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.
Elaborating on an earlier announcement, Honda just confirmed today that three of its 2013 models will come with Apple’s Siri voice recognition technology.
Mustang fans armed with an Android or Apple mobile device can now take advantage of the Ford’s car configurator on the go, pitting them against other enthusiasts.
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 latest version of Palmer Performance Engineering’s DashCommand app was just released and promises to improve on previous versions by pairing with Pioneer’s AppRadio 2 device, though the entire setup is very expensive.
Maserati announced its new smartphone app geared at brand enthusiasts today that functions as a multimedia product catalog and social media tool.
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.
Hordes of iPhone-philes who can’t afford high-end cars have new reason to rejoice with the release of the Next GATE from Clarion.
In order to attract buyers, car manufacturers have had to ramp up the amount of technology offered in their cars. Infotainment systems do a lot, like help navigate, set cabin temperature, adjust audio settings and more, but they tend to be a neat party trick, falling short in real-world use.
Tom Tom is a company known for building aftermarket GPS devices. But now, with the new Tom Tom speed camera app, users in Europe can beat the speed traps and save some money.
Gentlemen, start your felines. In a hilarious marketing campaign, the developers behind the XLR8 app that makes acceleration noises as you drive, strapped an iPhone to their kitty and sent it running.
Devoted to celebrating the history and the culture of automobiles, car museums allow enthusiasts to admire the rarest and most iconic of cars, but don’t forget the “do not touch” sign.
Now, thanks to the Road, Inc. classic car app, you can touch these cars to your heart’s content… on your iPad. A car museum at your fingertips, the Road Inc. app features an extensive collection of images, videos, sound clips and documentation on 50 carefully selected automobiles, ranging from super cars that broke the status quo to historically significant basic transportation.
While the app was originally sold for about $9.99, developer Pyrolia has now lowered the price to $6.99. A bit more expensive than the average app, Pyrolia also offers a free version, featuring just one out of the fifty vehicles – a Ferrari 250 GTO. If you’re a selective connoisseur and don’t care for all fifty cars, each of the cars can be downloaded for $0.99, or in categorized groups ranging from $1.99 to $3.99.
However you choose to enjoy the app (we recommend just paying $6.99 for the complete collection), we guarantee it will be more enjoyable than any of the table-top magazines you’ll see the next time you find yourself at a waiting room.
GALLERY: Road Inc. car museum app
[Source: MotorAuthority]
Have you always wanted a muscle car or exotic but budget and necessity mean you end up driving a compact or minivan? Well, 2XL Games has a solution, namely in its XLR8 smart phone app.
By downloading it your smart phone, XLR8, reproduces the sounds your vehicle’s engine makes under acceleration, cornering and braking but with a twist. Instead of a buzzy four cylinder, the exhaust note sounds like a muscular V8 running a high-lift cam and open exhaust, perfectly matched to your car’s acceleration, cornering and braking.
It does this via accelerometers and a GPS system inside your iPhone, Android or other portable device. By hooking up the phone to your vehicle’s sound system in much the same way as a MP3, simply choose the app and press the button.
With the iPad 3 announcement scheduled for next week, the rumor mills are churning on what Apple has up their sleeves next. As with everything Cupertino-related, nothing will ever be confirmed until it comes out of Tim Cook’s mouth.
The newest rumor has Apple China posting a job listing on LinkedIn for a “SQE/NPI with over 4 years Mechanical engineering background familiar with CNC/die casting/stamping/plastic injection, can use APQP/PPAP/SPC to control product quality.” Now while seeking an employee isn’t exactly groundbreaking news or entirely revealing of the company’s intentions, there’s reason to believe that Apple could finally be looking at their own infotainment system.
It makes sense considering Brabus has already outfitted their Mercedes iBusiness S-Class with Apple products and aspiring entrepreneurs are taking matters into their own hands by developing their own in-dash head unit replacement to use with an iPhone. With how abundant iPhones are in this world and how many vehicles are on the road, it almost makes sense that Apple would somehow integrate an infotainment system to work with its devices.
Systems such as the Ford SYNC (which is now standard in the new Fusion and Flex) is powered by a Microsoft Windows-based system, Apple’s infamous rival in the marketplace. Other manufacturers such as Kia and Toyota also employ Microsoft’s services but we feel it’s the threat of Google’s Android into the marketplace that has Apple interested.
Sure Microsoft has almost a 10-year head start in the auto infotainment industry, but it’s Google’s Android and Apple’s iOS that rules the world now. Both mobile operating systems have already been used to seamlessly sync into vehicles and they have the most accessibility to functional apps. In addition, app developers around the world have already embraced what Google and Apple have to offer.
So what is it Apple could be making? Based on the job listing, it seems that they could be looking into manufacturing a device that will integrate into a car’s dashboard. Our guess is that it’ll be a very plain-looking, but sleek head unit that will wirelessly sync with your Apple device to stream music, movies, app data, and more to your vehicle.
[Source: Car News China]
Keeping kids entertained on road trips is fairly simple these days. You can download a movie or a game on your iPad and your kids will stay quiet so you don’t have to put up with endless “are we there yet” questions.
Unfortunately, Apple’s standard headphones aren’t necessarily made for children and their little heads. If you’ve ever had this problem, try the Kidz Gear Wired Headphones on for size.
Able to cut out background noise, the Kidz Gear Wired Headphones will work with your iPad, iPhone and iPod. These headphones have a volume-limiting feature so kids can’t deafen themselves by blasting their music. They also come with a built-in microphone.
They don’t look particularly durable, since the headphones are made out of plastic, but for $29.99 you get equipment that will get your kids through some long stretches without worrying about expensive replacements.
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:
The vast majority of us will never get to experience a Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Coupe Black Series up close and personal, so the German luxury automaker decided to take the liberty of creating an app for fans to enjoy some media on their Apple devices.
The app showcases what makes the C63 AMG Black Series Coupe so exciting with highlights on its styling, racing atmosphere, and performance. You can browse through specs of the Black Series Coupe, download dynamic wallpapers, and even share the iPad experience with your friends on Facebook.
Hit the source after the break on your Apple device to download the app.
[Source: iTunes]
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.