Best tech at SEMA 2009

Digital Cameras

Digital Cameras - CNET.com.au: The 2009 SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association) show in Las Vegas is more than just hot cars, crazy paint schemes and ridiculously low rides, there’s also plenty of high-tech aftermarket equipment around.

PLX Kiwi Wi-Fi with Rev by Dev Toaster<br /> Technically this is two products bundled together. The first bit is the PLX Kiwi Wi-Fi, a Wi-Fi dongle that connects to your vehicle's OBD-II on-board diagnostics port and broadcasts vehicle data to a paired iPhone. The second part is the Rev app by Dev Toaster, which displays the data in an easy-to-understand format, along with GPS lap times when you're hooning around a track.</p> <p>The Rev app retails for AU$48 on the Australian iTunes store, while the PLX Kiwi Wi-Fi dongle is US$150.</p> <p>(Credit: PLX Devices and Dev Toaster)PLX Devices GoPod<br /> If you're anything like us, you've not only got more cupholders than drinks in your car, but a lot of odds and ends flying around the place. With the PLX GoPod, one of those unemployed drink receptacles can be put to good use keeping your MP3 player or mobile phone from flopping around the cabin during a bout of spirited driving.</p> <p>The GoPod has yet to go on sale, but should retail for US$7 when it does.</p> <p>(Credit: Antuan Goodwin/CNET)DashDAQ XL<br /> The DashDAQ is a little Linux-powered performance computer offering OBD-II diagnostics reading, fuel economy info and multimedia playback. The DashDAQ XL is all of that with a much bigger screen, double the on-board memory and a much more rugged construction.</p> <p>According to Drew Technologies, the new XL version will retail for the same price as the about-to-be superseded model - US$695 in the States and around AU$850 from Australian retailers.</p> <p>(Credit: Drew Technologies)Bully Dog Watchdog<br /> Bully Dog is most famous for its Triple Dog performance management tools that allow a supported vehicle's ECU (engine control unit) to be reflashed for better performance. The new Watchdog OBD monitors don't allow for ECU reflashing, but allow you to monitor fuel economy, power and diagnostic trouble codes for a wider variety of vehicles.</p> <p>The Watchdog is currently available for US$300.</p> <p>(Credit: Bully Dog Technologies)GoPro HD Hero<br /> The GoPro HD Hero Motorsports is a rugged camcorder than can be affixed to a car and is the successor to last year's Hero 5 Wide. This new model adds a number of features including 1080p HD video, a rechargeable battery and an upgrade port that enables the addition of an extended battery or even an LCD display.</p> <p>The GoPro HD is available in Motorsports, Surf and Helmet models for US$299 or for AU$435 from Australian retailers.</p> <p>(Credit: Woodman Labs)DashCommand for iPhone<br /> DashCommand is another very cool-looking iPhone app that uses GPS and accelerometer data to measure vehicle performance. For even more detailed data this app is also compatible with Wi-Fi OBD-II readers, such as the previously mentioned PLX Kiwi Wi-Fi.</p> <p>The app is available on the Aussie iTunes store for AU$37.</p> <p>(Credit: Palmer Performance Engineering)Retro pistol grip<br /> TVK Industries' SureMatic retro pistol grip is a retrofit LED-illuminated pistol-grip shifter handle with gear selection indicators and vibration warning for reverse.</p> <p>The RRP for this piece of modern retro paraphernalia is US$165.</p> <p>(Credit: TVK Industries)Mirror with 3.5-inch camera display<br /> This auto-dimming rear-view mirror from Mito Corporation hides a 2.4-inch or 3.5-inch colour LCD that can be connected to a rear-view camera (not included). Depending on the model, there's also integrated HomeLink controls, a digital compass and ambient LED lighting - prices start from US$339.</p> <p>(Credit: Antuan Goodwin/CNET)ChaseCam Data Module<br /> This upgrade module (bottom) adds GPS and accelerometer data acquisition to basic ChaseCam car camcorder systems. It also allows for the addition of OBD-II data readers and external vehicle sensors.</p> <p>The data module is US$490, which on top of the US$275 and US$595 required for the BulletCam and PDR100 solid-state video recorder (top), respectively, adds up to a lot.</p> <p>(Credit: Chase Product Development)ChaseCam DIVA<br /> At SEMA 2009, ChaseCam unveiled its latest generation video/data capture device DIVA (Data Integrated Video Acquisition), which combines the solid-state recorder and data acquisition modules into one box.</p> <p>The module records video from up to four separately available ChaseCam Bullet cameras in either 4:3 or 16:9 H.264 standard-definition format to an SD card. This is synchronised with data from DIVA's integrated GPS antenna and three-axis accelerometer. DIVA also accepts data from external sensors and OBD2 data, like the previous ChaseCam systems did.</p> <p>Via CNET US</p> <p>(Credit: Antuan Goodwin/CNET)

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