The Mio MiVue C330 is a cheap but impressive dashcam for a little more than £100. Giving you piece of mind that any incidents on the road will be captured and ready to be presented is needed. Occupying a small amount of space on your windscreen, the Mio MiVue C330 features:
You can grab one from Amazon for £105 currently.
Thinkware are pushing the boundaries of what dashcams can do and cost. The F770 is one of their more attractive offerings and a newer the F800 is about to arrive on our shores.
The F770’s mount sticks onto your windscreen directly and I’m sure a number of users will be instantly put off the device. No suction cup has been included, only a piece of 3m tape. The mount is a simple piece of plastic with a few clips that click into the main camera’s body.
Thinkware were kind enough to clear up this issue with the following statement:
It is common sense to avoid obstructing the field of view of the driver, so the recommended location for a dash cam is behind the rear view mirror and as you can see from the below picture the THINKWARE F770 is totally hidden behind the rear view mirror from the driver’s perspective and looks like part of the original equipment. If a suction mount was used this would not be the case.
More importantly the decision was made due to legal considerations. If you use a suction mounted car camera in the UK, if the device (camera and / or cradle and / or suction cup) intrudes more than 4cm into the secondary (pink) wiper clearance zone, or intrudes more than 1cm into the primary (red) wiper clearance zone of the windscreen, you are committing a serious traffic offence (dangerous driving) under the UK Road Traffic Act 1988, and your vehicle is not roadworthy (it would fail an MOT).The company selling a windscreen suction mounted car camera has a legal duty to ensure a) that the camera can actually be attached to a section of the windscreen of the vehicle which does not result in an unlawful intrusion of the primary (red) and / or secondary (pink) wiper clearance zone, b) that the screen does not remain on or visible to the driver and c) that the user is aware of the law. If the company sells a suction mounted car camera without doing this, they have committed a crime.
Looking at the device, on the “front” you have the camera lens, this rotates through (around) 87° to allow for coverage depending on the angle of your windscreen.
On one side there is only a little groove for heat dissipation and the reset button.
The other side has a hatch for access to the power socket and the microUSB port. There is also a groove for a penny or tough thumbnail to turn the camera lens.
On top, there are more vents for heats and cooling. Two LEDs, WiFi and GPS. Dedicated buttons for Manual Record start/stop, turning off and on the microphone, WiFi on/off, formatting the SD card and the power button. The device turns on when the car is started so this power button is purely for exceptions to that rule.
Along the back is the slot for the MicroSD card, some more vents and the hole for the cables for the side hatch.
Recording at Full HD 1080p at 30 frames per second. The F770 records at 9.5Mbps bitrate with a mono 48kHz audio track at 728Kbps. Footage is captured to expandable storage and the F770 takes a microSD card and there should be a 16GB card included. A 16GB MicroSD card will store up to 200 minutes of footage. As with most dashboard cameras the recording loops and overwrites the oldest files provided they have not been tagged as an incident. In this case, the footage is moved to a separate folder for safe keeping. The OS on the camera as a few settings to change the storage capacities for kept footage.
To connect your camera to your phone the F770 has Wi-Fi access built in. Using Thinkware’s app a simple ad-hoc connection it made and the two devices shake hands. Connecting to the camera with your phone allows the user to stream the footage live to the phone, personalise the settings, and align the camera so image captures as much as possible.
Other settings include the sensitivity of the G-sensor, configuring the Parking recording, silencing warning for lane departure and speed zones.
The app includes an explorer function to allow the user to stream or copy video footage to their smartphone. This was something of a laborious task and it was a lot quick to remove the SD card, plug it into a computer or phone and copy the files directly
Remarkably this is a handy feature that turns off the device input voltage drops to avoid draining the battery in standby mode.
A special Dual save function is also included whereby built-in memory is used for incident recordings, in the even the removable memory is damaged you will still have the files. A good backup consideration.
Footage shot on the Thinkware Camera is good, a fine example of how paying extra give the user a big step up in quality. Night video is also acceptable with no blobs of light or underexposure. Crucially there are no lost frames either. The 30fps is consistent. Footage can be seen in the Unboxing video above.
GPS has been built in and location data is added to the footage. This can be viewed using desktop software.
It all sounds great, what the catch? The warnings are a pain, the camera will shout as you if you slip over the speed limit, and one occasion the camera’s speed limit database is incorrect. A bong will sound when changing lanes and whilst this is great for a tired driver who might drift, it can be irritating when on a long motorway drive.
