NAVIGON AG, a leading provider of mobile phone on-board navigation, today announced the seventh update for its iPhone app, MobileNavigator, the most feature-rich navigation solution on the iPhone platform. The update adds a total of six new features and is already available now for all NAVIGON MobileNavigator US MyRegion apps. It will follow soon for the USA and North America versions. The update adds a total of six new features. MobileNavigator is now optimized to run natively on the iPad, making use of the larger display and the user interface of the device. Integration of Zagat Survey’s premium ratings and reviews for thousands of restaurants, and other leisure activities are available through an In App Purchase. The market first Active Lane Assistant shows drivers exactly which lane to choose in a moving on-screen animation. NAVIGON also adopted the app’s graphics to iPhone 4 Retina display. Further additions include a new Map Reporter function and the option for user notifications.

“NAVIGON’s updated version provides our over one million app users with the latest navigation technology from NAVIGON’s development labs,” said Gerhard Mayr, vice-president worldwide mobile phones & new markets, NAVIGON. “By transforming MobileNavigator into a universal app, optimized for both the iPhone and the iPad, premium features and content offerings are available across platforms. Instead of having a separate app for the iPad, we decided to develop one app that runs natively across both devices without extra cost for our dedicated customers.”

MobileNavigator 1.7.0 brings the following additions to the NAVIGON iPhone app:

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Universal iPad Integration: NAVIGON is the first major GPS Company to make navigation universal; it now runs natively on the iPhone and the iPad. Users with MobileNavigator installed can use the app on both devices without extra charges. The app utilizes the iPad’s large display and user interface with a higher resolution, and new menus. Route planning is convenient on the iPad, showing a large scrollable, multi-touch map to select destinations in simple taps. Users can plan their routes at home on the iPad and then send them to their iPhone for navigation on the go. MobileNavigator can also be used for navigation on the iPad. Capitalizing on the large screen, the app demonstrates Reality View Pro™ and the map view side-by-side, providing an accurate overview of the way ahead. In-map elements such as direction arrows, Lane and Speed Assistant symbols are designed in proportion to the iPad display size.
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Zagat Survey: An In App Purchase offers access to Zagat’s signature ratings and reviews of over 40,000 restaurants, hotels, attractions, golf courses, nightspots and other leisure activities, based on the thoughts and opinions of a worldwide network of thousands of surveyors. Zagat has become the world’s most trusted source to help consumers make informed decisions about where to go. Zagat’s content is integrated into MobileNavigator’s point of interest search, so users can easily find locations within a city, state or nearby. A tap on the individual destination reveals further information such as ratings of the appeal, decor and service as well as prices, telephone numbers and the full review text.
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Active Lane Assistant: The market first feature Active Lane Assistant assists drivers with getting and staying in the correct lane by showing a live lane animation. Displayed in the lower right corner of the map view, the animation reflects the current lane configuration and allows drivers to see ahead. An orange line indicates the way the driver should follow. The optional feature can be switched on or off.
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Map Reporter: The new Map Reporter feature enables users with the power to store changed road names, new speed limits, and one-way streets and submit them to improve the accuracy of future maps. The information is checked, verified and then integrated into later map updates.
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Retina Display Support: Retina display adaptation is further enhanced and now also shows the map, map fonts and POIs in high resolution.
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User Notifications and Newsletter: The update now also allows users to receive on-screen messages with important information about MobileNavigator within the app. In addition, users can also sign up for a newsletter and receive exclusive offers and first hand information by email.

MobileNavigator transforms the iPhone into an inclusive navigation device that saves the maps on the phone and relies on the GPS receiver, independent from a cell or wireless signal. It is the most feature rich on-board navigation application, featuring premium functions such as Traffic Live, Clever Parking, Reality View™ Pro, Panorama View 3D, NAVIGON MyRoutes, Live Weather, Connection to Facebook and Twitter, branded in-route POIs and much more. NAVIGON’s iPhone app has been the top-grossing app several times in 29 different App Stores around the globe, including the U.S.

Pricing and Availability
NAVIGON’s North American apps and selected In App Purchases are up to 30 percent off until January 6, 2011. The promotional offerings are below next to the regular prices.

