Top Four Car Accessories for the Technophile

I love my technical gadgets, there is almost nothing I own, I do not think, could be improved by fitting it with Bluetooth and synchronising it with my mobile. As I spend a lot of time in my car this is one area I want kitted out with the latest car accessories to connect my world.

Bluetooth Radio

I carry all my music on my phone so I don't have very many CD's, which make playing music in the car awkward. I like that every time I get into my car my phone automatically connects to the radio and starts playing music. It is just one little thing that makes things a little bit easier. This also has the benefit of acting like a hands free kit. So I do not need to put a Bluetooth headset in everything I get in the car just in case I get a call. For me this is my favourite car accessory as it makes things simple.

Sat-nav

This must be something most people have by now and I for one would be (literally) lost without it. I have a standalone sat nav as well as the one on my phone which I find much easier than looking over maps. After a few pokes and pinches I have usually found my route whereas if I were using my none GPS fitted map I would be still struggling to find out where I was never mind were I need to be.

Parking Sensors

Most new cars now come with parking sensors but if your car does not have them you can also add these yourself. I got sick of parking up only to realise the gap I thought was tiny was almost big enough for another car, or even worse being stopped suddenly by a crunch. I found that parking sensors drastically improved my parking, and make the process a lot quicker. Of all the car accessories I have mentioned this is perhaps the most difficult to fit, but you can usually fit these yourself with a bit of know how.

USB charger

With all this in-car tech it can be difficult keeping it all going. As much as I love my sat nav over my map, my map will never run out of batteries. So I always have a universal charger on hand in my car. This way I have got a cable for whenever one of my car accessories needs some extra power. If you take a look around you will find you can get individual ports as well as plugs with multiple USB ports.

These are just my top four; there are a plethora of gadgets out there to fill almost any problem you can think of. So start thinking about how some new car accessories could make you car a better place to be.

Touch Screen Technology in Today's Car Stereos

Touch screen technology is becoming very popular among consumers in the United States. There are many electronic services and products that are using this technology. Touch screen technology is making everything much safer, easier and more fun to use. It takes little effort to find and change a song on a modern touch screen car stereo and that is really important because now driving is in focus. Besides car stereos, touch screen technology is now making it easy to buy tickets online, do online banking, play games and a lot more. As we all know, the prices of electronic products are decreasing and touch screen car stereos are being affected too! And that's good news because, for many people, touch screen car stereos were very expensive car accessories for a number of years, but not anymore. The prices in the gadget industry are rapidly changing and becoming more affordable.

A car stereo has been developed from a simple device where you could have listed to your favorite radio station or maybe played a CD. Quite a big number of new functions have been added to make the most modern and exciting stereos ever! You can now play your music files from a CD or a DVD (MP3, WMA, AAC audio formats are supported). A portable music player like iPod or any other MP3 player is also compatible and it can be connected to the stereo. You can even load your music from a MMC or SD card - these types of cards are mainly found in digital cameras. So as you can see, there are a lot of options and you can use the one you like the most. As far as video files go, all I can say is that almost every major video format is supported. Here is just a short list: MP4, WMV, XVID, DIVX, MPEG etc. Video files can be loaded from the same sources as the audio files.

There are many manufacturers that offer touch screen car stereo, and here are some of the more popular ones: Sony, Jensen, Alpine, Kenwood, Clarion, Planet Audio, BOSS, Absolute, Pyle, Power Acoustic, Sound Stream, TKO Audio, Quantum FX, JVC, Legacy and DTI. Most of them offer a 7-inch adjustable screen, but there are also 5-inch versions. The "adjustable" means that you can angle the monitor and that makes is very comfortable to watch. The crisp touch-screen makes navigation easier and smoother. The sound quality is awesome. Some of the models even include a GPS system, others have an option for it. Bluetooth technology is available to connect your headset.