One gripe I have with this and most other cameras is the power cable, at the one end is the connector for the 12v socket however as in some cars there might only be on 12v socket the dashcam will monopolise it. I have a phone charger and Bluetooth hands-free kit that sit in a three port USB converter with my current dashboard camera, however, the Thinkware has upset this happy arrangement.
It’s pricey and gets pricier if you want a rear camera as well. For the money, I would have expected a better mount, rather than have a lump of plastic permanently attached to the windscreen, it’s a relatively small footprint, but makes this difficult when you sell a car or want to switch the camera to a second car.
The Thinkware F770 has a few shortcomings however it’s indiscreet and produces the goods. It’s up there with the best of them and if you are purchasing then you better be sure this is the one for you.
The Thinkware F770 is for sale on Amazon.co.uk for £199
When it comes to dashboards there is precious little space to add extra that might not have been included in your cars loadout. It would then make sense to add anything that was missing and keep the footprint as small as possible. A dedicated GPS is handy for most, however, the rise of the dashcam is a sensible and useful addition to all driver’s in-car tech. Combining them together is also a great saving when it comes to space. The Mio MiVue is another option that takes both and rams them together with a 6.2” Transmissive LCD with touch panel to enjoy it all on. The screen sits at 800 x 480 pixels however the video recorded manages to both 1080p at 30fps and 1296p at 30fps. Interestingly the system is built around Windows CE 6.0.
Check out the Mio MiMvue 65 on their official website.
Stay tuned for the full review in the coming weeks.
Exciting features include:
What amounts to a smart keyring is the Biisafe Buddy. This little £29.99 device as a little piece of mind you some of your precious possessions. Attach the Buddy to your belongings, for example your keys, bags, wallets and track them via the BiiSafe Buddy app on your smartphone or tablet.
Mislaid your keys? Then open the app, hit the button and provided they are in range you will here the chime. similarly, if you have misplaced you phone you can use the Biisafe to trigger a ringtone to help locate it.
Here we have a look at the simple setup. You can purchase from:
http://www.mobilefun.co.uk/biisafe-buddy-location-bluetooth-tracker-device-black-p57024.htm
Mobilefun have sent us the Nonda Zus. This auto accessory is pretty simple.
Have you ever walked out of the shopping centre/Mall and thought to yourself, after a long period in the isles fighting for your groceries, “where the hell did I park?” Or perhaps you need to show some one where your car is without having to leave a queue or coffee shop?
The Nonda Zus plugs into your cigarette lighter and acts as a tracking device for an app on your phone to locate your car and allow you to share that location with someone of your choosing.
Also thrown in is the ability to charge two USB connectible devices, at a faster rate that normal. And the Zus has been designed to meet US Military MIL-STD-810G High Temperature Standard. The Zus can handle temperatures as high as 100ºC.
You can pick one up here for £21.99.
The London Motor Show will be arriving at Battersea Evolution from the 5th– 8th May to showcase more than 40 car brands and 130 models to visitors from around the world and 2.0TDI mods. As the ultimate event in the automotive calendar the Show will provide the perfect platform to exhibitors wanting to launch their latest must-have models and display their vehicles in the UK for the very first time. Cars will range in price from £8,000 to in excess of £200,000 to suit everyone’s pockets.
Alongside dealerships representing manufacturers such as Volvo, Vauxhall, Lamborghini, Aston Martin and MINI, visitors will also have access to a selection of innovative cars such as; the Riversimple RASA, the VUHL 05 Lightweight Supercar, the MG GS and many more…
The lecture theatre will play host to a fantastic line-up of honoured speakers including, Sir Stirling Moss, Tiff Needell, Ben Collins, Nigel Mansell and Afzal Kahn who’ll be focussing on a number of major motoring issues.
Stephen Maitland-Oxley, Events Director at The London Motor Show says: “The London Motor Show is a Mecca for all fans of the motoring world. Whether you’re a teenager looking for your first car or an avid car collector, there really is something for everyone. We have more than 40 car brands who allow visitors to ask any questions before they make a decision to buy, making it the ideal shopping experience!”