Applications
MobileNavigator North America $59.99 (on sale for $44.99)
MobileNavigator USA: $49.99 (on sale for $34.99)
MobileNavigator Canada: $49.99 (on sale for $34.99)
MobileNavigator US MyRegion East, Central or West: $29.99, additional regions $14.99. (first region on sale for $24.99)

In App Purchases
Zagat Survey Ratings and Reviews: $7.99 (on sale for $5.99)
Traffic Live: $19.99
Panorama View 3D: $9.99

MobileNavigator 1.7.0 is compatible with iPhone 4, 3GS and 3G and iPad 3G. The app also runs on first generation iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad WLAN, but third party accessories for GPS reception are required for these devices. *iOS4 multitasking is supported by the iPhone 4 and 3GS only.

For more information, please visit: www.navigon.com/iphone.

Fulton Innovation, the creator and exclusive licensor of eCoupled intelligent wireless power, will be giving visitors to CES a glimpse into the future of wireless power with new and intriguing applications of the technology. The company will be showing wireless power demonstrations in automotive, retail packaging, and consumer devices. A taste of what’s in store for CES attendees can be seen in a video at http://bit.ly/ecoupledCES and more details will be available on December 27th online at www.ecoupled.com/ces.

While full details of the demonstrations will not be released until January, the key draw to the booth will be an ultra-high power application of wireless power charging an electric vehicle (EV). The retail packaging demonstration will show a very low cost version of wireless power where the coils and electronics can be printed directly onto the packaging and can drive a number of package features that benefit both manufacturers and consumers alike .

All low-powered demonstrations at the Fulton booth meet the new Qi wireless power standard from the Wireless Power Consortium which was launched in July 2010.

Klipsch®, a leading global speaker manufacturer, is announcing today the second patent for the award-winning, first-of-its-kind Klipsch LightSpeaker™ audio-lighting product.

The United States Patent Office recently awarded Kadence Designs with a utility patent for a single unit bulb that combines low voltage LED lighting with sound and employs digital signal processing (DSP), which produces enhanced sound and compensates for the LightSpeaker’s size and location once installed (Patent No. US 7817016). The Klipsch LightSpeaker product received its first patent from the United States Patent Office in May of 2009 for its low voltage LED lighting and sound that can be recessed into a ceiling lighting fixture (Patent No. 7535341).

“The LightSpeaker product has been a very exciting venture for the entire Klipsch team,” said Paul Jacobs, president of Klipsch. “As the sole U.S. distributor for the product, we could not be happier with the many innovative components and technologies that are now responsible for wirelessly streaming high-quality audio throughout homes across the country.”

Announced in January 2010 to much fanfare at the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES), the Klipsch LightSpeaker is the first product of its kind to combine efficient LED lighting and wireless ambient sound into a single unit that installs like a light bulb. The LightSpeaker system is able to deliver music wirelessly via a standalone controller. Once a music source, such as a laptop, iPod® or CD player, is connected to the controller, it wirelessly sends the sound to the LightSpeaker. The controller’s 2.4GHz wireless technology accommodates up to eight LightSpeaker products, equaling stereo sound in multiple rooms. Two music sources can be connected to the controller to establish two separate listening zones. The controller or remote controls the sources, zones, lighting levels and volume.

Not only was the LightSpeaker engineered to provide a unique, wireless audio solution, but it also presents energy savings upon implementation. Its dimmable LED bulb is rated for 40,000 hours of use and can last over 15 years. It also reduces daily lighting expenses by 80 percent, using 10 watts to produce light that’s bright enough to replace up to a 65 watt bulb. Unlike incandescent bulbs, the LightSpeaker LED bulb contains no mercury or halogen gases and produces almost no heat.

This new patent follows previous accolades the Klipsch LightSpeaker has received for its innovative approach to home audio. The product has been the recipient of numerous awards, including a CES Innovations Award, Popular Mechanics Editor’s Choice Award, CE Pro BEST Award and an Electronic House TOPS Award. Five other patents are currently pending.

United Efficiency, Inc. makers of tXtBlocker, a comprehensive cell phone safety service that stops texting while driving and allows customers to control when, where and how their phones are used, today announced that the service will be available at Best Buy this October.

“Partnering with Best Buy is a great opportunity to spread the message about the dangers of distracted driving, while at the same time offering a powerful, cutting-edge solution. tXtBlocker provides parents and employers peace of mind that drivers are staying focused on the road. Our goal is to help save lives by providing customers with integrated safety features for their mobile phones,” said Stan Van Meter, president of United Efficiency, Inc., the developer of tXtBlocker.

tXtBlocker limits phone functions above 15 mph and disables texting and web browsing. While you’re driving, tXtBlocker limits phone calls to SafeList contacts and 911. It also sends an automatic message to incoming texts and calls, letting others know that it is not safe to send a text or return a call because you are driving and you will reply when able.

tXtBlocker offers many extraordinary features that parents will love. Alerts can be set for exceeding preset speeds and arriving or departing from mapped locations. The service allows account administrators to set up No-Cell Zones around schools or offices to manage phone use by location and on a schedule. In addition, administrators can use tXtBlocker to view a phone’s location on an interactive map to see where their phones are at any given time.

