CES 2011: GM shows off OnStar equipped with 4G, Skype, video monitoring and more [w/video]

Filed under: CES, Technology, Buick, Cadillac, GM

OnStar with Verizon 4G LTE

Click above to view the video after the jump

Verizon just rolled out its 4G LTE wireless broadband network, and with General Motors using Big Red for its OnStar system for over 15 years, GM is asking itself: What can we do with all this bandwidth?

The answer is ‘plenty’… but nothing immediately.

Instead, GM and Verizon equipped a Buick LaCrosse with a 4G LTE modem and a host of cameras, sensors and controls and is trotting it out at CES to demonstrate how the broadband tech could be implemented.

Among the possible applications is a vehicle monitoring system that utilizes a handful of lipstick cameras to transmit video to the driver to see what’s going on both inside and outside the vehicle while they’re away. On the same front, the system can be paired with Verizon’s 4Home service, which connects with home security cameras, lights and thermostats and transmits information back to the driver.

Other features include voice search, a traffic view that streams live traffic-cam images, Skype with video chat and a impact detection system that would identify if your car was hit in a parking lot, and would then turn on all the exterior cameras and capture an image of the offending vehicle as it drove away.

Hit the jump for a video of the various systems in action along with the press blast, and look for our initial impressions from CES later this week.

Continue reading CES 2011: GM shows off OnStar equipped with 4G, Skype, video monitoring and more [w/video]

CES 2011: GM shows off OnStar equipped with 4G, Skype, video monitoring and more [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 05 Jan 2011 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2007-2010 Volvo S80 recalled for tire-pressure monitoring system

Filed under: Sedan, Recalls, Safety, Volvo

The ever-conscious safety fanatics at Volvo have realized it’s unwittingly made a mistake on their 2007-2010 S80 sedans. It seems that the maximum permissible tire pressure information was printed incorrectly in the owner’s manuals and on the sticker pasted to the vehicles’ door jams. Worse, that same incorrect inflation data is hard-coded into the cars’ tire-pressure monitoring systems.

Volvo claims that it has never received any complaints on the issue and that it found the problem on its own. Naturally, though, the Swedish automaker is keenly interested in getting the problem rectified and will replace the incorrect manuals and stickers, and update the S80’s software to correct the tire-pressure monitoring system.

We’ve posted the recall information from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration after the break. Owners are urged to call Volvo at 1-800-458-1552 or email customercare -at- volvoforlife.com for further information.

[Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration via Kicking Tires]

Continue reading 2007-2010 Volvo S80 recalled for tire-pressure monitoring system

2007-2010 Volvo S80 recalled for tire-pressure monitoring system originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 02 Aug 2010 16:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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