The London Motor Show and HR Owen are delighted to announce that, for the first time in the UK, the Bentley Bentayga, Ferrari 488 Spider, Rolls-Royce Dawn and Lamborghini Huracán Spyder will be on display all together. Tom King, H.R. Owen’s marketing director, said: “The London Motor Show looks set to be a fantastic occasion, and we are delighted to be able to bring such a stunning range of headline new cars like the Bentley Bentayga, Ferrari 488 Spider, Rolls-Royce Dawn and Lamborghini Huracán Spyder to this new event for fans to enjoy. It is very exciting for motoring enthusiasts to be able to get up close and engage with these cars at one time. Get informed with Effuel reviews and learn how it can help you reduce the usage of fuel. As the UK’s premier luxury and supercar dealer, H.R. Owen was perfectly placed to be able to supply such a rare and exotic group of cars to the show.”
Here is your sneak peek of the cars on display at The London Motor Show…
VUHL 05 Lightweight Supercar
This Mexican designed and produced newcomer was first seen in the UK at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in 2013 and will use The London Motor Show to kick-start a packed global programme for this exciting new marque.
The VUHL 05 is powered by Ford’s award-winning turbocharged 2 litre EcoBoost engine, which is sufficiently potent to endow the two-seater with a mighty impressive power-to-weight ratio of 410bhp/ton. It’s currently for sale at a price of £59,995 from specialist dealer, Bespoke Performance.
Riversimple RASA
This innovative, two-seater hydrogen cell powered car, developed and built in Wales, will be on display at The London Motor Show. The Riversimple RASA is a lightweight and highly efficient, “network” electric car powered by innovative hydrogen fuel cell technology and it’s the first road legal, engineering prototype. This car perfectly reflects the objectives of The London Motor Show, which is to showcase not just the wide range of exciting new cars currently available to the public, but also to provide the opportunity of promoting significant developments in automotive technology and innovation initiated here in the UK, this kind of car are amazing and if you learn more about this you can check the 15 Surprising Stats About New Electric Vans For Sale.
Mitsuoka Brooklands Roadster
Mitsuoka Motor will be showcasing their limited edition “Brooklands” Roadster at The London Motor Show. Featuring a British sporting design of elegant flowing lines, the Brooklands Roadster combines timeless styling with advanced levels of modern technology, safety and comfort. Finished in true British Racing Green, the Brooklands uses the standard Roadster as a base, trimming the cabin in rich cream leather with green contrasting stitching on the seats, gear and handbrake gaiters and centre armrest. In keeping with classic British heritage, a burr walnut veneer dashboard panel has been fitted, as well as a headrest embroidered with the Brooklands logo.
To complete the Brooklands, Mitsuoka commissioned special sports hand crafted wire style wheels, synonymous with classic British sports cars of the early twentieth century. Rear wheel drive with an admirable high power to weight ratio, the Brooklands Roadster is fully equipped with the latest technology, advanced safety features and modern conveniences. Four wheel anti-lock brake system (ABS) with Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD), Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) with Traction Control System (TCS) are all naturally standard, as are the front and side airbags. Power Retractable Hard Top is standard – available with either 6 speed manual or 6 speed powershift transmission with paddle controls. The Brooklands is priced at £57,500.
Infiniti Q60
The new Infiniti Q60 is a premium sports coupe that combines expressive design with exhilarating performance and dynamics and will be on display for the first time in the UK at The London Motor Show. Daring proportions and taut, muscular lines provide the Q60’s impulsive exterior – lower and wider than predecessors. Dynamic enhancements, including an all-new lightweight and sophisticated 3.0-litre V6 twin-turbo engine, together with new adaptive steering and digital suspension system, result in a premium sports coupe designed and engineered to perform. As standard for this version, power is channelled through the Q60’s rear wheels for optimal dynamic response and to benefit steering feel. The Q60’s aggressive stance gives a greater impression of stability and in-control driving potential, while its lower centre of gravity has a positive overall effect on driving dynamics.
MG GS
Dynamic. Sporty. Modern – three words that perfectly describe the MG GS that’s launching in the UK in June and will be on display for the very first time at The London Motor Show. The new SUV from MG exudes confidence and dynamism that sets it apart from the other models. This competitive car shows MG as a forward-thinking, consumer-conscious brand that produces great cars that appeal to anyone at any point in their life. This highly anticipated car is a real turning point in the history of MG.
