Parents! If you are going on a long road trip with your whole family, you might want to take a look at these two very useful headphones! No, they are not for you. They’re for your kids. These will keep them occupied and quite for a long period of time leaving you free to concentrate on the road.

One of the headphones that are ideal for kids’ use is the Griffin Headphones for kids. It features an adjustable design that ensures nothing gets inside the ear canal. It is also compatible with all Apple iPod models, MP3 players, handheld games, gaming consoles, and computers. With 85dB volume cap, parents can rest assured their kids’ ears are safe.

The second option is the Kidz Gear Wireless Car Headphones for Kids. This product is compatible with any car DVD system and all it needs are 2 AAA batteries. This retails for $19.99.

Source: Bestbuy

Even though you drive a family car, it doesn’t mean that you can’t make it look eye-catching in some way! You know you can! My suggestion is the latest wheel illumination designed by Motionlite. You and your loved ones are going to love it so much that’s for sure!

So how does it work? This accessory is basically Led mounted on a power telescoping six-inch arm that can be installed on the wheel well. This LED shines seven hues to the rims making them look luminous in the dark.

Some of you might balk at the price which is $499.  But, it will all be worth it when you see the envious looks that people throw your way!

Photo Credit: Autoblog

Do you know Apple’s latest offering? No it’s not a new iPhone. It’s something better because it allows users more convenience when they need to get connected or when they need to do some work while on the go. This thing I’m talking about is the iPad! This device is getting so much hype right now and it’s almost on everyone’s wish list this year. Hyundai seems to be capitalizing on the hype surrounding this device. To attract more buyers for its 2011 Hyundai Equus, a luxury car by the way, the car maker is prepared to throw in an iPad for free! And I think this is a great incentive especially for those who are prepared to spend as much as $50, 000 to $60,000 on the said sedan.

The iPad that will be integrated in the car won’t be merely for show. It will be integrated with the owner’s manual. Yes, it will be a virtual manual that owners can refer to in just a few clicks. It can also be used to schedule service appointments.

I think Hyundai has hit a jackpot with this scheme. What do you think?

Photo Credit: Afterdawn

Think jump-starting a vehicle us easy? Not! If not done correctly it can result to a blown battery. Maybe this is the reason why most newbies don’t attempt jump-starting their vehicles. However, Michelin has come up with a component that will make this task easier and safer. The Smart Jumper Cable ensures that you do it the right way!

Here’s the way to do it according to Kicking Tires, “When jump-starting a car, the jumper cable must be connected properly to the positive and negative terminals of both batteries, and the Michelin Smart Jumper Cable gives you an assist on this front. Rather than color-coded clamps, both clamps of the Michelin cable are blue, and you simply put one on the battery’s positive terminal and the other on a piece of metal. Then an electronic box detects whether you’ve made a complete circuit and gives you a thumbs-up via an LED light. After connecting the second battery, the box automatically determines the polarity and changes it as needed. This way, there is no wrong connection.”

So, how about it? These cables will only cut you back by $30 to $40.

Photo Credit: Cars

The new Ford Galaxy is not what you’ll expect it to be. First of all, Ford has downsized it but, despite that, it is still worthy to be called as a “people mover” because it has seven family size seats and ample room for luggage.

Even though it’s been downsized, the Ford Galaxy offers improved engine configurations. It now comes with a highly efficient 2.0-liter EcoBoost petrol engine which means improved fuel usage, power and emissions. Owners of this model will surely benefit a lot from all these.

The 2010 Ford Galaxy is made available in three trims—Zetec, Titanium, and Titanium X. Some of the great features of this model include a premium sound system, overhead storage, new interior colours, panoramic roof, and built-in luggage roof rail. It’s also offered with optional features like satellite navigation, reversing cameras, blind spot sensors, and key-free ignition system. 

Photo Credit: icLiverpool

There are plenty of new gadgets that can be used on cars. However, if you want something that can record the things going on not just inside but also outside of the car, the perfect gadget for you is the Car Cam Dually. This features two 1.3-megapixel cameras in order to give the view of both inside and outside the car. Aside from that, it also has four infrared LEDs for clear recording, a G-shock sensor which provides information about the car’s impact points, and a GPS receiver. All information captured by the Car Cam Dually is recorded on an SD card.

