CES 2009: HD Radio now broadcasting real-time traffic

Real-time traffic information, which is quickly becoming a point-of-entry feature for portable GPS navigators, is normally received through a cell-phone network, FM signal, or satellite radio service. Now, Clear Channel Radio is sending the data over the signals of HD Radio stations.

Ibiquity Digital, the company behind HD Radio, says that the broader bandwidth of HD Radio allows it to transmit data significantly faster and pack more in than a normal RDS feed. Plus, there’s no subscription fee for the service.

One of the first portable GPS navigators to take advantage of this is Dual Electronics’ NavAtlas XNAV43HD, which incorporates a HD Radio receiver. This allows the unit to receive free lifetime traffic info. Plus, users can also listen to HD Radio broadcasts. It also provides the iTunes tagging feature that lets you tag songs you hear on the radio so you can download them from iTunes later.

The unit includes a 4.3-inch touch-screen display and provides spoken street names through its text-to-speed function. The XNAV43HD will retail for $280 when it goes on sale in late March or early April.

In addition to traffic info, iBiquity says that nav devices with HR Radio receivers will also be able to receive services such as gas prices, movie listings, sports scores, stock quotes, school closings, and emergency alerts.

For more on info on real-time traffic info, see our GPS guide.
For more on HD Radio, see our Mobile Electronics guide.

--Rik Paul

See all our automotive-related coverage from the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), as well as CES coverage from the Electronics team. Learn more about mobile electronics in our complete guide.

CES 2009: Chrysler to offer OnStar-type telematics system

While meeting with Hughes Telematics, I got a demonstration of a new safety/security system that the company developed. It will debut in the 2010 Dodge Journey when it goes on sale this July. Called Uconnect Guardian, the system provides emergency aid services that are similar to GM’s OnStar system.

If a driver needs roadside assistance, for example, he or she presses a button located on the underside of the rearview mirror. A person at a call center responds and confirms the car’s location, based on GPS coordinates. The call center will then arrange to send the appropriate aid to the vehicle with an estimation of how long it will take.

If an air bag deploys, the vehicle automatically places a call to the center. Someone at the center will first attempt to call the driver through the system. If there is no answer, he will contact a local 911 operator in the car’s area to deploy an ambulance to the scene. The center will be able to detect how many air bags deployed, thereby being able to tell if there was a front-seat passenger.

Other features could also be offered, such as the ability to remotely unlock the doors (helpful if the keys are locked inside), sound the horn, or flash the lights (helpful if you’ve forgotten where you’ve parked in a large parking lot).

According to Hughes Telematics, this initial system has the potential to evolve into a much richer system in following years, perhaps with features similar to Ford’s latest SYNC system.

--Rik Paul

See all our automotive-related coverage from the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), as well as CES coverage from the Electronics team. Learn more about mobile electronics in our complete guide.

CES 2009: Coming of the eBikes

One of the highlights for me at this show was the chance to take a quick spin on an electric-powered bicycle called the Ultra Motor A2B. This new eBike, which was designed in Germany for the U.S. urban market, was among several models being shown at the ELV Motors booth. The A2B, which costs about $2,700, is a seven-speed bike with full front and rear suspension and disc brakes. It houses a 36-volt Sanyo lithium-ion battery in its rectangular downtube and has a 500-watt electric motor in its rear wheel assembly. The bike weighs 72 pounds. You can pedal the A2B normally or, by flipping a switch, ride it like an electric scooter.

Electric motors inherently provide a lot of torque and, when you twist the throttle on the right handgrip, the A2B responds well. The bike has a top speed of 20 mph and can get there pretty quickly. You can pedal while the motor is running and, in my short stint, I was able to make seamless transitions between using the pedals and motor. The compact throttle assembly didn’t seem like it would get in the way during normal biking, and the motor shuts off automatically if the hand brakes are used.

The company estimates that a 160-pound person on flat terrain could go about 20 miles on electric power alone. A second battery can be added to the rear, which extends the range about another 20 miles. ELV Motors estimates that this would run you only about 5 to 10 cents in electricity.

It takes about 3.5 hours to recharge, and the company estimates that the battery can be recharged about 700 to 900 cycles before needing replacement. A new battery is expected to cost about $350 to $400.

ELV Motors, which was exhibiting in the show’s Greener Gadgets area, sells a range of electric bicycles and scooters. They can be ordered online and are shipped fully assembled (except for attaching the front wheel on some models). All parts are also available through their web site.

