A free parking app is now available for the Apple iPhone to help users find where they parked their vehicle.
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The AutoGuide News Blog is your source for breaking stories from the auto industry. Delivering news immediately, the AutoGuide Blog is constantly updated with the latest information, photos and video from manufacturers, auto shows, the aftermarket and professional racing.
Apple is currently hard at work developing the next iteration of its mobile operating system, iOS 7, which will have better and tighter integration with vehicle’s factory in-car electronics.
Subaru has released an iPad app for its 2013 XV Crosstrek model, which AutoGuide recently reviewed, trying to show off the all-new crossover in a fun and interactive way.
The all-new 2013 Lexus ES receives impressive upgrades for the Japanese automaker’s most-popular sedan, and now the Lexus has accompanied it with an interactive Apple iPad app.
It may be a little early to be shopping for Christmas, but Desk Pets has released its CarBot which allows users to fully control the toy car with an Apple iOS device, or an Android-powered device.
Adding convenience and confidence to the used car buying experience, today Carfax announced a mobile app for Android users.
The New Jersey branch of the American Civil Liberties Union has teamed up with app developer OpenWatch to offer a new ‘Police Tape’ app for free, allowing users to secretly record video and/or audio during a police stop.
We’ve seen some pretty silly car sound apps in our time, but oh boy… this one might have just taken the top spot on our list.
Have you heard the big news in Formula One? No, not that Mark Webber just won the Monaco Grand Prix, but that Red Bull has launched its ‘Racing Spy’ app, bringing plenty of Formula One goodness to your favorite Apple device.
A new Kickstarter project looks to make your smartphone the center of your car stereo needs in not only a painless and effective manner, but in one that won’t break your bank account.
Compared to any traditional, high quality head unit, the Devium Dash is complete steal right now for just $250. The retail pricing will be around $300 when it’s completely released to the market in July, but what exactly does $250 get you? Well it’s a fully-functional head unit that uses your smartphone to access GPS, send texts by voice, play music, etc. Everything that you’re used to doing on your phone will now seamless integrate to the rest of your car’s stereo system.
The head unit itself will pump out 4×50 watts of power and has two preamps for front and rear subwoofers. In addition, it supports a video pass through so owners can also play video on external monitors. Best of all, the head unit will keep your phone charged while it’s in use. To make everything less distracting while you’re driving, Devium includes an app for your smartphone that will allow you to quickly bookmark your most-used automotive applications onto a quick-access home screen.
That’s not all it can do however. The Devium Dash also has your typical FM tuner and AUX input, but will also allow users to eventually connect to their vehicle’s computer.
The first Dash will be shipping out in June 2012, and will initially only support the Apple iPhone 4 and 4S, but Devium hopes to support additional smartphones in the near future including your collection of Android units out on the market now.
Watch the video here showing how the Devium Dash will operate.
Recently Lexus announced the creation of the Tori 500 track, inspired by swimsuit model Tori Praver’s curvaceous body. At the time of that release, Lexus teased that a TORI 500 app would be available for iOS devices, and now here it is.
The TORI 500 racing app allows iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch users to enjoy driving a virtual Lexus GS sedan around a virtual Tori Praver. Of course the racetrack in the game is the one created by Tori Praver’s body and the 3D image of the supermodel might not be the best of things to show off to your significant other.
Lexus also released another app that allows users to place the swimsuit model into their own photos with a click of a button. Oh the beauty of today’s technology. The Japanese automaker is the Official Automotive Marketing Partner of SI Swimsuit. Cars and beautiful women in bikinis, what more could a guy ask for?
Download the TORI 500 app here and the Supermodeled app here.
GALLERY: TORI 500 Gaming App
And in case you missed it, watch the creation of the Tori 500 race track below:
Hot Wheels is finding new ways to make their toys relevant and fun again, this time around launching a new product line called the iNitro Speeders which allows the user to control their little car through an iPhone app.
Similar to what you’d find with a standard remote controlled car, the iPhone app features your standard dual-stick controller but also takes advantage of the iPhone’s built-in accelerometer to control the car. Even cooler, you can use the app to choose a predefined driving route or draw your own pattern and watch it come to life with the miniature car.
And even though you can control the car with a standard remote control that’s included, taking advantage of the iPhone app really makes it different and fun. It comes with an infrared module that plugs into the iPhone’s headphone port and after you calibrate it you’ll be good to go. Lastly, the app has a built-in racing game that you can play without the remote controlled car, giving kids and young adults (like us) a little bit of everything to enjoy.
[Source: CNet]
Xatori Inc., the same company that created PlugShare, has released their second iOS application called GreenCharge. Building off the success of PlugCharge, which is the nation’s largest electric vehicle charging network, GreenCharge allows owners of electric vehicles to view real time battery data and to see and share the environmental and monetary benefits of owning their EV.
The app is currently only available on Apple devices for $9.99 and can sync directly with eligible electric vehicles such as the Nissan Leaf or Chevrolet Volt. It is also the first and only app that connects driving data with local energy pricing to give the user their costs of operating their electric car. And for those that are really green, the app will let them know the carbon offset from their driving.
