Communications

BMW today unveiled the Mini Scooter E, an all-electric concept vehicle that was originally scheduled to make its debut at the 2010 Paris Auto Show next week.

The German automaker apparently decided to give a preview of the vehicle during London Fashion Week, employing model Agyness Deyn to make the introduction.

As predicted, the scooter is an all-electric plug-in vehicle with an onboard cable that can be plugged directly into a standard household outlet.

BMW also incorporated some quirky high-tech gadgets into the compact gadabout vehicle.

For starters, the scooter has an enclosed docking station for a smart phone. Instead of using a key, or an electric key fob, owners unlock their Mini Scooter E by securing their smartphone into the docking station on turning it on.

Once the car is on, the smart phone--integrated with BMW software--acts as the scooter's GPS device, music player, and a hands-free phone via embedded Bluetooth. It's an innovative, but not entirely unexpected next step in the evolution of vehicle communications.

However, BMW takes things one step further. BMW's GPS software also alerts drivers to other Mini Scooter E drivers nearby and will even automatically flash the scooter's headlights when met with another Mini Scooter on the road.

There will be three versions of the Mini Scooter E, all incorporating the retro circular instruments and speedometer on BMW's current Mini cars. But BMW takes that nostalgia one step further using actual chrome trim on the scooter body, which is, of course, reminiscent of the original Mini Coopers that came out in the 1959 and were popular throughout the 1960s.… Read more

Our lovable and eccentric British chums at CNET UK have made a lighthearted head-to-head video pitting two of 2010's hottest cell phones--the iPhone 4 and the Samsung Galaxy S.

Actually, maybe "lighthearted" isn't the best description of their test. Completely "off the wall" might be a more apt summary, as they've conducted the entire grudge match while being driven around in a rally car by professional World Championship Rally driver Dani Sordo. Maybe all that tea's finally gone to their heads.

Despite the chaotic setting, the test begins in a fairly structured … Read more

It seems that GM is realizing it needs to play catch-up to Ford's SYNC infotainment system, and has promised to release new features in addition to the beta testing of its OnStar-to-Facebook and voice text messaging capability that it announced this week.

"Within the next nine to 18 months, GM will aggressively introduce a wide variety of in-vehicle infotainment solutions providing smart, intuitive, and safe technologies that will improve the driving experience," says Micky Bly, GM's executive director of electrical architectures and infotainment.

On GM's blog, Bly says that the automaker will integrate online streaming applications … Read more

The 2011 Ford Fiesta is shaping up to be one of the most tech-savvy vehicles in its class. When we reviewed the compact car, we came away impressed with its Sync-based suite of cabin technologies and how well it integrated voice command, navigation, digital audio sources, and integration with iOS devices. So when Ford releases an iPad app for the Fiesta, we expect to see some cool features. Instead, the Ford Fiesta app for iPad released today is little more than a really good-looking digital brochure.

We're not trying to say that promo-ware apps are a bad thing. This … Read more

A select group of OnStar customers will have the opportunity to start beta testing Facebook in their cars today. We attended a demonstration of OnStar's new Facebook app to see how it works.

Participants can add their Facebook log-in to their OnStar account via the Web. Once enabled, you can hear Facebook status updates in the car. During a demonstration, an OnStar representative pushed the blue OnStar button and requested Virtual Advisor, a voice command gateway to OnStar services. After giving the command for Facebook, OnStar read the Facebook newsfeed out loud in the car.

The system, which uses … Read more

A Gartner forecast on Friday showed Android's market share surging past Apple's iPhone operating system by 2014. Who knows if this is an accurate assessment of the future, but one simple example in the present demonstrates that Android has the potential for more market reach than Apple's iOS.

This mini epiphany happened when I was boasting about a great app (BirdsEye Lite) I had just downloaded to my iPhone. One of the people I was talking to, however, was thoroughly unimpressed. The reason: he had just snapped up a Nextel Motorola i1 phone for his business and, … Read more

General Motors plans to update OnStar with Facebook integration and voice-to-text messaging, according to Bloomberg.

Citing unnamed sources, Bloomberg reported Tuesday that OnStar will unveil an update this month that will let people connect to their Facebook profile and translate voice messages to text. Bloomberg's sources said OnStar might also provide smartphone-linked "entertainment and information services."

Bloomberg's report follows a CNET interview with OnStar President Chris Preuss earlier this month. Preuss didn't provide many details, but he said his company will announce a "relaunch" of its service on September 15. The announcement will … Read more

A new iPhone app is giving Mercedes-Benz owners care and attention from the luxury automaker even when they aren't in their cars. Mercedes-Benz's telematics service provider, Hughes Telematics, has released version 2.0 of its mbrace iPhone app, which lets users ask for local recommendations through a concierge service in their cars or just walking down the street.

Many automakers offer some sort of telematics service, the most well-known being GM's OnStar. And most of these services let users contact an operator through an in-car connection and ask for directions, roadside assistance, or recommendations for local restaurants … Read more

On September 15, OnStar announces what it is calling a relaunch, with new hardware and 21st-century services. We discussed the relaunch with OnStar President Chris Preuss. Most details of the announcement are still under wraps, but we were able to get some information.

Current OnStar hardware, called "the box" by OnStar staff, uses a 2G CDMA voice and data connection through Verizon, along with a GPS chip. Preuss said that on September 15, the company will announce a new box that is "better all around," with improved hardware and user interface.

A jump to a 3G … Read more