These 4 gadgets that will make your car smarter

Gadgets are not restricted to just smartphones, tablets and laptops. There are a number of gadgets that can also make your driving experience a lot better than what it is. Here, we list out a few such gadgets that you can try

Blaupunkt Android In-Car Entertainment 

Some cars have DVD players and screens built in — but for the majority, this is something you will need to add if you want it. It can be a daunting task — masses of wiring, pulling out the seat, opening up the dashboard for a power connection etc. If you don’t want any of that but still want a colour screen, Blaupunkt has the solution. 

It’s a self-contained entertainment system powered by Android and it only needs a power supply from the typical 12V power socket in your car. Think of it like an Android tablet but purpose built for in-car use. It comes with a universal headrest mount that fits almost any car with a removable headrest. On the side is a micro SD slot and USB port — just load up your media and you can view it instantly. Since it uses Android, you can download apps for it (or sideload them), browse the web, your email, sync your calendar and so on. It needs an internet connection for all this, which can be with a WiFi hotspot on your phone. The only downsides are the weak speakers (weaker than most phones and laptops). Thankfully, you can plug in any earphones using 3.5mm, use Bluetooth headphones or listen using your car’s speakers with an Aux-in connection. It works great if you frequently travel long distance or if you have kids in the car on a regular basis. 

Vehicle Tracker

One invests considerable sums of money when buying a car and that is why it's important to keep it safe. A vehicle tracker is a gadget that is a necessity inside a car, considering the number of car thefts are on a rise. You can always go for the Carnot Vehicle Tracker, which is a GPS + GSM tracker that can be installed without wiring or modifications. It is a small dongle that can be installed in the On-board Diagnostic (OBD) port of the car. It works with an app that you will have to download on your smartphone. You will have to tell the app which car you own, and it will then guide you with the location of your car. You will be able to see your car on GPS, set geofences, view basic diagnostic information and do so much more.

In-car Wi-Fi hotspot

If you feel that internet is something you just cannot live without and don't rely too much on mobile hotspots, then you would definitely appreciate an in-car Wi-Fi hotspot. You can try Alcatel's Linkzone mobile Wi-Fi device. It is compact and lightweight and claims to have a battery that can deliver more than 12 days of standby power. If you use it constantly, it will supposedly last for six hours. The Wi-Fi hotspot can support 15 devices at once.

Smart car coffee maker

Coffee is the first thing many people turn to every morning and if you fall in that category, then a coffee maker in your car is a great addition. You can try the Handpresso Auto 12V coffee maker, which can be plugged into the car's 12V socket. It is also compatible with Easy Serving Espresso pod and is supposed to prepare a cup of espresso in 2 minutes.