Meanwhile, Schwinn was making big news at the show with its new Tailwind eBike, which is priced at $3,200 and will be available at U.S. dealers later this month. Using an advanced Toshiba lithium-ion battery, which is carried on the rear rack, this bike boasts a speedy recharge time of about a half hour, which the company says is the fastest recharge time for any electric bike. The battery can be quickly detached for charging and is said to provide a minimum of 2,000 cycles (a spokesman says that it’s been tested to 6,000 cycles). The bike weighs 50 pounds.

The Tailwind uses a 250-watt motor, located in the front wheel hub and an eight-gear rear hub, which can be shifted while standing. The electric motor is engaged by pedaling the bike, and the power cuts out when coasting and when the brakes are applied. There are three power settings, which affect top speed and range. At full power, the Tailwind can go up to about 18 to 19 mph for an average of about 25 to 30 miles, depending on the rider and terrain. On the mid-power setting, it can go about 15 mph for about 10 to 15 miles. And on the low setting, it can go up to 12 mph, for 40 to 50 miles. Including the Tailwind, Schwinn is offering seven eBike models this year.

According to the Electric Bikes Worldwide Report, sales of eBikes are expected to hit 220,000 units in 2009, an increase of 83 percent over 2007 sales. And because of their limited speed, they typically don’t require a license or registration.

--Rik Paul

See all our automotive-related coverage from the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), as well as CES coverage from the Electronics team. Learn more about mobile electronics in our complete guide.

CES 2009: Turn your car into a rolling hotspot

Last summer, Chrysler announced its uconnect web service for Chrysler, Dodge, and Jeep vehicles, which provides broadband access inside the vehicle. Well, you don’t have to buy a Chrysler to get this service. Autonet Mobile, the company behind Chrysler’s system, also sells it directly to consumers for installation in any vehicle.

The system sets up an in-car Wi-Fi network similar to those in homes and businesses, allowing users to connect to the Internet through laptops, smart phones, PDAs, etc. The car, itself, can’t connect to the Web directly, as happens in some telematics systems.

A router is professionally installed in a vehicle’s trunk or cargo area, which can connect to the Internet over various cellular data networks. When connected to the company’s 3G network, the router provides download speeds averaging 400 to 800 kbps and upload speeds ranging from 128 to 300 kbps. When not on the 3G network, the average speed drops to an average of 50 to 100 kbps, download, and 120 to 200 kbps, upload. Autonet Mobile’s 3G network is available in most major metro areas, as shown on the company's Web site.

The router also provides a range of about 100 to 150 feet, so you can connect when outside the car, as well.

The hardware retails for about $400 and the service starts at $29 per month. To get it, you can sign up through the company’s web site and it will direct you to the nearest dealer for installation. Alternately, the system is being sold through various auto dealerships, car audio shops, and retailers.

--Rik Paul

CES 2009: Ford brings the office into the cab

Ford’s big announcement at President and CEO Alan Mulally’s key note address here was the availability of a new mobile-office package for work-truck owners. Called Ford Work Solutions, this multi-part option package will first be available this March in the 2009 F-150, F-Series Super Duty, and E-Series vans. The package consists of four basic components: 

In-dash computer (MSRP: $1,195): What appears at first as a normal in-dash GPS navigation display is actually the screen for a fully functional, broadband-capable computer. Developed with Magneti Marelli and Microsoft Auto, the package includes a Bluetooth keyboard and printer, which can be stored in the center console of most cabs. With the basic package, the computer can be paired via Bluetooth with up to three phones for hands-free calls and sending and receiving text messages using the keyboard and screen.

In addition to a calculator and calendar, the system includes Garmin navigation software, which provides the same user-friendly interface and functionality that we’ve praised in our portable GPS navigators tests. Users can also get real-time traffic and weather reports, reroute around construction or congestion, and compare local gas prices.

The display is a 6.5-inch touch screen, and the system includes two gigabytes of flash memory, a secure digital slot for additional memory, a USB port and includes a wireless keyboard and mouse. A stylus is included for use on the touch screen.

With a $50 monthly subscription fee (for unlimited service; $25 per month for 25 megabytes), you can also get Internet access through the Sprint Mobile Broadband Network. Users can link to an office network or home computer to access and work with word processing documents, spreadsheets, and accounting, Powerpoint, and pdf files.

Tool Link (MSRP: $1,120 for F-Series; $1,220 for E-Series): This nifty system, which is available only with the computer, acts as an on-site inventory manager. You get 50 RFID tags that can be affixed to tools, equipment, camping gear, whatever. You then log each item into the computer with the corresponding tag number, and you can create and organize equipment lists by application (carpentry, plumbing, camping, etc.). When you load the gear into the pickup box or van cargo area and press the system’s “Scan” button, embedded RFID sensors read the tags and the system creates an on-screen list of your loaded equipment. It can also let you know if you’re missing anything that you might need. Similarly, after you’ve packed up at the end of the day, another scan will let you know if any of the original gear is missing and possibly left on the site.