McLAREN 570GT
Following its global unveiling at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show, the new McLaren 570GT will be making its UK debut at The London Motor Show. Practical enough for everyday use and long-distance journeys, the car features a unique side-opening rear glass hatch offering additional 220 litres of storage on the leather-upholstered Touring Deck. The light and airy cabin is specified with the highest quality materials throughout and includes a standard fixed glass Panoramic Roof creating the most luxurious and relaxing driving environment. The car is fitted with the McLaren-developed 3.8-litre twin turbo V8 M838TE engine which generates 570PS (562 bhp) and 600 Nm (443 lb ft) of torque. The power is delivered via
a seven-speed seamless-shift transmission with adjustment through Normal, Sport and Track settings to produce one of the most rewarding driving experiences. The McLaren 570GT will be on display on stand L63 at The London Motor Show. The UK pricing starts from £154,000 and customer deliveries are scheduled for July 2016.
The general early bird admission ticket is £15 from 6th-8th May and children under 10 go free. On the door ticket price is £20. For more information visit www.thelondonmotorshow.co.uk/
Opening times:
Press & Trade Afternoon – Thursday 5th May: 3pm-6pm
Consumers – Friday 6th May: 10.00am – 6.00pm, Saturday 7th May: 10.00am – 6.00pm, Sunday 8th May: 10.00am-5.00pm.
The TrackR Bravo is a simple GPS locator allowing the user to hone in on the location of a missing item with ease.
Designed to be small and easy to transport the Bravo enjoys a small feature set whilst managing to extend it use to almost anything. Dropping it into the change pocket of a wallet, attached to your keys or around the neck of your dog the TrackR Bravo keeps whatever you attach it to within reach and easily locatable.
Diameter: 31mm
Thickness: 3.5mm
Battery Life: 1 year
Battery Type: Replaceable CR1616 Battery
Device Ringer Volume: 85dB
Connectivity: Bluetooth 4.0 (Bluetooth Low Energy)
Device Compatibility:
iPhone 4s & Later
iPad 3rd Generation & Later
Android 4.4 & Later with Bluetooth Low Energy
Works World Wide
https://www.thetrackr.com/bravo
It’s incredible to think that we are now in 2016 and sat-navs are yet to be an as-standard feature in most new cars. It means that you’ll still have a lot of thinking to do when you come to purchase such a system.
Taking into account the broadest range of factors – from the comprehensiveness and relevance of their feature set to their ease of use and price – we have listed five of our favourite sat navs presently on the market.
1. TomTom GO 6000
This already highly-rated sat nav has benefitted from a comprehensive software overhaul that has put it back among the very best in the industry. From sharp lifetime traffic services to highly accurate navigation and effortless usability, this contender ticks almost all of the obvious boxes. If budget is a problem for you, sign up to camelcamelcamel to keep a track of the price changes and once you see a price point that matches your budget, use a voucher code to save even more money on this great sat nav.
Although this, Garmin’s current range-topper is certainly a strong all-round sat nav – thanks to its highly competitive price and lifetime traffic that prevents you having to fork out for a subscription fee – it isn’t as intelligent as the GO 6000 at coming up with ways to beat hold-ups. Still, there are new models apparently on the way soon.
3. Snooper Pro SC5700 DVR
The SC5700 distinguishes itself by apparently being the first single device to combine sat nav functionality with safety camera detection and a DVR dash cam-style recorder. The individual features work pretty well, and although we found trying to control several of them simultaneously a bit confusing, we consider this model a good option if you presently lack a nav, dash cam or safety cam locator.
If you don’t have much experience of using sat navs but don’t want to choose a model that only boasts the most basic functions, the Start 50 could make a lot of sense. Its concise, easy-to-understand routing will certainly make your journeys easier and the lifetime maps are also more than welcome. This sat nav’s biggest strengths of all, however, are its ease of use and sheer good value. Downsides? You don’t get jam updates, but we can forgive that at this price point.
5. Binatone U605
The U605 is hardly the most complicated of sat navs, but if you really do just want something that you will you from A to B with little fuss, there aren’t many better options around. We liked the standard of this model’s routing, while its maps come with lifetime updates. However, there are arguably better entry-level five-inch systems available from the likes of Garmin and TomTom.
Are you unsure what you need to look for in a sat nav? Read Argos’ comprehensive satellite navigation buying guide and don’t be afraid to comment below on the best and worst sat navs that you have used.
TrackR bravo – The newest addition to the TrackR line. Never lose anything again with the coin sized TrackR bravo. Put it on anything! The TrackR Bravo is an intelligent tracking device that has just become available in the UK after its huge success in the USA. The gadget is now available in the UK in EE shops, John Lewis, Argos and Currys.
Technical specifications
Recently, TrackR founders announced partnerships with big brands. HP, Cross Pens or Mezzi can now offer customers the ability to utilise the scale of Crowd GPS network for locating their valuables worldwide.
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