Ok. You bought your dream car. It has the most powerful YET fuel efficient engine on the market. You have to do your part in fighting global warming after all. The car comes with everything youve always wanted. It even comes with bells and whistles you never even knew existed.
By the end of this decade, a third of your car’s value will be in its electronics and advanced technologies. Current tech toys not only makes your car more fun but also safer to drive and lets them go farther on a gallon of fuel, and emit less pollution; all while zipping around corners quickly.
However, did you know that you can even add more technology to the car? Believe it or not but you actually can. There are advances in Bluetooth and navigation aspects. If youre car didnt come with a backup camera factory installed, then dont worry. They now make backup cameras which shoot clearer than your current digital camera. Isnt it exciting?
Here is a list put together from the people at Car and Driver and PC World of the newest and best add-on tech accessories being sold for your car. While some of these may not be cheap, they are definitely fun.
Traffic Info: Garmin Nvi 680 The best is never the cheapest. These shirt-pocket devices are the Nvi 680. They come with a 4.3-inch quarter VGA (QVGA, or 320-by-240) LCD screen. You can connect it to your car’s power and it receives real-time traffic reports, giving you a better idea of roads to avoid.
Add-On: HD Radio Directed Electronics Car Connect DMHD1000 – HD Radio can triple the radio broadcasts you receive. One frequency will carry the digital station while two others are multi-cast over the same frequency. The Car Connect HD tuner connects to any existing radio via the antenna for no loss of signal quality. All you need to do is mount a small module on the dash, then tune your radio to an unused FM station, or use the auxiliary input.
Car Stereo: Sony MEX-BT5000 – For a unique way to experience Bluetooth in your car, you need to replace your old stereo with one that integrates the latest in Bluetooth technology. The MEX-BT5000 has an AM/FM receiver, CD player, 24-bit DAC, and more. This Bluetooth isn’t just for phone calls. Using a device supporting A2DP (the Advanced Audio Distribution Profile), you can stream music off devices, and there are plug-in modules for iPods and satellite radio.
Cell-Phone Navigator: LG 9900 ENV It seems every day portable navigators shrink even smaller and smaller. Theyre so tiny; its difficult to remember to take them with you. Consider this like a cell phone with navigation built-in, such as the LG 9900 enV running VZ Navigator software from Verizon and Networks in Motion. Place messaging lets you send a “GPS thumbtack” to someone else’s phone, setting your location as the destination.
GPS Navigation: Alpine PMD-B100 Blackbird This one has it all. Here’s a navigation device you can use three ways: Try it as a battery-operated walkabout unit with a 3.6-inch color screen, as a dashboard-mounted personal navigation aid, or add a $200 docking module to it which hides the Blackbird under your seat and connects to an Alpine AV head unit with a big LCD. This last option gives you a system nearly as good as what you’d get built into a new car.
Cell-Phone Adapter: Parrot CK3100 LCD – Cell phones can be distracting and often illegal when held in your hand. If youre not a fan of an earpiece dangling as you drive, get a dash-mounted Bluetooth adapter such as Parrot’s, which connects to most car stereos or a separate speaker. Only a small display stays visible. There is also voice recognition which lets you dial by name.