With so many infotainment devices being created, we're beginning to wonder what people are actually doing in their cars -- or rather, if they ever get out of their cars. Pioneer has thrown another electronic log onto the in-car streaming entertainment fire with its prototype network A/V playback system that uses WiMax. That means that any media you keep digitally stored at home could conceivably be streamed to your car.

We say conceivably because it will be a while before cities have enough WiMax coverage to make it all work. But when they do, your TiVo can go along for the ride. Because the device is mobile, you could also use it to watch something in another area of your house, or while relaxing in your backyard. You know, places where it makes a little more sense to be watching movies... Follow the jump to see a short video on the system.

[Source: Engadget]

There's no question that well-designed and implemented bike lanes improve safety for cyclists by making them less likely to be hit by passing automobiles, and that's especially true after the sun goes down. LightLane thinks it has the solution in the form of frickin' laser beams downward-pointing green lasers on either side of a flashing red LED tail lamp. Designed to clamp on to nearly any seatpost, as the bicycle moves forward, an instant virtual bike lane appears in bright green on either side of the rider.

A single charge of the onboard lithium ion battery pack provides three hours of continuous use, and any universal cell phone charger is reportedly capable of recharging the battery pack. We'd still suggest wearing a reflective jacket or vest along with the rest of the applicable safety gear, but anything that improves the safety of cyclists is fine by us. Click past the break for a video of a LightLane prototype in action.

[Source: LightLane]

The way we see it, if you're going to build a time machine into a car, why not do it with some style? Thankfully, Hollywood's Doc Brown agreed with us. In this case, style equals a 1981 DeLorean with 31,854 original miles and tons of Back to the Future props built in. We're not exactly experts on the subject or anything, but this particular DeLorean time machine replica looks pretty darn accurate to us.

The actual car bits are as you'd expect. Like the DeLorean used in the classic movie from 1985, this car is powered by a 2.8-liter V6 engine driving the rear wheels, albeit the power in this one flow through a three-speed automatic transmission. No surprises there. Of course, the car's coup de grâce is the "fully functional" flux capacitor and matching set of time circuits. You can even check out the car in action in a priceless Back to the Future video sendup after the jump, or check out the gallery below that's studded with b-list celebrity cameos.

Want to take the nearly complete Back to the Future Time Machine home with you? Now's your chance. Buy it Now price: $60,000. You've got just a few more hours before – ahem – time runs out.



[Source: eBay]

Fans of Gran Turismo are rejoicing over the fifth edition of the legendary racing series that was shown at the E3 gaming expo last week. The world-renown racing sim will also debut a new version for the Sony PSP Go this October, and it It boasts 60 frames-per-second rendering, 800 cars, 35 tracks and the ability to play against three friends over wi-fi – pretty good specs for a portable game.

Last week we showed you a trailer of GT5 for the decidedly non-portable PS3, and now we've got actual running footage of the portable game being played. Hit the jump to view a Nissan GT-R taking on all comers in the newest and smallest edition to the Gran Turismo franchise. You can also see some sweet screen shots of the new GT by viewing the gallery below.



[Source: GT Planet]

F1 drivers tend to accumulate a great deal of money over the course of their careers, and few have had careers quite as distinguished as Sir Stirling Moss. Over the course of only ten years in professional racing, he competed in about 500 races and won some 200 of them. So what did Sir Stirling do after he retired? He built himself a house that would make James Bond drop his martini.

Situated in the swanky Mayfair neighborhood in London, the Moss residence includes such gizmos as a giant tray that lowers from the ceiling to bring him his dinner in front of the television, a remote-controlled jacuzzi tub, an automated inbox/outbox for his office, and – the piece de resistence – a carbon fiber elevator made especially for him by the Williams F1 team. But in case that's not enough, Moss is in the process of building himself a new high-tech, environmentally-friendly residence in Deerfield Beach, Florida. (Where else? The man's over 80 years old, for crying out loud.) Check out the video footage of Moss Manor in Mayfair after the jump.

[Source: The Independent and Sunday Times via Jalopnik]

AT&T is starting to work with pockets of customers to test its CruiseCast satellite-based entertainment service before officially putting the TV/radio service on wide offer. When the whole clan is on the go, it may work to keep everyone calm and quiet, and when your Prevost motor coach is loaded up with everything else, you might as well go for the TV service, too. Truckers sticking DBS dishes on their rigs would likely be pleased with the CruiseCast system, especially since AT&T is using some new technology developments by RaySat that defeats the typical issues with line of sight obstacles and underpasses.