Have Michelin-rated chefs had an impact on tire design? It may be the perfect collaboration as the new Michelin Primacy MXM4 tire uses sunflower oil – common in light cooking recipes – to create the unique rubber compound that delivers its incredible performance. It turns out that sunflower oil, used in the patented Michelin Helio Compound technology, allows this new luxury performance tire to maintain its edge in wet and snowy weather while still delivering safety, all-weather handling, great ride quality and comfort that luxury consumers demand.

While the vibrant, strong sunflower is recognized worldwide for its beauty, its benefits are not as apparent. The oil from sunflowers is a valued and healthy vegetable oil and sunflower seeds are enjoyed as a healthy, tasty snack and nutritious ingredient to many foods. So, why would Michelin tire engineers turn to this readily available, but unusual ingredient as a solution for tire performance?

Because shorter is better and with the Michelin Primacy MXM4 tire, the use of sunflower oil means stopping up to two car lengths shorter, or up to 19 feet shorter in wet conditions, than a leading competitor.

By utilizing the technologically advanced Helio Compound™, made with the oil from specific types of sunflowers, the Michelin Primacy MXM4 tire increases traction at low temperatures for braking and handling in wet conditions and has better overall performance in the snow.

“Sometimes you don’t have to look further than your own kitchen to find a viable, technical solution,” said Dominique Josson, product category manager, Michelin North America. “Sunflower oil is particularly useful in high-performance, all-season tires because it allows the tire to maintain winter performance that might otherwise be sacrificed to gain handling and wet grip.”

In addition to the revolutionary use of sunflower oil, the Primacy MXM4 offers all of Michelin’s latest technological thinking including 3-D Variable Thickness Sipes for precision handling and MaxTouch Construction for greater longevity.

Michelin tires in the luxury segment have been the number one choice of carmakers for many years and, with the addition of the Primacy MXM4, tire, the performance envelope just opened a little wider. Consumers now have a choice to enhance their vehicle with a tire that encompasses advanced Michelin technologies and a complete balance of performances.

The Michelin Primacy MXM4 tire also meets the Michelin Green X standard, guaranteeing a level of energy efficiency among the highest in the market and reduced CO2 emissions.

Available to consumers in North America July 1, 2010, the Michelin Primacy MXM4 tire will offer 13 replacement market sizes with rim diameters ranging from 16- to 19-inch. For more information on specific sizing, please visit www.michelinman.com.

iKit make their first introduction into the car accessory world with the new AutoCharge USB car charger. This sleak little device allows you to charge on the move and has 2 USB ports for your iPhone and iPod.

It features a high performance USB port which provides rapid charge convenience and is complimented with a ring LED charging indicator. The high gloss finish is an added bonus giving this product a slick and stylish look fit for any car.

Founder Oliver Evans said “ Car accessories is a huge market for us, and this car charger is just a taste of what is to come. ”

Ikit design and manufacture innovative accessories with a unique flair for apple products and digital media devices.

For a closer look at this product and new range go to www.ikit.com.

So you’re sitting in the comforts of your warm home and your car is parked out front all cold and uninviting? Bundle up and tackle that frigid automobile until the heater makes things nice or you can pull out your iPhone and just start it from your couch!

Viper has just announced the Vehicle Remote Start & Security application for the iPhone (with limited support for the iPod touch) that when coupled with a $500 box installed to your vehicle will let you remotely start the car, toggle the locks, pop the trunk, and beep the horn. The application works with multiple vehicles equipped with the Viper hardware and is only limited to cellular connection for the vehicle and Wi-Fi or a cellular connection on your iPhone.

Viper has a pretty sweet demo on its Facebook fan page with an option to win one of these cool remote devices.

While I love this whole set up, I have to say, $500 is a pricey for just starting your car and unlocking it. Still, really cool idea and makes OnStar that much lamer.

Alpine Electronics of America, Inc., the industry-leading manufacturer of audio and navigation solutions, today introduced the new NVE-M300 GPS Navigation Drive. This high-performance black box navigation module makes it easy to add turn-by-turn navigation functionality to Alpine’s iXA-W404 and IVA-W505 Audio/Video (AV) head units. Adding the NVE-M300 to these products results in two unique Audio/Video/Navigation (AVN) solutions.