Car MP3 Player With FM Transmitter - Good Choice for Music Enjoyment in Vehicle

The car MP3 player with FM provides a signal of excellent strength, this enables you to listen to music of better quality from your favourite FM stations. Generally, this wireless transmitter broadcasts almost have over 200 stations, allowing you to choose the clearest stations to broadcast your music. The car MP3 player with FM is a smart technology with a factor of convenience attached to it. It ensures that you do not feel any interruption with your driving while trying to switch to another FM station or change the volume or track.
This gadget is not just restricted to the radio stations, it also allows you to transfer your favourite music inside, as well as play them directly via FM stereo receiver. It allows you to listen to the music saved on your USB flash drive. In this way, you can enjoy your MP3 music collection without having to spend money to upgrade your car stereo or purchase CDs.
Usually this device also accepts SD and MMC cards for maximum compatibility. With this transmitter's audio in port, you can even plug it in another audio source. You can connect your iPod, portable DVD player, CD player, laptop computer, portable gaming console, or any other device with a standard headphone jack. The gadget really gives you the ability of complete control of whatever you hear or want to hear in your car.
Even better, the car MP3 player with FM is easy to use. Simply plug it into your car's cigarette lighter socket, and the built-in LCD screen will light up and display the transmitting radio station. Just select the desired station on the car MP3 player, and then tune your car's radio to the same station. Turn up the volume and you're done!
Here are other features. The remote control in the car MP3 player will provides the safety and convenience when you are listening to music along with driving. It is more convenient and safer to control your music using the included slim remote. Selectable equalizer presets is also available - rock, classic, jazz, folk, disco, reggae, soft rock are your options. Fully adjustable broadcast station selection for clear reception, and swivel design allows you to turn the unit 120 degrees from its base for positioning in any vehicle.
The car MP3 player with FM transmitter is really multifunctional. And due to the high technology and car owners' demand, car MP3 player are becoming increasingly advanced.

Getting the Best Bluetooth Headset for Your Phone

Cell phones have now truly become an indispensable part of our life! If you look around, you would know that this is a very big fact; there would be very few people, who go about without a cell phone in their hand or one tucked safely away in their pockets. But is it just to make and receive calls that these phones are being used today? Definitely not! With the advance in technology, cell phones have now become a source of information, music and a whole lot of things, apart from their normal use for making calls.

Bluetooth is one such advanced feature that is present in almost every cell phone today. This helps in transferring data from one phone to another, provided that these phones are within a particular range of distance, from each other. If you are to use the Bluetooth facility of your phone to fit well with your requirements, you need to make sure that you have the proper accessories that are required for this purpose. This is where, the choice of a good Bluetooth headset becomes a necessity.

Getting the best Bluetooth headset can be a tricky process and if you are not much aware of what exactly are your requirements, there are more chances that you may get cheated by some dealer! The first point to be kept in mind, when you are out shopping for a Bluetooth headset, is whether the headset you plan to purchase is compatible with your phone. You need to make sure of this because however costly it is, a headset that is not compatible with your cell phone will be of no good to you!

The next thing you should consider is your budget. If you scan the market, you can see that there are many varieties of Bluetooth headsets, some priced as low as $10 and some others, as high as $300! This price variation occurs based on the special additional features that are available in each headset. It is up to you, to choose one that completes your requirements and yet, fits within your budget.

Another thing to notice when looking for the best Bluetooth headset is the type of headset you prefer to use. One of the common types available in the markets is the one with buds that can be pushed into your ears. These types of headsets can keep the sound from the surroundings, completely out of your ears. But they may create some pain in the ears if used for long hours. Another type is the one that covers your ears, without having to plug it in fully into your ears. These are more comfortable to wear, if you are planning to use them for a long time. The call quality should also be taken into consider`tion, before you decide on any particular headset. The battery life of the headset is yet another thing you should make a note of, before purchasing it. If all these factors are taken into consideration, you are not likely to go wrong when shopping for a good Bluetooth headset.

Pioneer AVIC-Z130BT 7-Inch In-Dash Navigation AV Receiver

The Pioneer AVIC-Z130BT is this manufacturer's flagship receiver and includes such advanced features as built-in navigation, vocal recognition and Bluetooth integration which will enable one to swap this receiver into a standard in-dash mounting space and then provide the user not only with up-to-date GPS information but also touchscreen integration of Apple's iPod/iPhone, which, with the right app installed also gives you access to the popular Pandora audio service.

