Time spent behind the wheel is something that we always crave for. Still, it can be stressful at times. These gadgets cover a variety of functions, but what they all have in common is they are designed to make your drive easier.
Garmin Speak Plus with Amazon Alexa
The latest driver-assisting gadget from Garmin, Speak Plus is basically a voice-controlled GPS navigation, dash cam and Amazon Alexa controller all rolled into one. The device is small in size, just 37.5 x 37.7 mm, and magnetically mounted on the windshield. The clips from the 1080p dash cam are saved to a microSD card, but can also be shared via a dedicated smartphone app. Speak Plus has a built-in microphone and speaker and can be connected to your car stereo via AUX or Bluetooth. The Amazon Alexa integration means Speak Plus can handle pretty much anything including getting music, checking the weather, creating a checklist and more, as long as you have data reception on your phone. The most useful function for drivers is the turn-by-turn GPS navigation: simply say your destination out loud and the device will provide spoken directions with street names, while bright coloured indications and prompts will be also displayed.
Speak Music Muse Alexa Voice Assistant
If your car has already been equipped with a dash cam and GPS navigation, then Speak Music’s Muse is your best option for welcoming Amazon Alexa on board. Why is having Alexa better than using the virtual assistant on your phone, you may ask? In between communications with the phone’s assistant you may have to unlock the phone or use the touch screen, while with Alexa the 25,000 plus skills are solely controlled by voice. Muse can be magnetically mounted anywhere within your reach and is powered via USB. Muse does not have a built-in speaker, so it has to pair with the car stereo via AUX or Bluetooth to vocalise Alexa’s responses, but it can be supported by Wi-Fi through a smartphone. There is also a mute button on the device which you can quickly stop Muse and Alexa from picking up your inner-most secrets.
Nonda ZUS Connected Car System
We introduced Nonda’s ZUS tyre pressure monitor last year. The photo above shows the full ZUS Connected Car System that enhances safety and convenience levels during a journey, targeting mainly yesterday’s cars for additional techie functions. These items can be purchased individually and include a backup camera, vehicle health monitor, HD music adapter, car charger, key finder and the aforementioned tyre pressure monitor. We won’t go through them one by one, but having all these gadgets from the same system means all the tracking, records and alerts can be viewed in the same smartphone app. The car charger also is a car battery monitor plus a car finder, which is most helpful for locating your car in a large carpark.
Weego Jump Starter 66
Having to deal with a discharged or dead battery on the road is one of the most stressful situations as a driver. As a precaution most people keep a portable jump starter at the trunk, and the Weego Jump Starter 66 could be the perfect option. The smarty clamps are easy to use, together with the series of lights and sounds they make sure the operation is foolproof, even when dealing with the highest stress levels. Like all jump starters, it can be used as a flashlight and powerbank USB, 19V and 12V ports. The Weego 66 is the most powerful model in the series, supporting vehicles with up to a 10-litre gas or 5-litre diesel engines. Considering its compatibility, the weight of Weego 66 is surprisingly lightweight at 1.6 pounds.
WayRay Navion HUD
WayRay showcased the Navion concept at CES earlier this month. It is not just a standard heads up display, the Swiss technology company claims this is the first holographic navigation system with augmented reality. The device adds AR-based navigation information and graphics, such as turn-by-by directions, road signs and more, onto the windshield through holographic projection. Additionally it can also display other infotainment. The simulations and the mapping are said to be accurate as per comments from CES visitors. WayRay has not mentioned its production timeline, but if they continue to develop it then the Navion will be a game changer.
NowPresso Portable Espresso Machine
The last item is not just for car owners, but it is perfect to have it around when you are stuck in traffic or if you are waiting for someone in the car, as it distracts you from the wait for a few minutes and of course provides an energy boost. The NowPresso is cordless and portable, starts from the first step of espresso making — boiling water, and works with Nespresso capsules and SealPod reusable stainless steel capsules. There is only one button on the machine so it’s not messy to use, and it does come with a 12V car charger if you really have to look for the car gadget connection.
