone2013 Dodge Dart (my next car) at the #naias http://t.co/HPQH6PEg 12 hours ago via Instagram · powered by @socialditto

@stoneben
Ben StoneEdsel Ford’s 1934 Model 40 Roadster at #naias @ NAIAS 2012 http://t.co/xMlyTI8S 12 hours ago via Instagram · powered by @socialditto

@Porsche
PorscheThe 2012 #Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet revealed at #NAIAS: http://t.co/u8PJ29jm 6 days ago via Twitter for iPhone · powered by @socialditto

January 16, 2012
CES 2012: Kia Electric Car at CES, Not Auto Show

Most auto manufacturers unveil their latest at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, which started today. Kia is giving that a skip and spinning some new stuff at CES.

The Kia Ray EV, which will not be available in the U.S., is one vehicle seen in Vegas today. It will be sold exclusively in Korea, but puts the Hyundai-owned manufacturer in the electric vehicle market.

The Ray EV does 0-60 in just under 16 seconds and tops out at 80 mph. But, it does 86 miles on one charge. It fully charges in 6 hours, but in only 25 minutes in fast-charge mode.

Can’t wait to see these in a Mission Impossible movie!

January 9, 2012
Google Driverless Cars: Now Patented

I’m sure you’ve heard about the driverless cars Google has by now. It’s just one of those interestingly wacky things Google does.

Now, the company has actually got the patent on the technology. Specifically, the patent granted to Google this week (hat tip to Tech Radar) is: Transitioning a mixed-mode vehicle to autonomous mode.

Here’s what the abstract for the patent says:

Disclosed are methods and devices for transitioning a mixed-mode autonomous vehicle from a human driven mode to an autonomously driven mode. Transitioning may include stopping a vehicle on a predefined landing strip and detecting a reference indicator. Based on the reference indicator, the vehicle may be able to know its exact position. Additionally, the vehicle may use the reference indictor to obtain an autonomous vehicle instruction via a URL. After the vehicle knows its precise location and has an autonomous vehicle instruction, it can operate in autonomous mode.

So essentially, Google has the patent on vehicles that can switch from human driven to robot driven, if I’m understanding it correctly.

Here are a few videos of Google’s cars in action:

Google has downplayed how much of its resources it is actually putting into things like driverless cars. On an earnings call in July, CEO Larry Page said, “Overall we’re focused on long-term, absolute profit and growth.,” reiterating a point he had made that “speculative” projects like driverless cars are not something the company is “betting the farm on”.

It would be interesting to know if having the patent changes just how much they are betting on the technology.

Earlier this year, a law was passed in Nevada, making the cars legal. One was actually involved in a car accident at one point, though it was reportedly determined that there was actually a human driving it when that happened.

December 15, 2011
Ford Announces Free Upgrade to MyFord Touch Interface

This morning, Ford announced some upgrades and new features for its MyFord Touch system, beginning with model year 2013. The upgrade will also be available to existing MyFord Touch owners, via a USB flash drive for free.

“Operating just like a technology company would, Ford is leveraging software to continuously update and upgrade the driver experience, a Ford spokesperson tells WebProNews. “The new upgrades to MyFord Touch will contain simpler graphics, larger font sizes, faster touch screen response, easier-to-use controls and even compatibility with tablets including the iPad.”

Some have voiced concern about the dangers of touch screens in cars. For example, there’s a comment on YouTube about the video below that says, “Touch screens don’t belong in cars, period. They’re dangerous and unreliable. Stick to knobs and buttons that can be operated without looking at them.”

“Research shows that activity that draws drivers’ eyes away from the road for an extended period of time substantially increases risk of accidents,” Ford Motor Company Technology Communications Manager Alan Hall tells WebProNews. “Therefore, we developed new technologies with intuitive, simple controls and voice commands as part of MyFord Touch to deliver a safer, smarter way to access vehicle functions and features. Drivers experience many different types of distractions on a daily basis, and our MyFord technology helps reduce some of those distractions.”

The upgrades will be showcased for the first time at the Los Angeles Auto Show later this month, where the company will launch the new Escape. At BlogWorld a few days ago, Ford CMO Jim Farley revealed Escape Routes, an interesting promotion for the vehicle. Here’s an interview we did at the show with Ford’s Social Media Director Scott Monty:

Here’s the actual list of the MyFord Touch feature upgrades, as provided by Ford:

· Improved voice recognition experience powered by Nuance

– Quicker voice recognition upon startup and faster command prompt when the voice button is pushed

– Voice commands used in conjunction with navigation are simplified through elimination of the need to provide street direction, e.g., “Main Street” instead of “North Main Street”

– Music requests are simpler by removing the need to include the additional song, album or artist information often found at the end of a name in (parenthesis) or [brackets]

– Customers can find their favorite sports team in action via new Sirius Game Finder simply by saying a command such as “Tune to Detroit Lions game”

