Consumers soon will be able to control vehicle functions from their smartphones, thanks to an expansion of OnStar's mobile app technology.
In addition to unlocking the doors and sounding a vehicle's horn and lights, OnStar subscribers will be able to see their current fuel tank level and range, remaining oil life, current and recommended tire pressure and lifetime average mpg.  -Read more-

The 2010 International CES, the world’s largest consumer technology trade show, will showcase the latest in-vehicle technology. The expo returns to Las Vegas, Jan. 7-10. More than 380 in-vehicle electronics exhibitors will locate in the convention center’s North Hall.

The 2010 CES will prominently feature the latest products and trends in in-vehicle technology including the Location Based Services (LBS) Spotlight, advancements in portable GPS, in-car video, wireless technology and integrated products for combining entertainment with navigation and security. Sales of in-vehicle technology are expected to top $9.3 billion in 2009.

RJ Star Inc., Hanover, Minn., maker of Wizards® brand products donated $2,000 to Guide Dogs of America during the company’s Guide Dogs Bike Wash™ promotion. The company pledged $1 for every 22-oz. bottle of Bike Wash purchased.

While at the November SEMA Show in Las Vegas company owner John Schlumpberger presented a check to Steve Cohan, outreach director for Guide Dogs of America.

Guide Dogs of America is dedicated to its mission to provide guide dogs and instruction of their use, free of charge, to blind and visually impaired men and women from the United States and Canada so that they may continue to pursue their goals.

Cover me, quick.

It’s a harsh world out there. Stones and other small debris get spun up by road-running tires and stormy winds. Chemicals or sand spread on snowy or pre-snowy roadways eat at vehicle surfaces. The sun’s UV rays, even in winter, bother interiors, bother drivers and their passengers.

So, it’s nice to have some friends in the protection business.

Today’s window and paint protection films are even better at what they do than even a few years ago. Take, for example, the technology in upper-end high-performance window films that are void of the characteristics that would bother the many added electronic communication devices people have added into their vehicles, such as Bluetooth and GPS devices. Or the PPFs that make application even easier because of their movability and conformability.