Network Connected Cars Start Rolling Out And It's Just The Beginning

Cars with independent network connectivity are upon us. Just last week we posted about the 2015 Audi A3 which will come with 4G LTE connectivity. Now there's news that a German automotive equipment supplier called Continental is readying LTE modules made for cars.

Backup Cameras To Become Mandatory In New Cars

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has finalized a rule that will require all new cars, SUVs, and minivans, as well as some new small trucks and buses in the United States to have rear visibility technology.

Ford SYNC Will Be Powered By BlackBerry; Microsoft Getting Dropped

Ford's next generation SYNC in-car technology system will be powered by BlackBerry and not Microsoft according to a report on Bloomberg last month. BlackBerry's QNX software will be used to program the new system.

Audi Connect Brings 4G LTE Connectivity To The 2015 Audi A3

If you've been on the fence about buying that brand new 2015 Audi A3, this might help you make your decision. The new A3 will come with six months of 4G LTE connectivity for FREE.

Just like your smartphone, the A3 will be able to connect to the internet directly. The navigation system will work off of this connectivity. Audi Connect will give you access to additional internet-based features too. This makes the 2015 Audi A3 the first standalone "connected car".

Here are some additional details...

Pioneer's NEX Line Of Products Now Available For Purchase [Video]

In an email to their newsletter subscribers today, Pioneer Electronics announced availability of their 2014 line of head units for purchase. The new range of products are called NEX in-dash receivers. NEX stands for Networked Entertainment eXperience.

Five new NEX models will be available for purchase from Pioneer and other US retailers. More details on these NEX head units including a video from CES 2014 are below. Information on where to buy these head units at the best prices is also included.

College Students Can Now Save 50% On Spotify Premium

Spotify is one of the major music streaming service providers at the moment. Just today they sweetened their Premium service for college students by offering 50% discounts for up to four years.

Samsung Galaxy S5 To Feature New 'Driving Mode'; Screenshot Leaked

Samsung's latest flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S5, went on preorder today. The device will ship to customers sometime in April. Preorders are available through AT&T, Sprint and US Cellular at the moment.

There are still two weeks before the S5 reaches consumers after which we will learn more about unannounced features of the smartphone as more and more people start exploring. One hidden feature however, has been uncovered by the Dutch website KopenGalaxyS5.nl and is called 'Driving Mode'.

Samsung MHL 2.0 Adapter Not Working? It May Be Fake!

Just yesterday I posted about Samsung MHL adapters and what to expect when using one to connect your Galaxy smartphone to a Pioneer AppRadio. The video in that post explains how the adapters are supposed to work.

I've been reading more about Android connectivity with AppRadio and have stumbled across some interesting information which I will be writing about in the coming weeks. One such story involves spotting a fake MHL 2.0 adapter for the Galaxy S4.

Bike Smarter With The Allo Speaker-Bike Mount Combo [Kickstarter]

We've written about bike mounts before. This one is a little different though. It's a mount for your iPhone (5/5S) but with a speaker attached to it. Meet the Allo (pronounced All-Oh), the all-in-one speaker-bike mount combo.

Pandora One Subscription Prices Headed Upwards

AppRadio customer enjoyed ad-free music from Pandora Internet Radio for the most part of last year. The promotional offer from Pandora was given to most aftermarket head unit manufacturers. But soon after the year ended, Pandora was back to serving ads on AppRadio-like devices.

The only way you can enjoy ad-free music nowadays is if you are subscribed to Pandora One, the paid music streaming option. And just a couple of days ago it was announced that the subscription prices are going to get dearer over the next couple of months.

Here is the complete list of changes according to the Pandora Blog...