· Tablet device compatibility

– Music and other media content from most popular tablet computers like the Apple iPad can now be accessed through a simple USB connection

· Audible.com audiobook support

– Listen to Audible.com content using voice commands or the easy-to-use touch-screen controls

· Connected navigation powered by TeleNav features new map data by NAVTEQ

– Updated map views are richer and feature more 3D landmarks

– Views of freeway junctions and signs are enhanced through photorealistic screen images

– Smart routing options are provided based on a database of historical traffic patterns

· Phone compatibility

– Automatic Bluetooth connection upon vehicle entry has been improved

– Noise and echo cancellation during phone calls has been improved to enhance call quality

· Gracenote album cover art database

– Inclusion of the latest music metadata available enhancing the music playback experience

– Improved voice recognition for music search allowing drivers to pinpoint artists with hard-to-pronounce names or nicknames

November 7, 2011
Google Adds Features to Car Home for Android

Google has released a new version of Car Home for Android, aimed at making customization easier and information retrieval faster. Users can customize shortcuts for one-touch access to apps and info on the phone. You can now also set your own wallpaper for the app and customize the color of the shortcut icons.

Car Home lets users access apps like GPS, voice-activated commands, contacts, etc. while placed in a car dock. Another new feature is the ability to automatically switch to Car Home when your phone pairs with any Bluetooth device.

"We’ve also made it simpler for Android developers to modify their existing applications to be compatible with Car Mode," says Markus Mühlbauer, Manager Engineering & Product, Google Automotive. "Apps which support Car Mode will show up in a ‘Car applications’ category so they can easily be identified by you and added as a shortcut."

Car Home is available for Android 2.2 (FroYo). The update is available in the Android Market.

It’s probably not a bad app to have if you use your phone in the car. It may save lives, or at least help you avoid getting ticket if you live somewhere that texting while driving is against the law.

October 1, 2010
MapQuest Lets You Send Locations To Your Ford, Lincoln, or Mercury

AOL’s MapQuest announced a partnership with Ford Motor Company today, in which MapQuest users will be able to search for destinations from the MapQuest site, and send them directly to their Ford, Lincoln, or Mercury vehicles (so long as they are equipped with the SYNC Traffic, Directions and Information service).

"Imagine I’m planning a trip to New York City and want to visit the Empire State Building," says MapQuest’s Ted Babitz. "Instead of printing the directions, I just click "Send to SYNC" to have the information sent to my SYNC system. Once in my vehicle, I just press the voice button, say ‘Services’, and the vehicle navigation system will calculate a route and then begin guidance to the MapQuest point of interest."

"Now you can plan and research where you want to go online and send it directly to your car," adds Babitz. "Think of how many drivers will navigate with their eyes on the road, instead of looking down at a printed map."

MapQuest has been working hard to attract new interest in its service. It recently rolled out a whole new design (which it has been improving upon since), and had expanded its live traffic coverage.

This partnership with Ford should go a long way in keeping users interested too.

August 5, 2010
Google Announces Partnerships with Ford and General Motors

Google announced that it has extended its Google Maps Send-to-Car service to Ford and GM vehicles. This applies to Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles in the US that are enabled with Ford SYNC, as well as OnStar equipped GM vehicles, which include models from Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, Hummer, Pontiac, Saab and Saturn.

Users of the Send-to-Car service can send business listings or addresses found on Google Maps directly to their cars. The expansion of the service is great news for local businesses, and perhaps makes it all the more important to hone their Google Maps presence.

"Drivers can then use their car maker’s turn-by-turn navigation system to be guided to their selected destination. With today’s additions, drivers can send destinations from Google Maps directly to their connected vehicles in 19 countries and more than 20 different brands," says Markus Mühlbauer, Engineering and Product Manager. "In the US alone, Send-To-Car is now available on more than 15 car brands and we hope to see even more partners join us soon."

"We think this is a great convenience for drivers – Prepare your route at your desk, send the destination to your car, and safely enjoy your ride – hands on the wheel, eyes on the road," he adds. "We also like to think that in the age of green driving, not having to print paper directions anymore is a great start of a green trip!"

Now imagine if Google gets Android into that many vehicles one day, and consider the potential for apps that cater to the driving experience. Also consider that app-making is getting simpler.

July 14, 2010
First-Hand Look at Kia’s Microsoft Embedded UVO Technology

We recently looked at Ford’s office-in-your-truck 2011 Super Duty, which was on display at the recent Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. That featured Windows Embedded Auto software from Microsoft, but Ford’s not the only auto maker using this.

We also got an up-close look at tKia’s new UVO (Your Voice) system, which utilizes Windows Embedded Auto for some cool voice controlled features and more:

With UVO, users can place and receive calls and stream media over their phones if they connect with Bluetooth. Users can also use voice controls to operate the CD player and devices that plug into the car’s USB port.