Consumers can have a $1,000 digital media solution combining the NVE-M300 and the iXA-W404 with its 4.3-inch touch screen that is optimized for iPod/iPhone playback. Alternatively, they can create a $1,550 premium system based on the IVA-W505 with its 7-inch touch screen and DVD capability.

The NVE-M300 is a compact, external navigation drive. Measuring only 4 3/8 in. x 4 1/8 in. x 1 in., it is designed to be professionally installed and mounted in a hide-away location, such as behind the dash. Once connected, the NVE-M300 adds a fully integrated navigation experience to Alpine’s two top selling AV head units.

The NVE-M300 features Alpine’s innovative OnPoint™ Advanced GPS Positioning to deliver a better navigation experience. OnPoint ensures that vehicle’s icon stays accurately positioned on the map, even in areas where it’s difficult to receive GPS reception, such as in a tunnel, around tall buildings or under heavy foliage. OnPoint simultaneously uses three technologies – satellite-linked GPS data, solid-state gyro sensor technology (to determine the vehicle’s direction) and accelerometer technology (to gauge the vehicle’s speed) – to deliver improved performance.

A simple and intuitive graphical user interface (GUI) combined with voice guided driving directions make the NVE-M300 easy to use. Big, bright icons and large buttons provide easy identification of commands or maneuvers. Assistive mapping visuals display essential driving information such as One-Way Street icons for clear notification of one-way streets, and Highway Junction View for maneuvering complex interchanges. Text-to-speech technology is used to announce the turn-by-turn driving instructions, including street names, freeway numbers and freeway exit names. All the voice guided driving instructions are delivered through the vehicle’s sound system.

The NVE-M300’s map data is provided from preloaded NAVTEQ® maps of the United States and Canada, including Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. As well, the module comes with 6 million unique Points of Interest (POIs), which include restaurants, hotels, gas stations, movie theaters and grocery stores.

The NVE-M300 can be customized to match the user’s preference. Color schemes can be chosen from a palette of four map colors and eight menu colors. English, Spanish or French can be chosen as the preferred language. The Dashboard feature can be set up to display trip information such as driving time and average speed.

“With the NVE-M300, we are delivering an improved GPS navigation experience at a lower cost,” said Stephen Witt, vice president, marketing, Alpine Electronics. “The NVE-M300 drive gives customers the opportunity to easily add GPS navigation to their iXA-W404 of IVA-W505 AV head units.”

Pricing and Availability
The NVE-M300 GPS Navigation Drive is available for $450, the iXA-W404 is available for $550 SRI, and the IVA-W505 is available for $1,100 SRI. All three products are available at authorized Alpine dealers. To find a retailer, visit the Dealer Locator section at www.alpine-usa.com.

iSimple® today announced the availability of iPod® docking interfacing kits that give drivers of hundreds of popular 1995 to 2007 automobiles an affordable way to enjoy static-free iPod music directly through their vehicle’s factory stereo systems. In addition to crystal clear audio, these kits also allow the user to track forward and track back on his/her iPod directly from the factory radio, as well as providing battery charging for many iPod models.

Each kit features a “brain box” (called a PXDP) and a wiring harness that plugs directly into the CD changer port in the back of a compatible vehicle’s factory-installed stereo system. Once installed (professional installation is recommended) the unit delivers perfect CD quality sound directly through the sound system, as well as the option of selecting tracks through the car stereo using the FFWD / RRWD CD changer function. Additionally, the unit does not block out clickwheel or touch screen controls, so the user can browse and select tracks as normal. And, because the connection is “hardwired” to the vehicle, the docking connection offers battery charging for most iPod models, including the iPhone®.

These iSimple kits sell for approximately $119.95 and are compatible with hundreds of models, including: BMW and Mini) Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, Hummer, Oldsmobile, Pontiac and Saturn; Ford, Lincoln and Mercury; Acura, Honda, Isuzu, Scion and Toyota; Chrysler, Dodge, Eagle, Jeep and Plymouth, and Audi, Jaguar and Volkswagen.

All iSimple automotive docking solutions are made by Peripheral Electronics® – the industry leader in automotive OEM integration products – and distributed and marketed by AAMP of America™. iSimple kits are available at specialty car audio and electronics stores nationwide, as well as most Best Buy locations. iSimple products are also available online at Crutchfield.com, Autotoys.com, Amazon.com and more. For more information, please visit www.peripheralelectronics.com or www.iSimpleSolutions.com.