(Credit:
Corinne Schulze/CNET)
Cobra comes up with a new concept for radar detectors--GPS that warns you of existing driving hazards. Along with its 15-band detection, Cobra's XRS 9960G correlates your current location with a database of known red-light and speed cameras, as well as potentially hazardous driving areas. In our testing, we found the system works perfectly, although its alerts come a little too frequently, especially in an urban area like San Francisco, which has plenty of red-light cameras.
Cobra XRS 9960G (click to enlarge)
My first radar detector only had a row of green and red lights and beeped when you got close to being nailed by a radar gun--awfully quaint in comparison to all that Cobra's 2009 radar devices can do. There are six new units in the line priced from $59.95 to $339.95, but the flagship models have all the new fun-fun features.
The XRS 9960G (pictured) and the XRS R10G can be used right out of the box with a GPS locator the size of a thumbdrive that plugs into a USB port on the side of the units (a feature carried over from current flagship, the R9G). This lets you receive alerts about speed and red-light cameras from Cobra's database, including what direction the alert is coming from and a picture-in-picture view of simultaneous GPS and radar/laser alerts. You can also add in up to 1,000 location-based alerts of your own and program in speed alerts to keep your speed in check.
Both also feature OLED screen (1 inch for the R10G, 1.5 inches for the 9960G), Cobra's Super-Xtreme Range Superheterodyne (S-XRS) technology to pick up on the fastest laser and radar guns, and 15-Band detection.
The Trax430 by Uniden is part of the company's new line of GPS devices.
(Credit: Uniden)This idea is so obvious, no one thought of it until now. Uniden is launching a line of interoperable GPS devices and radar detectors. Uniden's Trax line of GPS devices offer standard functionality, such as route guidance, text-to-speech, and either a 3.5- or 4.3-inch screen. The Trax line uses NavTeq maps, and has what Uniden says is the fastest satellite acquisition among its competitors. Uniden's line of radar detectors is the LRD series, which detects X, K, KA, VG2, Laser, Ultralyte Laser L2, and Pro Laser 3 guns. Apparently, you will be able to plug the radar detectors into the navigation units. The GPS display will show detected radar guns complete with its approximate location in relation to the car.
We can imagine a lot of possibilities with a system like this. Each detected radar gun could be logged by the GPS device, so over time you could build up a database of speed traps. If this data could be shared on a Web site, you would end up with a pretty comprehensive database of speed traps. Maybe put into a Google map application? Kind of like the manually created Speed Trap Exchange.
(Source: Automotive.com)
(Credit:
CNET Asia)
Japan's SolidAlliance is a company often known for its USB storage devices of dubious value. So it's of little surprise that it was the manufacturer behind something called the "Yu-tan Radar Strap"--which, according to CNET Asia, is being marketed as a "UFO detector and alien sniffer." If the radar senses the presence of a UFO, it will beep loudly and its red LED will begin to spin; if it detects an alien, it will blink and beep at full volume. You should memorize this so you can respond appropriately when the time comes.
(Credit:
Gadgetizer)
With so many distractions on the road these days--inside the car, as well as out--how is a person supposed to notice the flashing lights on the radar detector? Rocky Mountain Radar has found an answer to the sensory-inundated driving experience with the "C-450 Laser Detector."
Not only does it detect and scramble radar guns and beams, but Gadgetizer says the C-450 also issues a voice alert when police vehicles are within range. Does it help promote road safety? Of course not. But neither do cell phones and DVD players.
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