This year’s CES event displayed some interesting innovations in automotive features, and provided a glimpse into what just may become very common in vehicles.

Related Articles:

> Ford Shows You Can Have Your Office in Your Truck

> Ford Turning Cars Into Mobile Wi-Fi Hotspots

> How Ford Does Social Media

February 1, 2010
Ford Shows You Can Have Your Office in Your Truck

As we discussed before, Internet-ready vehicles were one of the more interesting themes throughout the recent Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. One vehicle in particular that WebProNews got an up-close look at was the 2011 Ford Super Duty, which the company refers to as a "contractor’s dream."

Checking out the truck, it’s not hard to see why they would call it that. It has a computer in it running Windows-embedded software, built specifically for Ford by Microsoft.

The software allows businesses to essentially carry their offices with them right in the truck. It has:

– Internet connectivity
– Word processing
– Spreasheets
– Bluetooth-enabled Keyboard and Printer
– hands free, voice activated controls
– It can send and receive phone calls

That’s in addition to all of the actual truck-related features. Ford suggests that contractors can use the truck to print up invoices on the spot, and generally manage their businesses. Pretty cool stuff.

This isn’t the first cool web-related effort we’ve seen from Ford, however. They’ve already been turning cars into mobile Wi-Fi hotspots. The company has also shown how web-savvy it is with its efforts in social media marketing, which Ford Motor Company head of social media Scott Monty discussed with WebProNews at another recent event.

Related Articles:

> Google Earth Makes Leap To Automobiles

> Ford Turning Cars Into Mobile Wi-Fi Hotspots

> How Ford Does Social Media

January 28, 2010
HD Radio Tech a Big Theme Throughout CES

At the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas this week, there will be a total of 25 new HD Radio products introduced, making for this technology’s broadest product category coverage ever. This year, 15 automotive brands will produce over 80 vehicle types, and 36 of them will include HD Radio Technology, according to iBiquity Digital.

Brands include:

– Audi
– BMW
– Ford
– Hyundai
– Jaguar
– Kia
– Land Rover
– Lincoln
– Mercedes Benz
– Mercury
– MINI USA
– Rolls Royce
– Scion
– Volkswagen
– Volvo

At least three new vehicles are on display at the event at the HD Radio booth – the Ford 2011 Taurus SHO, Volkswagen 2010 MY Golf TDI, and 2010 Scion xB. The first ever factory installed implementation of HD Radio enabled iTunes Tagging will occur at CES and will be showcased by Ford. A number of after-market solutions from various brands are being displayed as well.

"New low-cost, low power IC solutions were introduced at CES 2009," says iBiquity Digital. "Since that technical breakthrough, many new portable products have been committed for launch into the consumer market, several of which are currently available, with additional new models on display at CES 2010."

These include Microsoft Zune HD, Insignia ND-HD01, Cydle T43H (PND w/ Real Time Traffic), Cydle P15, Gigaware 12-645 and 12-646, Sangean DT 600HD and Sangean DT 800HD. iBiquity itself is developing a Software Development Kit (SDK) for receiver partners to aid feature integration, which is planned for later in 2010.

Over 2,000 stations in the US use HD Radio Technology. The technology allows for a richer multimedia experience than traditional radio giving users access to album art and other features.

Watch for more WebProNews coverage of CES, with exclusive video interviews coming soon.

Related Articles:

> CES: Opera Releases New SDKs and New Browser

> Cisco Leaving a Big Mark on Consumer Electronics Show

> HP Unveils New Touch Notebook and Some New Minis at CES

January 6, 2010
Google Talks to People About Online Auto Habits

Are you familiar with "Google on the Street"? This refers to a series of videos Google has put together in which it goes out and talks to people on the street about various online behaviors, to see how responses stack up against their own Insights for Search findings.

The videos are periodically posted on Google’s UK Barometer Blog. Topics covered in the past include online shopping, consumer confidence, and travel. The most recent entry paints an interesting picture about how people use the Internet for auto-related services.

People take on the following topics in the video above (you’ll have to click through to watch it on the blog, because it is not embeddable):

– How do consumers use online to help build their consideration list?
– How do people search online?
– Do consumers buy cars online or do they need to visit a dealership too?
– Do people buy parts and book services online?
– What is their perception of branded websites?
– What do brands get wrong/right on their websites?
– What is the role of social media in the decision making process?
– Do people find online video useful and what do they want to see?
– Real time research: How do on and offline world’s fit together?

As long as you’re on the blog, you might be interested in browsing through the past entries in the series by clicking on the " on the street " tag. It’s interesting to see the responses of actual people on different matters, rather than just tables of data.

Related Articles:

> Google and Predicting Search Trends

> Google Shares Proposal for White Spaces Database

> Average Person Spends 13 Hours a Week Online

January 6, 2010