Whether you are just going to an appointment or you must take a trip across half the continent, the AVIC-Z130BT provides you with not only with up-to-date mapping so that you can find the shortest route between the start and end points. Along the way, once you have paired up your Bluetooth phone with the Bluetooth service included in this Pioneer receiver, you can make and take phone calls without taking your hands from the wheel.

Featuring a seven-inch WVGA touchscreen, you have access to not only your routing information, but also your entertainment selection whether you have loaded up a set of CDs or DVDs in a magazine. Indeed, looking at the source lists, you can choose the tracks you want to play so you can make your own play list.

Like other Pioneer devices, though, the AVIC-Z130BT features full touchscreen control of your iPod/iPhone device through the USB link in the front of the receiver. Just a touch of the "source" button and you can access either your own thumbdrive playlist, if you choose to use download your own list from your PC or you can have complete control over Apple's iPod/iPhone. On the iPod you have control of moving forward and backward, stepping through play lists and fast-forward. On the iPhone, if you load the Pandora app, you have complete control over the audio service which including setting bookmarks and playlists.

Interestingly, because of this is Pioneer's flagship receiver, you have automatic updates of all of the maps available. They include not only North America, but also Hawaii, Alaska and Puerto Rico. The display is primarily 2D, although when you are using the navigation feature and are coming up on a turn, the screen turns into a 3D illustration of the turn and a voice tells you to "take a right turn in 25 yards." If you decided to change your route, the navigation feature will also allow you to reroute your vehicle to the ending address.

Pioneer has implemented another new feature that will help you control your iPod/iPhone and that is its own "AVIC Feed" app that allows your Pioneer device to have complete control over them.

And, while you are driving, your phone is constantly checking with "RDS" stations and other sources through the ND-TMC 10 traffic tuner so you can find out about roadway problems ahead of time and change your route to avoid them.

The AVIC-Z130BT also keeps an eye on your carbon footprint to help you keep your fuel use in check.

There are so many features built into this device it leaves you little wonder why it is the manufacturer's flagship device.

For example, there is a voice recognition engine that allows the system to learn your voice and then you can give the system commands by voice and if you have, for example, a large database of phone numbers in your phone, you can simply say "Call Sam" and if there is more than one listed you may be asked which Sam you want. You can even use the voice recognition circuit to control your iPod and iPhone.

Interestingly, not only do you have this act as a front-seat navigation/entertainment device, as the rear has outputs for rear displays and headsets so that you can use it as a complete rear entertainment system.

The Pioneer also offers you four channels that allow you to push out up to 50 watts of power per channel so you have a total of 200 watts of amplification built in. However, you will find that the seven-band built in equalizer will probably keep your sound below the level of distortion so that you always have quality sound and if you use a thumbdrive and such sound sources as MP3 or WMA, both of which tend to compress sound by cutting off the high end, you will find the Pioneer restores the high end for crisp sound.

The Pioneer AVIC-Z130BT offers you many features including four preamplified RCA jacks in the rear so you can add an external subwoofer, an external amplifier and other features such as specialized high- and low-pass filtering.

Finally, you have the option to grow this into a complete replacement system for any high-end radio receiver as it offers not only High definition radio addition capability along with satellite radio, but you can add a camera and the right circuitry and have a full backup camera, a very expensive option on many vehicles.

Keeping Your Sanity With a Mobile DVD Player

If you get the shakes just thinking of the last road-trip you took with your toddlers or teenagers, you are not alone. It can be tough travelling with kids of any age, for both themselves and their parents! But while you may not be able to turn a car ride into a trip to remember, there are certain damage-control techniques that can ensure you will at least survive the experience, if not enjoy it out right.

Firstly, consider setting some ground rules for the whole family. Decide on certain subjects or even phrases that always seem to get someone's back up, and make it a ground rule that no one is allowed to voice them. Also agree to take turns with setting the temperature in the car, weather windows or the fan is allowed, etc. It's important that everyone be as comfortable as possible during long trips on the road, so play it fair and make sure everyone's voice is heard.

