Samsung’s SmartThings app will soon connect to your car, too

Samsung wants to add cars to its smart home ecosystem. At CES, Samsung announced that it's teaming up with Smartcar to make its SmartThings app compatible with "most new cars" in the US. Through the app, users will be able to do things like locate an...

Pioneer are making Android Auto happen

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Google had talked about their plans to sneak into the car industry a few months ago, and now we have concrete information about it. Android Auto is coming, and we can already see where they’re heading with this idea – and you can even download the app from the Play Store already.

The team behind Android Auto have already announced the availability of this preliminar, unfinished version, and it already has some requirements: only devices that are running Android 5.0 or superios, along with a compatible Pioneer gadget (as of now, only America, Australia & the UK have them).

What Android Auto does is reproducing or executing tasks related to the car’s wellbeing & systems, but they are sure to expand with each and every version of the cars & software. The system works via voice control, and users will be able to use it to access maps, send and receive calls, or even media files, in order to create a more connected but also safer experience.

Pioneer is only the first of Google’s tech partners to partake in this program, at least in a public way. We are sure more companies will eventually join in, because this does look like the way of the future. If we add on top streaming services like Spotify, Pandora or SoundCloud, this could even change the way we listen to the radio on our cars.

Google’s idea is that in time most carmakers will feature Android Auto on their vehicles, and have already agreed to work with some 30 companies that include Audi, Bentley, Fiat, Ford, Maserati, Renault, & Volkswagen.

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Audi Shows Off Smartwatch Controlled Car

Audi Prologue Concept header

At this years Consumer Electronics Show (CES 2015), car maker Audio shows off their smartwatch controlled car.

With the popularity of Google Glass, the upcoming Apple Watch and even glowing neon apparel, the age of wearables is well and truly upon us. These hi-tech gadgets look great and cost a lot but are we getting value for money?

One of the biggest questions surrounding wearable gadgets is whether or not they are really necessary and if they are much more than gimmicks. The Apple Watch has been a recent focus of this as Apple’s next product only appears to offer us such innovations as ‘a dial that lets you zoom in and out’ and ‘an app that lets you arm wrestle’.

Also hoping to eschew any worries about wearables being a fad is car maker Audi. Famed for the quality of their cars over anything else, their latest innovation may have just given us all a reason to pick up a smartwatch this year.

That suggestion came at CES 2015 in Las Vegas, with the technological trade show allowing companies to show off what they’re working on. One of the things that Audi showed off this year is their Prologue concept car. Impressively, Audi used their very own smartwatch to bring the vehicle on stage.

That smartwatch that hasn’t been announced just yet but it’s being made in partnership with LG and runs on the Linux based operating system webOS rather than Android. In addition to this smartwatch they also showed off the the Audi Smart Display (which is a tablet that lives in your car) and explained that passengers will be able to control car functions and entertainment with it. They company says that the Audi Smart Display will debut in the Audi Q7 in 2016.

Audi’s Ulrich Hackenberg also talked up the Audi A7 which drove itself all the way from San Francisco to CES 2015 in Lass Vegas. That’s a trip of over 550 miles. There’s no on whether the aforementioned smartwatch will let you type in your location and have the car drive itself to you though, but that would be incredibly cool indeed.

Source: engadget

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Near Field Communications (NFC) coming to cars soon

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Near Field Communications (NFC), the technology that allows to easily pair your smartphone with any other device might soon be coming to cars all around the US.

Recent reports indicate that car manufacturers and developers are looking into NFC functionalities for their new models in order to allow their users to pair their smartphones and other gadgets with their vehicles. The report comes from a Dutch company called NXP, who claims to be working on this technology, and how to apply it on a big scale, which they assume will be ready by 2016. What companies would benefit from their services remains to be disclosed.

What NFC would allow, exactly, is to pair your gadgets with the vehicle’s entertainment system, and make it easier to play your favorite songs, or use your phone as a GPS, amongst other options. Furthermore, the phone could recognize user profiles, and automatically set up seat positions, climate control, and so on. While not game-changing, it sure does sound nice.

Via Geeky Gadgets

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Smart car tipping in San Francisco leaves angry owners


Vandals in San Francisco are leaving angry car owners and police in their wake. These vandals have been tipping over Smart cars in the San Francisco area. Late Monday night three of the cars were...

Editorial: Self-driving cars FTW, but not for everybody

DNP Editorial Selfdriving cars FTW, but not for everybody

I drive a two-seat roadster known for its great handling. The last thing I want is for a machine to take the steering wheel out of my hands. My car company isn't into self-driving cars, but others are: Ford, BMW, Audi. And, of course, Google is moving quickly forward with road-worthy autocars that have accumulated 300,000 miles with only one (human error) accident. The advantages of cars that drive themselves are multiple and compelling.