Those that don’t yet own an electric vehicle but are considering one can also use the app on a demo car to simulate driving and cost information to see if an EV would be worth the investment. Lastly, no app would be welcomed in 2012 without the ease of sharing your info on Twitter and Facebook.
“I’ve talked to too many people who have been confused about the benefits and operating costs of an electric vehicle” said Forrest North, CEO of Xatori Inc. “We built GreenCharge to let EV owners understand their cars and educate others on the true environmental and monetary benefits of driving an electric vehicle.”
Check out a video highlighting the app’s functionality after the break.
There’s nothing entirely revolutionary about an app that reminds you where you parked your car, but the guys looking to finish their “Find My Car Smart” app wants to revolutionize the process involved.
Currently the vast majority (all) of the apps require you to launch the app after you park your car, mark it on your map and is entirely dependent on how strong your GPS signal is. Find My Car Smart on the other hand will integrate the new Bluetooth 4.0 technology found in Apple’s iPhone 4S in order to track where your parked your car.
The project is looking for funding in order to acquire and program a large order of Bluetooth Smart Devices so that they can be offered at an affordable price. Essentially, the Bluetooth Smart device is a USB-powered Bluetooth adapter and when your vehicle is shutoff, the app will detect the Bluetooth device powering down and automatically start the GPS and save your car’s location. From there, you only need to fire up the app to find your car.
Even though the app is up on the iOS App Store, it doesn’t do much without the Bluetooth Smart device and the programming it needs. So pledge today and help get this off the ground if you’re one of those people always wandering the mall parking lot looking for your car.
[Source: Kickstarter]
Ford is taking a clever approach to virtually revealing the new 2013 Fusion sedan before its official debut at the upcoming 2012 Detroit Auto Show. Using an app, now available on Android and iOS systems for smartphones and tablets, is an augmented reality game app where users can virtually drive the new Fusion through a series of worlds that unlock to reveal the car.
Each track is loaded with video clips featuring insight on technology and design from key Fusion team members. A daily video clip will unlock more content to the app every day with demonstrations of key vehicle features on the new 2013 Fusion.
When the vehicle finally debuts at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show, users will be able to unlock access to the full image of the car. At that point, they will also be able to drive any of the four Fusions on the virtual track in addition to creating a custom image of the car to share via Facebook or Twitter.
The all-new Ford Fusion will also be the Official Car of the 2012 CES show.
Check out an app walkthrough video after the break.
Looking to get yourself a nice little gift this holiday season to go with your brand new iPhone 4S? Silverlit is proud to offer you a Ferrari Enzo toy car that can be controlled through an iPhone app via Bluetooth. Even though we’re only offered a single photo of the toy car, we’re impressed by its details and we’re certain like other Silverlit products, it’s made from hobby grade material.
Leveraging the power of the iPhone and its versatility in app development, Silverlit’s Enzo offers more than your typical remote controlled car. Instead of just having forward, back, left and right controls, the app allows you to control the Enzo at various speeds, has a multi-racing steering and gives you the power to control the headlights, taillights and turning lights.
[Source: Ubergizmo]
Apple has officially rejected any inclusion of DUI checkpoints in its iOS apps. In this week’s Worldwide Developers Conference, Apple updated its app store to prohibit applications informing users of DUI checkpoints.
This recent update was a result of a group of U.S Senators sending numerous letters of concern to Apple, Google, and RIM, asking the smartphone companies to remove and disable all apps that would inform users of DUI checkpoints.
Section 22.8 states:
Apps which contain DUI checkpoints that are not published by law enforcement agencies, or encourage and enable drunk driving, will be rejected.
Developers may be able to remove the DUI functionality from their apps, however most of the programs that identify law enforcement activity pertaining to checkpoints and speed traps are crowd-sourced, which means users submit the checkpoints themselves without app developers knowing what they’re identifying.
[Source: Autoblog]
If you thought the Facebook Donk was the ultimate internet homage, then you’ve clearly underestimated the laughably tasteless creativity of the Donk community. The uber-popular Angry Birds smart phone app has made its way into an Internet Google Chrome-browser friendly experience, the successful Rio movie, and now apparently into the donk crowd.
Along with the Angry Birds screen image on the hood, this boxy Chevy gets some pause buttons on the fenders and while it’s hard to see from the photos, behind each of those massive 24-inch wheels are covers that feature the famous birds themselves.
We can’t help but wonder what’s next. A Farmville-themed Donk? Cake Story?
GALLERY: Angry Birds Donk
[Source: Kotaku]
iSupercar Sounds has developed an app for various Apple iOS products featuring sound clips and high resolution wallpapers for various luxury and exotic cars out there. From Ferrari to Lexus, iSupercar Sounds has you covered if listening to supercars is your source of pleasure. Hey, we’re not judging.
Currently there’s a free version of the app up on the store, featuring 30 minutes of ad-supported sound clips. Those that have $0.99 to spend can grab the full version which comes with 30 additional sounds. iSupercar Sounds is also promising weekly updates with additional cars. Not too shabby for under a buck, save yourself a trip to McDonald’s and you can stop using that juvenile fart app. OK who are we kidding, fart sounds are still hilarious.
[Source: DUB Daily]
GALLERY: iSupercar Sounds App