Secondly, invest in a mobile DVD player for your car if you can possible afford it. This might seem like a frivolous expense, but I promise you that if you buy one, you will fall in love with it. Mobile DVD players designed for cars come in a variety of models and screen-sizes, with price-tags to match.

Ideally, your best choice is to go with a headrest DVD player. These players come installed in headrests that you simply swap for your existing headrest, so the screen and player are literally in the back of the front-seat headrests, so they take up no extra space, can't get bumped around or become air-born, and are more easily hidden from potential thieves. Headrest DVD players tend to be a little more expensive than other types of mobile DVD system, but you can pick a single player up for anywhere from $90-$250, and a set of two for anywhere between $200-$500.

Other choices for in-car entertainment include flip-down TV's and DVD players, and portable and in-dash DVD players, but these are far less safe and are much more visible to thieves.

Particularly if you can manage a DVD player per child (if you have two kids, you can buy a set of 2 headrest DVD players for a moderate sum), your road trip will become dramatically easier. Not only will your kids be passively entertained and quiet, but if they each have a player of their own, they won't even have to squabble over what movie to pick! Alternatively, if you can only afford one player or have more than 2 children, just make sure you establish ground rules about taking turns choosing a DVD to keep tempers to a minimum.

You can even keep movie-time educational by occasionally choosing a documentary or historical film, then start a conversation and encourage a family discussion about the subject.

Finally, try to remember to have relax and have fun! So what if you are a bit delayed in reaching your destination. It's worth being a bit late in order to make sure the whole family arrives happy and comfortable. Nothing kills a nice vacation like resentments and family members refusing to speak to each other! So above all, just trust that everything will work out, keep calm and cool, and enjoy the ride.

Head Unit Power: What You Should Know

Car Stereo deck power is very deceiving! Many head units have HUGE power ratings on the Boxes or right on the front of the units! The highest head unit power I have ever actually tested was 13 watts (at a half way decent THD)... So even if the head unit says 35Watts or 40 watts per channel on it don't ever expect for it to really be more than 15! Just cant happen!

Real amplifiers use massive power supplies in them with toroidal transformers to "step up" the voltage so that large amounts of power can be made! Head units just don't have room in them For the large transformers that are needed for large power supplies, so don't expect more than 15 watts per Speaker out of the unit's built-in amplifier circuitry. Some of the more reputable head units might print high power ratings on the boxes but If you read the small print in the spec sheets in the owners manual they might admit to the 15 watt figure! Alpine's V-Drive head units are stated to put out 60 watts per channel, using a direct 10AWG power line directly from the car battery's positive terminal, but once you read the fine print, you'll see that the actual power output is a maximum of 26 watts per channel continuous. This is still one of the most powerful head units on the market... at 26 watts.

Most high power stereos use a bridged output (also called floating ground or push pull), units use an IC chip that makes both speaker wires to each speaker work together with one pushing while the other pulls (so to speak) just like a real amplifier does when you bridge it. Unlike a real amplifier however, most car stereos cannot be un-bridged. Even still, having no transformer in the head unit limits it severely and your output will be around 12 to 13 watts per speaker.

How can they print these specs if they aren't true? Well, for starters, car audio is not regulated like home audio. The Federal Trade Commission several years ago required home audio manufacturers to print accurate power ratings based on a standard testing procedure. Car audio did not yet exist (much), so this requirement was not worded to include car audio. As a result, less scrupulous manufacturers will print the peak power rating, as opposed to the RMS. A peak power rating (usually called "maximum" because it sounds better) is a measure of what the amplifier can do for just a very short time. RMS (often called "continuous", because it sounds better) is a more true measurement. This is how much power an amplifier can continue to put out for longer periods. Accurate peak and RMS measurements give a good view of an amplifier's capability (the peak measurement is required to produce the heart pounding bass, which requires much more power than the continuous music, which needs RMS power). However, there is no standard for measuring peak power among manufacturers, so it can't be trusted for most equipment.