By Jeff Zbar 
www.chiefhomeofficer.com

Headsets have long been important – and sometimes legally must-have – accessories for wireless phones. They free users’ hands for note-taking or driving (helping avoid costly traffic tickets in those markets where hands-free cellular phone use is the law). Yet sound quality, especially when driving, was lacking. Enter new Bluetooth products designed to enhance the speaker’s voice and eliminate background sounds, like wind, lawn equipment and crowd noise. Products like Jawbone and Plantronics Discovery, among others, use digital signal processing to adjust voice levels and improve sound at both ends of the call.  read more »

• by Jeff Zbar

Summertime is drive-time across the USA. Millions of vacation-happy Americans hit the road during summer, logging more driving miles on the pavement than any other time of year.

But with gas prices climbing toward $4 a gallon (or more!), folks are concerned about the costs of driving. Can families still afford to pile the kids into the car and ride to summer's favorite hot spots? Will a kids' chorus of "are we going?" replace the standard endless chants of "are we there yet?"

Savvy drivers say "no!" They're constantly seeking ways to increase fuel economy and to squeeze out more miles per tank. Instead of focusing purely on the fuel gauge, though, experts suggest paying more attention to tires, those black, rubbery objects that connect vehicles to the road. Yes, the right rubber on the road can save gas in the tank.  read more »

With fuel prices getting higher and higher, reports of gasoline theft are on the rise. With a bit of tubing, a little suction and a few uninterrupted minutes, a thief can literally drain you dry. A locking gas cap is a great way to protect your vehicle from gas theft.

AutoSport offers Stant gas caps designed to keep fuel where it belongs—in the tank. Whether your car has an unlocked filler door or one that releases from the inside, these caps offer a powerful deterrent to would-be thieves. Anyone who frequently parks on the street, in a garage or in a large parking lot will appreciate the added security. And with their huge selection, ordering from AutoSport is the easiest (and most fuel-efficient!) way to buy the locking gas cap that fits your vehicle. www.autosportcatalog.com  read more »

Alpine just introduced the new IVA-W505 DVD/CD head unit with 7-inch monitor which serves as the ultimate audio/video plus navigation “hub” for the vehicle. It has everything a driver needs at his/her fingertips – touch-screen control over almost any digital entertainment source (satellite radio, HD Radio with multicasting, MP3/WMA players), as well as iTunes Tagging and Bluetooth and iPod connectivity.

It also serves as the in-dash docking station for Alpine’s Blackbird portable navigation device. The motorized faceplate slides down to a 90-degree angle to reveal a DVD/CD slot and dedicated Blackbird slot. Once the Blackbird is docked, all of its navigation features and user controls are transferred to the IVA-W505’s display, for an audio/video plus navigation (AV+N) in-dash system.  read more »