Crew Chief (MSRP: $380 for F-Series; $425 for E-Series): This fleet management system lets a user track vehicles from a PC or from Ford’s in-dash computer. It can monitor their real-time location, functions such as fuel usage, vehicle speed, and idling time, and check tire pressure and engine-diagnostic codes. A black box is installed under the dash of each monitored vehicle, which continually collects data, reports it every three minutes, and retains it in memory for six days. It also can be programmed to alert the user to such things as unauthorized use of a vehicle or excessive idling.

Cable Lock (MSRP: $120): This is an eight-foot, 10-millimeter steel cable that can be used to secure gear in the pickup box. Similar to a long bicycle cable, it can be woven through and around items and cases, and then secured to a tie-down cleat, latched to one of the items, or clamped onto the cable itself. The self-retractable cable is stored in a housing that’s mounted to the inside rear wall of the pickup box. This all-mechanical feature can be installed on any Ford pickup.

--Rik Paul

See all our automotive-related coverage from the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), as well as CES coverage from the Electronics team. Learn more about mobile electronics in our complete guide.

2009 CES: Solar-powered Bluetooth speaker for hands-free calling

I came across these clever items at the Nextar booth. They let you make wireless hands-free calls in the car without needing a Bluetooth-enabled headset or audio system. And, when mounted to the windshield, they’re recharged by the sun.

Nextar offers two versions: the NXBT-001 retails for about $60 and the NXBT-002 for about $70. Both will connect to your Bluetooth phone automatically and provide voice dialing, last number re-dial, and a mute function. The 001 can provide 250 hours of standby time and 10 hours of talk time when fully charged; the 002, about 150 hours on standby and 6 hours of talk time. If needed, they can also be charged through a car adapter.

The 002 also includes an LED display that shows a caller’s ID. They’ll go on sale this spring at major retail outlets.

—Rik Paul

See all our automotive-related coverage from the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), as well as CES coverage from the Electronics team. Learn more about mobile electronics in our complete guide.

2009 CES: Garmin Nuvi 885T GPS & MSN Direct

 

At the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Garmin introduced the Nuvi 885T and Nuvi 855, the latest members in the top-scoring Nuvi 800 GPS series. The Nuvi 880 excelled in our tests, distinguished by an effective voice-recognition system, however its software trailed behind that used in other Garmin units. With the 885T and 885, Garmin has brought the brand’s latest features, such as lane assist with junction view, to its new flagship navigators.

Like the 880, the 885T includes an MSN Direct receiver to access traffic data, as well as information on local gas prices, movie listings, and weather. Microsoft has launched a major upgrade to its service that will benefit both devices, with more information and reportedly faster access—something that is much needed based on our testing.

The enhanced traffic service now includes 94 cities, up from less than 40, and it includes secondary roads. The previous version of traffic relied heavily on road sensors and incident reports, whereas the third-generation MSN Direct service puts more emphasis on speed data from moving vehicles. This enhanced traffic flow data is now available on existing units that have the MSN Direct. In addition to the improved traffic, the weather information includes live Doppler radar, but this feature will only be available on new models.

The Nuvi 855 is MSN Direct compatible but does not include a receiver. The other difference between the two is that the Nuvi 855 does not offer Bluetooth connectivity.

Both GPS devices have a 4.3-inch screen, removable lithium-ion battery, FM transmitter, and maps of the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico. They use spoken street names for guidance, and they provide several extras, such as photo viewer, MP3 player, photo-based navigation, speed warning, and "Where am I?"—a helpful way to get current location and quick access to contact information for nearby emergency services.   

The Nuvi 855T ($800) and the Nuvi 855 ($700) go on sale winter 2009.

—Jeff Bartlett and Mike DiLauro

See all our automotive-related coverage from the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), as well as CES coverage from the Electronics team. Learn more about mobile electronics in our complete guide.

2009 CES: TomTom Go 740 Live connects drivers and Internet

The portable GPS navigation market is fueled by innovation, with leading companies routinely pushing the boundaries as to what these devices can do. Before the holidays, we saw interesting advances from Garmin, Navigon, and Magellan, though number-two selling TomTom didn’t have any tempting new product. Well, they soon will, as the company introduced a revolutionary connected device at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), the Go 740 Live.

