February 18, 2011

2011's Hottest Mobile Device: Your Car

We all want for our time in the driver's seat to be distraction-free - or at least I hope we all do - but the internet and mobile phones seem determined to keep us connected even while we're in transit, and That’s why companies including OnStar, GM, Ford, and Mercedes-Benz are promoting new technologies that link drivers’ smartphones to their vehicles.

Now before you go into a panic that the AskPatty blog is encouraging texting while driving, you should know that these are largely ways to safely link up your favorite apps and integrate them into your driving experience - think Pandora on your car's radio. I'm going to say that again for emphasis. Pandora on your car's radio. Frankly, I don't know how I've managed to live without it, and I am usually not an "internet on my phone" kind of girl!

Forbes magazine put together a slideshow of some of the coolest applications of merging mobile technohology and ... well, automobile technology. The list includes the OnStar Anywhere device, OnStar mobile, a slew of GPS options, a way to use your phone as a "clicker" for your BMW, and more - but let's not kid ourselves. They're not all bright and shining examples of technology.

The one that solicited the biggest groan from me - text dictation for apps such as Twitter and Facebook. I'm sorry, gang, but I don't need to update my status via dictation while I'm on the highway. The accidental activation of this feature could prove particularly dangerous, though... just imagine the first time someone inadvertently tweets a private conversation, posts an argument as a facebook status, or worse... the possibilities are endless! Yeah, I think it's best to stay away from this one altogether. Texting and driving is dangerous, gang - that includes dictation, albeit for different reasons! Still, never let it be said that we weren't unequivocal on this subject.

But the Pandora on your car's radio part - I'm not even kidding. Sign me up for that! I've been looking for a reason to get rid of XM.

What do you think? Check out the slideshow here.

Kaeli Gardner AskPatty.com, Inc.