Redditor Shares Guide to In-Dash Integration of Nexus 7 Tablet in BMW 3-Series E46

A recent Reddit post from forum member Brake_L8 elaborates on how it was possible to transplant a Nexus 7 Android tablet into the center dash of a BMW 3-Series E46. The photos provided prove it looks pretty good once done up and it apparently works really well too.

The author goes into more detail about how it uses custom software that is activated upon turning the ignition key, as well as the need to move the climate control unit to make room for the touchscreen.

It looks fairly easy to do, but make sure you know what you’re doing before you set out to dismantle your dashboard. If you’re not sure of how, explain your idea to somebody who is more handy (i.e. a friend or a professional audio installer) and pay them a menial amount to do it for you.

The problem with buying an older car, say from the early 2000s, is that while it may still be desirable today and still competent from an engineering standpoint, it will lack most of the connectivity features that are now commonplace.

Any car similar to the E46 is still a nice, modern car to own, however the same problem of nonexistent infotainment persists (not limited to BMW) and given the more unusual shapes of the center stack’s openings, a great solution is difficult to find – plopping a tablet in in this way is definitely one way to go!

By Andrei Nedelea

Story References and Photo Credits: Reddit/Brake_L8

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Ferrari Telemetry Is the Answer to Corvette's Performance Data Recorder

Following Chevrolet’s presentation earlier this month of the Performance Data Recorder available on the Corvette Stingray, Ferrari has unveiled a similar system called Ferrari Telemetry.

Available for the F12berlinetta, 458 Speciale and LaFerrari sports cars, Ferrari Telemetry is a real-time telemetry system aimed at improving driving skills and helping owners re-live their on-track and off-track exploits.

The technology allows drivers to monitor the car’s position and analyze its performance by recording driving sessions and displaying the main data on the instrument binnacle. However, unlike the Corvette’s PDM, a high-resolution camera kit is only offered as an option by Ferrari Telemetry, adding simultaneous video recordings of the route and driving technique.

Ferrari says the system provides drivers “exactly the same technical support” as F1 drivers Fernando Alonso and Kimi Räikkönen get during test sessions on the track and in the actual grands prix themselves.

Thanks to the huge amount of data available and a special Ferrari Telemetry App, drivers can compare their car’s performance over a series of different laps or even the same road route driven several times. You can see how the gadget works in Ferrari’s official video presentation posted below.

By Dan Mihalascu

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New Company Proposes the Google Glass of Motorcycle Helmets

One of the coolest pieces of tech I've seen this year is the Skully motorcycle helmet. It makes glancing at the mirrors a thing of the past, because now you get a direct feed from a rear-facing camera mounted at the back of the helmet, which is played on a tiny translucent display placed just below your right eye.

It not only sounds good and useful in theory, but it works in practice too, as one writer from CNET found out when he tried out one of the first prototype helmets.

The final verdict is that there really is something there, but at its current estimated cost of $3,000, it has little chance of making it on the market, even if it can also give you direction or play music via voice control.

It could even be banned by health and safety offices as it’s discovered to give you some kind of terrible eye muscle twitch disease after prolonged use…

The plan is to ship them out sometime this year, but it didn’t sound awfully convincing when they said it…

Scroll down and check out the full video below.

By Andrei Nedelea

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Take a Close Video Look at 2015 Audi TT's Cockpit from CES

While not a first in any way, as we've already seen production cars like the latest Mercedes-Benz S-Class and Cadillac CTS boast all-digital and customizable instrument clusters, Audi was still able to draw the media's spotlights on its next generation TT's cabin at the 2014 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas (January 7-10).

The sharp looking dashboard does away with many controls to reduce the clutter and (supposedly) improve ergonomics, but the main reason why it captured our attention is the 12.3-inch TFT that replaces not only the traditional instrument gauges, but the center console MMI infotainment screen as well.

If you're worried about the huge 3D navigation map seen in the press photos drawing your attention away from the road with its bright colors, the all-digital instrument panel allows the driver to switch between different modes, showing, for example, virtual gauges in a choice of sizes.

It's worth noting that the graphics on the TFT display are enabled through an Nvidia Tegra 3 processor chip.

The way the industry works, it's only a matter of time before fully-digital displays make their way down to more affordable mainstream models.

For now, take a video look at the 2015 Audi TT's dashboard in a selection of clips we found on YouTube from a number of sources including CNET and Autobild magazine.