The focus for this device has been informed routing. TomTom is building upon its TeleAtlas maps with user-provided data—an ongoing and progressing strategy. At the core is the latest version of IQ Routing, a feature that uses historical traffic data in programming route guidance. While it may not know of a specific accident on the route, historic data can account for routine ebbs and flow in traffic, such as the impact of rush hour. TomTom has recorded 1.8 trillion miles of roads over the past two years to inform these calculations. Historic data is also supplemented with real-time traffic data, delivered by a built-in GPRS modem.

In addition, users are able to improve the maps themselves through Map Share, a free service for noting and sharing necessary map corrections. TomTom has received millions of user-provided map changes, and this information is processed and made available in routine map updates.

The Dash Express popularized the concept of device-to-device communications, allowing other users to share traffic flow data, providing supplemental insight into regional traffic. (The Express has been discontinued.) The Go 740 Live promises to take that idea to the next level. Rather than depend on other Go 740 Live owners, TomTom is developing relationships with cell-phone carriers to share motion data from its users. Called HD Traffic, this new feature will enable traffic flow data to be gathered from cell phones operated by partnered companies. The massive scale this approach promises would enable timely, specific route guidance to be layered onto the IQ Routing and Map Share information. (TomTom is still forging the relationships and says it will introduce this feature after the devices go on sale. TomTom currently provides a similar service in Europe.)

The Live services available on day one are similar to those packaged in the MSN Direct service offered on several premium devices, providing fuel prices, weather information, and Google-powered local search. A fun, connected twist is TomTom Buddies, a feature that enables users to locate one another on the map, share information, and even text message.

The Go 740 Live itself has a 4.3-inch screen, and TomTom claims a three-hour battery life. The device features voice recognition, with a large 130-word vocabulary. The retail price will be $499 when it goes on sale in the spring, and the device includes one-year of Live service with purchase. The HD Traffic service will follow some time after launch.

—Jeff Bartlett

See all our automotive-related coverage from the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), as well as CES coverage from the Electronics team. Learn more about mobile electronics in our complete guide.

2009 CES: Navigon adds Rand McNally guides to its GPS units

The first of Navigon’s announcements for this year’s CES is that, this spring, the company will provide access to Rand McNally’s Scenic Routes and City Guides through its GPS navigators.

Scenic Routes is intended for drivers looking for guidance through an area’s most beautiful landscapes and vistas. Rand McNally provides more than 250 routes and pre-planned trips through the U.S. and Canada, and the package includes information on dining, attractions, and lodging. You can choose from a range of routes, from in-depth regional tours to weekend getaways. Or you can customize a route by deleting the parts you’re not interested in.

The City Guides provide information on the best attractions, family activities, historic landmarks, and nightlife spots for more than 1,400 U.S. and Canadian cities. Once a location is selected, the navigator will plot a route to it.

The guides will be available for select Navigon navigators and available to download from navigon.com in spring 2009. The retail prices will be about $20 each. The guides can be activated through Navigon’s downloadable software, Navigon Fresh, which lets you plug your navigator into a PC through a USB connection to manage, update, and customize your GPS unit.

—Rik Paul

See all our automotive-related coverage from the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), as well as CES coverage from the Electronics team. Learn more about mobile electronics in our complete guide.

 

2009 CES: World's first (in-dash) Internet car radio

Blaupunkt was one of the exhibitors at a pre-CES event last night, giving journalists a look at what it calls the world’s first Internet car radio. Developed with miRoamer, an online Internet radio portal, Blaupunkt’s new products will allow you to listen to thousands of Internet radio stations while driving. In terms of content diversity, this promises to be a viable alternative to satellite radio, without the subscription fee. However, a Bluetooth-enabled phone with a data plan will be necessary to use this feature.

The company showed two prototype models, a single-DIN unit called the Hamburg 600i and a taller, double-DIN unit called the New Jersey 600i. Both let you choose from AM, FM, or internet-radio stations. While there are now ways of listening to Internet radio in the car through a third-party device, these represent the first in-dash units to offer this feature.

When you want to listen to Internet radio, the head unit sets up a Bluetooth connection with a compatible cell phone and begins streaming the signal via the phone’s data feed. You can choose individual stations or browse by genre, location, or mood. Users can customize their Internet radio settings, including presets and favorites, online through the miRoamer.com Web site. You can choose from tens of thousands of stations or enter stations of your choosing. But, logically, if there’s no data service in the area in which you’re driving, no Internet radio.

The first Blaupunkt models to offer this feature are expected in the second half of 2009, and will be offered as an original-equipment option in new cars by an undisclosed automaker. The single-DIN unit is estimated to cost about $250 to $300, and the double-DIN, about $350 to $400.

—Rik Paul

See all our automotive-related coverage from the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), as well as CES coverage from the Electronics team. Learn more about mobile electronics in our complete guide.