connectivity

Over the last few years, the passenger car has evolved from a gas-guzzling hunk of steel into what some have called the largest piece of consumer electronics in your life.

So, while it's fitting that the 2012 Consumer Electronics Show (CES 2012) will likely be a jumping-off point for the next stage of development on car infotainment, connectivity, and safety technology, I still find it a bit odd to see so many cars sharing the floor with the likes of 3D TVs and compact digital cameras. Now that the car has established itself as a cornerstone of CES 2012, … Read more

Warpia announced today another wireless display product, the ConnectHD (model SWP400VC).

Unlike existing wireless display standards, such as Intel Wireless Display (WiDi) or WHDI from Amimon, which support only audio and video, ConnectHD can also handle videoconferencing and can work with any computer that has a USB 2.0 (or later) port.

The device has two separate parts. One is a compact USB adapter, about the size of a cellular USB modem, to be connected to a computer. The other is a larger receiver with a built-in wide-angle, 720p HD camera, and an HMDI connector to be connected to a large display, such as an HDTV.

Warpia says that the package also includes a multidirectional microphone and can be used for making video calls, playing back digital content, and displaying video games on an HDTV. It basically mirrors everything you see on a computer's screen on the big TV.

The ConnectHD supports HD up to 1080p and can handle a wireless distance between the computer and the big screen of up to 30 feet. The device uses the wireless USB 1.0 standard and supports Windows computers only.

Warpia says that it will be demoing the ConnectHD at CES 2012. The ConnectHD is available now, costing about $200.… Read more

The way I see it, the demographic of buyers for the Kyocera DuraCore is rather slim.

Rugged, it absolutely is, but it's also rather plain. It has a thick, sturdy build, a good, grippy surface, and is the third phone to ride on Sprint's new Direct Connect network. However, if you're looking for a durable device with a camera, a microSD card slot, and even more ruggedness, the Kyocera DuraMax will be more your speed. If it's a basic, durable phone you want for just making calls, stick with the more affordable DuraCore.

Watch the video, … Read more

Sprint Nextel believes it has a fix for the connection issues facing some of its iPhones.

The carrier said it has spent the past few weeks rolling out "network enhancements" designed to improve data speeds, CNET has learned. Sprint was able to determine where the upgrades were needed through a combination of its own checks and feedback from customers.

"Initial customer response to the improvements has been very positive," Fared Adib, vice president of product development for Sprint, said in a statement to CNET. "Sprint continues to monitor device and network performance to ensure that … Read more

What if changing the color of your car was as simple as tapping an app? Toyota's Fun-Vii concept promises exactly that and more.

The Fun-Vii's skin is actually a massive display that can change its color at will, and display graphics, images, and custom messages for other drivers or bystanders. Toyota gives the visual example of a business using the Fun-Vii to display advertisement livery, but I'd love to be able to quickly throw up a "Back off, chump!" to a tailgater.

The custom graphics aren't limited to the exterior. Toyota also envisions that large interior display surfaces can add augmented reality functionality to the driving experience while allowing the vehicle's interior to be "freely adjustable to match the mood of the moment."… Read more

Yes, Cooley really digs this van.

There's something about a seriously spacious van based on a compact car that is oddly appealing. Far from the "minivan" of the American idiom, this remarkably practical (and modest) Ford import is like no other in its class. Brian Cooley takes you for a drive to check the tech (what there is of it).

Also, check out CNET's full review of the 2011 Ford Transit Connect.

The world is a bit smaller than we thought.

In a continuation of the concept of "six degrees of separation," Facebook and the University of Milan announced tonight they had determined that the average number of people who separate any two individuals in the world is actually 4.74.

While Stanley Milgram's 1967 "small world experiment" drew on 296 volunteers and pegged the average number of people separating two individuals at 5.2, or six "hops," Facebook's findings were extrapolated during the course of a month from all of Facebook's 721 … Read more

If you think a car is high tech because it has Bluetooth and an iPod connection, you're in for a big surprise.

Yes, a "high-tech car" used to mean an iPod connection, hands-free calling, and GPS navigation. Now, that's almost quaint. Cars are getting connected like every other device in your life: wirelessly to the Internet. Navigation, communication, entertainment, and telematics all get better, but there will be some bumps along the road.

In this episode of Device & Conquer, we'll show you a sampling of how connected cars work and get you ready to … Read more

Ford is partnering with Azure Dynamics on a five-seater station wagon version of its Transit Connect all-electric vans.

Both companies announced the project Wednesday in time for the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show.

The Ford Transit Connect Electric Wagon will be available in North America immediately, with plans to eventually sell it in Europe as well.

The Transit Connect vans, which went into production in 2010, are already in the fleets of AT&T, DHL, FedEx, and Post Norway, to name a few. The vehicle won the 2010 North American Truck of the Year award, to the surprise of … Read more