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NCG Has its own Breed of Physics Based Automotive Mayhem

There’s an individuality crisis among our current crop of driving games. Very little innovation going on, still, with a whole lot more effort into trying to make things not look like they’re from a different game; actual examples come to mind too, but it’s cool little low-budget productions like Next Car Game (NCG) that really put big money titles in stark contrast, at least when it comes to innovation.

Thankfully, though, its developer, Bugbear Entertainment, knows a thing or two about developing a mass-audience game, as their previous FlatOut series of destruction derby-style racing proved.

Now, NCG adds a little bit of Beam NG Drive into the mix, but keeps the nice polished graphics of a commercial title, and promises a game of reckless action, but with substance.

There will be a physics engine that keeps everything as real as possible, and there will also be a deep modding and tuning part too. Then, all that’s left to do is to destroy your tricked out banger by smashing it against other cars or obstacles…

The game is currently very early in development and looking for backers, but it already looks very pretty and detailed for its state, and the motion of the cars looks really nice and fluid – I’d even call it realistic…

Check out the videos after the jump to see what it’s all about.

By Andrei Nedelea

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Kia's Stand Packed With Tech at CES in Las Vegas

Aside from the Cub concept that brought to the Consumer Electronic Show in Las Vegas, a car we’ve already seen before and know, Kia is also showcasing new infotainment and display systems in different exhibits around their stand.

Firstly, the brand’s  UVO infotainment system is on show with capability to enable “users to easily and efficiently perform functions such as dictating messages, selecting their favorite music or asking for directions, all while keeping their eyes on the road and hands on the wheel.” It’s an all-new system that’s highly customizable, and while it won’t be available on all 2015 model-year Kias, you will find it on some according to the manufacturer.

There’s also a special version of UVO (UVO EV) for electric vehicles, which adds smartphone app support and specifically designed for this type of car, featuring all the major options that it specifically requires.

Next up is a preview of one of the future design direction for Kia dashboards (probably), as the Korean automaker has us look at the “eye-catching IVI Concept provides a look at Kia's latest innovations in the area of in-vehicle services. The seamless delivery of content is achieved by a multi-display layout, prominently featuring a 20-inch multi-touch center console display.”

It’s meant to integrate all new safety and entertainment developments in the industry seamlessly with the interior, bombarding the driver/user with things to do, adjust and be warned about.

Another way for their interiors to go would be that of the User-centered Driver Concept or UCD. It has a different approach to IVI, with an altogether different feel and design. Sitting atop the dials cowl, we find a slanted 18-inch head-up display that conveys useful information to the driver, while “the 12.3-inch TFT-LCD cluster presents a 3D view of vital vehicle information, utilizing eye-tracking technology to maintain a clear view from various angles.”

An induction charging pad for smartphones is also present here.

By Andrei Nedelea

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Google Teams with Audi, GM, Honda, Hyundai and NVIDIA to Bring Android Platform to Cars

Audi and Google have confirmed earlier reports about their collaboration to bring Android to vehicles, but the agreement also includes GM, Honda, Hyundai and NVIDIA. Reunited under the name Open Automotive Alliance (OAA), the six companies announced at CES 2014 that they will join their forces to bring the Android platform to cars starting this year.

The open development model and common platform will allow automakers to bring new technology to their customers and create new opportunities for developers.

“The worlds of consumer and automotive technologies have never been more closely aligned, and this alliance will only pave the way for faster innovation,” said Ricky Hudi, Head of Electrics/Electronics Development at Audi AG. “Working toward a common ecosystems benefits driver safety above all,” he added.

“The expansion of the Android platform into automotive will allow our industry partners to more easily integrate mobile technology into cars and offer drivers a familiar, seamless experience so they can focus on the road,” said Sundar Pichai, SVP of Android, Chrome & Apps at Google.

OAA’s founding members say they share a vision for the connected car and that the introduction of the Android platform to cars “will help extend people’s mobile experience seamlessly to another platform they already know and love.”

The first cars with Android integration are expected to launch at the end of 2014, but each automaker has its own timeframe. OAA says other automotive technology companies are welcome to join as well.

By Dan Mihalascu

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BMW Reveals M235i Self Driving and…Drifting Car, Smartwatch-Compatible i3 [w/Video]

BMW has chosen the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2014, held in Las Vegas, to show off its self-driving car. As they put it, it “a new kind of research prototype for highly automated driving which uses advanced control technology to demonstrate maximum safety up to the car’s dynamic limit.”

