Thursday, September 24, 2009

Navigation/Phone Mind Meld

Everyone has places to go, people to see, and the need to figure out how to get there. Navigation systems have been developed to help with the last bit (people and places are up to you), but still require you to have the address written down so you can enter it when you get down to the car. At least, that was the way of things until recently.

In a press release earlier this week, Pioneer announced the creation of an iPhone® application called AVIC FEEDS App to use with the AVIC-U310BT and AVIC-Z110BT in-dash navigation systems. The app is intended to allow the phone and navigation systems to connect to each other and pass information via the Bluetooth®.

For those of you lucky enough to be an owner of both, you are in for a treat or two. AVIC FEEDS App will allow users to search for points of interest or take photos, which are automatically geotagged, to be accessed later via the in-dash systems for those spur of the moment return visits.

This use of saved photos sounds like the better of the two features. Think of all the times you have been wandering around and seen some place that you just do not have the time to stop and see. Sure, you can probably remember the name of the place and/or the cross streets, but now you do not have to. Added bonus, you have a record of what the front looked like to confirm you found the place. Sounds good to me.

Oh, best of all, AVIC FEEDS App is free.



To browse Etronics’ selection of car navigations systems, check them out here.
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Thursday, September 17, 2009

Bridging the gap between cellular and landline.

Cellular phones have been a major part of people’s lives for just over a decade now, and we are now at the point where landline phones are rarely used. A large portion of the rationale behind this is that, if there is even a landline in the house, we have all of our contact numbers in the cell phone, why go through the extra step of programming it into the phone? Well, Panasonic has a solution.

In a press release last week, Panasonic announced the KX-TG9382T, a first of its kind system that can transfer contacts from your cell phone to its own phonebook quickly and easily. Just follow the instructions down through the menu options and watch the progress as each entry flashes on the phone’s screen when it transfers.

If you are still paying for landline service, which I hope you are in case of your provider’s unexpected temporary failures, this system is a convenient way to keep your contacts handy, and a great back up should the battery on your phone die suddenly. Having a back-up plan is always important.

The KX-TG9382T is also equipped with the standard Panasonic motley of features like DECT 6.0 performance, Energy Star certification, 40-minute digital answering machine, etc. For full manufacturer details click here.

The unit will be available from Amazon and general retailers in early October in one (KX-TG9381T) or two (KX-TG9382T) headset bundles with SRPs of $169.95 and $229.95 respectively.



To browse Etronics’ selection of corded and cordless phones, check them out here.
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