Automobile intelligence already assists the driving experience by warning of dangerous situations and taking control of parking, which is, for some people, the most difficult maneuver to perform. We are gradually ceding control to our cars. When a completely automated consumer car launches, some drivers will hand over the reins gladly. But for me and other enthusiasts, driving a car isn't just about reaching a destination; it's about the journey and operating a beautiful machine. Unfortunately for people who feel that way, the greatest social benefits of self-driving cars would kick in if everyone were herded into a new era of hands-off driving.

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Smart unveils third-gen Fortwo Electric Drive EV, we take it for quiet and speedy spin (video)

Smart unveils third-gen Fortwo Electric Drive EV, we take it for quiet and speedy spin (video)

Now that Smart's second-gen Fortwo Electric Drive EV has gotten its year of time on the roads, the company is ready to announce its successor. For 2013, the car has received some mild tweaks to its design, but the real news is about what's hiding inside this rear-wheel driven EV. For the first time, you'll have to option of owning one outright, rather than being limited to a four-year lease at $599 per month. It's thanks in part to an improved battery, which is now rated for an average lifespan of 10 years. The car has also received a massive power upgrade to 47 horsepower (up from 27 previously), along with an extra boost if you floor the pedal -- this courtesy of a beefier engine and drive-train that gives it about 50-percent more power. Put it this way, this EV will get you from 0-60 in about 11.5 seconds, with top speed of 78MPH. Sadly, there's no concrete word on what kind of range to expect, but it should be well more than the 87 miles of its predecessor. Beyond that, Smart's added in GSM connectivity, allowing you the abilities to pre-start the car and keep track of its vitals remotely, among other features.

A quick drive around Brooklyn also confirmed how peppy and smooth the car was in use, however, not exactly on-par with our experience in Audi's A3 e-tron -- but it is considerably less. As our friends at Autoblog detail, the base model coupe is set to sell for a $25,000 MSRP plus fees, along with your choice of two chargers, which can cost up to $2,200 with installation. Here's the good news, the car itself actually works out to just $17,500 thanks to a federal tax credit. All in all, this currently makes the cheapest full-on EV you'll be able to get your mitts on. If you'd prefer to spice it up a bit, Smart will also offer a spruced up cabriolet variant for an extra $3K. Check out our chat with Smart about the car and the press release after the break for all the details.

Continue reading Smart unveils third-gen Fortwo Electric Drive EV, we take it for quiet and speedy spin (video)

Smart unveils third-gen Fortwo Electric Drive EV, we take it for quiet and speedy spin (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 03 Oct 2012 18:20:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toyota’s Smart Insect concept EV packs Kinect motion sensor, voice recognition (video)

Toyota's Smart Insect concept EV packs Kinect motion sensor, voice recognition video

Toyota is showing off its new Smart Insect prototype at the company's CEATEC booth. The fully electric car charges via a standard 100-volt AC outlet, and it's decked out with gull-wing doors and motion detection courtesy of Microsoft's Kinect. The on-board motion sensors allow the car to recognize its owner based on face and body shape, and it predicts the owner's behavior by analyzing movement and determining when to open the door, for example. (It also allows for the front and rear displays to show a welcome message when the owner approaches the car.) There's also voice recognition for opening the car door and other functions, with a speaker on the hood of the car and dashboard-mounted "dialogue monitors" on the front and back.

The tech carries through to the Insect's interior, which sports a wireless charging pad, a dash-mounted monitor that connects to the driver's handset and a button for dialing up Toyota's virtual agent. As a connected car, the Insect naturally ties in with entertainment and navigation services (in this case, via Toyota's Smart Center). There's also integration with a home energy management system, which allows the owner to adjust air conditioning and lock the front door via a smartphone app. As this is a proof of concept -- and one we couldn't test out, at that -- it's unclear how well these features work, and it's unlikely that we'll ever see the prototype make it to market. Still, it's fun to dream, and you can do that by tuning into our hands-on video just past the break.

Continue reading Toyota's Smart Insect concept EV packs Kinect motion sensor, voice recognition (video)

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Toyota's Smart Insect concept EV packs Kinect motion sensor, voice recognition (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 02 Oct 2012 05:35:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dragon Drive! lets you take the wheel, while Nuance takes dictation

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Do you like your cars smart? Are you itching to drive something a bit more K.I.T.T. than KIA? Well, this summer the glory of your Hasselhoff-soaked, '80s dreams will become reality, thanks to the folks at Nuance. Utilizing the same natural-language voice software currently employed across select mobile phones and TV sets, the outfit's hatched a new platform, dubbed Dragon Drive!, specifically for connected autos. The hands-free tech will support six languages at launch, with more to come throughout the year, giving drivers the ability to dictate texts and emails, as well as manage multimedia and navigation without ever lifting a finger from the wheel. So far, the company hasn't outed any initial partners for the voice recognition service. But if you're in the market for a high-end vehicle and your very own virtual Synergy, rest assured, your needs are going to be met. Hit up the break for the official presser and video tour.

Continue reading Dragon Drive! lets you take the wheel, while Nuance takes dictation

Dragon Drive! lets you take the wheel, while Nuance takes dictation originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 22 May 2012 18:12:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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