In other words, the M235i prototype running the system (called ActiveAssist) can drive itself (even around a track, briskly), and is capable of doing no-hands powersliding, as the opening photo shows. Moreover, it is claimed that it can thus predict if the car wants to oversteer or understeer and nip it in the bud, making even more planted driving possible when it’s not doing it by itself.

Another new piece of technology showcased at the fair is the Samsung Galaxy Gear smartwatch which runs a simplified Android OS, and can now be connected wirelessly to an i3 EV via the BMW I Remote App that it supports. Through it, the user/driver receives state of charge and range information, and is also made aware of whether or not the windows and/or sunroof are closed – the climate control can be remotely altered too.

The Bavarian automaker is also proud of its safety-oriented camera-based assistance systems – they’ve managed to bring costs down by not using radar, relying entirely on visual input from the cameras to make it work. They say, “modern camera-based systems have advantages over purely radar-based applications when it comes to recognition of stationary obstacles. A wide camera angle, moreover, enables reliable detection of objects pulling in or out at the edge of the driver’s field of vision.”

By Andrei Nedelea

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Say Hello to the 2015 Audi TT's Interior with Fully Digital Instrument Cluster

Audi has dropped photos of a cutaway of the upcoming third-generation TT's interior that will be on display at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas held from January 6 through 10, 2014.

No doubt, the first thing that captures your eyes on the new dashboard is the fully-digital instrument cluster sporting a huge 12.3-inch TFT screen that also replaces central MMI monitor.

According to the Germans, drivers can switch between two display modes, include a "classic" view in which the speedometer and rev counter are in the foreground, and an "infotainment" mode where the virtual instruments are smaller. Audi says that there's ample display space in the screen for functions such as the 3D navigation map.

It remains to be seen whether drivers will appreciate and get accustomed to the digital layout without being distracted from such a radically different display housed right in front of their eyes.

The overall design and feel of the dashboard isn't all-too different from the current TT, but it does look sleeker and sharper. The changes are mostly in the details as Audi focused on applying new generation of electronics and connectivity features, as well as minimizing clutter.

For example, the controls for the air conditioning are housed in the vents themselves, while the adjustment functions for seat heating, and for the temperature, direction and strength of the flow of air, are located in their axes, with small displays indicating the settings.

Audi says it has also made changes to the MMI control on the center console and the second control unit alongside the steering wheel to simplify the process of accessing options. The company added that in the near future, drivers will be able to use "just two rather than four buttons in the area surrounding the rotary pushbutton".

We don't get any photos of the exterior of the car, but recent spy shots have outlined the evolutionary changes to the body that sits atop VW's new and lighter MQB modular platform shared with many other models, including the Golf and A3. The new TT will be introduced later in 2014.

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2015 Corvette Stingray Will Offer Performance Data Recorder [w/Videos]

Chevrolet today announced an industry-first Performance Data Recorder for the 2015 Corvette Stingray at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Featuring integrated video, audio and motorsport-inspired telemetry recording capability, the system enables users to record high-definition video, with telemetry overlays, of their driving experiences on and off the track.

The PDR system includes three major components. First up is a 720p, high-definition camera mounted within the windshield header trim, which records the driver’s point-of-view through the windshield. A dedicated microphone in the cabin is responsible for audio recording.

The second component is a self-contained telemetry recorder, which uses a dedicated GPS receiver operating at 5 hertz, or cycles per second. That’s five times faster than the in-dash navigation system, thus allowing more precise positioning and corner traces. The recorder is connected to the Stingray’s Controller Area Network (CAN) to access vehicle information, including engine speed, transmission-gear selection, braking force, steering-wheel angle and others.

Finally, the third major component is a dedicated SD-card slot in the glove box for recording and transferring video and vehicle data. An 8-gigabyte card can record approximately 200 minutes, while a 32-GB card stores up to about 800 minutes – more than 13 hours of driving time.

Recorded videos can be viewed on the Corvette Stingray’s 8-inch color touchscreen when the car is parked, or downloaded to a computer.

Developed in cooperation with Cosworth, the Performance Data Recorder will be available later in the third quarter of 2014 with the start of regular 2015 Corvette production.

Chevrolet will announce pricing closer to launch. Until then, you can see how the system works from the official videos posted below.

By Dan Mihalascu

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