bioneural.net » smart

Accessorizing your car

Bruce — Mon, 28 Mar 2005 12:01:21 +0000

When does the gadget freak say "enough is enough"? When you run out of dashboard/ windshield mounting space? When you have over-taxed the 12V power supply? When you can't think what to add next? When you have all the gadgets? When you start to feel embarrassed? Navman Bluetooth GPS receiver (see review) PalmOne T3 Audio out cable for jacking into car radio Original iPod (with battery replacement) Firewire car charger for iPod Car charger for Navman USB car charger for Palm Halfords 12V triple multi socket I guess the next step might be to integrate a fully-functioning desktop Mac with touch-screen, etc...

Using an original iPod in a smart car

Bruce — Sat, 19 Jun 2004 12:28:10 +0000

From http://www.bioneural.net :

When smart announced the smart fortwo cabrio edition i-Move, they also announced plans to sell an iPod car integration kit as an accessory for the fortwo and roadster models. This kit requires an iPod with a dock connector—excluding earlier iPods. If you own a smart and an original iPod, what options are available to unite the two? The smart 3G iPod cradle The original iPod has two connectors on the top side; a standard 3.5 mm headphone jack, and a standard 6-pin Firewire port that takes power and provides Mac/PC synch capabilities: Original iPod's connections Options for iPod audio-out If you have the radio-cassette, the easy option is to buy one of the many cassette adaptors available e.g. from Belkin: Alternatively, or if you have the radio-CD, you could buy a £15 custom lead from Kane here that plugs into the CD-changer port at the back of the smart's radio, and offers a standard 3.5 mm audio jack at the other end. This is likely to provide the best sound quality of the options listed here. Fitting this lead still enables you to use the CD slot when the iPod is turned off. You could simply hide the iPod in the tray below the radio by threading the lead under the radio shelf and into the tray: There are also wireless alternatives (illegal in the UK), but the word is that sound quality isn't great (perhaps that doesn't matter in a smart with factor-fit speakers?). These add-ons utilise an FM transmitter to deliver a short-range FM broadcast to your car ...

Vandals: wounded antelope or unfortunate misfits?

Bruce — Thu, 29 Apr 2004 07:47:06 +0000

From http://www.bioneural.net :

It only took two months before the vandals discovered my new smart car, which presented them with the opportunity to break an aerial they hadn't snapped before... vandal n somebody who maliciously and deliberately defaces or destroys somebody else's property That's how Microsoft Word defines "vandal". I can think of a few choice alternatives. The gap between attacks on our street seems to be getting shorter and shorter. Wing mirror bashed off, front wiper snapped off, back wiper snapped off, aerial bent, window smashed, door crow-bared.... Of the three cars I've owned in the 6 years we've lived on this street, not one has escaped damage. Out of pure frustration, I've today posted this sign on our gate post: What causes vandalism? I have no idea. A Google search on causes of vandalism wasn't very helpful. Does it matter what causes it? Are we as a society too eager to look for excuses for the behaviour of a minority? People who are vandals break the rules that society lives by. In my opinion, when they break such rules they forfeit the rights that society affords it's rule-abiding citizens. They become outcasts. I read a Wilber Smith book years ago (Eagle in the sky I think it was) and recall the description of a wounded antelope (cf. the vandal) being driven from the herd, because he weakened the combined fitness-to-survive of the herd (cf. our society) since he might draw lions, or weaken the gene pool if he remained a member of the herd. It ...

Why get Smart?

Bruce — Fri, 13 Feb 2004 07:29:50 +0000

From http://www.bioneural.net :

Thinking about buying a Smart city-coupe (fortwo)? The problem with most magazine reviews is their fixation with irrelevancies (e.g. 0-60 mph performance, "only two seats", etc.). If you want a sports MPV then the Smart won't be on your shortlist: if you want a compact, economical city car it could be. Here are some "real world" considerations, positive and potentially negative... I've just part-exchanged my four-door salon for an S-Class escape pod, otherwise known as the Smart city-coupe (Silverpulse special edition): Positives Around 40 mpg (UK) real-world fuel consumption (claimed 60 mpg); Low insurance group; Low road tax; Low emissions; Plastic body panels won't rust when stone-chipped; If you get tired of the colour, you can replace some or all the body panels; High driving position; Seats have good lumbar support; It feels solid; the doors close with a satisfying clunk, control sticks are not flimsy; Passenger space is very reasonable—head room is particularly good; The boot can hold the weekly groceries for two people; You don't have to bend much to get in or out of the car; Hill-start assist means there is a 0.7 sec delay when you move your foot from the brake to the accelerator before the car starts to roll backwards; You can't stall it (there is no clutch pedal); The gear drops down automatically as you slow e.g. for traffic lights; Steering-wheel paddles mean you don't need to take your hands off the wheel e.g. to change gear when cornering; Engine noise isn't nearly as evident as you might expect (the engine is inside the car after-all); You can park in a half-space, or ...