2006

More than 35 million cars have built-in HomeLink, a radio-frequency transceiver system that enables drivers to open the garage door without getting out of the car. But what about poor bikers? They have garages, too. The solution is the HomeLink Wireless system, a portable version of the device that has been available to date only as a factory-installed option in cars. HomeLink Wireless, which is getting its debut at the SEMA 2006 show in Las Vegas this week, comes with a variety of handle-bar mounts to finally bring bikers in from the cold.

(Photo: Kevin Massy/CNET Networks)

Automotive electronics supplier Visteon is taking in-car wireless technology to the next level with a system that charges mobile devices, such as iPods and cell phones, wirelessly. To charge devices, the unit uses a built-in inductive coil, which can also detect the specific power requirements of each device and when the charge is complete. The catch is that the mobile devices also require a built-in coil (the iPod and Moto Razr used to demonstrate the prototype on display at the SEMA show in Las Vegas used special plug-in docks). However, Visteon says it is working with a consortium of consumer-electronics … Read more

Like the integrated Bluetooth hands-free calling interface in a Lexus, but don't have a Lexus? Johnson Controls, the company that supplies Toyota Motor Corporation with its fancy Bluetooth technology, is making the same system available as an aftermarket install. The BlueConnect module fits in the hole that you (or professional installers) will have to cut out of your car's roof, and it enables drivers to make and receive calls via their paired-up Bluetooth phones with the push of a button. The device supports voice dialing, can store more than 1,000 phone book entries, and is yours for $… Read more

When a bunch of Silicon Valley venture capitalists threw down a bounty of $5 million last month for a device that would enable drivers to check e-mail while on the road, we must admit we were a bit skeptical. Oh, we of little faith.

A product showing at SEMA 2006 from Intelligent Mechatronic Systems (IMS) is proving that the age of in-car e-mail is already upon us. Dubbed iLane, the device uses Bluetooth connectivity and text-to-voice technology to read out incoming e-mails received by a driver's PDA or smart phone. Drivers are notified of an incoming message by a … Read more

Dual is bringing car-stereo iPod control to the masses with the release of its XDMA690, a single-DIN garden-variety stereo head unit that can be used to control streamed audio from an iPod. All iPod controls (except Shuffle) can be programmed via the buttons on the faceplate, with playlist, artist, album, and song title all showing up on the unit's monochrome display. Like the Dual XDVD8182 in-car multimedia system that we reviewed this week, the XDMA690 ships with a 2-meter iPod interface cable, and it's able to play CDs and MP3- and WMA-encoded discs. Unlike the XDVD8182, you can … Read more

On show for the first time at this year's SEMA 2006 in Las Vegas is the HD Jump, a transportable radio receiver from Visteon that enables drivers to take their HD radio on the road.

The HD Jump connects to car's audio system either with an auxilliary input jack or--for those cars without an aux-in--via an FM band. The device has an integrated monocromatic display that displays real-time artist, song title, and station information. It also comes with its own dock for mounting on the dash.

With more than 3,000 radio stations now broadcasting in HD, and … Read more

Pioneer is using this week's SEMA show in Las Vegas to launch the AVIC D3, its latest in-dash DVD-based navigation/entertainment system. The D3 improves on the D2 by incorporating some of the features of Pioneer's flagship AVIC Z-1 hard-drive-based system and by adding some extra features of its own. Upgrades to the D2 include an increased range of multimedia options, such as video-playback capabilities (both regular DVD and DivX compressed video formats supported), as well as the ability to play streamed audio via the A2DP Bluetooth profile. With optional add-ons, the unit will also play iPods and … Read more

Motorola has jumped on the in-car entertainment bandwagon with the release of its Motorola T605 Automotive Music & Hands-free System, which allows users to use their Bluetooth-enabled Motorola phones or digital music players to stream audio wirelessly through the car's speakers, while doubling as a hands-free calling device. The T605 also features a jack to enable users to plug in MP3 players that aren't equipped with the Bluetooth audio (or A2DP) profile, such as iPods. According to Moto, the T605 works in a similar way to OEM Bluetooth systems, in that it will pause music when it detects … Read more

You slackers haven't even begun your shopping for the holidays this year, right? Well, we're already busy gathering info on gadgets you're gonna want next year. That's right, Best of CES for 2007. So if you build gear, get your boss to enter your company's greatest awaited gizmo.

The Zen Vision:M shown here was Best of Show at CES in 2006 and drew hundreds of comments. The biggest complaint? Not enough advertising for the product.

Here's the entire winner list from Best of CES 2006 in Las Vegas, as well as videos. Among … Read more