This useful gadget costs around $385.

Photo Credit: Dvice

Drunk drivers are notorious for getting into an accident. So to minimize this type of incident, iPhone came up with two applications that can help keep track of your alcohol levels: R-U-Buzzed and Last Call. R-U-Buzzed lets you input the drink you’re having and the amount you’ve consumed to help determine whether you’ve had too much for your own good. Last Call on the other hand, lets you call a cab if you can’t find a way to sober up anymore.

Now while these two applications only provide estimates, they can help a lot in keeping you and your passengers safe. Not only will it allow you to minimize driving while you’re tipsy, it will also reduce your chances of meeting an accident on the road. So before heading out to your next party or drinking binge, make sure your iPhone has one or both of these apps installed.

Source: Kicking Tires

If you are in need of a new GPS, try out the new Garmin that lets you record your own voice into the device. So, instead of the robotic and alien voice booming out directions as your drive, you will hear your very own soothing voice, that is, if you record it that way. But, take note that not all Garmin devices have this feature. Right now the Garmin nuvo 300 and 600 series don’t have it.

Check out the Press Release.

PRESS RELEASE

Find Your Voice, Find Your Destination with Garmin® Voice Studio™

OLATHE, Kan./January 5, 2010/Business Wire - Garmin International Inc., a unit of Garmin Ltd. (NASDAQ: GRMN), the global leader in satellite navigation, today announced Voice Studio, a free and easy-to-use PC application that lets anyone record their own voice to create custom pre-recorded navigation prompts for use on compatible Garmin navigation devices. The application will be featured in the Garmin booth (South Hall 4#35832) at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show.

“Voice Studio lets users customize their nüvi to give directions in familiar voices,” said Dan Bartel, Garmin’s vice president for worldwide sales. “Whether it’s a friend, a spouse, or the kids, now you’ll always be able to take that special person with you wherever you travel. And you can share your customized voices with other nüvi owners, too.”

Simply download the free Voice Studio application from http://www.garmin.com/voicestudio and install it on a PC. Users can then record a few dozen phrases, and edit them directly within the Voice Studio application. To achieve the best quality recordings, an external microphone is recommended. Once complete, the voice file is loaded onto a compatible Garmin personal navigation device. The entire process typically takes less than 30 minutes.

Combined with free and fun icons from the Garmin Garage (http://www8.garmin.com/vehicles/), Garmin customers can personalize their devices to a degree that no other navigation provider can match. Voice Studio is compatible with all nüvis except the nüvi 300 and 600 series. Voice Studio does not provide text-to-speech recordings.

To learn more about Voice Studio and Garmin’s other products, go to www.garmin.com and www.garmin.blogs.com.

Photo Credit: Autoblog 

Lexus owners beware! You’re floor mats are hazardous to your health and safety. How is that possible? Well, the floor mats get in the way of braking and accelerating. As a result, you end up losing control of the vehicle. This is what happened to a CHP officer and his family last August, causing their Lexus to crash. So what has Toyota done to address this? Two words: total recall (no, this isn’t a pun on the movie done by Arnold). So if you’re driving a Lexus and you haven’t returned it to the dealership, make sure you do. The last thing you want is for a floor mat to be the cause of your untimely demise.

Source: Jalopnik, Lexus Parts World

Hands-free talking is now a must for drivers. A lot of accidents have occurred because the driver was so busy talking on his cell that he failed to concentrate on the road. Talking on the phone and driving don’t go well together; they are the perfect ingredients to disaster. However, aside from strictly staying off the phone, car owners still have other options if they really can’t avoid receiving or making calls while driving.

A great gadget that can help a lot in this case is the Yada Hands Free Bluetooth Speaker Phone. This is very easy and convenient to use because it simply snaps on the existing rearview mirror. It has a speaker integrated at the back portion and is powered by a built-in lithium ion battery. A single charge goes as far as 25 hours talk time or 650 hours standby mode. And the great thing about it is, it has a small LCD display where the name or phone number of the person calling shows. Other features also include an internal memory for phonebook capability and charger.

If you can’t resist calling and driving at the same time, better get one now!

Photo Credit: Gadgetgrid