For comparison's sake, Sirius is cheaper and offers much more variety than AT&T's 20 music/talk radio stations, but their optional Backseat TV service only offers three television channels, and they are all geared for the kiddies. Conversely, AT&T's CruiseCast hardware must be professionally installed and will set you back $1,299, and the monthly payment is $28. Once the service is available for all customers in early June, they'll have 22 television channels to choose from. All that for the price of a used car and more than $300 bucks a year in subscription costs. Official press release posted after the jump.

[Source: Engadget]

Vehicle infotainment systems, those all-inclusive interfaces controlling the myriad electronics on today's modern cars and trucks, can make or break the driving experience. CNET is offering us a sneak-peek at Volkswagen's latest iteration from the company's Electronic Research Laboratory (ERL). Developed with Intel, the new system uses Global Open Research Infotainment Architecture, or GLORIA.

Most systems today us a joystick-like device, touch screen, or hard buttons on the edge of the display (or a combination of the three) to control the inputs. Volkswagen's new GLORIA system takes it one step further by making Apple iPhone-like "gesture control" possible. This means that users are able to navigate quickly by simply tracing single letters across the pressure-sensitive display. Another unique feature may allow users to import third-party widgets for the system, much like consumers currently load apps from iTunes onto their iPhones. As cool as it sounds, GLORIA is still under development and she isn't expected to see showrooms for a few more years.

[Source: CNET, Photo by CNET]

Google has already faced plenty of issues with its Street View technology, not the least of which has been angry Japanese citizens and invasion of privacy lawsuits from Americans whose driveways were mistaken for a roads. Beyond these unforeseen issues, there's also the rather obvious problem of taking images of places a Chevy Cobalt just can't reach. Consider that problem (at least partially) solved with the new Google Trike.

The three-wheeled, human-powered overgrown tricycles carry 250 pounds of ballast in the form of "a mounted Street View camera and a specially decorated box containing image collecting gadgetry," says the internet giant. All that extra heft reportedly requires a "specially trained super fit" rider.

Google's new trikes will be deployed first in Genoa, Italy, this spring. Assuming that launch proves successful, Google will send its pedal-powered cameras to the United Kingdom, where they'll point their lenses towards a slew of famous British landmarks. Have a good one in mind? Google says its open to suggestions and will be working with VisitBritain to pick the most desirable locations to shoot.

To assuage those averse to getting their pictures taken, Google promises to "apply our face-blurring and license plate blurring to all these images to protect people's privacy."

[Source: Google via Wired]

Porsche owners have long reveled in their ability to smoke the competition on track and street, but now Porschephiles can also leave their marque's mark on the backside of burgers, hotdogs and ribeyes. Grill marks, of course.

Barbeques Galore and Porsche Design Studio have burned the midnight oil for two years while working on the the new X-Series Grill. Under its sleek, German-styled exterior lies some fairly hot grilling technology. Instead of the standard gas burners found in most grills, the X-Series uses four infrared burners that can crank out 52,000 BTUs using 50% less fuel with 80% fewer flare-ups. By our very rough shadetree estimates, that should be good for a zero to steak time of about 10 minutes. Or so.

With a starting sticker price of $5,999 Porsche Design's first grill comes with a motorized rotisserie, an LCD temp display with remote probe, and an insulated double-walled hood. Step up to the X-Series Island (above) for $8,499 for a stainless steel finish and concealed cupboards and gas cylinder storage.

All models are covered under a lifetime warranty for service, parts and repair. Also included is the right to brag to your numbers that you have a Porsche in your backyard.

At the 2009 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) Ford announced that three new features would be included on the next iteration of the SYNC system: traffic data, GPS-guided directions and the ability to snag information from the web through the user's data/GPS/Bluetooth-enabled smartphone to display or read weather conditions, sports scores and other information through the stereo.

On May 26th, the upgrade will be made available to all current 2010 Ford, Lincoln and Mercury owners (you download the update to your PC, then transfer it to the SYNC system through a thumb drive) and all new 2010 models will be equipped with the upgrade from the factory. But as Ford CEO Alan Mulally promised, there's more on the way.

Ford and Microsoft plan to continually update SYNC, and according to Charlotte Fisher from Ford's Design and Technology team, "every six to eight to twelve months we'll be delivering new services." One of the possible features Ford could include on future iterations of SYNC is streaming internet radio, and Fisher confirmed that Ford is currently "talking with Pandora." Can you say XM-killer? Hit the jump to watch a video of the new system in action.