Dodge Charger Wins Edmunds.com's 2012 Breakthrough Technology Award

Dodge Charger Wins Edmunds.com's 2012 Breakthrough Technology Award

SANTA MONICA, Calif. — January 9, 2012 — The Dodge Charger is the winner of the 2012 Breakthrough Technology Award, announced Edmunds.com, the premier online resource for automotive information. Edmunds.com issues the award each year to a vehicle that sets the standard for intuitive, practical and affordable automotive technology that enhances safety and convenience for drivers and passengers. All new cars and trucks available for sale in the U.S. within the last 12 months are eligible.

The Dodge Charger won for its cutting-edge — but intuitive — UConnect Touch infotainment user interface, its reliable Bluetooth hands-free and voice-recognition features, and its innovative active safety technology.

"The Dodge Charger embodies some of the most modern technology available in a car today, and it's available in a vehicle that's within the budget of average consumers," said Doug Newcomb, Senior Technology Editor at Edmunds.com. "Much of the technology, for example, is standard on the 2011 Dodge Charger Rallye, which has a base price of $27,625. And since the Charger is a sensible sedan that masquerades as a modern day muscle car, the total package is that much more attractive."

The generous size of the UConnect Touch system's 8.4-inch in-dash screen combines with a logical control layout to make infotainment — as well as climate and vehicle functions — easy to operate and access while driving. The Charger's UConnect Bluetooth hands-free phone system is one of the easiest to use, and the voice-recognition technology that controls some of the infotainment, navigation and climate systems is highly accurate. The Charger also includes a USB port for easy connection of an external music player as well as Bluetooth wireless music streaming, and the UConnect Touch 8.4N system includes an SD card slot for access to additional digital music files.

The Charger also features top safety technology such as blind-spot and rear cross-path detection. SmartBeam auto-adjusting HID headlamps, an 8-speed transmission and 164-LED taillights are all additional features that are not typically found on other vehicles in the Charger's class.

For those who want to add more bells and whistles, the Charger's $650 Navigation/Rear Back Up Camera Group option comes with a one-year trial subscription to Sirius Traffic and Travel Link services, as well as Sirius satellite radio. Autonet Mobile in-car Wi-Fi can also be added as a dealer-installed option.

Last year's Breakthrough Technology Award winner was the Audi A8. Edmunds.com issued the inaugural award in 2010 to the Ford Taurus.

To learn more about the latest in-car technology available to consumers, please visithttp://www.edmunds.com/car-technology/.

Worlds First Holographic Show- Tupac

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Wx0Smh_H1Jg

Rapper Tupac Shakur died over 15 years ago in a drive-by shooting, but that didn't prevent him from performing at the Coachella music festival in California last night - as a hologram.

The virtual Tupac was put together by video technology firm AV Concepts with the help of James Cameron's visual effects company, Digital Domain, using a mix of previously recorded live footage and CGI. The hologram effect was created using a system developed by London-based Musion, which uses an advanced version of a 19th century magic trick called Pepper's ghost to make virtual images appear live on stage.

While the traditional Pepper's ghost illusion uses light partially reflected off a pane of glass, Musion's version involves a custom-developed foil to create more realistic images. Tupac appeared on stage alongside rappers Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg - who are very much alive - and greeted the crowd by naming the Coachella festival, despite the fact it had not been held prior to his death.

As we reported last year, the creation of digital humans is becoming increasingly sophisticated and actors will soon be able to record their likeness, potentially allowing them to star in films long after their death. It won't be long before the first all-digital lead actor hits our screen, Stephen Rosenbaum, a visual effects supervisor at Digital Domain, told New Scientist. "You look at the imagery and the performances and it's absolutely believable. It just takes a director that's going to be brave enough to cross that line."

Sony launches SmartWatch

 



Sony is launching a new an interesting product that puts a touchscreen on your wrist. Built to work with Android Smartphones, the user will be able to read social updates, text message, and manage calls directly from the wrist. The need to pull out a smartphone from your pocket is being diminished by the idea that it can be accessed right on your watch.

A more in depth look at the Sony SmartWatch