| OnStar seals partnership with RelayRides, makes renting out your car even easier (hands-on video) Jul 17th 2012, 11:00  Remember that partnership between OnStar and RelayRides we wrote about last March? Well it's finally coming to fruition today, with the peer-to-peer car sharing service launching support for remote door unlocking via OnStar's proprietary API. As a result, RelayRides members with OnStar-enabled vehicles no longer have to exchange keys in person if they so choose. Another benefit is that participants can list their automobile on RelayRides directly from their OnStar account -- renters then benefit from the added safety and security that comes with OnStar. We had the chance to test an early version of the functionality on a Chevy Volt at SXSW a few months ago and it worked pretty much as advertised. There was a bit of a delay between the time we sent the unlock command from RelayRides' website on the demo iPad and the moment the doors actually unlocked on the car, but we're told this has been significantly improved since our hands-on. Of course, RelayRides also supports remote unlocking via text message. Take a look at the galleries below then hit the break for our hands-on video, RelayRides' video and OnStar's PR. Continue reading OnStar seals partnership with RelayRides, makes renting out your car even easier (hands-on video) Filed under: Cellphones, Tablet PCs, Transportation, Software OnStar seals partnership with RelayRides, makes renting out your car even easier (hands-on video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 17 Jul 2012 07:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | Samsung swallows up CSR mobile and location patents for $310 million Jul 17th 2012, 10:23  The S-Wallet has opened and absorbed $310 million-worth of connectivity and location patents from British chip company CSR, which already supplies SiRF GPS chips to Galaxy devices. In addition to boosting its patent portfolio, Samsung also invested $34 million to buy a five percent stake in the firm itself, giving it access to a large development team working on audio, automotive, indoor location and other functions. The deal won't let Samsung use CSR's camera technology, but it will -- the Korean manufacturer says -- "solidify its position as a leading semiconductor solutions provider." Given how Sammy is already intent going it alone with its Exynos processors, we have no reason to doubt it. Filed under: Cellphones, GPS, Tablet PCs Samsung swallows up CSR mobile and location patents for $310 million originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 17 Jul 2012 06:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink |  Reuters, Bloomberg Businessweek | Email this | Comments | | WSJ: Next iPhone to have even thinner screen Jul 17th 2012, 10:12  Apple's next smartphone iteration will reportedly pack new screen technology that shaves a small amount from the screen thickness. According to the Wall Street Journal's sources, the new in-cell technology integrates the touch sensor into the screen, shedding around half a millimeter and due to the reduced space between screen and user, could well improve image quality. Although a mere 0.5 mm reduction may not mean much for the phone's frame, it could help offset any weight added by a larger screen. The Wall Street Journal also reports that the still-LCD screens will be made by joint venture Japan Display, LG Display and Sharp. Manufacturers are apparently battling to maintain high-yield rates on the new screen technology, which until now has been limited to bigger displays. Hit up the source for the full report. Filed under: Cellphones WSJ: Next iPhone to have even thinner screen originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 17 Jul 2012 06:12:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink  9to5Mac | Wall Street Journal | Email this | Comments | | Audi dealership lets you gesticulate your way to a new car using Kinect and multitouch Jul 17th 2012, 09:43  If you're shopping for your dream wheels, but hate poring over brochures, Audi's got good news: you can now wave and touch to customize your prize ride. The experience starts at the Audi City showroom in London, where you kick off the process by choosing one of the German automaker's 36 models. Then, you can browse the vehicle on a 210-inch HD display with a Kinect to read your gestures as you swipe around to take the tour. From there, a 32-inch 3M multitouch display helps you customize your machine, even letting you use physical RFID-equipped cloth and paint samples to dial in the specs. Once your Teutonic buggy is just so, you can save everything on a USB key, print out a custom brochure and even share the enthralling details on Facebook or Twitter. The company hopes to add 20 similar stores around the world, and if you're near Picadilly Square you can try it out yourself -- just keep one hand on that non-virtual wallet. [Image credit: Wallpaper] Filed under: Transportation Audi dealership lets you gesticulate your way to a new car using Kinect and multitouch originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 17 Jul 2012 05:43:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink Stuff | Wallpaper | Email this | Comments | |
