According to the AP [via Yahoo News!], Panasonic Japan is offering a new in-car navigation system that interfaces with internet-capable mobile phones, that allows drivers to surf their favorite porn sites. Just kidding. They can use it to check-up on their homes. The "Strada F-Class" system– which sounds like a Chinese knock-off of an Alfa-Mercedes– can keep an eye on pets (I'm sorry Rover, I'm afraid you can't do that), turn lights on and off (to freak out the neighbors), adjust the A/C ('cause a thermostat just isn't web 2.0 enough) and lock the front door (cause you remembered that you forgot). Of course, all this "convenience" comes at a cost: $3.4k. While you could just use your cell to communicate with a "web-enabled" home, Panasonic claims their "Strada F-Class" system is way safer. Oh, and user-san must have a web-enabled camera and front door, along with other plug-in shit. For some reason, Panasonic is hoping to sell 8k of Strada F-Classes each month to early adopters. The line forms on June 13. While we're one with Stevie Wonder on that whole superstition thing, we'd like to point out that the 13th of June falls on a Friday. Just sayin'.
…allows drivers to surf their favorite porn sites. Just kidding.
A new place for wifey/girlfriend to look at web history at… my g/f LOVES looking at mine, she says she can create a psychological profile from that information. She hasn’t pegged me down yet, although she’s leaning in the direction of some sort of sociopath who loves puppies.
This sounds neat, but wouldn’t it be cheaper just to velcro a laptop to the top of the dash to do 75% or more of what they claim? I bought a used laptop years ago for that purpose. I’m not tech-savvy, but I hate a lack of a real keyboard. Give it a real keyboard, I’ll consider it.
Yet another driver distraction. Thanks.
I can see lots of guys that own these things in a ditch after they lose control of their car trying to figure out how to spy on rover.