This isn’t the first time that we have reported on concept automobiles of the future. Most of them aren’t really what comes to mind when we think of a car, as they tend to be small one-manned drones.

The Cube is nothing different, but I admire Carlos Mendez’s vision for cars. Mendez noticed that most cars are way too large and heavy compared to their driver, so he set out to create a “vehicle designed more to a human scale”.

What makes the Cube unique is that the user determines what it will look like and alters it according to his or her needs. Think of the base as something like a Lego car, and it is up to the user to add the roll bars, windshield, roof, or a bed for hauling stuff.

Mendez’s Cube is also environmentally sound as it is completely electrical powered. I’m guessing that mass-production of the Cube would probably solve traffic problems as it looks like it takes up half as much width as an ordinary vehicle.

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Nobody likes to get into an accident, but if you so happen to be in that unfortunate position, then having witnesses to the accident could help greatly in speeding up the insurance claims process as well as getting the right details down in a police report. In addition, a non-partial witness will also be able to be the arbiter in any dispute, with the other person claiming you were backing up when you bumped into the car behind you, while you say that your vehicle was stationary and they other person could not brake in time, hence “kissing” the back of your bumper. With the Smart Black Box, all of these thories can be put to rest thanks to KCI Communications, Inc. that offers this device which provides drivers with enhanced video and data recording.

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More and more states around the US and countries all over the world have already banned the use of cellphones while driving unless you’re using a hands-free kit of sorts. Of course, wireless versions are preferred in this day and age since there are no wires for you to get tangled with whenever you negotiate a treacherous mountain pass, making the Steering Wheel Bluetooth Speakerphone a suitable candidate for your hands-free woes.

This is the Bluetooth speakerphone that attaches to your steering wheel, placing the microphone and speakers closer to you for easier conversations without taking your hands off the wheel. The device uses two 2-watt speakers coupled with noise reduction and echo cancellation technologies for clear transmission and reception. Inbound calls appear on the device’s 9/16″ display as either numbers or names (depending upon how your cell phone is set up), allowing you to accept or reject calls with a press of a button. Volume, mute, and phone book buttons allow further control right from the steering wheel. The device can be paired with up to eight different cell phones and you can transfer up to 600 phone numbers to its 256MB memory. Its rechargeable battery provides five hours of continuous talk time from a three-hour charge using the included DC car adapter.

Sounds like $99.95 well spent, apart from the fact that you won’t be able to use it once you get out of your vehicle. Guess the standard Bluetooth headset still beats them all…

I find camera phones to be extremely useful these days as the camera is used to snap a photo of the level as well as spot where I parked my car, allowing me to find my way back there once I’m done at a mall. Well, for those who think that this method isn’t good enough since some sprawling malls can get very confusing with multi-level car parks and such, the ECCO GPS keychain sounds like just the right tonic to have.

Simply ‘lock’ in your starting location, go do your thing, then follow the ECCO’s idiot-proof LCD display. You’ll be tucked up before you can say ‘I’m sure I turned right at that big tree.’ Cooler still, the ECCO will store up to three locations, so you can find your way back to your remote guesthouse via the pub with a quick pit stop at that kebab shop you stumbled across the night before. Despite its diminutive dimensions, the ECCO utilises the very latest GPS technology. Satellite acquisition time is 30-60 seconds max, and it is accurate to within 10m.

Can’t really argue with that sort of accuracy eh? One thing though – what happens if you’re in an underground car park – will the £69.95 ECCO GPS keychain still be able to obtain a position lock?

I remember watching some documentary special on roller coasters, and was very surprised to find that there is nothing holding the cars upside-down on the loop except centrifugal force. In other words, there is very little advanced technology involved with roller coasters, which is why I am skeptical of Universal Orlando theme park calling their Hollywood Rip, Ride, Rockit “the world’s highest tech roller coaster”.

The 3,800 foot long attraction is unique because it allows the user to select his or her personal soundtrack from many genres, then an individual song. I would hope that Universal would choose “Song 2” by Blur. Just listen to it, and you’ll see why it is perfect song for a roller coaster.

Hollywood Rip, Ride, Rockit also has a various LED flashing lights, and fourteen digital video cameras to capture the experience. I can’t help but wonder if the user has the option of getting a video clip of their experience after it is over.

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Belkin is back with the Belkin TuneCast Auto Live FM transmitter alongside their very own ClearScan Live software application that will allow both iPhone and iPod Touch owners to gain easy access to their FM transmitter, picking out the most suitable radio frequency to play music in the car.

ClearScan Live allows the iPhone to display the FM frequency and the controls on its screen. This hardware-software combination is the first to utilize an iPhone application to control FM transmission and utilize GPS coordinates to determine the clearest FM frequency at the user’s location. TuneCast Auto Live capitalizes on the ability of iPhone OS 3.0 to enable application control of hardware accessories, with ClearScan Live as the first application to interact with an iPhone FM transmitter accessory. Together, the Belkin hardware and software provide a powerful tool for people to easily control and listen to their music in their cars.

The Belkin TuneCast Auto Live FM transmitter will arrive across North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia later this Fall, retailing for $79.99 a pop.

Press Release

Getting lost is no fun, not when you have a bunch of kids sitting in the back row who can’t stop asking the question, “Are we there yet?” Having a GPS navigation system is more or less indispensable these days, especially when driving around has gotten so much more convenient. For folks who tend to drive out of state frequently and head off to unfamiliar places, toting a GPS navigation system is a God-send since you don’t have to worry about folding up any maps once you’ve got your bearings, and there is always the software to blame before your wife lets loose on you a verbal tirade on how you are too stubborn to stop by and ask someone for directions. Hey, you asked the GPS software, didn’t you? TomTom is offering yet another model for the masses – the White Pearl, which is a special edition navigation product with a twist.

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I have a bike, but right now it is out of commission. At this present time, I would be a good customer for Bixi, a bicycle sharing program.

It works by going to one of the bike stations that you see in the picture here, and borrowing one of the bikes. All a user needs is a credit card, and then the user can ride around freely as they normally would with their own bike. Once the user is done, he or she simply returns it to another bike station.

I am not certain how Bixi keeps track of all of its bikes, but I’m told that the setup is “computer-chip based, solar-powered, and Wi-Fi enabled”.

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