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Coolest Technology for Your Car: A Geek Guide

Car manufacturers are incorporating anDiagnostics. This system is built in to
inordinate amount of technology into theirnearly all vehicles sold after 1996. If you
vehicles nowadays. Despite their besthave a laptop in your car, you can usually
efforts, however, there are a number ofpurchase a special cable that will allow you
things you can do to geek your ride. From oneto view a real-time stream of data from
little gadget to a full-fledged car mod,nearly every sensor in the car. Want to know
there's always something else that makes yourthe left front wheel speed in real-time? You
car one step closer to the batmobile.GPS,got it. OBD II provides many different data
OnStar and navigation SystemsHate being lost?streams. You can view the horsepower and
GPS is the answer. The latest in-cartorque at any RPM, see how fast you can do
navigation systems feature voice recognition0-60mph, or find the actual gas mileage at
and touchscreen technology. GM's OnStarany given speed and save some money at the
provides peace-of-mind in the case of anpump.OBD technology also helps to diagnose
accident, but some say that the systemproblems with your vehicle. When the "check
enables Big Brother to track your every move.engine" light comes on, you'll be able to
More advanced navigation systems can directtell whether it's a real problem or just a
you to the nearest gas station or pizza jointfaulty circuit, and you can even reset it
instead of requiring a specific address. Someyourself without having to take the car in
can even provide you with other data like(make sure you know what you're doing).Get
stock quotes, news and sports scores.Warthings goingA feature typically sought after
drivingIf you haven't heard of war driving,in colder climates.Wouldn't it be nice if
it is the practice of driving around,your vehicle sat idling, heated and
locating wireless networks, and "sharing"defrosted, in the morning? You can install a
other people's bandwidth. Black-hat hackersremote starter that enables you to start the
sometimes use war driving simply to findcar from indoors and let it warm up. This is
vulnerable networks or as a method ofa feature typically sought after in colder
anonymity. This practice obviously requires aclimates, but it can also be used to start
portable computer which leads to our nextthe A/C and cool things down.Creature
tip...Put a computer (or two) insideHow coolcomfortsAssuming you've got the basics
would it be to have a computer at yourcovered like power locks and A/C, there are
disposal in the car? Many police departmentsmany features that you should consider when
now outfit their cars with a laptop computerbuying a new car. Heated seats, cruise
mounted at an angle over the passenger seat.control, dual-zone climate control,
Hardcore geeks will do the same. Once you putsunroof... A geek's ride may not have all the
one computer in your car, why not add a filecreature comforts, but if you're buying a new
server for music and storage? You can fit itcar, it only adds to the tech factor. Other
under the seat or in the trunk and connect itcool features to look for in a new car
to other devices in the car via a wirelessinclude:>  Automatic tire pressure monitoring
network.What do you do with a computer in
your car? Bring your collection of music and>  Adaptive  cruise  control
movies along. Connect it to OBD (see below).
Get online from anywhere. I can hear you now:> Headlights that point in the direction of
"Anywhere?" well, anywhere with a cell phonea  turn
signal. Verizon has a service that enables
you to get online as much as you want for $60>  Backup  camera
a month (on top of your regular cell phone
bill).Hold stillHere's a simple one. Get a>  Adjustable  suspension
grip pad to set on the dash or the center
console. This gives you a place to set your> Push-button start (No actual key required)
cell phone within easy reach. You can also
set your iPod or sunglasses down. The great>  Bluetooth  to  integrate  with your phone
thing is, you can usually take a corner
fairly fast and your stuff won't move an>  Side/curtain  airbags
inch.Radar and laser detectors; jammersIf you
have a lead foot, it's worth investing in a>  Traction  control
radar detector. There are many models
available from $40 to $400. Make sure to get> Halogen/Xenon lightsIf your car has all
a model that can detect K, Ka, and laser. Ifthese features, well, you're probably a
your chosen detector picks up on X band, solittle too much of a geek. But I'd sure like
much the better, but make sure you canto check out your car sometime.Alex Smith is
disable it. X band is a common source ofa technical consultant and web designer based
false alarms (especially near trafficin Charlotte, North Carolina. You can visit
lights).OBD IIOBD stands for On-Boardfor a complete overview of his services.



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